The establishment of a five-year high level scientific agreement between ANSTO and the Hemholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) in Germany will combine the expertise and infrastructure of two of the world’s leading research centres with large scale infrastructures.
ANSTO operates the 20 MW Open Pool Australian Light-water (OPAL) reactor in Sydney and the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne. HZB operates the 10 MW BER II research reactor at Wannsee and the Synchrotron BESSY II at Adlershof.
Both organisations make a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art scientific instruments based on neutron techniques, available to their own scientists and the global research community and industry.
The agreement encompasses an exchange of personnel, materials, sample environments and instruments, sharing information and joint seminars, workshops and meetings.
“This agreement is an important development in the world of neutron scattering science. Hemholtz-Zentrum Berlin is the leading research reactor in the world for materials in extreme environments, such as when exposed to ultra-low temperature, high magnetic fields and under extreme pressure. They are also at the forefront of energy materials studies,” said Robert Robinson, Acting Group Executive, Nuclear Science and Technology.
“When you add our landmark infrastructure, experience and expertise across the environment, improving health through the life sciences and providing solutions for industry, there is even greater potential for advances.”
“Global collaborations are the backbone of modern science. Initiatives, such as the Human Genome Project, the International Space Station, and the Square Kilometre Array, accelerate progress on important scientific issues and challenges,” said Robinson.
“We are looking forward to a close cooperation with ANSTO and its experts in neutron research and technology. This MoU will open up new opportunities for exchange and cooperation and increase career opportunities for scientists and technicians of both institutions,” Professor Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla said.
With a world leading sample environment, the world’s strongest high field magnet for neutron research and innovative neutron instrumentation going for cutting-edge sciences, the next and last years of neutron research at HZB till 2020 will be intense and fruitful.”
“ANSTO has past collaborations with HZB scientists on magnetism, human biology, polymers, metals and climate studies but this agreement will see initiatives greatly expanded. It also opens up joint training opportunities,” said Robinson.
ANSTO’s previous (MoU) with HZB that concluded in 2013 focused on materials used for solar energy. There has also been previous joint work on the development of neutron instruments and sample environments.