STFC is hosting a workshop at The University of Sheffield to explore the opportunities to develop the underground, low background science programme in the UK over the next decade and beyond.
The workshop discussion will be focused on the facility needs of future science projects that could be hosted at the STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory in the next 5 to 10 years. We will also discuss a planned future expansion of the current facilities.
The STFC Boulby development project team will outline the plans and timeline for the future expansion of the Boulby Laboratory.
A forum
The workshop is intended to provide a forum where interested individuals and scientific project teams can interface with the Boulby development project management to ensure that the community requirements for future facility development are captured.
Speakers will be invited to discuss their facility requirements and timescales for underground projects. This is supported by STFC and the wider UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) community, in relation to future Boulby Laboratory development.
As part of the workshop participants are invited to discuss how they plan to present a case to STFC or UKRI for the future funding and development of a particular project or concept. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss the timelines of individual projects and how decisions on where future projects are sited will be made.
Funding scheme
A funding scheme for interested groups to participate in the development of a new underground facility will be formally launched at the workshop. The Boulby development advisory scheme will be open for interested parties to apply for funding.
They will advise on the planning and development of a new UK based underground laboratory and identify the facility requirements needed for a particular project to be successfully hosted in the UK.
This is a free event to attend with lunch and catering provided throughout.
Boulby development workshop agenda
9:30am: registration and coffee
Part 1
10:00am: Welcome
10:15am: Boulby development project overview
10:45am: Boulby and underground science in the STFC strategy
11:00am: Boulby development project advisory scheme
11:15am: Questions
11:30am: Break
Part 2
11:45am: Boulby science areas session 1 (15+5 mins questions per subject)
Remit: aspirations for work in a major new facility, route-to-get there, principal facility requirements. Discussion topics include:
- Xenon Dark Matter (+)
- Argon Dark Matter (+)
- Quantum Sensors, AION (+)
12:45pm: Lunch
Part 3
1:30pm: Boulby science areas session 2 (15+5 mins questions per subject)
Remit: aspirations for work in a major new facility, route-to-get there, principal facility requirements. Discussion topics include:
- Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay (+)
- Nuclear Security, BUTTON (+)
- NEWS-G, DarkSPHERE (+)
- SoLAr
2:45pm: Break
Part 4
3:00pm: Other project announcements. Short descriptions of other projects invited from the audience
Remit: Aspirations for work in a major new facility, route-to-get there, principal facility requirements.
3:15pm: Roundtable discussion, question, and answer.
Remit: roundtable question and answer session on Boulby development.
3:45pm: Summary and conclusions
4:00pm: End
Location
The workshop will be held at INOX at The University of Sheffield.
Find out more about INOX Dine.