The University of Durham is to host the UK's Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology. Durham beat off competition from Manchester University, Oxford University and University College London to host the institute, which will effectively take over from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory as the UK's main centre for "phenomenology", as the interface between theory and experiment is known in particle physics.
The institute has been established for 10 years in the first instance, with the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) investing £7m and the University of Durham investing £5m. Durham already has a strong track record in phenomenology lead by James Stirling, who is director-designate of the new institute. To begin with the institute will have four new permanent positions and seven postdoctoral positions.
“This is a major opportunity to strengthen and expand UK phenomenology,” said PPARC chief executive, Ian Halliday. “I believe this is an opportunity for the University and PPARC to have a major international impact; relations between the Institute and the experimental community will be all important.”
