PPARC (The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council) has announced the details of the second phase of its e-Science Programme. This phase continues the major particle physics and astronomy grid infrastructure projects and introduces new e-Science applications projects for astronomy and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments.

The University benefits through 3 projects:

GridPP2 will adapt the prototype Grid infrastructure to a production system for analysis of data from the LHC and other particle physics experiments. Professor Tony Doyle is Project Leader for the GridPP1 project. This announcement provides £15.9m for 3 years from September 2004 and PPARC have just renewed Professor Doyle's position as project leader inphase 2. GU activities focus on Grid Data Management and deployment of Grid computing as part of the EU-wide EGEE (Enabling Grids for E-science in Europe) project led by CERN.

The ATLAS computing project (£2.45m over 3 years) aims to develop algorithms to search for the Higgs Boson and other particles beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. GU activities focus on the development of the Monte Carlo simulations needed in preparation for first data expected in 2007.

The LHCb computing project (£1.12m over 3 years) aims to develop and deliver the computational infrastructure required to underpin the physics programme of the LHCb experiment. This will enable far more detailed studies of the nature of the matter-antimatter asymmetry of our Universe.

These programmes underpin the research programme of the experimental particle physics group within the Physical Science Faculty.

The Dean of the Faculty, Professor David Saxon commented:

"Glasgow showed the UK a lead in e-science four years ago by proposing the ScotGRID project with Edinburgh.

This led to Scotland winning the National e-Science Centre and to a build-up of interdisciplinary cooperation within Glasgow University.

The project renewal at an enhanced funding level does great credit to our enthusiastic and expert staff."

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First published: 17 March 2004