29 November 2023: 50 years UK@ILL

On 29 November, a half-day event was organized to celebrate 50 years since the UK joined France and Germany as equal partners (Associates) at the ILL.

In the first session, former directors and scientists entertained an audience of about 150 (in the Chadwick amphitheatre and virtually) with insights, achievements and anecdotes from the 1970s and the following decades. The second session focused on the importance of ILL in the UK neutron landscape, current science (green energy, health and magnetic chips for neural networks) and a look into the future, building on the achievements of the Endurance programme. The closing remarks of the UK deputy ambassador in France, Theo Rycroft, and ILL director, Ken Andersen, were followed by lively discussion over wine and cheese!