Page 6 - ILLS Annual Report 2018

FOREWORD
THEILL and its staff are second to none in neutron scattering around the world!
It was my pleasure to chair the Steering Committee of this outstanding facility
for the fourth time, against the backdrop of a changing scientific landscape. Society is our main financial partner and has every reason to expect a positive impact from the solutions, resulting from our basic research, to the grand challenges facing it. I know, ‘grand challenges’ is a big buzz word. But honestly, we all know that energy resources are limited, that we have to find alternatives to fossil-based products, that nothing is changing our lives more than the rapid evolution of information technology and last, but not least, that we are fortunate to have a life expectancy twice as long as that of 100 years ago— albeit accompanied by health problems not known before. Many breakthroughs in science and technology are due to a deeper understanding of the structure, dynamics and function of biological or artificial materials, all of which require advanced characterisation methods. Naturally, our favourite probe is the neutron, with all its unique features. In 2018, the ILL and its users produced an impressive number of high-level publications, many of them presenting novel findings addressing the above-mentioned societal challenges and often related to applications.
The landscape of neutron scattering is, however, changing. Some successful sources will soon be switched off: the BERII reactor in Berlin and the Orphée reactor in Saclay. The ILL Associates discussed this new situation in a workshop in Unkel, Germany, in the spring of 2018. Regarding the ILL, we are pleased to report that their intention is to sign a sixth protocol, securing its operation for another ten-year period: 2024−2033.
In 2018, the last instrument of the Millennium upgrade—WASP—was put into operation while the Endurance2 upgrade programme received funding for 2019. The Scientific Members have expressed their willingness to keep using the ILL instruments and share the costs accordingly—95 % of the funding has been renewed and new membership possibilities are being explored in the context of the FILL2030 European project. Indeed, one highlight of 2018 was the celebration of 31 years of Spanish membership, by way of a perfectly organised event in Madrid in December—thank you, dear Spanish colleagues!
A prerequisite for our continued success is the safe and secure operation of the research reactor itself. This year the ILL ran three successful cycles and a contract for the supply of 30 fuel elements until ~2028 was signed. My compliments to everybody involved in this demanding but essential aspect of our work.
The ILL is leading in shaping the new neutron landscape, as a founding member of the League of European Neutron Sources (LENS). I believe that this European initiative is of the utmost importance if we are to unleash the full potential of
the community and its sources across national borders and to the advantage
of the entire European network of neutron scattering institutions. This potential was visible in the first ILL/ESS user meeting held in Grenoble in October 2018, which was attended by an impressive 650+ participants.
On behalf of the ILL Associates, I express my thanks and my appreciation to the directorate and the entire staff of the ILL, the scientific members and users across Europe.
Sebastian M. Schmidt
Chair of the ILL Steering Committee
ANNUAL REPORT 2018