Defence Science and Technology Laboratory: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:55, 6 March 2021

Revision as of 14:14, 9 March 2021

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}

{{Infobox Governmentgovernment agency

|agency_name = Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

|abbreviation = Dstl

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==History==

Dstl was formed from the July 2001 split of the [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]] (DERA). Dstl was established to carry out and retain the science and technology work that is best done within government,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dstl.gov.uk/downloads/framework.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222100131/https://www.dstl.gov.uk/downloads/framework.pdf |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> while work that could be done by industry (forming the majority of DERA's activities) was transferred to [[Qinetiq]], a government-owned company that was later floated on the stock exchange.

Dstl absorbed the Home Office's Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) in April 2018,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/centre-for-applied-science-and-technology-cast-becomes-part-of-dstl |title=Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) becomes part of Dstl |work=GOV.UK |access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref> taking on CAST's role<ref>{{cite book |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/530164/intro-to-cast-june2016.pdf |title=Home Office Science: Centre for Applied Science and Technology: An Introduction |publisher=Home Office |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-78655-083-5 |___location=United Kingdom |pages=3-43–4}}</ref> to apply science and technology to support the Home Office's operations and frontline delivery, provide evidence to support policy, and perform certain regulatory functions.

Dstl was a [[trading fund]] of the MOD from its formation until 2016, when it became an [[executive agency]] of the MOD.

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Dstl carries out a broad range of work from high-level analysis to support Ministry of Defence policy and procurement decisions, to technical research in defence areas such as [[healthcare science|biomedical science]] and [[electronics]], alongside operational work such as [[forensic science|forensic analysis]] of [[explosive material|explosives]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1557106/Weve-never-seen-a-bomb-like-217-devices.html |title='We've never seen a bomb like 21/7 devices' |first=Duncan |last=Gardham |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=11 July 2007 |___location=London |issn=0307-1235 |oclc=49632006 |access-date=16 February 2014}}</ref> and providing paid volunteer scientists to Iraq and Afghanistan to provide rapid scientific advice to British forces. It has done work for around 40 government departments and agencies including the [[Home Office]] and [[Department for Transport]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dstl.gov.uk/whoweworkwith |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021202026/https://www.dstl.gov.uk/whoweworkwith |archive-date=21 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It undertakes research with both industry and academia to achieve its role.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dstl.gov.uk/industry |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021211618/https://www.dstl.gov.uk/industry |archive-date=21 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following a review and consultation process initiated by MOD's Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA), it became responsible for the formulation and commission of MOD's non-nuclear research programme from 1 April 2010, under the responsibility of the Dstl Programme Office.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmdfence/writev/761/nns45.htm |title=The Strategic Defence and Security Review and The National Security Strategy |work=publications.parliament.uk |year=2011 |access-date=12 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=19 March 2010 |title=Dstl to become the key focus of science and technology within MOD |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/DstlToBecomeTheKeyFocusOfScienceAndTechnologyWithinMod.htm |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121026065214/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/DstlToBecomeTheKeyFocusOfScienceAndTechnologyWithinMod.htm |archive-date=26 October 2012 |access-date=16 February 2014}}</ref> Within the Programme Office were 16 domains<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121106233608/http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/ukspaceagency/docs/space%20science/aurora/knowledge-exchange-april-2011/gibson-dstl-presentation.pdf National Archives (UK)]</ref> with some established as Science and Technology Centres, including Armour and Protection, Cyber and Influence, Counter Terrorism, and CBR (Chemical, Biological and Radiological).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dstl.gov.uk/scienceandtechnologycentres|title=Science and Technology Centres {{!}} dstl {{!}} Defence Science and Technology Laboratory|website=dstl.gov.uk|publisher=Ministry of Defence|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222100139/https://www.dstl.gov.uk/scienceandtechnologycentres|archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref> These centres fund research via the Centre for Defence Enterprise,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.science.mod.uk/engagement/enterprise.aspx |title=Centre for Defence Enterprise |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] |access-date=16 February 2014}}</ref> also part of the Programme Office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.science.mod.uk/engagement/dstl.aspx |title=The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] |access-date=16 February 2014}}</ref>

A subsequent MOD CSA-led review in 2015 into MOD's science and technology capability recommended that the commissioning of science and technology should be independent of the delivery.<ref>{{cite web|URL=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/458623/20150414-MOD_Science_Capability_Review_Executive_Summary.pdf|title=A review of MOD’s science and technology capability (Executive summary)}}</ref> Following this, the commissioning role was moved to [[Defence Science and Technology]] (DST) within MOD Head Office, with Dstl focusing on delivery.

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{{Div col end}}The functions of the two former CAST sites – Sandridge and Langhurst – will be transferred to Dstl's core sites of Porton Down and Portsdown West by 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/centre-for-applied-science-and-technology-cast-becomes-part-of-dstl|title=Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) becomes part of Dstl|work=GOV.UK|access-date=4 May 2018|language=en}}</ref>

Sections of 150-millimetre-thick (5.9 &nbsp;in) [[Low-background steel|pre-atomic steel]] plate uncontaminated with [[Radionuclide|radionuclidesradionuclide]]s, recovered from [[HMS Vanguard (23)|HMS ''Vanguard'']], were used for the shielding of the [[Whole Body Counter|whole body monitor]] at the Radiobiological Research Laboratory (now Dstl) at [[Alverstoke]], [[Gosport]], Hampshire.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cowling|first=Giles|title=From Land, Sea and Air|url=http://www.defencemanagement.com/article.asp?id=200&content_name=National%20Security%20and%20Resilience&article=5132|url-status=dead|journal=Defence Management Journal|volume=31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225191422/http://www.defencemanagement.com/article.asp?id=200&content_name=National%20Security%20and%20Resilience&article=5132|archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref>

== Spin-offs ==

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{{Telecommunications industry in the United Kingdom}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom]]