KEY POINTS
- ANSTO is Australia's national nuclear science and technology research and development organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise. This expertise is applied to medical radiopharmaceutical production and research; climate change research; water resource management; materials engineering; neutron scattering and a range of other scientific disciplines.
- ANSTO provides expert scientific and technical policy advice in areas to the Government in relation to all matters within the ambit of nuclear science and technology.
- In addition, ANSTO maintains critical capabilities to support Government in undertaking its regional and international role and obligations.
- The Open Pool Australian Light-water (OPAL) research reactor is one of the most performance-efficient multipurpose research reactors in the world. Utilising proliferation-resistant and low enriched uranium fuel, OPAL produces medical radioisotopes which are used for treatment and diagnosis in hospitals across Australia, and irradiates silicon for commercial applications such as microchips in computers and mobile phones.
- OPAL also produces neutrons that are utilised by scientists in the adjacent ANSTO Bragg Institute, which houses a growing suite of state-of-the-art neutron scattering instruments. Neutron scattering allows scientists to see what ex-rays cannot by looking at materials from the inside out to understand the structure and see how it responds to various stimuli.
- Key issues to which ANSTO contributes include: research into the potential impact of climate change on Australia; water management; alternative fuels (hydrogen storage); encouraging and facilitating the application of knowledge and ideas for a wide range of industry applications; providing advice and services to the Government on issues relevant to nuclear non-proliferation, counter terrorism and regional security.
- ANSTO is a Commonwealth statutory authority established by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987. The Act sets out ANSTO’s functions.
- For the 2010-11 financial year, ANSTO’s budgeted revenue is $231 million. This includes government appropriations of approximately $166 million and earned revenue of approximately $65 million.
- The Organisation employs around 1000 staff with a range of skills, including science and research capabilities; engineering; information technology; communications; finance and administration.
- The ANSTO campus is located south of Sydney, New South Wales. ANSTO also has an office within the Australian embassies in Vienna, Austria and in Washington, United States of America.
FACTS AND FIGURES
ANSTO operates nuclear science and technology based facilities including Australia’s only nuclear research reactor, OPAL for the benefit of industry and the Australian research community, including higher education. It conducts and applies environmental, materials engineering and radiopharmaceutical research, as well as research into applications of neutron scattering and X-ray radiation. ANSTO also operates business units, most notably units producing and marketing radiopharmaceuticals for medical treatment and diagnosis, silicon irradiation for the semiconductor industry and services to the mining and minerals sector.
The advice that ANSTO provides to the government and the services the organisation provides to the International Atomic Energy Agency contribute to nuclear non-proliferation.
ANSTO provides education and training to industry, universities and schoolsthrough the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), post-doctoral fellowships, undergraduate training opportunities, provision of free educational resources and tours to school teachers and students, facilitating visits to schools by ANSTO scientists and offering annual professional development days for teachers. ANSTO also actively encourages community engagement through open days, community consultation and visits to the campus. In the 2009-10 financial year, ANSTO hosted approximately 10,000 visitors from schools, universities and community groups.
ANSTO’s Institute for Environmental Research is making a unique contribution to climate change research. Nuclear techniques are enabling ANSTO researchers to study with accuracy, how environmental systems function and interact, and the role of natural variability and human impacts on water, air and Earth systems. This research includes studies into fine particle pollution and pollution transport, glacial and sedimentary systems, ice sheets and oceans. Groundwater, rivers and freshwater ecosystems are also studied, with the knowledge gained being utilised by water resource managers.
ANSTO’s Institute for Materials Engineering is developing and delivering innovative solutions to safely store and dispose of radioactive waste, and developing new materials technologies and manufacturing processes to strengthen Australia’s defence. ANSTO’s materials engineering and structural integrity expertise also assists Australian industry in maintaining and enhancing the performance of major Australian capital assets.
ANSTO Minerals is one of Australia's leading consulting groups for the processing of uranium. With expertise covering chemical engineering, metallurgy, mineralogy, chemistry, geology and radiation safety, is supporting the growth of Australia’s mining industry by providing expert advice to industry and government on how to overcome problems arising from the presence of naturally occurring radioactivity in all minerals. The unit also advises on process design and helps to solve problems across the entire mining life cycle.
ANSTO’s Bragg Institute leads and partners in Australian research using neutron scattering and X-ray techniques to solve complex research and industrial problems across many important fields, including advanced materials and health. It enables Australian industry to develop and improve products and materials ranging from food to metal components to hydrogen storage. Demand for some of the Neutron Beam Instruments is two to three times that available. Currently Neutron Beam use, which is decided on a competitive peer reviewed basis, is one third Australian university and industry researchers; one third ANSTO staff and one third international researchers from Europe, Asia and the USA.
ANSTO LifeSciences utilises nuclear techniques to investigate biological issues important to Australia, such as the detection, prevention and treatment of diseases as well as research into areas such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. ANSTO LifeSciences will also strengthen research as it integrates the complementary techniques of neutron beams and synchrotron radiation, a combination that gives Australian scientists a competitive edge.
ANSTO was established by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987, as successor to the Australian Atomic Energy Commission (AAEC). The AAEC was established in 1953 with the aim of using nuclear technology to promote national development. ANSTO is a body corporate and is subject to the provisions of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997.