For the first time, 30 university Deputy Vice-Chancellors responsible for research from around Australia toured ANSTO’s new OPAL reactor today.
They saw at close quarters what this worldclass scientific facility has to offer and understand the key role it will play for Australia and the education of future Australian scientists.
Chair of the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (AVCC) Research Group, Professor Margaret Sheil from The University of Wollongong said the visit enabled university research leaders to gain a sense of how OPAL will contribute to Australian science, while also providing them with the opportunity to better understand how each of their own universities may benefit from OPAL’s unique facilities and research opportunities.
“Nuclear science and engineering are specialties that are not offered widely in universities, so the relationship with ANSTO and use of its facilities to allow students to gain experience in this area is crucial,” said Professor Sheil. “The OPAL opportunity is one that many universities with
complementary research programs will strongly embrace.”
“The neutron scattering instrumentation that will come online over the next nine months has the potential to put OPAL amongst the top three research reactors in the world,” said Dr George Collins, ANSTO’s Chief of Research.
“It will provide world leading capability for Australian scientists – many from Australian universities – to apply nuclear research to areas including biotechnology, food science, molecular biology, nanotechnology, health, environmental management and engineering,” continued Dr Collins.
“With these factors in mind, the relationship between ANSTO and Australian universities is therefore one that must continue to be developed and enhanced,” concluded Dr Collins.
Published: 27/07/2006