Page 194 - Neutrons for Sciences and Society

Neutrons for Science
and to impose a freeze on recruitment to posts becoming vacant. Application of these measures with effect from the end of 1991 makes it possible to envisage building up half of the reserve
in 1992. Similar work must be continued in 1992 to provide
the necessary additional amount in 1993. Finally if the more precise evaluation of the cost due at the end of January 1992 should lead to a downward revision, that part of the reserve not used by the reactor could be returned to the instrument programme, with the Associates’ agreement.
[...]
The reactor, the heart of the ILL, has been shut down since 30th March 1991 and will not resume operation before 1994. This event has not only interrupted certain aspects of the ILL’s scientific activity, but also necessitates reconsideration of its medium term plans: development of instruments, distribution of staff, relations with the scientific user communities and
the other research centres. Whereas the ILL’s function has been to develop a range of instruments and a scientific life designed to provide the most efficient possible reception for the users, it now has to ensure that its reactor is refurbished as quickly as possible, which means the setting up and
smooth implementation of a large and expensive nuclear engineering project, while conserving its scientific and instrumental potential. This sudden change in orientation
also has to take place in a relatively difficult context due to budgetary constraints and the envisaged renegotiation of the intergovernmental convention covering the ILL.”
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