Didcot First lists information about one off community and not for profit events that are open to everyone in the wider Didcot Garden Town area. Any events we list here must be run for the benefit of the whole community and are the responsibility of the event organisers, so please contact them directly if you require further information.
If you would like to promote your community event here please send details to hello@didcotfirst.org
Please contact Didcot Café Scientifique if you would like to be added to the Mailing list on cafesci@didcotfirst.org
October 2026 – Didcot Cafe Scientifique, Dr Adrian Mancuso – Diamond Light Source: A Giant Microscope to Look at Stuff and Make a Difference
October 20 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Tuesday 20th October 2026 – Dr Adrian Mancuso, Diamond Light Source, Talk in the Auditorium at Cornerstone 7pm – 9pm.
**TICKETED EVENT – Please see booking link here**
Diamond Light Source: A Giant Microscope to Look at Stuff and Make a Difference
Adrian P. Mancuso, Director of Physical Sciences, Diamond Light Source & Adjunct Professor of Physics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
On the outskirts of Didcot is the UK’s largest particle accelerator: Diamond Light Source. It produces incredibly bright beams of light, mostly X-rays, which let scientists and their collaborators look inside all sorts of things, from the battery in your phone and ancient scrolls burnt by a volcano, to the tiny protein machines that keep the human body working.
In this talk, I’ll explain how Diamond works, share some of the exciting science happening right here on our doorstep, and show how this remarkable machine helps scientists, students and industry understand the world around us and tackle real-world problems.
Speaker Dr Adrian Mancuso – Physical Sciences Director, Diamond
Adrian’s research interests centre predominantly around the development of techniques and methods exploiting spatially coherent X-rays to observe the structure and dynamics of matter. This includes novel approaches to instrumentation design, experiment design and data analysis using both X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) and synchrotron sources.
Adrian joined Diamond Light Source Limited in November 2022 as Director of Physical Sciences, leading a division of more than 220 scientists, technicians, planners and administrators to deliver impactful science across all of the physical sciences at the UK’s national synchrotron. Prior to joining Diamond, Adrian designed, constructed and lead the operation team for the SPB/SFX instrument of the European XFEL—EuXFEL’s flagship scientific instrument for coherent X-ray single particle imaging, megahertz microscopy and structural biology. He curated large-scale user collaborations to utilise early beam at EuXFEL. His team’s in house research and development at EuXFEL was tailored to support the SPB/SFX science program, extending beyond structural biology and into materials science, X-ray optics and even broader fields. He has further interests in modelling and simulation for XFEL experiments, allowing the more efficient and effective use of beamtime at such in-demand facilities. Present position Director of Physical Sciences, Diamond Light Source
Tickets available online here or in person at the Cornerstone box office