The Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) has welcomed the decision giving the go ahead for the building of the Replacement Research Reactor (RRR) at Lucas Heights.
AINSE Scientific Secretary, Dr Dennis Mather said, "AINSE has coordinated university researchers' access to the HIFAR research reactor at Lucas Heights for over 40 years. The new suite of instruments planned for the replacement reactor will expand the research options, in particular the use of cold neutrons is a very exciting development," he said.
"The replacement research reactor is expected to attract top researchers from around the world, working in fields as diverse as biotechnology, engineering,
physics and environmental science. Researchers from Australian universities will be in the box seat, not only to collaborate with these studies, but to formulate their own," Dr Mather said.
AINSE is the organisation that provides the link between tertiary institutions and the facilities maintained by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). AINSE currently has 37 member universities from Australia and New Zealand, whose researchers utilise a wide range of the unique facilities operated by ANSTO.