France: Advanced and Specialised Neutron Schools
One of SINE2020’s goals is to support e-learning and training in order to train neutron scientists and future users. Based at LLB/CEA in France, Alain Menelle has been responsible for organizing the Advanced and Specialised Neutron Schools component of the project, including the calls for proposals and co-ordinating the review panel that decides which ones to accept. In this category, 18 Schools have been or will be financially supported by SINE2020 throughout the project, covering a range of topics from neutron precession techniques to data handling. These Schools have already trained over 372 students. Below you can read about Bombannes 2018, held in France last June.
To find out more about SINE2020 Supported Schools coming up in 2019, visit our Schools page. Details of other neutron schools are also advertised on the neutronsources.org Event Calendar
Case Study: Bombannes 2018
19th – 26th June 2018
42 participants of 21 different nationalities from 12 EU countries congregated in Gironde, France (50 kilometers north-west of Bordeaux) to learn about scattering methods that can be applied to Soft Condensed Matter. They were joined by 16 organisers and lecturers – recognized soft-matter experts from all over Europe. The programme of activities provided a great learning environment and plenty of opportunity for asking questions.
“The “vibes” of the school, created by the informal atmosphere and the entertaining, yet still informative talks, make it a lot more comfortable to approach the tutors! Good job!” Participant
Bombannes Schools, which will celebrate their 30th anniversary next year, provide advanced training for young soft matter scientists, typically aged 22 to 35 years. The school uses a “bottom-up” approach to neutron, X-ray, and light scattering experiments involving theoretical principles, mathematical transformation back to real space and structural model calculation of the scattering and explains current methodology of static and dynamic scattering techniques.
The 35 hour scientific lecture programme is divided into two parts:
1. A general introductory session covering scattering experiments, basic concepts of data treatment, the notion of contrast, general theorems, instrumentation and resolution effects.
2. Applications of static and dynamic scattering techniques to investigate typical soft matter systems such as colloidal suspensions, microemulsions, micelles and surfactant solutions, polymers, biological systems and turbid suspensions.
Over 8 hours is dedicated to oral contributions from the students during after-dinner evening sessions providing them with presentation training and a forum for discussion and exchange of experience.
The 2018 School received 5000 Euros of SINE2020 funding and was also supported by Softcomp, Eusmi, the French-German University (UFA, Saarbrücken), ILL and Partnership for Soft Condensed Matter (Grenoble), Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (Montpellier), Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany), Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (Saclay, CEA/CNRS), and two companies, Anton Paar and Procter&Gamble.
“Thank you for organizing this course. It has been the best course I have ever been on! – both scientifically and socially.” Participant
Acknowledgements: Alain Menelle, LLB and Julian Oberdisse, University of Montpelier
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Other articles: E-learning and Schools, Introductory Neutron Schools, Matrac 2 Neutron School