ISIS Archived News

Archived News

Browse the news archive below, for news stories from the current year visit our news page.

News from 2023

£90M to transform ISIS capacity and capabilities through the Endeavour Programme
PRESS RELEASE: The Science Technology and Facilities Council (STFC) has launched Endeavour: a £90 million programme of improvements and instruments to supercharge the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.
15 Years of Target Station 2
On 3rd August 2008, the first neutrons were detected on TS2! To celebrate it’s 15-year anniversary here is a collection of “best bits” from each of our incredible TS2 instruments…
A celebration of ISIS Neutron & Muon Source -India collaboration
On 28 April we were delighted to host the visit of the Indian Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh.
Alex Hannon and Oliver Alderman receive The American Ceramic Society’s 2023 Ross Coffin Purdy Award
With their collaborators, they have been presented with this award as a recognition of their investigation of the structure of sodium silicate glass as the most valuable contribution to the ceramic technical literature during 2021.
Andrew Goodwin, FRS
Regular ISIS user and panel member, Professor Andrew Goodwin, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Applications open for next Neutron Training course
Applications are now open for the ISIS Neutron Training Course, which will run from 7th-17th May 2024.
Aziza al Mugheiry: ISIS student is the first GCC national to be employed by UKRI
ISIS placement student Aziza Al Mugheiry is an inspiration to future scientists as the first gulf Arab to be employed by UKRI.
Case Study: Harry Sullivan on completing a graduate placement at CERN
Orla Fernie, Science Communications Placement Student spoke to Harry Sullivan about his experience completing a placement at CERN in 2021 as part of his graduate scheme.
Congratulations Toby Perring!
Prof. Toby Perring is awarded the 2023 European Neutron Scattering Association (ENSA) Walter Hälg Prize for his exceptional contributions to neutron science through his work on time-of-flight single crystal spectroscopy.
Debbie Greenfield - Pushing Boundaries for 40 years
From the Higgs Boson to the first neutrons in TS2, four decades of change in RAL’s scientific engineering world has spanned the extraordinary career of Debbie Greenfield. Retiring this month, we take a look back at her incredible achievements.
Dr Harrison Laurent wins the 2023 Don McKenzie Paul Thesis Prize
Harrison’s prize-winning work on aqueous solutions has applications that reach from the bottom of the oceans all the way to Mars.
Dr Otto Mustonen wins the 2023 BTM Willis Prize
Since the first award in 2001, the BTM Willis prize has recognised outstanding contributions by early-career scientists in the field of neutron scattering.
Dr Paul Goddard wins Brian Pippard Prize for 2023
ISIS user Dr Paul Goddard from the University of Warwick has been awarded the 2023 Brian Pippard Prize for his developmental work on the techniques of angle-dependent magnetoresistance (AMR) and its application to mapping Fermi surfaces.
ESS/ISIS Support Lab Symposium Success
This June, ISIS hosted the second ESS/ISIS support labs symposium. Celebrating the collaboration of facilities worldwide and their support labs.
Faraday ISIS Emerging Leader Battery Fellowship
Help us expand our battery research!
Full time called on part-time DPhil for ISIS Group Leader Rob Williamson
Rob Williamson is Accelerator Physics Group leader at ISIS and has been researching for a DPhil with the John Adams Institute at the University of Oxford part-time. This June, Rob successfully defended his thesis on beam instabilities encountered in high-
Helium Recovery at ISIS: Smaller footprints leading the way to net zero.
With the UKRI’s goal to be net zero by 2040, the ISIS Helium Recovery team assessed how carbon neutral their process is in comparison to industry standards.
Honouring over 30 years of partnership between ISIS and Japan
Today, ISIS hosted an event to honour over thirty years of successful collaboration with RIKEN, Japan’s largest and most comprehensive research organization.
In memoriam: Grahame H Rees
Members of STFC, and ISIS in particular, will be saddened to learn of the death of Grahame Rees, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday 11 October 2023, aged 92.
In memoriam: J Bruce Forsyth
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Bruce Forsyth has died at the age of 91.
In memoriam: John White
John White, a distinguished figure in the field of physical chemistry and a pillar of the neutron scattering community, has passed away.
In memoriam: Neil Schneider
Members of ISIS will be saddened to hear of the death of Neil Schneider, who passed away on 12th October 2023, at the age of 66.
ISIS and Rome Tor Vergata sign new agreement
ISIS and the University of Rome Tor Vergata have signed a new agreement to continue their partnership in neutron and muon science.
ISIS at AAAS
ISIS showcases clean energy storage research at AAAS Annual Meeting.
ISIS Electronics Engineer Tara Allinson wins STFC Apprentice of the Year 2023
Tara Allinson has not only won STFC Apprentice of the Year but was also awarded 'Highly Commended' for both the Impact and Peer Support Awards and the 'Regional Highly Commended' at the National Apprentice Awards.
ISIS First Target Station Updates
Last update 28 February 2024
ISIS Impact Awards 2023
Announcing the 2023 ISIS Impact Award winners, celebrating the socio-economic impact generated by our user community.
ISIS Industrial Placement Celebration reveals fantastic career paths and inspiring stories from former students
This month, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source hosted its first Industrial Placement Celebration Event, where past students returned to Harwell Campus for a day of talks and to share their experiences of working at this national facility
ISIS kicks off our 40th anniversary celebrations!
On 16th December 2024, ISIS will mark 40 years since neutrons and we now begin a year of celebration in recognition of this milestone.
ISIS' Ludmila Mee appointed founder member of the Technical Council in the new UK Institute of Technical Skills and Strategy
International Women in Engineering Day 23 June 2023
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source co-authored paper amongst Best Papers of 2022 from Royal Society of Chemistry
A paper co-authored by Deputy Group Leader for Reflectometry Maximilian Skoda has been awarded amongst the Best Papers from 2022 published in the Environmental Science journals of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
Meet the Placement Students 2023-24
It’s been a few months since our industrial placement students started their roles. Orla Fernie, Science Communication Placement Student (is placement student-ception a thing?) spoke to some of her colleagues about their roles here.
Mohamed Aouane wins SFN Thesis Prize
MARI Instrument Scientist Mohamed Aouane has been awarded the SFN (the French Neutron Society) thesis prize. The prize is awarded to a doctorate student each year, who used neutron scattering extensively in their thesis.
New agreement signed between ISIS and TU Delft
ISIS and the Technical University of Delft signed a new agreement today for continued cooperation between the two institutions.
New partnership will expand Canadian access to ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
A new collaborative agreement between ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and Neutrons Canada will open doors for the Canadian research community by providing enhanced access to UK neutron infrastructure.
Pabitra Biswas In Memoriam
We are sad to announce our friend and colleague Pabitra (Pabi) Biswas died on 17th December 2022 at the age of 39. He had been suffering from a brain tumour since 2020.
Professor David Newbold Appointed as STFC Executive Director, National Laboratories Science and Technologies
Experimental particle physicist Professor David Newbold has commenced work as the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive Director, National Laboratories Science and Technologies.
Professor Paolo Radaelli awarded Giuseppe Occhialini Medal and Prize for 2023
Tara Allinson awarded Best Project for Helium Filling Temperature Indicator
The 2023 call for ISIS studentships is now open
The annual call for 50%-funded studentships at ISIS is now open, closing 1 September 2023
The end of a placement year 2022/23 cohort say goodbye
Placement student switchover season is here! With the old, returning to uni to make way for the new a few of them have left some words of wisdom on their experiences this year…
The UK-ESS seminar celebrates collaboration success!
ISIS Staff go to the ESS to celebrate our part of the UK-ESS in-kind contributions.
Tom McLeish In Memoriam
We were saddened to hear of the death on 27th February of Prof Tom McLeish.
UK Neutron & Muon Science and User Meeting (NMSUM) 2023
The UK Neutron & Muon Science and User Meeting will take place at Warwick University from 19-21 April 2023.
Understanding programmed cell death – crucial to the body’s prevention of cancer
Through both static and time-resolved neutron reflectometry at ISIS, a Swedish/UK research collaboration have been able to reveal the molecular mechanism of the first stage of cell death.
Zoë Bowden - MBE!
Zoë Bowden, former ISIS Deputy Director and Head of Operations, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list 2023 for services to science.

News from 2022

2022 Call for ISIS Studentships now open
The annual call for 50%-funded studentships at ISIS is now open, closing 14 September 2022
A bright future for ISIS
Close to 6000 solar panels have been installed on ISIS buildings, generating over 2.4 million kWh of energy each year and cutting carbon emissions by over 550 tonnes.
A successful collaboration - Prof Maria Chiara Carrozza, President of the National Council of Research, Italy, visits ISIS
On 24 February ISIS welcomed President of the National Council of Research, Italy, as one of the facility's longest collaborations.
Behind the scenes: preparing for a user cycle
With the return to user operations imminent, we go behind the scenes at ISIS and discover some of what goes on to prepare for the run cycle.
Behind the scenes: preparing for beam returning to TS1
With the end of the long shutdown imminent, we go behind the scenes at ISIS and discover some of what goes on to prepare for beam returning to TS1 after 18 months.
BTM Willis Prize 2022 awarded to Dr Alexander O’Malley
Since the first award in 2001, the BTM Willis prize has recognised outstanding contributions by early-career scientists in the field of neutron scattering.
Congratulations to Robert McGreevy, awarded an MBE for services to science!
Professor Robert McGreevy has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours, for his outstanding service to science
End of Year Placement Interviews 21/22
As we welcome the next batch of placement students, we wanted to get in touch with the 2020/21 cohort and ask them to reflect on their time in ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.
First Beam through the FETS RFQ
The Front End Test Stand (FETS) Project has successfully accelerated its first beam.
Handing over the deputy director baton – farewell Zoë, welcome Steve!
April 2022 marks the departure of an ISIS legend, deputy director and Head of ISIS Operations Zoe Bowden, and we welcome a new deputy director, Steve Wakefield!
Helping CERN create and handle anti-matter
ISIS staff, in collaboration with others from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), have built and tested an ion source that will allow more antimatter to be created.
IBEX-2: studying the particle accelerators of the future
The Intense Beams Experiment has been upgraded to enable the study of how particles behave inside the complex fields of a particle accelerator.
Impact Awards 2022 - the winners!
Announcing the 2022 ISIS Impact Award winners, celebrating the socio-economic impact generated by our user community.
International Women's Day: the inspirational Jacqui Cole!
Prof Jacqui Cole is Head of Molecular Engineering at Cambridge, BASF / Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Data-driven Molecular Engineering of Functional Materials and a joint appointment at ISIS, but she is not the traditional academic!
ISIS 2022 Annual Review - out now!
The annual review of the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source for 2022 is now available
ISIS and Centres for Doctoral Training
EPSRC has launched a new call for Centres of Doctoral Training. ISIS welcomes the opportunity to contribute directly to the work of CDTs and to partner with CDT providers.
ISIS and ILL renew their commitment to joint research activities
On 27 July 2022, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and Institut Laue Langevin (ILL) signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formally extending their cooperative research activities for a further ten years.
ISIS and the China Spallation Neutron Source agree new partnership
ISIS and the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) have just signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) for collaboration on aspects of accelerator-based neutron source science and technology.
ISIS engineers’ unique technical expertise is informing industrial ion source development
The ISIS Low Energy Beams Group have been collaborating with the company Kinectrics Ltd to help them develop a new commercial ion source.
ISIS Neutron Training Course registration now OPEN!
The course will be taking place at ISIS 28th February – 9th March 2023, with accommodation provided at the Cosener’s House in Abingdon.
ISIS Update webinar for the user community
ISIS held a short webinar on Wed 20th July to give updates to the user community - watch it here.
Jacqui Cole receives Clifford Paterson medal
After presenting her prize lecture at the Royal Society, Professor Jacqui Cole was officially awarded the Clifford Paterson Medal, for outstanding contributions in the field of engineering.
Long Shutdown Updates
Stay up to date with the latest updates from the engineering projects happening during the ISIS long shutdown.
Meet the Placement Students 2022/23
A talk with our new placement students on their time at ISIS so far...
Neutron relectometry online course materials now available
The reflectometry group at ISIS recently ran the first fully virtual reflectometry training course.
New TS1 target in place
The last piece of the target, reflector and moderator (TRaM) has been lifted into the remote handling cell as the TS1 project reaches its latest milestone.
Next steps for ISIS-II and the Endeavour Programme: Next Generation Capabilities for the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has today announced a £481 million investment in major research and innovation infrastructure over the next three years.
Our response to the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine 
As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) we condemn in the strongest possible terms the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine.
PhD Studentships
Applications are now open for PhD positions co-funded by the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.
Professor Michael Steiner
We are very sorry to hear of the passing of Professor Michael Steiner, one of the giants of European neutron scattering.
Reducing ISIS’ energy consumption by upgrading the synchrotron radio frequency systems
During the long shutdown, the ISIS synchrotron RF section have replaced all six of the fundamental RF systems that drive the synchrotron acceleration.
Refurbishing the RIKEN-RAL beamlines
A large project has been underway as part of the ISIS long shutdown to improve the efficiency and reliability of the RIKEN-RAL muon beamlines.
ReMade@ARI – A European hub to develop materials for the circular economy
To meet the challenge of designing new materials for a circular economy, ISIS is one of more than 50 analytical research infrastructures in the European ARIE network whose potential will be harnessed through a new project, ReMade@ARI.
Renewed Memorandum of Understanding between ISIS and the European Spallation Source (ESS)
The agreement covers the development and exploitation of pulsed spallation neutron sources and related infrastructure
SANS User Meeting 2023
We would like to invite you to attend our first SANS User Meeting, to be held on Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st of January 2023 at The Cosener’s House, Abingdon, UK.
Strengthening relationships with Portugal
On 4 March, a delegation of representatives from ISIS visited Portugal, to explore opportunities for future collaborations.
Student travel grant supports novel automotive steel study
Supported by an ISIS travel grant, PhD student Anastasia Vrettou has been able to do neutron diffraction studies of advanced steel components for automotive applications.
Student Travel Support
ISIS is offering support for UK students visiting other facilities during the ISIS long shutdown
Triple celebrations for ChipIr collaborators
Research on ChipIr has contributed to an award-winning paper, PhD thesis and undergraduate research project.
UK Neutron & Muon Science and User Meeting (NMSUM) 2022
The UK Neutron & Muon Science and User Meeting took place at Warwick University from 25-27 April 2022.

News from 2021

World-leading decarbonising technology for Net Zero transport
A new company is being formed to deliver a pioneering, world-leading decarbonising technology to sectors such as aviation and shipping, using ISIS’ world-leading expertise in ammonia-cracking and catalysis.
£1.5 million investment to develop plans for ISIS-II, the next generation UK neutron and muon facility
ISIS is set to benefit from £1.5 million funding to enable the next generation of neutron and muon science, laying the groundwork for future development of the facility.
2021 Call for ISIS Studentships now open
The annual call for 50%-funded studentships at ISIS is now open, closing 22 September 2021
5 more years of collaboration with Sweden!
Earlier this month ISIS Director Robert McGreevy signed an agreement extending our partnership with Sweden for another 5 years, making it our longest international partnership.
A new Italian agreement!
ISIS have signed a new agreement with Italy, a partnership dating back to 1984.
A Practical Guide to the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Our latest publication is a detailed guide to how the ISIS neutron and muon source operates.
Accelerating towards the end of the ISIS long shutdown
7 December saw the first beam accelerated through the new linac tank 4
BTM Willis Prize 2020 - Dr Emily Draper
The 2020 Prize has been awarded to Dr Draper, University of Glasgow, for her outstanding contributions in the field of self-assembled systems, developing a number of methods including neutron scattering to prepare and characterise supramolecular materials
BTM Willis prize winner 2021 announced
We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2021 BTM Willis prize is Dr Joe Paddison
Call for proposals for Faraday Institution / ISIS Neutron & Muon Source studentship
Proposals for a joint ISIS / Faraday institution studentship are now sought for a 2022 start
Covid-19 and ISIS Operations
Update on ISIS running: cycle and shutdown date changes.
Dr Alexander O’Malley wins 2021 Sir John Meurig Thomas Catalysis Medal
The UK Catalysis Hub have named ISIS user Dr Alexander O’Malley from the University of Bath as winner of the Sir John Meurig Thomas Catalysis Medal
End of Year Placement Interviews 2020/21
As we welcome the next batch of placement students, we wanted to get in touch with the 2020/21 cohort and ask them to reflect on their time in ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.
Engineering design of a prototype permanent magnet for Ion Beam Analysis
Scientists Olli Tarvainen and Ben Shepherd have collaborated to design a prototype of a permanent magnet for Ion Beam Analysis.
First neutrons for ISIS’ second desktop neutron source
This week saw first neutrons from the second of the new desktop fusion devices installed at ISIS
Incident in the R55 Deuteration Laboratory
There has been a fire in the Deuteration Laboratory. No-one was injured and the fire was confined to the lab but the whole of the annex is affected at present with both water damage and loss of power.
ISIS 2021 Annual Review out now
The annual review of the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source for 2021 is now available
ISIS delivers industry-focussed neutron training to Johnson Matthey staff
On 13 and 21 July 2020, ISIS ran an online ISIS training event for scientific staff from Johnson Matthey to learn about neutron techniques and their applications.
ISIS hosts successful student meeting
Last week saw over 60 PhD students come to RAL for the annual ISIS student meeting.
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Impact Awards 2021 - deadline approaching!
Announcing our fourth ISIS Impact Awards for facility users, celebrating the socio-economic impact generated by our user community.
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Impact Awards Winners 2021
Announcing the winners of the 2021 ISIS Impact Awards for facility users, celebrating the socio-economic impact generated by the user community.
ISIS staff join ventilator development project
Software engineers from ISIS are part of an STFC-led team that has been awarded funding to develop a robust, low-cost ventilator to help patients in low and middle-income countries.
ISIS Student wins STFC Science Communication competition
Inspired by FameLab by Cheltenham Festivals, STFC hosted its own “FameRAL” challenge for the 2020/21 cohort of industrial placement students. The students had three minutes to explain a scientific topic related to their placement.
LENS Machine Learning School 2021
In the week commencing 15 February 2021, over 80 participants attended a machine learning school for beginners and intermediates, aimed at neutron and muon facilities staff.
Meet the Sandwich Students 2021
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source would like to welcome our new cohort of Sandwich Students for 2021.The sandwich student scheme offers students the opportunity to spend a year away from their degrees and gain valuable work experience.
New Director announced
Professor Roger Eccleston has been appointed as the new Director of STFC’s ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.
Reusing a finite resource: helium recovery at ISIS neutron and muon source
The helium recovery facility at ISIS has enabled the recycling of almost 90% of this precious gas
Student Travel Support
ISIS is offering support for UK students visiting other facilities during the ISIS long shutdown
Supporting the ESS laboratories through collaboration
The ISIS Support labs have an excellent reputation across the international neutron scattering community, so the European Spallation Source (ESS) were keen to learn from their experiences in supporting users with the best possible lab infrastructure.
The ISIS Cryogenics Team wins Institute of Physics award
The ISIS Cryogenics Team has earned the 2021 Technician Team Award for "providing exceptional ultra-low temperature and high magnetic field technical support, contributing to more than 500 neutron and muon scattering experiments annually."
The ISIS Endeavour Programme – User Meetings
Recordings are now available for our recent user community meetings, to learn more about the programme of large instrument upgrades and new instrument builds that we hope to carry out at ISIS over the next few years.
The ISIS Industrial Collaborative R&D programme goes from strength to strength!
The ISIS Industrial Collaborative R&D (ICRD) programme was established in 2011 as a more flexible access route for industry to perform measurements at ISIS than the existing, recognising the different needs of industrial research.
Top 10 most talked about articles of 2020
We take a look back at the diverse content that has increased engagement in scientific research across our facility.
UK Neutron & Muon Science and User Online Meeting and Student Meeting 2021
The UK Neutron and Muon Science and User Meeting (NMSUM) will take place online on the morning of Friday 30 April.
Using light curtains to develop a new synchrotron search routine
A new interlocks system has been installed in the ISIS inner synchrotron that allows the crew to reduce the number of people needed for safety checks from four down to two.

News from 2020

2020 Call for ISIS Studentships now open
The annual call for 50%-funded studentships at ISIS is now open, closing 16 September 2020
A summer in the lab, from home
Despite COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, ISIS still took on summer placement students in 2020. This included Ellie Dempsey, who spent 12 weeks working in the Materials Characterisation Laboratory.
Celebrating 30 years of RIKEN-RAL
The RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility is celebrating 30 years since the first agreement was signed with RIKEN to construct and operate the facility.
Change to ISIS Neutron & Muon Source run cycles and proposal rounds
The planned ISIS long shutdown has been delayed by 4 months, so there is additional running at the end of 2020. There will be a small additional proposal round for ISIS experiments with deadline of 15 April 2020.
Congratulations to our friends and colleagues recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours!
Prof Jayne Lawrence receives an MBE for services to pharmaceutical research, Prof Andrew Harrison receives an OBE for services to Science during the Covid-19 response, and Prof Richard Catlow is awarded a Knighthood for Leadership in Science and Research.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the ISIS Neutron & Muon Source
ISIS is regularly considering the implications of the coronavirus outbreak on its operations, particularly with regard to the health and safety of facility staff and users, reflecting current UK government and UKRI advice and guidance. Latest here.
ESS deuterated compound comes to ISIS
Researchers investigating a surfactant on Inter at ISIS used a deuterated compound from the new Deuteration and Macromolecular Crystallisation facility, a support laboratory for the European Spallation Source.
First experiments at the ISIS Neutron & Muon Source for Lazio’s Materials Characterisation Hub
ISIS@MACH (Materials Characterisation Hub), created by the University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’ Centro Fermi and the Lazio Region of Italy is a new Research Infrastructure operating as a hub of ISIS, including access to neutron and muon instruments
From instrument support to supporting front line workers
The ISIS Operations Instrument Support team have been producing visors for local NHS services, pharmacies and care workers.
From placement to publication: all before leaving school
During a two-week placement at ISIS, Europa school student Emilie Revill-Hivet made and characterised a compound: lithium methanesulfonate, leading to the publication of an article in Royal Society Open Science.
In Memoriam: Jack Carpenter, 'father' of spallation neutron sources, has passed away
Jack Carpenter, an American engineer who pioneered the use of particle accelerators for scientific research using neutrons, passed away on 10 March 2020.
ISIS / ILL Webinar: Chemistry and Catalysis Science
The UK Neutron & Muon User Meeting (NMSUM) has been postponed to April 2021. However, we are planning a series of online discussions on science using neutrons and muons with members of the community presenting their work.
ISIS 5K Lockdown Challenge raises £830 for local charity!
ISIS staff and their families recently took part in a virtual 5K challenge to raise funds for SOFEA, a charity based in Didcot who are supplying free food packages to the vulnerable and low income families across Oxfordshire.
ISIS Annual Review 2019 Out Now
The annual review of the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source for 2019 is now available.
ISIS Annual Review 2020 out now
The latest annual review of the facility is now available online.
ISIS Molecular Spectroscopy Science Meeting 2020
The ISIS Molecular Spectroscopy Group will hold its next science meeting on 28th and 29th October 2020. The virtual event will be held online via zoom.
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Impact Awards 2020
Announcing the winners of the 2020 ISIS Impact Awards for facility users, celebrating the socio-economic impact generated by the user community.
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Impact Awards 2020 - Deadline extended
Announcing the third ISIS Impact Awards for facility users, celebrating the socio-economic impact generated by our user community.
ISIS technicians support rapid ventilator production
Forty STFC technicians are forming part of a national collaboration that’s producing ventilators for the NHS; developing and delivering the training needed for over 300 others to carry out the necessary testing and calibration.
ISIS User Stephen Blundell receives prestigious award for muon science
The Yamazaki Prize is awarded once every three years by the International Society for Muon Spectroscopy, recognising a scientist for their outstanding work in muon spectroscopy with a long-term impact on its scientific and/or technical applications.
ISIS users recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Regular ISIS users have received awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for their exceptional achievements in advancing the chemical sciences through their work.
Mantid - we need your views
We are reviewing our Mantid software in May, and we need your input!
New Year Honour for Dr Andrew Taylor
Congratulations to Dr Andrew Taylor on being honoured in the New Year Honours List 2020!
Nominations open for the 2020 BTM Willis Prize
The IOP Neutron Scattering Group and the Faraday Division of the Royal Society of Chemists awards an annual prize for outstanding neutron scattering science in honour of the founding chairman of the Neutron Scattering Group, Professor BTM Willis.
Online Meeting on Functional Materials Science - 9 June 2020
The UK Neutron & Muon User Meeting (NMSUM) has been postponed to April 2021. However, we are planning a series of online discussions on science using neutrons and muons with members of the community presenting their work.
Online Science Meeting on Soft Matter and Bioscience at ISIS and the ILL - 20 July 2020
The UK Neutron & Muon User Meeting (NMSUM) has been postponed to April 2021. However, we are planning a series of online discussions on science using neutrons and muons with members of the community presenting their work.
Peter Day Obituary
We are sad to learn of the death of Peter Day, a stalwart of the UK neutron community.
Record-breaking accelerator performance in our first cycle since Covid!
The facility has successfully completing the first user cycle since lockdown in March, with all instruments taking part in the science programme and an outstanding performance from the accelerator!
Retiring NINA after almost 50 years
The project to replace the NINA choke, a key component of the ISIS accelerator, has reached completion, with two successful user cycles completed by the replacement choke system.
STFC wins Apprentice Employer Award
STFC's Apprentice scheme and Dame Julia Higgins have been recognised in the 2020 Institute of Physics Awards
Top 10 most talked about articles of 2019
Discover our most-discussed articles of 2019, by Altmetric score.
TS1 project flask design and manufacture continues
The Target Station 1 project at ISIS has managed to progress, despite lockdown restrictions.

News from 2019

2019 Call for ISIS Studentships now open
The annual call for 50%-funded studentships at ISIS is now open, closing 25 September 2019
BTM Willis Prize 2018 - Dr Roger Johnson
Dr Johnson has made fundamental discoveries in the area of magnetically-induced multiferroics – crystalline solids with simultaneous magnetic order and ferroelectricity in which the electric polarization can be switched by changes in the magnetic order.
BTM Willis Prize 2019 - Dr Lucy Clark
The BTM Willis Prize 2019 has been awarded to Dr Lucy Clark from the University of Liverpool for her outstanding contributions to materials discovery.
Chemistry Nobel Prize awarded to Li-ion battery researchers
The 2019 Nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three scientists for their work in developing lithium-ion batteries.
Congratulations to ISIS user Stephen Hayden on being awarded the IoP’s prestigious Nevill Mott Medal and Prize!
Professor Stephen Hayden from the University of Bristol was awarded the prize for “pioneering studies of spin and charge excitations in cuprate superconductors and other strongly correlated electron systems.”
Don Paul - a life in muons and neutrons
ISIS were sad to learn of the passing of Don Paul, a brilliant scientist who was closely involved with the facility throughout his illustrious career.
ECNS Conference – Student Highlights
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source supported PhD students from across the UK to present at the European Conference on Neutron Scattering (ECNS) in St Petersburg in June/July 2019.
European Research Council Public Engagement with Research Award
Any ISIS users who are funded by ERC and are active in engaging the public with their research are encouraged to apply for the ERC's Public Engagement with Research Award.
High-pressure neutron diffraction: current and future prospects
On the 13 & 14th of May a meeting organised by ISIS, STFC brought together UK, European and US researchers with a joint interest in performing neutron scattering experiments at extreme pressure and temperature conditions.
ISIS Annual Review 2018
The annual review of the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source for 2018 is now available.
ISIS celebrates 10,000th Experimental Risk Assessment
Ten years after its development, the Experimental Risk Assessment (ERA) process at ISIS has reached the milestone of giving out the 10,000th ERA.
ISIS hosts International Advanced School in Muon Spectroscopy
From 15-22 August, ISIS hosted the International Advanced School in Muon Spectroscopy.
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Impact Awards 2019
Announcing the second ISIS Impact Awards for facility users, celebrating the socio-economic impact generated by the user community.
ISIS Sandwich Students 2018-19
Last year, we sat down with some of the Sandwich Students based at ISIS in the early days of their Placement year. As their year draws to an end, we meet with some of the students we originally interviewed 12 months ago to share some of their highlights
ISIS scientists to contribute to new £55million energy storage research
4 September 2019 - Scientists and engineers from STFC are to contribute to new £55million research projects aimed at facilitating improvements in cheaper, safer and more efficient batteries for applications including electric cars.
ISIS@MACH: A new partnership between ISIS and the Lazio region of Italy
A new Research Infrastructure, ISIS@MACH, (Lazio Region, Italy), a partnership with ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source (Oxfordshire-United Kingdom)
LabVIEW User Group Celebrates Tenth Anniversary
The quarterly meetings have been bringing users from across STFC, industry and academia together to discuss a range of LabVIEW related topics since 2009.
Larmor TU-Delft, NWO project celebration
Wednesday 29 August saw a celebration event to mark the collaboration between ISIS and the Technical University of Delft, funded by STFC and a grant from the Netherlands science funding agency the NWO.
Meet the Scientists! #BiologyWithNeutrons
To celebrate Biomedical Science Day 2019, meet the scientists behind bioscience research at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.
New Year Honour for Dr Andrew Taylor
Congratulations to Dr Andrew Taylor on being honoured in the New Year Honours List 2020!
SINO UK Workshop on Science and Cultural Heritage
The SINO-UK workshop brought together British and Chinese researchers focussing on interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary research using cutting edge technologies for the protection, restoration, preservation of Cultural Heritage artefacts.
The top 10-most talked about articles of 2018
Discover the wealth of research completed at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source with our top 10 most-discussed articles of 2018, ranging from antibiotics research, to utilising machine learning for chemistry.
They’ve made 500 compounds, and plan to make 500 more…
This week, the ISIS deuteration facility celebrated the measurement on WISH of a sample made using the 500th compound synthesised in the lab.
TS1 Project milestone reached
The Target Station 1 project at ISIS is celebrating a big milestone as the first target assembly using a new design is completed.
Turning up the heat on Polaris
A new induction furnace is being developed on Polaris as the result of a collaboration between Aarhus University, ISIS Crystallography Group, the ESS and Chalmers University of Technology.
UK Neutron & Muon Science and User Meeting 2019
The UK Neutron and Muon Science and User Meeting (NMSUM) took place at Warwick University from 29 April - 1 May 2019.
UK Neutron and Muon Science & User Meeting: Dates for 2020!
The dates for the next UK Neutron and Muon Science & User Meeting will be 8-10 June 2020.
Working with Indonesia for a climate-friendly future
Indri Adilina is an Indonesian researcher funded by the UK Government's Newton Fund to study converting biomass waste into fuel.
Zoom welcomes first users
Saturday 2 March saw the first users on the Zoom beamline.

News from 2018

ISIS mourns the death of Dr Uschi Steigenberger OBE, former Director and friend
We are sad to announce the death of Dr Uschi Steigenberger OBE, inspirational scientist and former Director of ISIS
MDANSE 2018
MDANSE (Molecular Dynamics and Lattice Dynamics to Analyse Neutron Scattering Experiments) school will take place September 24th-28th 2018 - Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain