Powering discovery, The Future of Particle Accelerating
About
Hosted by STFC and supported by the IET Particle Accelerator Engineering Network (PAEN)
Join us for an unmissable in-person event bringing together engineers, scientists, technicians, and industry leaders shaping the future of accelerator technology.
Delegates will gain valuable insights into the latest technologies, real-world applications, and emerging trends shaping the field, with practical perspectives they can apply to their own work. Whether you’re looking to deepen your technical knowledge or stay ahead of industry developments, the sessions are designed to inform, inspire, and spark new ideas.
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EPAC tour
Following the lectures delegates will also have the opportunity to join a tour of the Extreme Photonics Applications Centre (EPAC).
This guided tour will give you a unique, behind-the-scenes look at one of the UK’s most exciting accelerator-driven research facilities. EPAC is at the forefront of developing next-generation high-power laser and accelerator technologies, with applications spanning:
- Advanced materials and manufacturing
- Medical and healthcare innovation
- National security and space technologies
Attendees will gain insight into how cutting-edge photonics and accelerator science are being translated into real-world solutions.
If you would like to join the tour please make sure to indicate this when registering.
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Accelerator Technician of the year prize
As part of the event, PAEN is once again running a technician of the year prize.
We are looking for technicians who have added value to particle accelerator projects by changing something to make the project better, cheaper or faster. This can be designing or building tools, modifying a design, writing or changing a procedure or how people work, anything that has added value to the organization or project.
Entrants can demonstrate this in any way they see fit. It can be a video presentation, a report, an essay, a poster, whatever you think best demonstrates your contribution to the judging panel.
The entrants can be a technician at a lab, industry or university and can be of any age or engineering discipline as long as the contribution is to building a particle accelerator (excluding building instruments for detectors or user stations). Entrants must either work in the UK or be a UK national.
The prize is £100 plus an IET certificate.
Entrants must submit by 5pm on the 4th September. To enter you will need to register for the event and submit your entry to sambenson@theiet.org
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Continuing Professional Development
This event can contribute towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the IET's CPD monitoring scheme.
16 Sep 2026
9:30am - 3:00pm
Organiser
- Particle Accelerator TN
Speakers
Paul Vivian
Head of Accelerator Mechanical Engineering - Diamond Light Source
Paul is currently the Head of Accelerator Mechanical Engineering at Diamond Light Source, he originally joined Diamond in 2012 as a Mechanical Project Engineer working on front ends in the storage ring. After a 7 year stint at a large defence company he returned to Diamond in 2022 to his current role.
His role covers ongoing operations of the current accelerators and leading a team developing the new Diamond II accelerators, working closely with all technical devisions across Diamond and the wider science and engineering community in the UK.
Chris Gregory
Software Controls Group Leader - STFC
Chris developed an interest in plasma physics as a student at the University of York, where he went on to pursue a PhD in laser-plasma astrophysics performing experiments in France, Japan, the USA, and the Central Laser Facility (CLF). After working as a Postdoctoral research fellow at the Ecole Polytechnique in France, Chris worked as an applications engineer specialising in surface metrology for both production and research.
In 2013 Chris rejoined the world of lasers and plasmas, working in Gemini as first a laser operator and then as a target area scientist. He moved to the software controls team in 2018 where his work focuses on developing control systems that integrate the wide variety of scientific instruments required by state-of-the-art laser systems.
Reasons to attend
- Explore real-world applications of particle accelerator engineering across science, industry, energy and healthcare.
- Gain insights into cutting-edge trends, including digital transformation and digital twin technologies.
- Hear from leading experts and innovators shaping the future of accelerator technology.
- Network with engineers, scientists, and industry professionals from across the sector.
- Discover practical solutions, best practices, and emerging opportunities.
- Experience an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the EPAC facility at STFC.
- Strengthen your professional connections and spark new collaborations.
- Stay at the forefront of innovation and the UK’s global leadership in this field.