LENS Webinar Series

Hanna Wacklin-Knecht (ESS) introducing the LENS webinar series in June 2020.

Welcome to the LENS webinar series, which was launched in 2020 to showcase the remarkable applications of, and advances in, neutron science and technology.

Each webinar features expert speakers from across the world, who present on one of two themes: how neutron science contributes to the fight against global health threats, or new directions in neutron instrumentation. Each webinar is approximately one hour duration and includes an interactive Q&A session.

Check this page for updates on our upcoming webinars and to view the recordings of previous webinars.


Upcoming Webinars

The role of neutron science in a securing a sustainable future

3 November 2021, 10:30 – 12:00 CET

Join us for a themed LENS webinar, coinciding with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), to find out how neutron scattering techniques are being applied in energy, materials, and environment research to help reduce our impact on the global climate.

Talk 1: How neutron science improves energy production, conversion, and consumption – Leonardo Chiappisi (ILL)

Talk 2: Investigating the oxidation of atmospheric aerosols using neutron scattering – Rebecca Welbourn (ISIS)

Talk 3: Polymer electrolyte membranes for energy devices – Quentin Berrod (CNRS)

Talk 4: Caloric materials for energy-efficient cooling – Karen Friese (Jülich Centre for Neutron Science-2)


Previous Webinars

10 June 2021: New Directions in Instrumentation

The Wolter optics based neutron microscope
Dr Daniel S. Hussey, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)


27 May 2021: New Directions in Instrumentation

Ultra-high field magnets for neutron scattering: latest developments and possibilities
Dr Mark D. Bird, The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee


25 March 2021: Global Health Threats
Drug development & drug delivery systems


04 March 2021: Global Health Threats
Elucidating amyloid aggregation mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases


11 February 2021: New Directions in Instrumentation
Exploring the potential of neutron imaging and diffraction techniques on IMAT instrument at ISIS, UK
Dr Genoveva BURCA , ISIS


26 November 2020: New Directions in Instrumentation
Multiplexing backends for neutron spectroscopy
Rasmus TOFT-PETERSEN, DTU/ESS


22 October 2020: New Directions in Instrumentation
Neutron Diffraction Instrumentation for stress determination
Thilo Pirling, Institut Laue-Langevin


08 October 2020: Global Health Threats
Microbial resistance and novel antibiotics

Studying the surfaces of bacteria using neutron scattering. Finding new openings for antibiotics.
Prof. Jeremy Lakey, Structural Biochemistry, Biosciences Institute, The Medical School, University of Newcastle

Antimicrobial peptides – from membrane interactions to drug delivery
Prof. Martin Malmsten, LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen


10 September 2020: Global Health Threats
Cancer-related research using neutrons

How does the Bcl-2 Protein family regulate apoptosis at the mitochondrial membrane level?
Gerhard Gröbner, Umeå University


Towards the catalytic cycle of a multidrug ABC (“ATP-Binding Cassette”) transporter
Jean-Michel Jault, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)





Global Health Threats

Advances in neutron instrumentation have made neutron scattering an essential part of research in soft condensed matter, structural biology and the health sciences generally.

This webinar series is organised by LENS Working Group 3 to engage the biomedical research communities in defining how neutron scattering infrastructures can contribute to solving some of the current major challenges.

The webinars will consist of presentations by leading experts from both neutron scattering and the health research communities, followed by a chance to discuss and ask them questions about their work.   

Further webinars on topics related to research on some of the major health challenges of the aging population in the developed world are envisaged from August 2020 onwards on a bi-weekly basis:

  • Cancer
  • Amyloid aggregation and Alzheimer’s/Parkinson’s disease
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Diabetes type II
  • Antibiotic resistance and new pathogens
  • Drug development and delivery systems

New Directions in Instrumentation

New instruments and recent upgrades at European neutron sources, together with the world-leading instrument designs under construction for ESS, are bringing rapid changes to neutron science methods and science areas.

Progress in instrumentation is key to the advancement of scientific knowledge and the development of new and improved technologies. Sophisticated instrument concepts enable scientists to perform experiments with greater precision or higher sensitivity and to answer increasingly complex questions. 

The webinars will feature live presentations of novel instrument concepts by leading experts from LENS member facilities, followed by an interactive Q&A session. The aim is to generate discussion, to develop new and existing contacts, and to disseminate the current capabilities and developments. 


Recent News

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