Strategic priority 1

Deliver World-class Research and Innovation in Nuclear Science and Technology

ANSTO has a proud history of success in fundamental and applied research. Historically we have invested in world class infrastructure and people. ANSTO's 2010-2015 Corporate Plan seeks to continue this investment in both human and physical resources.

ANSTO’s unique strength lies in research in interactions and phenomena at the molecular, atomic and sub-atomic scales and relating this to complex physical and biological systems.

ANSTO will focus on its strengths including:

• Materials Engineering research, with a focus on behaviour (observed and predicted) of materials in extreme environments (radiation, temperature and pressure) for application in next generation energy systems, application of nuclear and material sciences in national security efforts, and applied research in support of commercial opportunities in nuclear waste management.

• Environmental research, with an emphasis on the application of nuclear methods to understand past climate events, the sustainability of groundwater systems and assessing human impacts on environmental systems. Landmark infrastructure will include construction and commissioning of the Centre for Accelerator Science.

• ANSTO LifeSciences research and innovation in radionuclide and radiopharmaceutical development and novel imaging techniques to support a broad set of life sciences disciplines. Landmark infrastructure will include construction and commissioning of the ANSTO LifeSciences Biology facility.

• Neutron scattering research to support developments in diverse fields such as plastics, minerals, engineering, pharmaceuticals, electronics and biology. Landmark infrastructure will include the design and implementation of three new instruments, supported by the Government’s Education Infrastructure Fund.

Where appropriate, ANSTO will collaborate and partner with other eminent Australian science and technology organisations to ensure that there is a national approach to researching major themes in key priority areas.

Strategic collaboration will be critical to ensure the optimisation of scarce resources, to maximise the contribution of complementary skill sets and to support work on landmark projects.

We will recognise our success by:

• Achieving high impact research outcomes from projects including use of accelerator systems in studying radiation and climate phenomena.
• Generating new sources of revenue from successful creation of new ventures and technology transfer.
• The depth and impact of collaborative research outcomes.