Science at ISIS
The research conducted at ISIS plays an important role in addressing global challenges, answering fundamental questions, and delivering scientific and socio-economic impact.
Hundreds of experiments are performed every year at ISIS by industrial and academic researchers from around the world, in diverse science areas such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, quantum computing, healthcare, agriculture and archaeology.
Among the important and pioneering work carried out at ISIS was the discovery of the structure of high-temperature superconductors and the solid phase of buckminsterfullerene. More recently there has been a growth in experiments relating to clean energy, such as batteries, and health and life sciences, such as bacterial membranes and lipid nanoparticles. Other recent scientific highlights can be found below. You can also read our article mapping ISIS science to the Modern Industrial Strategy.
If you are interested in using ISIS, but unsure about which technique or instrument is best suited to your work, take a look at the pages below, grouping our activities around four broad focus areas: Energy and clean growth, Life sciences and healthcare, Advanced manufacturing and materials, and Quantum matter. These challenge areas encompass the majority of ISIS research, but do not cover it all. We will continue to support the wide, diverse science programme we have always supported and so, if your science area is not listed, please use the search box to find the appropriate ISIS scientist or instrument.
Energy and clean growth
Research into harnessing different forms of energy and increasing the productivity with which resources are used, alongside understanding and reducing the adverse impacts of human activity on the natural world.
Advanced manufacturing and materials
Advanced manufacturing, materials and testing (AMMT) encompass cutting-edge scientific research and engineering practices aimed at revolutionising industries across the globe. These disciplines involve the development of novel materials with enhanced properties, innovative manufacturing techniques that optimise production processes, and rigorous testing methodologies to ensure product quality and performance. They are crucial for driving innovation, improving efficiency, and addressing pressing societal challenges.
Life sciences and healthcare
Any biological experiment, from single proteins to living plants, biophysics, biochemistry, and structural biology; any pharmaceutical research, as well as healthcare devices, from toothpaste to implants. This research ranges from fundamental research to research into samples that are already used today or about to be. Any increased understanding might answer the next big life science or healthcare challenge.
Quantum materials
The neutron and muon techniques at ISIS play a vital role in advancing quantum technologies by providing unique and complementary insights into atomic and magnetic structure and dynamics of materials and devices. The result of this work is a better fundamental understand of quantum materials and their properties.
In addition to the instruments, ISIS advances the state of quantum materials research through developments in scientific software, sample environment, neutron instrument technologies and materials characterisation.
ISIS and the modern industrial strategy
ISIS facilitates many activities which support the themes of the UK Government’s recently announced Modern Industrial Strategy. ISIS is a key part of research that supports many of these sectors, from industrial testing of electronics used in aviation to studying the structure of lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery.
