Staff at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights were overwhelmed by more than 10,000 visitors over three Open Days from Thursday 30 August to Saturday 1 September.
The attendance figure smashed all previous attendances at Open Days, with more than twice the number of visitors than at previous events.
Star of the show was Australias only operating nuclear reactor, the High-Flux Australian Reactor or HIFAR, which attracted long queues of visitors on the Saturday. Visitors were also treated to a range of innovative displays covering the wide range of scientific activities at Lucas Heights which stem from the applications of nuclear expertise. Industry Open Day on Thursday and Schools Open Day on Friday were both well attended, but the response from the general public on the Saturday filled car parks to capacity. Free buses from Sutherland and Liverpool railway stations were also popular with visitors.
Chief Executive of ANSTO, Professor Helen Garnett said that the Open Days were well supported by local communities. Charities benefited from funds raised by community groups such as Rotary, while local entertainers took the opportunity to perform for the crowds.
"The main people who visited were families, and the general feeling was that we presented a program which balanced entertainment with information about science and technology. Most people stayed at least five or six hours, and feedback from exit surveys was very positive. ANSTO Open Day is now keenly anticipated by the community as a major event on the triennial calendar."
Professor Garnett said that ANSTOs commitment to genuine openness was demonstrated by its willingness to host a display by protest groups.