News Releases 2009

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20 December 2009 Testing the new multi-terrain camouflage The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the Ministry of Defence civilian scientists, working with the MOD Defence Clothing Project Team, has tested and trialled new multi-terrain camouflage clothing that has been proven to improve mission effectiveness across a range of different backgrounds.
17 December 2009 Dstl raises more than £29,000 for charity Staff from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have raised more than £29,000 for charity during 2009, and are aiming to exceed that figure in 2010.
2 December 2009 Working faster to solve terrorist crimes The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) new explosion debris processing facility will enable faster and safer sifting of wreckage to identify crucial forensic evidence which could help solve terrorist crimes.
9 November 2009 Dstl raises £11,573 for Help for Heroes The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) handed a cheque of £11,573 to charity Help for Heroes (H4H) after staff from their sites at Porton Down, Fort Halstead, Portsdown West and Alverstoke spent a week long charity drive in late July.
27 October 2009 Dare devil scientists support Wiltshire Air Ambulance Adrenalin junkies at the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have risen over £6,000 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance by abseiling down the organisation’s tallest building.
27 October 2009 Dstl welcomes new non-executive directors The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has appointed two new Non-Executive Directors to its Board, Elisabeth Astall and Jonathan Knowles.
22 October 2009 An appealing paint for defence A strippable paint coating that can decontaminate itself after absorbing chemical agents is the ultimate aim for scientists at the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
22 October 2009 Scientists on the frontline awarded operational service medal HRH The Earl of Wessex presented Operational Service Medals (OSM) for Afghanistan to five Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) staff, who have recently returned from providing scientific advice on the frontline.
22 October 2009 Royal recognition for hero scientists HRH The Earl of Wessex opened the new Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) headquarters, Minerva Building, at Porton Down, Salisbury on Thursday 22 October.
21 October 2009 Scientists on the frontline awarded operational service medal HRH The Princess Royal presented Operational Service Medals (OSM) for Afghanistan to five Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) staff, who have recently returned from providing scientific advice on the frontline.
21 October 2009 Royal recognition for hero scientists HRH The Princess Royal visited the Defence Science Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) Portsdown West site, near Portsmouth, on Wednesday 21 October, to open the newly-refurbished Grenville Building; present medals to scientists recently returned from Afghanistan, and be briefed on Dstl’s vital defence work.
02 October 2009 Dstl at Fort Halstead Following an extensive study to review the capabilities that the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) provides to the Ministry of Defence and wider government from its Fort Halstead site, it is now considering a strategy of relocating all of its activities in the medium to long term.
24 June 2009 Research and development of TARIAN An innovative and unbelievably robust textile-based vehicle armour has been developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) together with AmSafe Bridport.
17 July 2009 Heriot-Watt University remains Europe’s Underwater Robot Champions For the second year running, a Heriot-Watt University team has won the annual Student Autonomous Underwater Challenge - Europe (SAUC-E) - an underwater robot championship organised by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) - scooping a £3,000 prize from sponsors BAE Systems.
18 June 2009 Latest defence technologies put to the test A multinational interoperability event is taking place at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down, which will position the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and defence command and control (C2) and the information and communications technology (ICT) industry for the future, as potential new defence technologies are put through their paces.
17 June 2009 Dstl staff dig deep for Cancer Research UK The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has raised an incredible £2,566.44 for Cancer Research UK in just one week of fundraising.
13 June 2009 OBE for Brian Shrubsall whose work on armoured vehicle protection has saved lives and reduced serious injury Brian Shrubsall, who works for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2009.
08 May 2009 CWID press day - 18 June 2009 This year’s Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) UK will take place between 8 and 26 June at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) Porton Down site.
05 May 2009 Green Future for Travel to Porton Down The public and private scientific research bodies at Porton Down have joined forces to lessen the environmental impact caused by travelling to the site by employees and visitors.
21 April 2009 Science and engineering fun at Gomer School Students aged 7 - 11 from Gomer Junior School, Alverstoke, today enjoyed a fun-filled and informative Science and Engineering Day, courtesy of the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
22 March 2009 Can you design the world’s fastest bike? Dstl launches exciting new engineering competition for schools! Does visiting the testing site of a Super Sonic Car sound exciting? If so, then this is the competition for you! The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are teaming up with the BLOODHOUND Project team to invite youngsters up and down the country to get their creative thinking-caps on and come up with designs for the world’s fastest bicycle.
04 March 2009 Dstl brings science to life at Larkhill primary school Students from Larkhill Primary School today enjoyed a fun-filled and informative Science and Engineering Day, courtesy of the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). Scientists from Dstl's head quarters at Porton Down visited the local school in the run up to Science and Engineering Week. This national initiative is a celebration of science, engineering and technology, running from 6 to 15 of March.
19 February 2009 Vaccine patent portfolio licensed from UK Ministry of Defence Defyrus Inc has signed an exclusive, worldwide license to a patent portfolio created by Dstl and licensed by Ploughshare Innovation Ltd, Dstl's commercialisation company. The licensed technology of 27 issues and pending international patents covers the development of vaccines for the treatment of alpha-viral infections resulting from bioterrorism or endemic disease for which no vaccine or therapy exists. For further information, please visit www.ploughshareinnovations.com or email Dr Taj S Mattu, Marketing Manager at tajmattu@ploughshareinnovations.com
12 January 2009 Honouring award-winning staff at Dstl Recognising staff for their significant contributions to science and technology is considered a huge thank you from the public and Dstl is proud to announce two members of staff - Cliff Todd and Mark Elson, have been awarded an OBE and MBE respectively, for their immeasurable contributions to Defence science.