Diamond Light Source - an Engineering Challenge Designed for Science

Diamond Light Source is a new scientific facility in South Oxfordshire on the Harwell Chilton science campus. This giant machine, called a synchrotron, can be described as a series of 'super microscopes'. It is housed in a futuristic doughnut-shaped building which covers the area of 5 football pitches. Diamond will ultimately host up to 40 cutting edge research stations, called beamlines, supporting the life, physical and environmental sciences. The Prime Minister said about it, 'This new world-class facility shows the importance this country attaches to science and scientists.'