Browsing by Author "Buttner, HG"

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    Nested partnerships and interdisciplinary science: from the National Medical Cyclotron to the research cyclotron of the National Imaging Facility
    (Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 2013-06-05) Buttner, HG; Powell, J; Banati, RB
    In Australia, the routine use of medical isotopes produced by a prototype cyclotron for diagnostic imaging commenced in the early 1990s. Since then, the mainly clinically focused imaging in nuclear medicine has become a broader and more interdisciplinary endeavour. As 'molecular imaging', it has become a field that supports a wide range of basic, translational and clinical research and draws in skills from many areas, including physics, chemistry, engineering, biology and medicine. Such growth has been accompanied by the emergence of scientific collaborations well beyond individual institutions. This paper provides the historical context to the former National Medical Cyclotron (NMC) facility (1992-2009) at Camperdown, Sydney and the subsequent partnerships that led to its refurbishment as the new site of the National Imaging Facility (NIF) Cyclotron, a flagship research facility enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). It is now the centrepiece of a physical research infrastructure as well as a growing network of collaborations that open up access to medical isotopes for research and clinical applications across Australia to new users and applications. It is also a contemporary example of how science has moved from individual scholarly endeavour to highly networked activity. The funding model initiated through NCRIS included shared funding, funding leveraging and in-kind contributions primarily for the establishment of the large instrument and laboratory infrastructure rather than their operational costs. Here, we illustrate how partnership arrangements emerged at institutional, state and national level and how they address the task of providing open access to, and sustainable operation of, a major piece of research infrastructure that spans multiple institutions. © The Royal Society of NSW.
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    Preliminary details of a light ion facility for hadron therapy and research
    (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2010-03) Boldeman, JW; Banati, RB; Buttner, HG; Cohen, DD; Garrett, RL
    A proposal is being prepared for the construction of high-performance accelerator complex for radiation therapy and research. The accelerator will be capable of producing proton beams between 60 and 250 MeV and carbon beams with energies variable from 120 – 430 MeV/amu. This paper presents some of the background material supporting the proposal. Also included are some of the preliminary technical details of the accelerator complex and the transfer beam lines to the various treatment locations and experimental stations.
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    Report on neutrons and food workshop
    (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2010-10-31) Buttner, HG; Gilbert, EP
    Over 50 participants gathered at the Neutrons and Food workshop in Sydney, with greater than 60% coming from abroad: 18 from Europe, 10 from North America, 4 from New Zealand and 3 from Asia complementing 21 participants from Australia. Apart from presentations (10 invited talks, 13 short talks and 10 posters), the workshop provided a speed networking opportunity, a dinner cruise on Sydney harbour and a visit to ANSTO’s neutron scattering facilities at the conclusion of the meeting. There was ample opportunity for discussion; this resulted in a focus in four main areas: 1. model systems; 2. interaction between facility, academia and industry; 3. collaboration and outreach; and 4. access to large-scale facilities.
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    Revisiting research management for innovation
    (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2010-04-13) Buttner, HG
    Currently, the Australian government is boosting research and development to advance innovation: seven national priorities have been identified to focus the process. Overall the Super Science Initiative provides a $1.1 billion capital boost for critical areas of scientific endeavour, including space science and astronomy, climate change, marine and life sciences, biotechnology and nanotechnology. This is a significant investment into cutting-edge research infrastructure. Hosting Australia’s only research reactor and a suite of accelerators, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, ANSTO, has been allocated funding for infrastructure as part of this initiative. ANSTO is a government research agency that is recognised as an international centre of excellence in nuclear science and technology for the benefit of Australia. As a large-scale facility with user programmes, ANSTO has established partnerships on national and international level, but the new initiatives provided by the government give impetus to revisit our current research structure and output in research with respect to managing our partnerships, attracting new talent and defining our output criteria. This paper will discuss the experience gained reviewing our system and how to face the challenges of fostering competitiveness on the one hand, but aiming for collaboration on strategic issues on the other hand in order to ensure that research outcomes are translated into new and improved products.