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A bright new era in synchrotron research

1 August 2007

The Australian Synchrotron was officially opened this week by Victorian Premier John Brumby.

Monash University has welcomed a new era in scientific research with the official opening of the Australian Synchrotron by Victorian Premier John Brumby on Tuesday, 31 July 2007.

Monash University is a founding member of the Australian Synchrotron, which is adjacent to the University's Clayton campus in Melbourne.

Centre for Synchrotron Science Director, Professor Rob Lewis said, "The formation of the Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science is a new chapter in the University's almost 50-year track record of scientific advancement, which includes innovations in IVF, drug design and stem cell research".

The Centre unites elite Monash experts from a diverse range of disciplines and faculties, and is dedicated to finding new uses and approaches of Synchrotron science to the challenges facing our community.

The centre:

  • provides advice and assistance to researchers;
  • develops platform technologies;
  • engages in education programs across the university; and
  • funds research fellowships and student scholarships.
Monash University welcomed the official opening of the Australian Synchrotron, adjacent to the Clayton campus. The official opening was attended by Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, Victorian Premier John Brumby and Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser.

Monash University researchers are guaranteed a minimum 1,500 hours access to the facility's beam lines each year. Instead of travelling to overseas facilities, they can use world-class technology at their door.

Monash synchrotron research includes fields ranging from x-ray crystallography and medical imaging, to materials science and nanotechnology.

"The creation of the Synchrotron Science Centre means Monash is taking a pro-active position in Australia's development of synchrotron science and in the application of the synchrotron to many research fields," Professor Lewis said.

"Our scientists are well placed to take a lead in many of the scientific, health and environmental issues facing our community."