Aberystwyth Luminescence Research Laboratory

Aberystwyth Luminescence Research Laboratory (ALRL) prides itself on being a world-class research laboratory investigating the physical mechanisms involved in the production of luminescence by naturally occuring minerals, and applying this to the dating of sediments to elucidate Quaternary events, to enlighten our knowledge of the evolution of anaotmically modern humans and to define the rates of geomorphological processes.

The laboratory's primary aim is to undertake innovative, world-class research in the development and application of luminescence dating. Research is undertaken by its permanent staff, by postgraduate students and post-doctoral fellows on a range of topics. Many of the PhD students and PDRA's trained at ALRL have gone on to run their own laboratories around the world. Additionally, the laboratory often hosts distinguished overseas visitors, either people from other luminescence laboratories around the world who wish to spend time interacting with researchers at ALRL, or people who have limited previous experience of luminescence and wish to learn the technique.

ALRL is a NERC recognised facility, both for collaborative involvement in specific dating projects, and for training of researchers in the field of luminescence dating. In addition, since 2004 the journal Ancient TL dealing with issues in the application of luminescence and electron spin resonance dating has been published from ALRL.

Further information on research themes of ALRL and current staff and PhD students can be found using the links at the bottom of this page.