The year 2012 has proven an extraordinary year for Australian nuclear science – with major building projects earmarked and, now, today’s announcement that the Australian Synchrotron and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) will work together as one.
In March 2012, the Australian Governments announced the future of the Synchrotron had been secured through a $100 million, four-year funding arrangement between the Australian and Victorian State Governments.
Today it was announced that part of this will involve bringing management of the Synchrotron under ANSTO. This is a stunning endorsement of ANSTO’s capabilities in managing science infrastructure and fostering good science.
The Synchrotron, located in Clayton, Melbourne, is one of Australia’s most important pieces of science infrastructure.
Bringing the Synchrotron under ANSTO’s operation will build on indelible links between the sciences these two organisations undertake everyday: particularly neutron scattering science at ANSTO and accelerator science at the Australian Synchrotron. In addition, ANSTO:
- Was a foundation investor of the Australian Synchrotron;
- Remains a major user of the Synchrotron;
- Managed the Australian Synchrotron Access Program until 2009; and
- Has long-standing involvement with development of other synchrotrons overseas.
ANSTO’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adi Paterson, welcomed today’s announcement and said the new operating arrangements are another step in an extraordinary growth period for science in Australia.
“ANSTO is the long-time custodian of some of Australia’s most significant science infrastructure. We manage one of the world’s best multi-purpose research reactors, OPAL, which produces nuclear medicines and neutrons used for scientific research at our adjoining Bragg Institute.
“We also operate two particle accelerators and are in the building phase of the Federal Government’s new Centre for Accelerator Science which will attract local and international scientists.
“In the past year alone, we have helped to bring a number of new facilities into service including a solid targetry laboratory developed in partnership with the Ludwig institute at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne and a national imaging facility developed in collaboration with the University of Sydney in Camperdown. Just last month it was announced that ANSTO will receive a $168 million injection to develop an export-scale nuclear medicine manufacturing plant from which we will create and distribute around 20 million doses of life-saving medicine a year.
“Neutron scattering, accelerator techniques, radioisotope labelling and working with active materials does not immediately lead to headline grabbing outcomes. But importantly, it’s these research platforms that provide the opportunity for our users, researchers and collaborators to do science and engineering that will change the way we live and how healthy we will be in the future, as well as creating opportunities to save resources, sustain our fragile environment and ensure safety and security for all Australians and that’s what is really exciting for me,” said Dr Paterson.
Over the next few months, staff who currently work for Australian Synchrotron Company Ltd (ASCo), will be progressively transferred to a new operating company that is wholly-owned by ANSTO.
Published: 12/12/2012