Request for block allocation of QENS beam time to the UK Catalysis Hub

The UK Catalysis Hub was launched in April 2013 with EPSRC funding with the aim of first to establish a world-leading, comprehensive and coordinated programme of catalytic science in the UK; secondly to develop new knowledge and promote innovation in and translation of catalytic science and technology; and thirdly to enable the UK to regain and retain its world leading position in catalysis. In addition to standard beam time proposals, the Hub agreed a mode of access with Diamond called Block Allocation Group (BAG), which was originally for XAFS on B18 but has recently expanded to include XPDF on I15-I. The BAG has been highly productive: since the first beam time allocation period, 67 articles have been published, which is an average of <1½ days beam time per paper. We consider that the BAG model that has proved so successful at Diamond can be usefully replicated at ISIS. We are requesting that 3 days per proposal round for 3 years are allocated to an ISIS QENS BAG, as the Hub team has been particularly effective in exploiting QENS in catalytic science to the mutual benefit of both the Hub and ISIS.