Australian Academy of Science President Professor Suzanne Cory today welcomed news that the immediate future of the Australian Synchrotron has been secured.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed today, the Federal and Victorian Governments have agreed to jointly commit $95 million to running the Synchrotron for the next four years.
“It is very important that funding for this world-class facility has been secured so that Australia can continue to produce ground-breaking science for discovery, applied research and industrial purposes,” said Professor Cory.
“The Gillard Government and Baillieu Government have both shown vision by committing to this key piece of highly productive scientific infrastructure.”
The Australian Synchrotron has enabled valuable collaborative research to be undertaken by Australian researchers and industry, often with the enthusiastic involvement of international partners.
“The Australian Academy of Science last year urged all parties involved in negotiations to resolve funding and administrative arrangements for this key scientific infrastructure,” Professor Cory said.
The Synchrotron allows Australian scientists to conduct unique research in an enormous range of fields, including biology, medicine, environmental, agricultural and forensic science, as well as minerals exploration, engineering and advanced materials development.
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