AANSS2026 | ANBUG-AINSE Neutron Scattering Symposium 2026

Date	Mon 23 Nov at 11.00am - Wed 25 Nov at 4.00pm
Cost	$175-$400
Venue	ANSTO - AINSE Theatre New Illawarra Road Lucas Heights NSW 2234
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The ANBUG-AINSE Neutron Scattering Symposium (AANSS) 2026 will be held in person from the 23rd to 25th November 2026 at Lucas Heights NSW, home to ANSTO’s multi-purpose OPAL research reactor, the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS) and National Deuteration Facility (NDF). The symposium will be hosted at AINSE and ANSTO conference facilities.

AANSS is the biennial symposium of the Australian and New Zealand neutron scattering community and aims to bring together the users (both local and international) of Australia’s neutron research infrastructure with other global experts and users of neutron instrumentation.

The Organising Committee is developing an exciting line up of invited speakers from both the local and global neutron communities. These will be announced over the coming weeks on the AANSS 2026 website.

The symposium will take place over 3 days to encompass science talks and poster presentations across 8 topics/themes. This will also, enable many opportunities to network and engage with your fellow delegates to both renew and establish connections and collaborations.

This symposium is suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students, postdoctoral and early career researchers and scientists at all career stages.

We look forward to welcoming you to AANSS 2026 in November and hearing about your research!

Plenary Speakers

Norman J. Wagner

Norm is an Alison Professor of the University of Delaware and holds the distinguished Unidel Robert L. Pigford Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, with affiliated faculty appointments in Physics and Astronomy, Biomechanics and Movement Science, and Biomedical Engineering. He leads an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Delaware and is a co-founder and director of the Center for Neutron Science. His Plenary presentation will be on the "Microstructure and rheology of thermoreversible colloidal gels by 4D-Rheo-SANS". Read more about Norman here.

Hiroyuki Aoki

Hiroyuki is a Principal Scientist at the J-PARC Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), and a Professor at the Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK). He plays a leading role in neutron reflectometry at J-PARC and serves as an instrument scientist for the SHARAKU neutron reflectometer at the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) of J-PARC. His research focuses on the surface, interfacial, and thin-film properties of polymers, using neutron reflectometry and single-molecule measurements to investigate molecular structures and dynamics. Read more about Hiroyuki here.

Keynote Speakers

Giovanna Fragneto

Giovanna is the Science Director of the European Spallation Source (ESS) based in Lund Sweden, an ERIC facility under construction that has the ambition to become the most powerful neutron source in the world. She previously spent 25 years at the Institut Laue-Langevin, an international research institute based in Grenoble, France, delivering high flux neutron beams for the study of matter in the realms of soft and hard condensed matter, biology, magnetism, materials science, nuclear and particle physics. Giovanna investigates surfaces and interfaces with special emphasis to the structure of model biological membranes, characterised with reflectivity techniques using neutron beams or synchrotron radiation, as well as interactions of lipid bilayers with molecules such as cholesterol, proteins, and nanoparticles and is author of more than 220 in peer-reviewed journals.

In a special presentation, Giovanna will join AANSS online to provide an update about the ESS. Read more about Giovanna here.

Watch this space - more speakers to come!

Abstracts

Abstract submissions have now closed

Topics & Submission Requirements

Program Overview

Monday 23rd November

11:00 am	Registration opens
11:45 am	Light lunch available
12:45 pm	AANSS 2026 Welcome
1:00 pm	Session 1 - ANSTO Facility Updates (ACNS and NDF)
2:00 pm	Session 2 - Talks (with short break)
4:00 pm	Poster and Networking Session (and Afternoon tea)

Tuesday 24th November

8:30 am

Registration opens

9:00 am to 5:30 pm

Talk Sessions (including Morning and Afternoon tea, Lunch)

Today will include ANBUG Award Presentations Session and AGM

18:00 pm

AANSS 2026 Dinner (external location)

Wednesday 25th November

8:30 am	Registration opens
9:00 am to 4:00 pm	Talk Sessions (including Morning and Afternoon tea, Lunch)
4:00 pm	AANSS 2026 Close

*Please note timings and details of sessions will be confirmed with release of the detailed program closer to the event date.

Registration Information

Registration Type	Cost (AUD)
Full Registration	$400.00
Student Registration	$175.00
Retiree/Emeritus	$250.00
One-day Registration	$200.00

Includes:

All Sessions
Morning Tea
Lunch
Afternoon Tea
Poster Networking (Monday 23rd November)
Event Dinner (Tuesday 24th November)

Useful information

The Lucas Heights Motel may have availability during the AANSS. There are a number of other accommodation options near Sutherland Station. The ANSTO shuttle bus is one option to consider for traveling from Sutherland to ANSTO. More information about how to use the ANSTO shuttle bus and the bus timetable can be found here.

Important Dates

_Milestone	_Date
Abstract submissions open	Monday, 24 August at 8:00 AM (AEST)
Abstract submissions close	Friday, 18 September at 11:59 PM (AEST) - EXTENDED to Sunday, 4 October at 11:59 PM (AEST)
Registrations open	Friday, 18 September at 8:00 AM (AEST)
Applicants advised of outcome	Friday, 9 October
Registrations close	Friday, 23 October at 11:59 PM (AEST)

Funding Available

We would like to thank AINSE for their student travel support funding. AINSE is providing flight assistance to attend AANSS2026 for students that attend AINSE affiliated universities with a campus outside of greater Sydney (capped amount based on university campus city location).

If you are a student at an AINSE affiliated university and would like to be considered for travel support, you will need to check this option in the AANSS registration process.

ANBUG Women in Neutron Scattering Program

Funding Available

To encourage more female students and ECRs to attend the ANBUG-AINSE Neutron Scattering Symposium 2026 for research exchange and networking, a special program has been developed aiming to promote women involved in the neutron scattering community. This initiative is under the umbrella of the ARC Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship Program. Several financial support options to a maximum of $500 (AUD) will be provided to the awardees.