University College Cork Releases

 Big Science for Small Countries

The benefits of establishing Big Science Facilities in small countries will be examined at one of the sessions at the ESOF in Dublin tomorrow.

The benefits will be looked at in terms of scientific and technological output and economic growth, as well as looking at the alternatives for the large investments required. 

The session will highlight two case studies on “big science” discussing the experiences of Catalonia with the ALBA synchrotron light source and Virginia USA with Jefferson Lab.

The group will also explore the issue from the EU perspective with a view to policies already in place and strategies that could be employed by the smaller EU countries like Ireland to attract such an investment.

The speakers will each speak for 10 minutes followed by a formal discussion . The speakers are:

• H. Frederick Dylla, CEO, American Institute of Physics
• Patrick G. O’ Shea, VP for Research, University of Maryland
• Margaret Murnane, University Distinguished Professor, University of Colorado (and UCC graduate)
• Ramon Pascual, Chairman of the ALBA Synchrotron Executive Commission, Catalonia
• Beatrix Vierkorn-Rudolph,Chair of the EU European Strategy Forum on Research

Seán Sherlock Minister for Research and Innovation will chair the session while the formal discussions will be led by Richard Milner – Professor of Physics and Director, Laboratory for Nuclear Science MIT (and UCC graduate) and  Alastair Glass - President, Transparent Solutions, Canada, Chairman of Tyndall National Institute Board  and ex Deputy Minister for Innovation in State of Ontario, Canada.  The organiser is Professor Roger Whatmore.

The session will take place in the Convention Centre The Liffey  B 10.45am -12.15pm