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SYNCHROTRON UPDATE
September 2003
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An electronic newsletter on the progress of the Australian Synchrotron Project


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SUMMARY OF THIS SYNCHROTRON UPDATE

1. A chance for scientists to contribute to beamline development
2. Thiess to design and construct Australian Synchrotron
3. Upcoming events
4. Australian Synchrotron Summer School
5. Tenders and industry info
6. Recent events
7. New staff
8. ASRP fellowships
9. How to get more information about the Australian Synchrotron

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1. A CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO BEAMLINE DEVELOPMENT
Researchers throughout Australia and New Zealand have an opportunity to be part of the design process for key beamlines. To register to participate log on to /beamlines and complete the questionnaire.


2. THIESS TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON
On 23 July 2003 Victorian Minister for Innovation, the Hon John Brumby MP announced that Thiess will design and construct the Australian Synchrotron. The announcement included the unveiling of the building design. To view an artist's impression of the building see /whats_new/news_item.asp?id=36


3. UPCOMING EVENTS
Please email contact.us@synchrotron.vic.gov.au for more information on any of these events:
* Synchrotron sessions at 5th Australian Conference on Vibrational Spectroscopy (ACOVS 5) (Melbourne 30 September - 1 October)
* Forum on potential uses of the Australian Synchrotron in photonics and related industries (Melbourne 23 October)
* Synchrotron applications forum in collaboration with La Trobe University Materials and Surface Science Group (Melbourne 7 November)
* Synchrotron applications forum for the minerals sector (Adelaide 10 November)
* Summer school at ANU (27 Jan - 5 Feb 2004) more details below
* Synchrotron sessions at the Australian Conference on Microscopy and Microanalysis (2-6 February 2004)
* Synchrotron sessions at the Australian Geological Convention (8-13 February 2004)


4. PHOTONS @ WORK - AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON SUMMER SCHOOL
27 January - 5 February 2004
Australian National University, Canberra

The Australian Synchrotron is pleased to be involved with the first Australian Synchrotron Summer School. The program will enable people not yet using synchrotron light to identify new experimental techniques relevant to their area of study and current synchrotron users to enhance their skills.

The primary target audience is young scientists (including honours students, graduate students and early-career researchers) from Australia and overseas in the biological, medical, chemical, earth, materials and physical sciences and engineering. Experienced synchrotron practitioners will be welcome, space permitting.

For more information contact the Summer School co-chairs Mark Ridgway or Chris Glover via sync.school@anu.edu.au or visit the Summer School website at http://www.rsphysse.anu.edu.au/sync.school/index.html


5. TENDERS AND INDUSTRY INFO
Current tenders out for the Australian Synchrotron are:
* MPV-SYN-014 The Design, Supply and Performance Demonstration of the Storage Ring Magnets, closing 2pm 10 September 2003
* MPV-SYN-016 The Design, Supply and Performance Demonstration of the Storage Ring Vacuum Chambers, closing 2pm 10 September 2003.

For more details on these tenders see http://www.tenders.vic.gov.au

For more information on supplying to the Australian Synchrotron Project please contact the Industry Capabilities Network via http://www.vicprojects.com.au/


6. RECENT EVENTS

INDUSTRY DAY
The Australian Synchrotron Project held a day for industrial suppliers on 8 July 2003. The day was an opportunity for potential suppliers to learn more about the project, the services and equipment required during construction, and to meet with key international contractors. 350 people representing 180 companies attended the day. For images, info and copies of presentations please see /whats_new/industry_day.asp.


MEDICAL IMAGING WORKSHOP
More than 130 top health researchers and professionals recently attended a workshop about the Australian Synchrotron's potential to make world-leading medical breakthroughs. The workshop at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre heard from international experts who reported that synchrotrons had the potential to provide new treatments and earlier and more accurate diagnosis for life threatening diseases, including cancer. For more details see /whats_new/media_release_item.asp?id=24


NEW ZEALAND USERS WORKSHOP
The Australian Synchrotron helped run a successful two-day workshop for 80 potential New Zealand users of the facility on 4-5 September. The workshop included details on synchrotron techniques and applications, and how New Zealand researchers can become involved in the project. Special thanks to Jim Metson of Auckland University for organising the workshop, and to New Zealand's Ministry of Research, Science and Technology for supporting it.



7. NEW STAFF

Greg LeBlanc, Lead Accelerator Physicist
Greg LeBlanc joins the delivery team as Lead Accelerator Physicist. He will be responsible for the design specification, testing and commissioning of the accelerator systems, as well as training of the accelerator physicists.

Greg is from California and studied physics in Lund, Sweden before starting work with the accelerator systems at MAX-lab, Sweden.


Dr Mark Boland, Accelerator Physicist
Dr Mark Boland joins the project with a background in experimental nuclear physics. He completing his PhD in photonuclear physics at the University of Melbourne and has spent the last two years doing research at MAX-lab.

Mark specialises in experimental hardware, data analysis, computer simulations and general problem solving. He has returned to Melbourne with his wife Amy and is happy to have a chance to work in physics in Australia.


Eugene Tan, Accelerator Physicist
Eugene Tan is a graduate in maths and physics, with honours in physics from Monash University. Eugene has worked with CSIRO on discrete element modelling. His current work uses computer programs to model and analyse the parameters of the synchrotron to determine its capabilities.


Neil Meadowcroft, Lead Electrical Engineer
Neil Meadowcroft will be responsible for all electrical engineering for the building and the technical facilities, including the design, specification, procurement, testing and electrical integration for the project.

With the exception of two years when he went to Antarctica, backpacked around the world and cycled solo through Africa, Neil has spent his career developing electrical and control systems for ISIS at the Rutherford Appleton Lab, UK.


Dean Morris, Technical Integration Manager
Dean Morris was born in Wales and completed a PhD in ray optics at the Daresbury and Brookhaven synchrotrons. His first job was building a surface science beamline at Elettra in Italy. He then joined the synchrotron group of Oxford Instruments and spent time as the US Sales manager, selling equipment to US synchrotrons. He also spent some time as the CERN Business Manager for Oxford Danfysik. Dean has an MBA and is a qualified project management professional. In his working life he has visited more than 25 synchrotron facilities around the world.


8. ASRP FELLOWSHIPS
We congratulate the following recipients of Australian Synchrotron Research Program fellowships:
* Dr Hugh Harris - studying the different compartments of human cells and living tissues to probe the molecular biological processes involved in human disease, the effectiveness and side effects of new drugs and the cell changes that occur in response to drugs.
* Dr Bayden Wood - probing the chemical structure of single cells in plants and animals to investigate a new diagnostic tool for cervical cancer and to investigate algal blooms.
* Dr Carl Chen - researching the development of new components that are a major step towards portable "lab-on-a-chip" systems.
* Dr Stephanie Corde - conducting research into three areas of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
* Mr Ivan Kempson - developing more accurate trace evidence analysis techniques in forensics.
* Dr Nigel Kirby - studying how nature constructs bio minerals such as bones and teeth so these processes can be mimicked to synthesise materials.

More details on ASRP fellowships can be found at http://www.ansto.gov.au/natfac/asrp.html


9. HOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON
Electronically: Check out our website at www.synchrotron.vic.gov.au, then send any questions to contact.us@synchrotron.vic.gov.au.

In print: Contact us if you'd like to receive a copy of our new brochure about the Australian Synchrotron.

In person: Contact us if you're interested in having a speaker present to your organisation, school, or community group. Also watch out for us at scientific, industry and community events listed on our website.

The Australian Synchrotron Project is being administered by the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development and delivery is being managed by Major Projects Victoria, Department of Infrastructure.

The current address and contact details are:

Australian Synchrotron Project
Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development
Level 18, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9655 3315 (International: +61 3 9655 3315)
Fax: (03) 9655 8666 (International: +61 3 9655 8666)
E-mail: contact.us@synchrotron.vic.gov.au
Website: www.synchrotron.vic.gov.au

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