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Kicking off on Tuesday 30th June, Diamond had a busy week in London with a presence at two of the biggest science events in the city.
World Conference of Science Journalists
From Tuesday 30th June to Thursday 2nd July, over 900 science writers and communicators gathered in London for the 2009 World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ).
This biennial conference offered established and aspiring reporters, writers and science communicators from around the world the chance to debate, network, develop their professional skills and report on the latest advances in science and technology.
Diamond Light Source was involved in this event in a number of ways.
Official Welcome Reception
Central Hall, Westminster
Hosted by the BBC's Material World presenter, Quentin Cooper, this event was sponsored by Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres and lightsources.org - a collaborative website and network of synchrotrons from around the world. Through it's association with lightsources.org, Diamond supported this event along with five other synchrotrons: Elettra, Italy; SOLEIL and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), France; the Synchrotron Radiation Center (SRC), USA; and BESSY, Germany.
Synchrotron News Briefing
The French Institute
A range of breaking stories were unveiled including one from the Elettra Synchrotron in Italy, which looks at 3D imaging of cells to aid earlier detection of cancer; and one from Dr Mark Sanderson, a scientist using Diamond and SOLEIL, who spoke about his recently published work on the molecular mechanism of quinolone drugs used to treat patients who, for various reasons (including suffering from conditions like cystic fibrosis), have become resistant to antibiotics. More...
Oxfordshire Science Facilities Post-conference Visit
Culham Science Centre, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus & Magdalen College
Oxfordshire has been at the forefront of the UK’s scientific research activity for over 50 years. To illustrate the amazing diversity and significance of Oxfordshire based science facilities, four of them welcomed a group of WCSJ delegates for tours, talks and interviews: The Joint European Torus (JET); Central Laser Facility (CLF); ISIS, the UK's neutron and muon source; and Diamond Light Source.
This proved to be an excellent day, and was noted as one of the highlights of the week by a number of participants. The visitors had a fascinating time at Diamond, taking in the control room, inside a beamline and more.
The evening at Magdalen College was the perfect way to round off the day. Prof. Marcus du Sautoy gave an enthusiastic speech about the importance of science writing and communication whilst visitors enjoyed a cool glass of bubbly in the last of the evening sun over Magdalen's Cloister's Lawn.
Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
Diamond took part in this year's Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, showcasing the accelerator physics behind the facility and the outputs of an innovative science and art initiative.
Designs for Life
A selection of the textile panels were on display, giving visitors the opportunity to take on the responsibility of a peer review panel to discuss and debate which areas of science should be prioritised.
Accelerator physics
Researchers from several institutions, including Diamond, were on hand to talk about their investigations into how to improve and optimise performance of particle accelerators.
It was a successful event that saw hundreds of school children and interested members of the general public come through the doors to find answers to big science questions and be intrigued and enthralled by the diverse exhibits.
Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
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