About Us
Courtesy of Define
Futuristic visual of Culham Science Centre.
THE PLACE
Culham Laboratory (as previously known) is built upon the site of the old Royal Naval Air Station HMS Hornbill which had been commissioned in 1944. The airfield was operational as part of the Fleet Air Arm between 1944 and 1953.
In the late 1950's the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority identified Culham as a suitable site for the construction of a brand new purpose built laboratory for plasma physics and fusion research. Construction of Culham Laboratory started in the early 1960’s and was officially opened in 1965 and this research programme continues today through Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) to create clean, sustainable energy sources for future generations.
2016 was a year for new beginnings. UKAEA branched out into two new exciting business areas both housed in bespoke new buildings on site :
Materials Research Facility (MRF) established to analyse material properties in support of both fission and fusion research. It is part of the National Nuclear User Facility (NNUF) initiative, launched by the Government and funded by EPSRC, to set up a multi-site programme giving academia and industry access to internationally-leading experimental equipment
and
Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) - a new facility at Culham Science Centre - building on UKAEAs expertise in remote handling from operating JET. It will offer access to industry and academia to state-of-the-art testing facilities, remote handling equipment and expertise to design, implement and operate complete robotic and autonomous solutions.
Culham Science Centre is also investing in our futures by offering youngsters apprenticeships in mechanical engineering and advanced skills. The site now comprises of a cosmopolitan community of people, attracting diverse science and technology based businesses that benefit from the unusual opportunities afforded by this unique location. You can read about the innovative work carried out by these businesses in Culham’s own newsletter PULSE.
Our range of commercial property available and flexible terms means we can accommodate companies ranging from start-up/virtual serviced offices via the Culham Innovation Centre, through to laboratories/offices for mid to large organisations.
The excellent buffet style restaurant provides daily international menus lending itself to the perfect place for staff to network and relax over lunch.
Students and scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs can chat over a coffee in the popular Costa Coffee lounge, also ideal for meeting clients. The Culham Conference Centre, featuring a 200+ seat Lecture Theatre and conference rooms, is perfectly able to cater for small meetings through to large lectures/exhibitions.
With its green open spaces and peaceful location it is akin to a university campus, particularly when the site becomes an international Summer School for postgraduate physics and plasma students, where they take part in solving sessions and get a chance to tour the fusion facilities.
There is something for everyone at Culham – our community is growing with the brightest of futures.