LhARA Executive Board 05Aug26; 16:00 BST

Present: CW, KL, CJ, HO, RA, RB, WS, JPar, AG

Actions

• KL: Form programme grant writing committee.
• KL: Take note and inform PP of news item mentioned in AoB.

Notes

1. Notes and actions: All
   
   • PP: Find out treatment/planning/decommissioning status of Rutherford cylcotron at Newport.
     • Commercial discussions appear stilll to be ongoing. Likely to be a long road to recommissioning, beam time for research would come later.
   • RA: Enquire of IBA what status is and how hard it might be to recommission.
     • Echoed PP comments. There could be a company (ICON) taking an interest. But no clear information.

2. Targets for proposals, update and review:
   • IAA:
     • IAA call not yet announced (despite WWW site). Call will be announced in due course.
     • Discussion of possibility to request for support for impact analysis/benefits map inconclusive, review when call is out.
     • Have quote and scope of work from ARUP. "Partner led" (i.e. LhARA led) with their support would be around £10k. This is in response to the discussion in a call KL had with one one of the associate directors. KL still following up.
     • Noted (CJ) different institutes may have relationships with (e.g. ARUP) so, perhaps contact PIs to see what could be managed.
   • STFC SPARK (25Aug26):
     • Discussion initiated with comms at UKRI/RAL. Focus on schools outreach and SSE on tour.
     • Meeting to progress just ahead of EB. Will update.
   • STFC PPRP (27Aug26):
     • "Talk to programme manager before submitting", conversation now scheduled for 07Sep26.
   • STFC/EPSRC KTP (no closing date):
     • Contact with LCC made.
   • EPSRC Collaborate with researchers in Norway (no closing date):
     • Plasma lens; discuss after 11Sep26 meeting?
   • EPSRC Programme grant; also outline stage proposal (no deadline):
     • Next "gathering" date 01Dec26.
     • Worth doing to bring together our programme.
     • Focus on development of bio and med-tech aspects.
     • Potential also to bring forward a proposal on plasma lens post 11Sep26 meeting.
     • Discussion of how to proceed, Agreed form writing committee.
   • EU MCSA:
     • Caught a cold on Nov26 submission. Now preparing for 2027 call. Verbal update at meeting.

3. 4-nation initiative:
   • Wales:
     • Progressing, both nominations for LhARA collaboration leads and contact with LSW.
   • Ireland (whole island):
     • Working on forming opinion on whether it should be an all island approach.
   • Scotland:
     • BB is in touch with Prof. M. Lucas, FRSE (Ggo). Will discuss with her when she returns from vacation.
   • 2-year plan:
     • No update this week.

4. CP4CT workshop series:
   • 11Sep26: Cylindrically symmetric strong focusing
   • xxYYY27: Novel time-resolved and high-resolution imaging
     • Contacts with Y.Prezado and K.Parodi made. Also C.Dunsby. Need to bring forward organisation in September.

5. DONM
   
   • Date of next meeting: 28Aug26 -- 16:00 BST

• Next CM
  • Dec26; IC; will bring date to fortnightly meeting.
    • One day.

6. AoB
   
   • JPar: Reported on bio meeting; Brm, IC, and Strathclyde. Discussed how to develop in short/medium/long-term term. Planning to write a one pager.
     • Standing item for EB

• BB: Noted news item: ​https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l0058p9j/burnham-offers-to-meet-archie-goodburn
  • KL to raise as appropriate with OG and PP.

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