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The Sun Shines on Inauguration Day

Just last week, we celebrated the official opening of our new laboratory suite and the opportunity to show off the latest addition to our family - the JEOL 2100 FEG-TEM - a transmission Electron Microscope capable of imaging atoms and especially equipped with a host of tools including cathodoluminescence - currently only one of 2 in the world. 

A major refurbishment had disrupted the routine in our ageing offices and laboratories over the winter months, but gradually the dim bulbs in the corridors, darkened and heavy with dust and particulates, were replaced with bright movement-sensitive lighting strips. The dated dull green and mustard colour-scheme transformed into blue and bright grey. Shiny, glossy work-stations replaced tired and partially-stained wooden benches. And now the smell of fresh paint and flowers wafted through the air, and our new high-tech baby glistened contentedly behind the clear glass of its protective temperature-controlled incubator.

And so, after a winter than seemed to last, well, a whole winter, the sun shone over the ETC and at the appointed time our VIP guests started arriving. Joining our VC, Professor Julia Buckingham, were Professor Sir Colin Humphreys from Cambridge University, The Worshipful the Mayor and Mayoress of Hillingdon, Councillor Michael Markham and Mrs Rosemary Markham, and a small but perfectly formed group of Brunel dignitaries together with distinguished representatives from our equipment manufacturers. 

Brief welcome speeches preceded the unveiling of the ceremonial plaque by Sir Colin in our new suite, before we ambled over to the Hamilton Centre and enjoyed a wonderfully informative presentation by Sir Colin on high efficiency LED's made from GaN on silicon, and a much anticipated glass of wine and celebratory lunch. Interested parties were informed about ETC activities on the poster boards throughout the Centre, and then it was time to head back to the ETC (for another relaxing glass of wine).

We will be holding more open "open days" in the near future, but if anyone reading this feels they can't wait and would like to know more about the ETC and its analytical equipment sooner rather than later, then please feel welcome to wander over to the Bragg building, between the Halsbury-Wolfson complex and the North Loop road. 

Looking forward to your visit (and perhaps a glass of wine).

ian