SCIENCE and technology chiefs have announced an ambitious three-year £1.906bn funding programme – which 
will include important work for Warrington’s Daresbury Laboratory.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), meeting at Daresbury, agreed the programme, following a three-month consultation overseen by STFC’s advisory Science Board and its panels.
More than 1,400 submissions from the UK and abroad were considered during the consultation.
At Daresbury, STFC will operate the Energy Recovery Linac Prototype (ERLP), also called ALICE, as part of the accelerator science and technology programme.
ERLP/ALICE will be used to establish the prospects for a new cancer treatment technology.
Also in the North West, STFC has confirmed its intention to contribute to the operating costs for the eMerlin radio-astronomy facility.
STFC is working with the University of Manchester and other stakeholders to find a viable way in which eMerlin operations can be supported on a shared cost basis. Together with STFC’s investment in development for the next generation facility in radio astronomy, the Square Kilometre Array led by the University of Manchester, this should secure the future for the famous Jodrell Bank Observatory.
STFC chief executive Prof Keith Mason said: “STFC has balanced its budget and agreed on a very ambitious and scientifically sound programme of funding.
“STFC is funding an exciting portfolio of projects which will deliver excellent research and maintain the UK’s scientific leadership.”
The funding includes support to universities and research facilities for fundamental science, research facilities and technology development in nuclear physics, particle physics, neutrino science, neutron scattering, lasers and light sources, space exploration and astronomy.
Highlights include support for UK participation in global astronomy projects, particle physics experiments at CERN, a neutrino physics project in Japan, a nuclear physics facility in Germany, the search for gravitational waves and exploring whether life has ever been present on Mars.
Lab to probe new cancer treatment
00 Comments
Share.
About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
