Research Selections 2012

Abstract

As the home to Australia’s nuclear expertise, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is one of Australia’s largest research organisations. Nuclear science and technology is a dynamic area of research that focuses on the building blocks of matter. Many of the most important questions society faces in areas such as health, climate change and industry are being investigated by ANSTO researchers. At the heart of ANSTO’s research capabilities is the OPAL reactor which is one of the world’s newest and best multi-purpose research reactors. OPAL is used for scientific research, the production of medical radioisotopes, the activation of targets and the irradiation of silicon used for electronics. ANSTO operates two particle accelerators, STAR and ANTARES, which are used to analyse materials to determine their elemental composition and age and are fundamental to advancing knowledge in human history and the environment. As a Federal Government agency, ANSTO’s provides policy advice to Government on all matters relating to nuclear science, technology and engineering, supporting its international roles and obligations. ANSTO is connected with all Australian and New Zealand universities through the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), providing researchers access to Australia’s nuclear science, technology and engineering expertise.