Iconic research centre confirms Durham’s international position in space science

Iconic research centre confirms Durham's international position in space science. (8 March 2017) Durham University has reaffirmed its position as a world leading centre of research in astronomy and cosmology with the opening of the new £11.5m Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics. The centre will house an international team of researchers investigating the mysteries of the cosmos, from the birth of the Universe through to the origin of galaxies, to the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The building has been designed by the internationally renowned Studio Libeskind, the architectural practice behind the master plan for the World Trade Center redevelopment in New York. Leading astrophysicists The centre's opening will be celebrated on Thursday, 9 March, with a series of talks from leading figures including architect Daniel Libeskind, Lord Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, and prominent astrophysicists Professors Hiranya Peiris, Mark Hannam and Carlos Frenk. Lord Rees will unveil a plaque commemorating the official opening of the centre on South Road, Durham City, UK, on Friday, 10 March. The new Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics will house Durham University's Institute for Computational Cosmology (ICC) , the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy (CEA) and the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) . The development was made possible thanks to generous donations of £3.35m from The Ogden Trust , whose Chairman is Durham physics alumnus and entrepreneur Sir Peter Ogden, £1.5m from The Wolfson Foundation and a further £900,000 from a private benefactor. Additional funding was provided by Durham University. The building will house 140 staff, including academics, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students and support staff, in 80 offices. Furthering our understanding of the Universe