XMaS: The UK Materials Science Facility at the ESRF

Lead Research Organisation: University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Technopolis report
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/STFC-030823-EuropeanSynchrotronRadiationFacilityImpa...
 
Title CSD 1942347: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: M. Yaman, N. Dege, M.M. Ayoob, A.J. Hussein, M.K. Samad, I.O. Fritsky|2019|Acta Crystallogr.,Sect.E:Cryst.Commun.|75|830|doi:10.1107/S2056989019006972 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc2365cw&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 1942348: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: M. Yaman, N. Dege, M.M. Ayoob, A.J. Hussein, M.K. Samad, I.O. Fritsky|2019|Acta Crystallogr.,Sect.E:Cryst.Commun.|75|830|doi:10.1107/S2056989019006972 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc2365dx&sid=DataCite
 
Description Collaborative research with 4-ID-D at the APS 
Organisation Argonne National Laboratory
Department Advanced Photon Source
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Development of new magnetic scattering protocols for SR metrologies. Alignment and control of x-ray phase plates. Access to beamtime
Collaborator Contribution Transfer of expertise and knowledge. Access to beamtime
Impact New experimental strategies implemented on XMaS beamline
Start Year 2007
 
Description XMaS Scientist Experience 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The XMaS Scientist Experience is a nationwide competition aimed at encouraging young women to consider careers in science, by showing them some opportunities available to them and introducing them to inspirational role models, all within the international setting of the EPN campus. The applicants are required to write about a famous female scientist, her contribution to promoting the cause of women in science, and their own motivation for entering the competition. The prize for the competition winners is a 5 day trip to Grenoble, France. The group of up to 16 year-12 female students visits the ESRF, including XMaS, as well as nearby laboratories. A major part of the trip is to take part in the Synchrotron@school programme run by the ESRF. The winners also share a lunch with women scientists, engineers, technicians and students who work there with one woman available for every 2 girls, which allows for in-depth conversations. After the trip, the girls share their experiences with family and friends and their peers, further influencing the views of the students' support groups. Both winners and their families have been full of praise for the initiative. The XMaS Scientist Experience has allowed its winners to experience what life as a scientist could be, far from the clichés that still exist. As females students, many stressed how empowered they felt after the trip. Charlotte, a participant in one trip declared: "This whole experience has been absolutely incredible- it has shown me the whole world of opportunities there are out there for women in science, and that a career in physics isn't out of my reach". The winners we have managed to follow over the years went on to study STEMM (Science, Technology Engineering Mathematics and Medicine) at university, with two currently studying Physics at the University of Warwick. Winners are keen to act as ambassadors and advertise the competition amongst their peers, often with winners writing a piece in their schools' newsletters. The programme has received a lot of attention on social media (XMaSScientist, @XMaSBeam) as well as recently in more main-stream media, including BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire as part of their morning radio show. The winners are also an integral part of the annual Warwick Science Gala, which is an evening for school pupils of all ages promoting STEMM in an interactive environment and will run again in 2023. The XMaS Scientist Experience has now been running for 6 years, allowing us to reflect on the outcomes of the trips. The enthusiasm of the participants afterwards is remarkably positive and they all comment that it is an eye-opener to the roles that they could play as future women in science. The first few years' entrants came only from schools located near the XMaS hubs of Liverpool and Coventry (Warwick) areas. Applicants come now from schools located as far away as Londonderry, Exeter and Lancashire. We have actively started to target students from Widening Participation backgrounds.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2022,2023,2024
URL http://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/xmas/impact/outreach/xmas_scientist_experienceb/