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Unlocking the secrets of life in the universe with opening of Cambridge鈥檚 Ray Dolby Centre

A state-of-the-art facility designed to push the boundaries of what is possible

鈥淎 state-of-the-art facility designed to push the boundaries of what is possible.鈥

That鈥檚 how Professor Mete Atat眉re, Head of the Cavendish Laboratory and a Fellow of St John鈥檚, has described The Ray Dolby Centre 鈥 the new home of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory and a major asset for the University, the city and the nation.

Professor Atat眉re, who is College Lecturer and Director of Studies for Physics and Astrophysics and for Mathematics for Natural Sciences, said: 鈥淥ur new home presents unprecedented possibilities enabling our researchers to tackle some of the greatest scientific challenges of our time, from unlocking the secrets of dark matter and origins of life in the universe, to addressing the energy crisis for a sustainable society and translating quantum science to technologies of tomorrow.鈥

The Cavendish, which has produced 31 Nobel Prize-winners, is one of the world鈥檚 most influential science laboratories. In the 150 years since its founding, its scientists have fundamentally changed our understanding of the physical world. It is where the electron, the neutron and the structure of DNA were discovered, and where new frontiers in physics research are being explored today.

From left: Professor Deborah Prentice, Professor Mete Atat眉re, Dagmar Dolby and Lord Spencer Livermore at the official opening

The new facility was officially opened by Cambridge alumna and philanthropist Dagmar Dolby, Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice, Professor Atat眉re, and聽Lord Spencer Livermore, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Growth, on Friday 9 May.

The centre has been named in recognition of a generous 拢85 million donation from the estate of Cambridge alumnus and sound pioneer Ray Dolby. Another 拢75 million support came from the UK government through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

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