European Commissioner makes stellar visit to Jodrell Bank

28 Jul 2016

The European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas took time out from his busy schedule to visit Jodrell Bank Observatory on Tuesday this week (26 July).

Commissioner Moedas was in Manchester for the EuroScience Open Forum 2016 (ESOF) where he gave an opening speech.

Staff at Jodrell Bank have had a busy week, as the visit followed on from the successful bluedot festival which saw artists such as Jean Michel Jarre and Underworld perform.

The Commissioner was shown around the control room at the heart of Jodrell Bank where the operation of the iconic Lovell Telescope is monitored, as well as the award-winning Discovery Centre.

Director of the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Professor Teresa Anderson said: “We were delighted to welcome Commissioner Moedas to Jodrell Bank during his time in the UK for the ESOF 2016 Conference. The Commissioner expressed great interest in both the scientific research of the Observatory and the public engagement work of the Discovery Centre, notably our vibrant schools programme and our recent bluedot festival.

“Collaboration with our European colleagues is very important to us on all levels, and we were pleased to be able to discuss this with him.”

Featured in the photograph (left to right) are: Professor Simon Garrington, Professor Stephen Watts, Professor Teresa Anderson, Professor Jackie Oldham, Commissioner Carlos Moedas, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Professor Martin Schröder, Deputy Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Bailey and Associate Director of Jodrell Bank Professor Tim O’Brien.