Australian Synchrotron Open Day

The Australian Synchrotron welcomed 2258 visitors during its Open Day on Sunday 25 October.

With the synchrotron beam turned off, but with public interest definitely switched on, people from across the community had a unique opportunity to peek behind the scientific scenes. Most visitors set their own pace on self-guided tours that covered the basics of synchrotron science and its real-world applications.

Synchrotron scientists and their supporters fielded questions including: “Is the synchrotron’s light created by plutonium?” (No); “Are you planning to capture the rainwater from your big roof?” (Yes); “Was this building really meant to look like a giant traditional Australian corrugated iron water tank?”(Possibly); and “Can I build one of these at home?” (Probably not. But you could keep your eye out for an electron gun and a linear accelerator on e-Bay).

For visitors with some degree of specialist knowledge, intensive accompanied tours featured accelerator physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, IT & controls, and safety systems. Kitted out in lurid orange vests, tour guides and guests traversed the complex network of tunnels and walkways that crisscross the facility.

If all that became a little too much, visitors could resort to the Rotary Club of Clayton hospitality marquee, where funds raised were dedicated to the acquisition of a great disaster relief invention, the ShelterBox.

Selected photos available here.