INTRODUCTION
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ANSTO The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) people, research infrastructure platforms and partnerships have been the hallmarks of what has made ANSTO great and these will continue to be the pillars upon which our future success will be built. Thanks to forward planning over the past 15–20 years, and a decade of solid growth and development, Australian and international researchers now have access to an unprecedented array of research infrastructure representing more than $1 billion in investment through ANSTO. The Open Pool Australian Light-water (OPAL) multi-purpose reactor and the Australian Synchrotron, both commissioned in 2006, have ensured Australia has a stake in both reactor and accelerator research technologies. Today we are seeing the exciting outcomes of this astute forward planning and investment.
ANSTO, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) and a network of Australia’s best universities, is also contributing to the evolution of a new generation of outstanding researchers. With a firm belief that enhanced research outcomes can only be achieved through collaboration and the exchange of knowledge, ANSTO has intensified its efforts to build strategic national and international partnerships over the past decade. Over the period, ANSTO established and re-established formal agreements with some of the most productive and respected research organisations in the world. The investment of our organisation in research platforms, people and partnerships over the past decade has delivered some outstanding research projects as featured in this Review. We look forward to reaping the rewards of the past decade of planning to generate even better research outcomes in the future. As the custodian of much of Australia’s landmark and national research infrastructure, ANSTO is well positioned to connect people to researchers and infrastructure, and create a dynamic environment for innovation in Australia well into the future.
Our people, the custodians of Australia’s nuclear and accelerator expertise, are amongst our nation’s most talented researchers, scientists and engineers. Home-grown talent has enabled Australia to become an anchor point for globally significant programs, such as the ITER project that is searching for limitless clean energy and CERN’s large hadron collider, which is exploring the fundamental structure of the universe. Under the framework of the United Nations, ANSTO represents Australia at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In this role, ANSTO shares the benefits of nuclear science and technology with our international partners, particularly those within the Asia Pacific region, as well as maintaining the highest standard of nuclear security in the region.
Dr Adi Paterson Chief Executive Officer
