Poland joins European Spallation Source

Design for the main ESS facility in Lund, Sweden. ESS/Team Henning Larsen Architects

The ESS is a project involving 17 European countries to build the world’s most powerful neutron source, which will accommodate up to 3,000 guest researchers a year from a variety of fields. It will be 30 times stronger than current neutron sources.

The main facility is currently being constructed in Lund, Sweden, while the so-called ESS Data Management and Software Centre will be located in Copenhagen, Denmark.

A press release from the Ministry stated that “ESS will guarantee our scientists access to the most advanced research methods including in materials science, chemistry, physics, and biology.”

The decision to participate comes after Poland applied to join the European Southern Observatory last month.

Professor Lena Kolarska-Bobinska, Minister of Science, commented that ''the greatest scientific successes are usually the result of team-work.

''This is why international scientific cooperation is so important.

''The cooperation of countries in research yields the best results and brings positive economic effects.''

Organizations in Poland which will be involved in the ESS include the Institute of Nuclear Physics, the National Centre for Nuclear Research and the Warsaw University of Technology.

All participating organizations will gain access to the site’s research facilities.

The ESS will cost at least 1.8 billion Euros to build, of which half will come from host nations Sweden and Denmark. Poland will contribute 37 million Euros to the project, roughly equivalent to 2 percent of the total cost.

The centre is expected to be functioning by 2023. (sl)

Source: PAP