News

Recent news stories of interest to Monash-based synchrotron users.

Latest news

26/09/2008 - The 2008 Australian Synchrotron Thesis Medal

The Australian Synchrotron is seeking submissions for The Australian Synchrotron Thesis Medal. This medal is awarded annually to the PhD student who is judged to have completed the most outstanding thesis under the auspices of an Australian or New Zealand University using and acknowledging a synchrotron facility anywhere in the world.

For further information on eligibility and how to apply click here.

26/09/2008 - Monash Student Wins a Place at Synchrotron School in Japan

Monash University Postgraduate student Radha Maganti from the School of Chemistry is one of only ten Australian students who won funding to attend the Cheiron Synchrotron School, held at the Japanese light source, SPring-8, for 10 days from the 29 September 2008.

The Cheiron School aims to provide basic knowledge as well as perspectives of synchrotron radiation science and technology for PhD students, young scientists and engineers who wish to pursue their career in a field requiring synchrotron radiation and join a synchrotron radiation facility in the Asia Oceania region.

The comprehensive curriculum will include lectures by leading scientists, including Professor Rob Lewis, Director of the Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science (MCSS) and expert in medical uses of synchrotrons and detector development. Professor Lewis is delighted that a Monash University student was selected to attend the prestigious school.

“Radha will gain invaluable experiences, which will kick-start her scientific career involving synchrotron radiation” Professor Lewis said. “With the Australian Synchrotron located adjacent to the Clayton Campus, Radha will have access to this amazing technology at her doorstep, enabling her to excel in her chosen research field”.

Radha is excited about the chance to travel to Japan, and learn about synchrotron radiation at the world’s largest synchrotron radiation facility.

“It’s such an amazing opportunity to learn about synchrotron radiation and how I can make the most of this great technology in my own research” Radha said.

The school is held annually under the auspices of the Asia-Oceania Forum for Synchrotron Radiation Research (AOFSRR).

17/09/2008 - Cross-Country Collaboration Gives Students Synchrotron Experience

Monash University undergraduate students made the most of a cross-country collaboration with Curtin University, by taking part in an experiment at the Australian Synchrotron earlier this month.

Perth scientist, Professor Roland De Marco from Curtin University enabled Monash students to gain hands on experience with the powder diffraction beamline, as his colleagues and students watched from Perth.

Professor De Marco is researching the nature of corrosion in the mild steel pipes that carry oil and gas from the ocean deeps to the surface. The importance of understanding mild steel corrosion is profound, as corrosion causes leakages, which results in costly repairs and environmental complications.

Using the high brilliance of synchrotron light, Professor De Marco can view the chemistry of the metal surface in its fluid environment. "What I want to do is to develop new materials to bind to the surface that will prevent corrosion of the mild steel," says Professor De Marco.

This cross-country collaboration is a world-first; no two universities have collaborated in this way at an undergraduate level using a synchrotron. The initiative was made possible thanks to Professor De Marco, Doctors Kia Wallwork, Karen Siu and Rosalie Hocking.

24/07/2008 - Call for International Users’ Meeting Posters

The Fourteenth NSRRC Users’ Meeting and X-ray Crystallography / Spectroscopy Workshop will take place from Wednesday, October 8 through Thursday, October 9 at NSRRC Hsinchu, Taiwan.

NSRRC international users are invited to participate in the meeting by presenting your past or latest research experiment findings. For abstract submission, please make online registration at usersmtn.nsrrc.org.tw/eng/ or simply email user@nsrrc.org.tw before Friday, August 8.

The X-ray Crystallography / Spectroscopy workshop highlights the synchrotron applications in the cutting-edge research of X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy, including free electron laser, time-resolved protein crystallography, iron sulphur protein, protein folding dynamics, X-ray scattering and small angle scattering, high-resolution powder diffraction, and renewable energy science.

Please refer to the following links for more information:

• List of Invited Speakers and Topics
• Event Schedule
• One-page Abstract Sample

More news

10/06/2008 - Transition of the ASRP programs to the Australian Synchrotron

The Australian Synchrotron Research Programs (ASRP) will be transferred to the Australian Synchrotron (AS) from July 1, 2008.  Therefore, all international synchrotron access and travel funding for experiments at the overseas facilities in the September - December cycle this year, and in subsequent years, will be handled by the AS.

The main reasons for this change are to unify Australia’s synchrotron programs and that the ASRP is nearing the end of its operation: the next call for proposals for cycle three of 2008 is the last proposal round for which the ASRP has guaranteed beamtime allocations at its overseas facilities. From the first cycle of 2009 onwards the ASRP programs in their current form will cease and Australian users whose experiments cannot be accommodated at the Australian Synchrotron will need to apply directly to international facilities. The start of the 2009 financial year is therefore the best time to transfer the ASRP operation to the AS.

To clarify:

• Funding & acquittals for experiments up to and including the current cycle, May – August 2008, will be handled out of the ASRP office at ANSTO.
• Beamtime proposals, allocations and funding for experiments from September 2008 onwards will be administered by the AS User Office.
• Starting from Cycle 1 next year, users needing to access international facilities will need to apply directly to the facility in question, eg to the General User Proposal system at the APS.
• Funding will be available to support international synchrotron access from 2009 onwards.  The details are still being finalised, but the central principle will be that experiments which can be accommodated at the AS should be performed there.

The AS will call for proposals for the third cycle of 2008 in coming days.  There is one significant change from previous rounds: powder diffraction proposals will not be accepted for the ANBF.  All proposals for “normal” powder diffraction, ie capillary samples, hot, cold or room temp measurements should be directed to the AS Powder Beamline (Beamline 10BM).

This information was received from and posted with the permission of Dr Richard Garrett, Director, ASRP, 8 June 2008.  Any queries regarding the transition should be directed to the Australian Synchrotron.

28/05/2008 - MCSS welcomes Kylie Reid as Science Communications Officer

Kylie Reid recently joined MCSS in the role of Science Communications Officer. Kylie has laboratory based research experience in the field of biological sciences and possesses exceptional communication skills.

She also plays in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) for the Bulleen Melbourne Boomers. Playing basketball at the highest league in Australia has helped her develop strong communication skills and she has gained valuable experience dealing with the media and league sponsors.

Kylie is enthusiastic and keen to use her scientific knowledge, together with her interpersonal skills, to communicate synchrotron science to Monash researchers and students, as well as the media and the community.