Annual Review 2024-2025

Uncovering ancient texts In February 2025, Diamond’s Industrial Liaison Group played a pivotal role in uncovering ancient texts from the Oxford Herculaneum scroll. Using the I12 beamline, researchers scanned the 2,000-year- old scroll, revealing its contents through advanced X-ray imaging and machine learning techniques. This project is part of the Vesuvius Challenge, a global effort to decipher the texts of scrolls buried by the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79AD. The first word revealed, διατροπή (disgust), marks a significant milestone in understanding these ancient artefacts. The discovery of the word διατροπή is just the beginning of what promises to be a fascinating journey into the past. The use of synchrotron technology has allowed researchers to examine the scrolls in a non-invasive manner, preserving their integrity while uncovering their secrets. This breakthrough has the potential to shed light on the literary and cultural heritage of the ancient world, providing valuable insights into the lives and thoughts of people who lived over two millennia ago. The Vesuvius Challenge continues to inspire researchers and historians, with Diamond playing a crucial role in this exciting endeavour. Malcolm Skingle’s retirement November 2024 marked the retirement of Malcolm Skingle, Chair of Diamond’s Industrial Science Committee (DISCo). Over his 20-year tenure, Malcolm witnessed significant advancements at Diamond, from its early days in portacabins to Diamond’s contribution to Nobel Prize-winning research. His leadership helped drive industry engagement, making Diamond’s capabilities accessible and beneficial for industrial research, particularly in drug design and material science. Malcolm’s reflections upon retirement highlighted the growth and streamlined capabilities of Diamond, emphasising its role in advancing scientific innovation. Malcolm’s contributions to Diamond have been instrumental in fostering collaborations between academia and industry. Under his guidance, Diamond has developed a reputation for excellence in industrial research, attracting partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and research institutions. His efforts have ensured that Diamond remains at the forefront of scientific discovery, providing cutting-edge facilities and expertise to support a wide range of research projects. As he steps down, his legacy will continue to influence Diamond’s future direction, with a strong foundation in place for continued success. Hazel Aitkenhead loading samples for cryo-EM experiments I N D U S T R I A L L I A I S O N G R O U P U P D AT E A N N U A L R E V I E W 2 0 2 4 / 2 5 38