The CLF Artemis, Octopus and Ultra User Meeting held in Oxford from 24–26 March, brought together the UK's photon science community for three days of collaboration, innovation and discovery at the Leonardo Royal Hotel. With 120 attendees filling the venue to capacity, the meeting highlighted the strength and vibrancy of the Lasers for Science User community.
The event was opened by Professor Roger Eccleston and Professor John Collier, setting the tone for a dynamic programme that celebrated our world‑leading facilities and the scientists who use them.
Throughout the conference, networking was foremost, as established researchers, industry partners and early‑career scientists exchanged ideas and forged new connections. The scientific programme showcased a broad and exciting range of research supported by the Artemis, Ultra and Octopus facilities, with sessions spanning industry collaborations and frontier science in catalysis, biological imaging, spectroscopy, and ultrafast photochemistry. The sessions also included the new capabilities the HiLUX upgrade would bring and the cutting-edge science it would enable.
A particular highlight of the meeting was the exceptionally high standard of presentations from early‑career researchers, whose polished talks demonstrated not only technical excellence but also the future leadership of the field. The enthusiasm carried into the lively poster session, which became a focal point for in‑depth discussions.
The event was generously supported by Light Conversion, Laser 2000, ONi and Photonic Solutions, whose sponsorship helped create a welcoming and professional environment for scientific exchange.
