Formed 1987 Founded 1987 | Website www.ansto.gov.au Number of employees 1,000 | |
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Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia Minister responsible Christopher Pyne, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Agency executives Jim McDowell, ChairmanAdi Paterson, Chief Executive Officer CEO Adrian Paterson (1 Mar 2009–28 Feb 2022) Parent organization Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education |
Estimates australian nuclear science and technology organisation
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is a statutory body of the Australian government, formed in 1987 to replace the Australian Atomic Energy Commission. Its head office and main facilities are in southern outskirts of Sydney at Lucas Heights, in the Sutherland Shire. It also operated the now closed National Medical Cyclotron at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Contents
- Estimates australian nuclear science and technology organisation
- Purpose
- Mission statement
- Structure
- Nuclear Reactors
- ANTARES
- References
Purpose
The Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is Australia's national nuclear organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 (Cth) prescribes its general purpose. The purpose is translated into action through corporate drivers of vision, mission and strategic goals.
Mission statement
Structure
ANSTO is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by former CEO of BAE Systems Saudi Arabia, James "Jim" McDowell. Erica Smyth from uranium exploration company Toro Energy is the Deputy Chair. The CEO, Dr Adrian "Adi" Paterson, manages the organisation.
ANSTO has four research institutes:
- The Bragg Institute
- The Institute for Environmental Research (IER)
- The Institute of Materials Engineering (IME)
- ANSTO Life Sciences
Major research instruments include:
ANSTO also manufactures radiopharmaceuticals and performs commercial work such as silicon doping by nuclear transmutation.
Nuclear Reactors
ANSTO currently has two nuclear reactors onsite: HIFAR and the new OPAL from the Argentine company INVAP. HIFAR was permanently shut down on 30 January 2007. OPAL became operational in November 2006 and was officially opened 20 April 2007.
In 2017, ANTSO announced the creation of a NiMo-SiC alloy for use in molten salt reactors.
ANTARES
ANTARES, (Australian National Tandem Accelerator for Applied Research), is a particle accelerator operated by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation or ANSTO at the research establishment at Lucas Heights. ANTARES does not produce radioisotopes, that work is done using the adjacent nuclear research reactor, and also at the National Medical Cyclotron also run by ANSTO but located at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.