Dr Adrian Mancuso, Diamond Light Source Talk in the Auditorium (7:30-9pm)
Diamond Light Source: A Giant Microscope to Look at Stuff and Make a Difference
Adrian P. Mancuso, Director of Physical Sciences, Diamond Light Source & Adjunct Professor of Physics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
On the outskirts of Didcot is the UK’s largest particle accelerator: Diamond Light Source. It produces incredibly bright beams of light, mostly X-rays, which let scientists and their collaborators look inside all sorts of things, from the battery in your phone and ancient scrolls burnt by a volcano, to the tiny protein machines that keep the human body working.
In this talk, I’ll explain how Diamond works, share some of the exciting science happening right here on our doorstep, and show how this remarkable machine helps scientists, students and industry understand the world around us and tackle real-world problems.
Speaker Dr Adrian Mancuso – Physical Sciences Director, Diamond
Adrian’s research interests centre predominantly around the development of techniques and methods exploiting spatially coherent X-rays to observe the structure and dynamics of matter. This includes novel approaches to instrumentation design, experiment design and data analysis using both X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) and synchrotron sources.
Adrian joined Diamond Light Source Limited in November 2022 as Director of Physical Sciences, leading a division of more than 220 scientists, technicians, planners and administrators to deliver impactful science across all of the physical sciences at the UK’s national synchrotron. Prior to joining Diamond, Adrian designed, constructed and lead the operation team for the SPB/SFX instrument of the European XFEL—EuXFEL’s flagship scientific instrument for coherent X-ray single particle imaging, megahertz microscopy and structural biology. He curated large-scale user collaborations to utilise early beam at EuXFEL. His team’s in house research and development at EuXFEL was tailored to support the SPB/SFX science program, extending beyond structural biology and into materials science, X-ray optics and even broader fields. He has further interests in modelling and simulation for XFEL experiments, allowing the more efficient and effective use of beamtime at such in-demand facilities. Present position Director of Physical Sciences, Diamond Light Source
https://didcotfirst.org/event/october-2026-didcot-cafe-scientifique-dr-adrian-mancuso/
Didcot First has run Didcot Café Scientifique since 2010. Talks share exciting science, technology and environmental work from places including Harwell Campus, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Culham Science Centre, MEPC Milton Park and across Oxfordshire.
You may also like...
