28 June 2013
The Australian Synchrotron has a vision: to be the catalyst for the best scientific research and innovation in Australia and New Zealand.
That vision is supported by our mission of enabling science for the benefit of the community, by providing world-class synchrotron expertise and facilities. We operate according to our core values – passion, respect, innovation, collaboration and excellence – and five strategic objectives that address our priorities, which are users, people, equipment, reputation and funding.
The strength and breadth of the research that users conduct at the Australian Synchrotron is well-demonstrated by our 2010-12 Research Highlights report, which will soon be released.
To guide and focus our efforts into the future, we have drafted a strategic plan that outlines our key objectives and initiatives over the next three years to 2016. The strategic plan will underpin interactions with stakeholders, and serve to communicate our objectives to everyone with an interest in the Australian Synchrotron – within science, industry and the broader community.
The draft strategic plan draws on staff planning day inputs, advisory committee reports, stakeholder input, and documents such as the national case for synchrotron science, the Australian Synchrotron Development Plan and the 2007-17 decadal plan.
We are now seeking comments on the draft strategic plan (Strategic Plan discussion paper, 1.27 MB pdf) from stakeholders, including Australian Synchrotron staff, the Scientific Advisory Committee, the Funders Committee and you – the user community. Please send us your input by 26 July 2013.
The strategic plan describes key facility projects and activities that are or will be implemented to support the strategic objectives. These initiatives include the annual user meeting, annual new user symposium (26 July 2013 in Sydney), further improvement of the portal system for users, increased industry engagement, and the development and wide circulation of a reader-friendly case for upgrading our facilities and services.
On the subject of broader engagement, the industry-led food and manufacturing industry precincts announced recently by the federal government represent an exciting new opportunity for Australian Synchrotron users – and the Synchrotron itself – to play a bigger part in the development of key industry sectors. If you have ideas about how your synchrotron research could contribute to industry through the precincts, please contact Kerry Hayes or David Cookson.
The next user meeting, to be held at the Australian Synchrotron on 21-22 November 2013, will showcase the high-quality scientific outcomes being achieved by our research users, and demonstrate how the Synchrotron is serving research, business and the broader community in Australia and New Zealand. Please mark the date in your diaries.
Andrew Peele
Interim Director, Australian Synchrotron