Resources at Rothamsted Research

World-class science for sustainable land-management

Over its 160 year history, Rothamsted Research has built an enviable international reputation as a centre of excellence for science in support of sustainable land management and its environmental impact. Its scientific research ranges from studies of genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and soil processes to investigations at the ecosystem and landscape scale. Rothamsted nurtures research links with more than 40 countries throughout the industrialised and developing world. World-leading science requires access to excellent laboratory, field and technical facilities serviced by a skilled workforce and Rothamsted has recently benefited from a £31M investment in redevelopment that has furnished the organisation with extensive state-of the-art-facilities.

Staff

Over 350 scientists are based at the main Rothamsted site in Hertfordshire, and a further 27 at the Broom's Barn laboratory near Bury St Edmunds. These are complemented by around 200 support staff and, at any one time, approximately 75 visiting scientists (mostly from overseas) and 30 postgraduate students.

Laboratories

The Centenary Laboratory, which opened in September 2004, is a superb, purpose-built environment for over 200 scientists. With the Bawden, Daniel Hall and Broom's Barn laboratories, Rothamsted Research can now accommodate almost 500 laboratory-based researchers. The laboratories provide well-serviced general purpose research facilities as well as access to highly specialised capabilities such as those provided by:

• The Rothamsted Centre for Plant and Microbial Metabolomics with a comprehensive suite of NMR and Mass Spectrometry instrumentation and expertise in all aspects of modern post-genomic analytical technologies
• The Rothamsted Centre for BioImaging, created in partnership with Jeol-Gatan providing state-of-the-art -electron, confocal and light microscopy
• The Rothamsted Radar Entomology Unit that provides a facility, unique within the UK, for high altitude tracking of insect migration and low altitude tracking of insect flight behaviour.

Plant growth and insect-rearing facilities

Over 1000m² of glasshouse space provides optimum growing conditions for a wide range of experimental plants (including tropical species) with access to high-level containment for quarantine or biosafety purposes. The controlled environment facility comprises 16 cabinets and 8 walk-in growth rooms that enable precise control of temperature, light quality, duration and intensity, humidity and CO2 concentration. Rothamsted's insect-rearing facilities are unparalleled in the UK. The insectary houses a wide range of pest and beneficial insect strains for research on insecticide resistance and integrated pest management. Most compartments are licensed for the effective containment of quarantined species and insecticide-resistant strains. The insectary also contains 16 'field simulator' chambers allowing realistic studies of insect dynamics and pest management strategies under controlled conditions.

Experimental farms

Rothamsted manages a total of 480 ha of farmland over a range of soil types. All farms are managed to minimise adverse environmental impact and the Rothamsted farm operates under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Rothamsted holds the National Willows Collection, the repository for willow germplasm currently comprising around 1300 genetically-characterised clones. This is the source of genetic variation for breeding new disease resistant, high-yielding clones for bioenergy under short rotation coppice production systems.

Long term data sets

Rothamsted holds a unique and varied portfolio of long term datasets with international significance. The Lawes "Classical" Experiments started in 1843 and are the longest continually running field experiments in the world. They continue to provide relevant information on the long-term impacts of arable farming on soil fertility and the environment. The Rothamsted Archive holds some 200,000 samples of crops and soils taken from these experiments. This unique archive is accessed by scientists worldwide for research on impacts of environmental change over past decades. For over 40 years the Rothamsted Insect Survey trapping networks have provided continuous data on the distribution, abundance and arrival of pest populations in Britain and beyond. These datasets are internationally recognised as the most comprehensive for any terrestrial invertebrate group anywhere in the world and their utility impacts on control of crops pests, disease vectors as well as predicting the impact of changes in climate or land management practices.

Library

Rothamsted's Gilbert Library houses the largest collection of agricultural research literature in the UK, including 2874 journal titles. Its content reflects the institute's research interests with comprehensive collections of books and journals in soil science, plant sciences, agronomy, entomology, nematology, chemistry, plant pathology, and biomathematics.

Conference facilities

The Rothamsted Conference Centre includes seminar suites, dining rooms and a conference hall capable of housing audiences of up to 250.