Please note, the deadline to apply for this event is Friday 26 September. The actual event will take place on 30-31 October 2025 at The University of Manchester.
The Manchester Scattering School is taking place on 30-31 October 2025, at The University of Manchester; coordinated by experts from Diamond Light Source, the school offers an intensive and comprehensive introduction to Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) techniques. This in person course is targeted towards early-career researchers, academics, research staff and doctoral students, the programme delivers foundational theoretical instruction alongside advanced practical training in SAXS data acquisition, interpretation, and analysis. The course is suitable for neutron scatterers, although no neutron data will be presented.
This course is intended for the following Universities: Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, Salford, Central Lancashire and Huddersfield and as such, we are writing to you so that you may identify and encourage your relevant staff/students to apply to attend.
Structured over two days, the course begins with introductory lectures on small angle scattering, providing detailed insights into the operation of beamline facilities and associated offline instrumentation. Participants will acquire an in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles governing SAXS, complemented by interactive sessions addressing data reduction methodologies and best experimental practices.
The curriculum’s second day centres on practical engagement, incorporating structured programming workshops with Jupyter Notebooks to facilitate proficiency in essential data processing, visualisation, and analysis workflows. Attendees will obtain hands-on experience with leading analysis platforms, including McSAS, SasView, and BioSAS, thereby expanding their capability to employ current, state-of-the-art analytical approaches. The programme concludes with expert-led question-and-answer sessions, a data clinic, and collaborative group discussions, equipping participants to address sophisticated analytical challenges and to integrate contemporary technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning into their research activities. Through the integration of expert-led lectures, practical exercises, and collaborative learning, the Manchester Scattering School enables participants to develop the critical competencies required for effective engagement in SAXS and modern scattering science.
Notes on applying:
• While we welcome applications from all eligible candidates, priority will be given to those in the earlier stages of their research careers, and to applicants who provide a thoughtful and well-articulated explanation of how this course will support their future research.
• This course is offered free of charge. However, due to its popularity and high demand, we kindly ask that applicants only apply if they are able to commit to attending the full programme. Please note that non-attendance without prior notice may result in a fee of £28 being charged to your University to cover food and drink.
• To ensure broad impact, in the event of over subscription, we will only be able to accept one participant per research group.
• For doctoral students, supervisor approval is required, please consult with your supervisor and check that they are happy for you to attend.
For further details on the course, schedule, trainers, and to make an application, please visit the Manchester Scattering School website,
