Mission & Goals
The Vital Link
The Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering Inc (AINSE) was established in 1958 to provide a mechanism for access to the special facilities at Lucas Heights by universities and other tertiary institutions and to provide a focus for cooperation in the nuclear scientific and engineering fields. It has a specific mandate to arrange for the training of scientific research workers and the award of scientific research studentships in matters associated with nuclear science and engineering.
Today nuclear science at the Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centre is devoted to supporting activities and research in a wide range of disciplines. These have applications in advanced technology, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, medicine and environmental protection. All are of vital importance to Australia's future.
Many of the techniques and much of the expertise at Lucas Heights cannot be found elsewhere in Australia. AINSE plays an indispensable role in providing universities with access to major scientific facilities and encouraging a national cooperative research effort. It is a role that is efficient and cost effective. Universities are saved from duplicating expensive items of equipment and Commonwealth funding can be directed at one national facility instead of several with sub-critical funding.
A new company, called AINSE Ltd, commenced trading on 1 January 2009 and AINSE Inc ceased trading on 31 March 2009.
While the constitution of AINSE Ltd appears to be very different from the Rules of the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering Inc no changes have been made to AINSE processes as they relate to AINSEprograms. All AINSE programs were tranferred from the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering Inc to AINSE Ltd.
Mission
AINSE will advance research, education and training in the field of nuclear science and engineering and related fields within Australasia by being, in particular, the key link between universities, ANSTO, other member organisations and major nuclear science and associated facilities.
Vision
AINSE will be the link between Australasian universities and the state of the art facilities of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). It will facilitate excellent science using the nuclear and related facilities of ANSTO and, as appropriate opportunities arise, at other national and international sites. It will support high quality research that aligns with the goals of all its members.
To achieve this vision AINSE will implement strategies in the following key areas:
- access to major facilities
- scientific outcomes
- membership
- networking
- excellence in impact.
Goals
We will know that we have achieved this vision when the following goals are attained:
- Goal 1 By the end of 2013, members will be making appropriate and effective use of the facilities at ANSTO
- Goal 2 By the end of 2013, AINSE's research performance will have increased by 10% on the 2008 performance as measured by the number of high quality publications
- Goal 3 By the end of 2013, all universities active in scientific research in Australasia and a number of other scientific institutes in Australasia will be members of AINSE
- Goal 4 By the end of 2013, AINSE's scientific networks will have expanded
- Goal 5 By the end of 2013, AINSE will be making a substantial contribution to highly rated research groups at universities and at ANSTO.
Strategic Plan 2009-2013
Download AINSE Ltd's Strategic Plan 2009-2013 (PDF)