Diamond open day enlightens visitors (From Herald Series)

Diamond open day enlightens visitors

9:00am Wednesday 18th July 2007

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THOUSANDS of people had an enlightening experience at a state-of-the-art research facility - with scientists describing their open day as an "overwhelming success".

The sell-out event at the Diamond Light Source, in Chilton, attracted 3,500 members of the public on Saturday.

The giant machine, called a synchrotron, can be described as a series of 'super microscopes' and is housed in a futuristic doughnut-shaped building the size of five football pitches.

It is the largest scientific facility to be built in the UK for 40 years and will be used to study potential cures and treatments for diseases as well as pollution solutions. A Diamond spokesman said: "We have had a fantastic response. Opening our doors to the public has been an overwhelming success."

Adults and children of all ages enjoyed the open day's tours, exhibitions and demonstrations. In addition to the Saturday open day, Diamond also played host to 1,300 staff from the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus on Friday and 850 people on Diamond's staff and family day on Sunday.

The event explained the science and technology behind the synchrotron, which generates light beams ten billion times brighter than the sun.

The Diamond spokesman said: "We are keen to reach out to the next generation of scientists and show them how exciting and stimulating a career in science can be. If we can inspire just a few more young people to consider giving science a go, we are achieving a very important step in securing the future of science in the UK."

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