I am a Senior Research Associate in Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, managing the new Bristol Radiocarbon Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility (BRAMS).  The facility, is located within the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, but spans the faculties of Arts and Science will house a state-of-the-art MICADAS (Mini radioCarbon Dating System) accelerator mass spectrometer with an ion source capable of accepting solid (graphite) or gaseous (CO₂) samples. This will be supported by a fully automated graphitization system and will be able to directly accept CO₂ generated by an elemental analyser and a carbonate handling system.  One of the aims of the facility is to push the boundaries of the sample preparation and introduction techniques and the types of scientific questions which can be addressed by AMS, and as such there is a strong emphasis on the development of compound- and compound class-specific methodologies for radiocarbon analyses.