Synchrotron celebration

.The unique event was hosted by the Monash Engineering Foundation in the synchrotron building, which is under construction on land next to the university's Clayton campus. The dinner was sponsored by Thiess, Bassett and JMP Consulting -- companies involved in the construction of the Australian Synchrotron.

A synchrotron uses beams of light a million times brighter than sunlight to probe the physical structure and composition of materials down to the level of atoms and molecules.

The gala dinner: the first and only opportunity to dine on the synchrotron's 'technical floor'.

Leaders in science and technology, industry, politics and the community mingled on the technical floor -- the area where the synchrotron's beamlines will enter experimental laboratories. The evening started with words of welcome from the Chair of the Monash Engineering Foundation, Emeritus Professor Peter Darvall and a special welcome video message from Dr Andy Thomas, (mov, 4.5Mb) NASA Astronaut. Special guests included the Governor of Victoria, Mr John Landy AC MBE; the Victorian Minister for Innovation, Mr John Brumby; and Emeritus Professor Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE, who is also Patron of the Australian Synchrotron.

Mr Brumby said the synchrotron project was an outstanding example of the vision of Australian science. In his speech he stated that "The Australian Synchrotron shows what can be achieved when governments and the science community collaborate to create the most significant national research platform in two generations," he said.

The guest speaker for the evening was Australian of the Year 2005, Clinical Professor Fiona Wood AM.

Professor Wood told the audience that the Australian Synchrotron, with its diagnostic applications, would be a great boon to medicine in Australia.

Emeritus Professor Peter Darvall, told the guests they were experiencing an unprecedented opportunity to view the facility. Once the Australian Synchrotron is open in March 2007, such access will be impossible.

Transcript speech of the Honourable John Brumby MP, Victorian Minister for Innovation, as provided by the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (pdf, 40kb)