Professor Andrew Peele, Director of the Australian Synchrotron and Dr Sarawut Sujitjorn, Director of the Synchrotron Light Research Institute of Thailand, at Clayton in Victoria.

A new era of regional scientific cooperation begun this week with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Clayton between the Australian Synchrotron and the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI) of Thailand. 

Over a two-day visit, which involved a tour of the Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL), roundtable discussions and an official dinner, executive board members of SLRI learned about the history, operations and future of the Australian Synchrotron, which will inform the development of the 1.2 GeV Siam Photon Laboratory (SPL), the first synchrotron facility in Thailand.

Discussions covered approaches to safety and risk, plans for expansion and business development and the broad range of supporting services ensuring the landmark ANSTO research infrastructure continues to go from strength to strength.

Future cooperation enabled by the MoU could involve the sharing of brainpower and expertise, as the Thai delegation expressed a desire to cooperate on a staff exchange program with the Australian Synchrotron.