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NZ in 'sync' with Monash

The New Zealand government has given its support to the Australian Synchrotron at Monash with an in-principle contribution of $5 million.

Victorian Premier Mr Steve Bracks, Minister for Innovation Mr John Brumby and New Zealand consul general Mr Mark Ingram made the announcement at the Synchrotron site on Thursday 12 August.

From left: Dr Rod Hill, group chair, CSIRO Sustainable Minerals and Energy Group; Mr Mark Ingram; Mr Steve Bracks; Professor Keith Nugent, head school of physics, University of Melbourne; Mr John Brumby; Mr Michael Wilkinson, chief operating officer, MiniFAB and Professor Edwina Cornish, deputy vice-chancellor (Research), Monash.

The money will be used to fund initial beamlines at the Synchrotron. A beamline is a long vacuum tube radiating from the central machine, through which the beams of light travel to experimental stations around the perimeter of the facility.

Mr Bracks welcomed New Zealand's participation in the project and said collaboration between Australia and New Zealand was vital for the economic development of both countries.

"Science partnerships strengthened through the Australian Synchrotron will boost Australian and New Zealand research and development and help grow business and jobs on both sides of the Tasman," he said.

New Zealand's contribution to the Synchrotron will be funded by the New Zealand government, universities and research institutions.

New Zealand currently has around 51 user groups making use of synchrotron technology overseas.

The Australian Synchrotron is expected to open in 2007.