World class science park celebrates half century (From Runcorn and Widnes World)
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Daresbury Laboratory celebrates 50th anniversary
6:40pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan
Susan Smith, head of Daresbury Laboratory, cuts a 50th anniversary cake
A WORLD class science park is celebrating its half century.
A commemorative event has been held to mark the 50th anniversary of Daresbury Laboratory.
Pioneering facilties, cutting edge techniques and innovative engineering have earned the site an international reputation for research excellence.
The campus is now home to more than 100 companies employing almost 500 people in areas such as advanced engineering, digital, ICT, biomedical and energy and environmental technologies.
Professor Susan Smith, head of Daresbury Laboratory, said; “It is extremely important for us to mark this notable anniversary and to celebrate the fantastic work that the site has been involved with over the last 50 years.
“It is tremendous the way Daresbury Laboratory has developed a community in the north west of some of the finest scientific and engineering researchers and technicians at what has become a world-leading research laboratory in areas as diverse as scientific computing, accelerator science, engineering and technology.”
When it opened in 1962, it was home to the National Institute’s Northern Accelerator.
Guests with links to the lab marked the milestone achievement.
Prof Smith said: “Colleagues old and new came together to share stories and anecdotes from days gone by and to also look to the future and to see how far we have come during the last 50 years.”
Future development in accelerator research could allow scientists to map the atomic details of viruses and film chemical reactions.
Collaboration with IBM to bring the fastest and most powerful super-computer in the UK to Daresbury, will enable researchers to look for scientific breakthroughs that could find cures for serious diseases or significantly improve the prediction of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods.
The recent launch of a Business Incubation Centre offers entrepreneurs exciting opportunities.
