Staff at the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham celebrated the installation of new equipment yesterday (21 July 2014) as a result of a £1 million award from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s core capability grant, and match funding from the University in excess of £500,000.
At an event held today to mark the award, scientists will demonstrate the impact of this investment and will showcase some preliminary research results and highlight the use of new instruments in the areas of magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry and their application in high impact, high-priority science, including next-generation fuel cell materials.
Professor Jon Preece, the University’s Head of School of Chemistry, said: 'This type of investment is crucial in order to underpin and grow research capabilities in important areas such as healthcare and energy, and the new equipment is already generating significant impacts for researchers in the School of Chemistry, and for collaborators, including those in aligned industries.’
Professor Nigel Simpkins, Haworth Chair of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham, said: ‘Developing new molecules and materials and understanding their properties is essential to delivering improved healthcare and developing renewable energy sources. This investment has provided us with exactly the tools we need to carry out research in these important and challenging areas.'
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image caption: Dr Melanie Britton explains new capabilities to Claire Higlett, EPSRC
For more information contact: Kate Chapple, Media Relations Manager - Science, University of Birmingham, tel +44(0)121 414 2772