Culham Campus has marked its 60th anniversary with the official opening of a new reception building and visitor centre – a milestone moment celebrating six decades of world-leading scientific innovation and community engagement.
The new facility, set to open to the public in December, offers interactive exhibits highlighting Culham’s pioneering research in fusion energy and other cutting-edge scientific endeavours. It also features a dedicated meeting space for local community groups, underscoring the campus’s ongoing commitment to openness, education, and collaboration.
Guest of honour Olly Glover MP addressed attendees before ceremonially planting a tree outside the new building to commemorate the occasion. Other dignitaries in attendance included the Chairs of Oxfordshire County Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, as well as Rawda Jehanli, the Mayor of Abingdon.
Ruth Elliot, UKAEA’s Chief Financial Officer, hosted the event and thanked the project team for their dedication in bringing the new facility to life.
“This centre represents not just a gateway to the campus, but a gateway to understanding the future of energy,”
said Ruth Elliot.
Among the special guests was Mike Forrest, a retired UKAEA scientist who worked at Culham from its earliest days through to the early 2000s. His presence offered a poignant connection to the campus’s rich scientific heritage and its continual evolution.
The new visitor centre marks a significant new chapter for Culham Campus, reinforcing its role as a global leader in fusion research and a cornerstone of the Oxfordshire science and innovation ecosystem.
Chris Warrick, UKAEA’s Outreach & Student Placement Manager, who led the project to equip the new space, reflected on its importance:
“Having an area outside the main gate where members of the public can find out about fusion has been a long-held ambition of mine. We’re hoping this will allow many more people to discover the incredible work that happens at Culham.”
As Culham Campus looks ahead to the next 60 years, the new reception and visitor centre will stand as both a welcoming gateway and a powerful symbol of its commitment to inspiring future generations through science and innovation.
