The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

The universities of Manchester and Liverpool are to collaborate on nuclear science and engineering research at the Dalton Cumbrian Facility (DCF), on the Westlakes Science and Technology Park near Whitehaven.

The DCF is a £20 million state-of-the-art nuclear research centre, jointly funded by the NDA and The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute. It offers facilities for research into areas including nuclear engineering and decommissioning, radioactive waste management and radiation damage to materials.

Under the new agreement, the University of Liverpool will base research and postgraduate students at the DCF, adding to those already there from Manchester undertaking research into radiation effects on chemistry and materials, as well as into decommissioning technologies including autonomous systems. Chemistry and Materials Engineering researchers from Liverpool will use DCF's ion accelerators to simulate radiation effects as part of studies into radiation damage and structural integrity. 

The two universities will also collaborate in postgraduate education and the development of Masters and Continuing Professional Development programmes across nuclear science and engineering.

A further agreement between the NDA and The University of Manchester will also allow researchers to access facilities at Sellafield operated by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).

Dr Melanie Brownridge, Head of Research and Development at the NDA, said:

"This kind of collaboration is necessary to develop the expertise required to drive innovative ways of tackling the decommissioning mission.

"In addition the partnership will also help develop West Cumbria as Britain's Energy Coast and cement the area's status as a centre of excellence for the nuclear industry.

"This is a great example of where our strategic investment in the DCF and our continued activity in research and development can help reap real dividends."

Professor Steve Holloway, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Science and Engineering at Liverpool University, said:

"I'm delighted that Liverpool and Manchester will be able to work much more closely together in these important research areas. It's vital for Liverpool to have access to world-leading facilities in nuclear research so we can remain at the cutting edge of developments in this field and build further on the expertise we're able to offer to industry."

Professor Colin Bailey, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at The University of Manchester, said:

"We are delighted to collaborate in nuclear science and engineering research and skills development with Liverpool University through our Dalton Nuclear Institute. "We are committed to strengthening the academic nuclear research base and the focus of this new collaboration at the Dalton Cumbrian Facility, with academic access to the NNL Central Laboratory, is creating a world-class nuclear research innovation hub for the UK."