Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

Facilities

We are home to research facilities across a wide range of research areas and sectors, from healthcare to engineering and physics.

Use our facilities

Our facilities are available for academic or commercial partners to use. Click on a facility below to find out more, or contact us with information about your project to find out if we can help.

On this page are just a few of our flagship facilities - view our department websites for a full list of the equipment and technologies we have available.

Flagship facilities

Select a facility for more information or to contact the team about a potential project.

VSimulators

VSimulators motion platform

The VSimulators facility can recreate any environment either physically or virtually, immersing up to nine people in a simultaneous experience. 

Located at Exeter Science Park, the unique, multi-million-pound facility combines virtual reality, human movement, motion capture technology and devices for measuring physiological responses in participants.  

It can support multi-disciplinary research by academic and commercial partners, with applications ranging from engineering to medical, including the design of bespoke environments. 

Nanofabrication cleanrooms

A researcher wearing a hazmat suit using the Kurt J Lesker evaporation system

The Savchenko Centre for Nanoscience is a purpose-built semiconductor type cleanroom with advanced air-condition control of temperature and humidity throughout the working areas.

Incoming air is filtered to provide ISO Class 5 and 6 working environments. An acid bench with an integrated DI water system and two solvent benches, all with their own Class 4 laminar air flow systems, are built into the facility to complement the fabrication process. 

A second cleanroom is used as a dedicated optical lithography area housing a number of optical lithography and deposition systems. 

EXTREMAG Ultrafast Laser Facility

MicrostatMO 5T superconducting magnet

The Exeter Time Resolved Magnetism (EXTREMAG) Facility is an ultrafast laser facility. It offers low-temperature and high magnetic field environments for a variety of time-domain optical pump-probe, microscopy, and terahertz experiments.

Since opening to users in 2019, EXTREMAG has supported over 35 external user projects, each typically 1 week in duration, in addition to local users at the University of Exeter. During that time six state-of-the-art user experiments for investigating ultrafast magnetic processes have been developed and are now operational. Our experimental capabilities have been guided by the research needs of the UK magnetism community and are detailed on our website.  

Imaging Suite

Two researchers looking at microscope images in close up on computer screens

The Imaging Suite offers a full consultation service to internal, external and industrial clients in the field of materials characterisation for experimental applications at micro and nano scales. It also supports research and teaching within the Faculty.

Access to our facilities comes with the associated expert and technical assistance to support routine work on a timed basis or contribute to a significant programme of research and testing.

CRS Microscopy

Set of graphs and images illustrating coherent Raman scattering

The CONTRAST facility is a user facility for Coherent Raman Scattering (CRS) microscopy. This is a label-free microscopy technique which uses molecular bond vibrations to provide chemically specific data and enables 3D sub-micron confocal imaging.

At the facility there are two state-of-the-art systems: a spectrally focused Stimulated Raman Scattering SRS microscope which allows fast, label-free, imaging, and a Broadband Coherent Raman Scattering BCARS which allows enhanced levels of chemical information.

The facility supports a wide range of research applications across the disciplines, ranging from nanoparticle research, plant science and agrochemical applications, to healthcare applications.

Mechanical Workshop

Sparks flying in front of an engineer welding

The Mechanical Workshop is an open-access workshop where students and staff can use equipment and receive support in making mechanical components. The workshop includes a suite of XYZ CNC milling machines for teaching purposes, including lathes and mills. All the CNC machines are interfaced with Solidworks and CAMworks to allow students to export their designs from Solidworks straight to manufacture.

The workshop also includes additional equipment, including a water jet cutter, industrial guillotine and other items. There is a dedicated welding and fabrication workshop equipped with MIG, TIG, brazing equipment and a hearth.