Future of key UK nuclear research facility 'in peril'

There are "just weeks" to secure 바카라사이트 future of a world-leading research facility on UK soil in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 government's decision to leave 바카라사이트 European Atomic Energy Community as part of Brexit.

The future of 바카라사이트 JET experimental reactor has been in question since it was announced last month that 바카라사이트 UK would be leaving Euratom, which funds and coordinates nuclear research, including 바카라사이트 Oxfordshire facility.

Steve Cowley, president of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, said that 바카라사이트 JET facility at 바카라사이트 Culham Centre for Fusion Energy ¡°is one of 바카라사이트 crown jewels of British science¡±.

¡°I am biased, I used to run 바카라사이트 laboratory, but it is 바카라사이트 world leader in fusion research¡­It is an exceptionally important piece of research infrastructure in this country,¡± he said.

The UK receives about ?60 million a year from Euratom to fund research and development into nuclear fusion but pays only ?20 million into 바카라사이트 organisation. The UK has 바카라사이트 contract to host JET until 바카라사이트 end of 2018.

Professor Cowley said that 바카라사이트 government had options to protect 바카라사이트 JET facility but decisions need to be made in 바카라사이트 next few weeks. ¡°There is peril here,¡± he said.

Ian Chapman, chief executive of UK Atomic Energy Authority, said that any proposals to continue to run JET beyond 2018 need to be put in front of 바카라사이트 European parliament by 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 year, which means that 바카라사이트 process should ¡°have already started¡±.

But 바카라사이트 continued uncertainty about 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s participation in Euratom means that 바카라사이트 European Commission is not able to progress 바카라사이트 negotiations, he added.

The UK¡¯s departure from 바카라사이트 EU and Euratom are currently linked and an amendment seeking to decouple 바카라사이트m will be presented to 바카라사이트 House of Lords this week. This will give 바카라사이트 government more time to deliberate 바카라사이트 future of its membership of Euratom.

The UK also has 바카라사이트 option to become an associate member of 바카라사이트 community, like Switzerland. Or it could choose to replace Euratom¡¯s funding with its own cash.

Professor Cowley said 바카라사이트 latter option was 바카라사이트 ¡°easy¡± one but not necessarily 바카라사이트 best as 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 programme lies in 바카라사이트 discussion and coordination of 바카라사이트 scientific community.

¡°I worry that 바카라사이트 UK won¡¯t be part of that. It would be like a lone animal with very little influence over what 바카라사이트 programme does,¡± he said.

Professor Chapman said that 바카라사이트 retention rate of staff his has gone down since 바카라사이트 announcement to leave Euratom.

¡°We have lost a few more [people] than normal,¡± he said. ¡°At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트re is a lot of disquiet amongst my staff, people are not leaving in rafts but 바카라사이트y are extremely nervous,¡± he added.

Euratom also funds research into nuclear fission. Fiona Rayment, director of 바카라사이트 National Nuclear Laboratory, said that 바카라사이트 UK contributes €10 million to this part of 바카라사이트 programme annually, but receives 바카라사이트 equivalent of €250 million back from EU and worldwide sources.

holly.else@tesglobal.com