Synchrotron Project—Scientific Case
Over the past few months a large amount of the
information and data have been analysed relating to the choice
of site for the new synchrotron source. After a careful analysis
of scientific, technical, operational and financial issues and
the views of the funding partners, the Government's scientific
advisors concluded that the way forward is to build the new synchrotron
at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) near Didcot in Oxfordshire.
The synchrotron project is being carried out
in partnership with the Wellcome Trust, and through international
partnership with the French Government. This approach leads to
a sharing of costs which results in each partner having access
to a much better performance machine at a lower net cost. It also
results in a wider user base so in addition to each partner providing
money for construction costs they will also fund research programmes
at the facility over the next 25 years.
The key criterion used in selecting the site
for the synchrotron is what is best for the long term health of
UK science. It is clear that both Daresbury and the Rutherford
Appleton Laboratory offered viable sites for the location of the
new synchrotron. There were however four key areas which potential
to RAL as the preferred location:
— The potential for operational, technical
and scientific synergy between the new synchrotron and the other
facilities on the site, especially the ISIS neutron source.
— The potential to produce a world-class
international research centre drawing together a range of scientific
and engineering disciplines. This centre will have the capability
to develop new interdisciplinary and multi-technique approaches
to scientific and technological challenges.
— The sharing of many technical functions,
for example: accelerator design, magnets, pulsed power etc. and
support functions such as security, safety, administration etc.
— Its proximity to the bio-sciences
expertise at Oxford University, the MRC units including the Mouse
Genome Centre on the adjacent Harwell site and the National NMR
centre.
A total of three consultations with users have
been carried out over the past 12 months. The clear conclusion
is that users require a world class machine for a wide range of
structural science research within the UK but the focus must be
on the quality of science produced. There was support for a strong
science culture with an on-site research institute doing structural
science in many fields and where a multi-technique approach to
research can be pioneered. This can be best achieved at RAL where
other facilities such as neutrons, lasers, nuclear magnetic resonance
already exists.
The UK currently has a number of world-class
research facilities and another key factor is the need to ensure
that in the key technology areas such as accelerator science and
engineering the UK maintains a critical mass in the near and longer
term. In addition investment needs to continue in a range of support
technologies such as low temperatures, vacuum technology, high
magnetic fields etc that can be shared among the different facilities.
Collocation at RAL will minimise duplication of activities and
encourage more efficient use of those investments.
The Wellcome Trust has offered a contribution
of £110 million towards the project (announced in July 1998).
They recognise the need for structural analysis of proteins and
complex biological molecules, especially to take forward the results
of the human genome mapping exercise. The French Government announced
on the 2 August 1999 that it would contribute Ffr350 million (about
£35 million) towards the capital costs and Ffr60-80 million
(about £6-8 million) a year towards the operating costs.
This leaves approximately £250-300 million to be found from
the UK Science Budget over the next 25 years.
In addition to the capital and running cost
contribution to the core facility, the Wellcome Trust are planning
to build an on-site laboratory for their researchers. The French
are also considering building a laboratory and this will provide
an opportunity for all sides to co-operate.
The current plan is for the new synchrotron
project to be procured through a joint venture vehicle set up
by the UK Government, the Wellcome Trust and the French. Methods
of working efficiently and effectively with the other facilities
on the RAL, site will need to be developed so that the full benefits
of synergy and co-operative working are realised.
The new synchrotron will be a true third generation
machine comparable to the best in the world. It will complement
the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) in Grenoble,
France in which the UK has a 14 per cent share.
| 
