By Georgia Barrington-Smith
Throughout the first three weeks in September, AINSE had the privilege of hosting university scholars from across Australia and New Zealand at ANSTO’s Lucas Heights campus in Southern Sydney.
As part of AINSE’s 29th annual Winter School, students had a unique opportunity to go behind-the-scenes in some of ANSTO’s world-class research facilities and connect with inspiring scientists and engineers from a wide range of STEM disciplines.
Back in July, 142 students, from 35 AINSE member institutions, participated in the online component of the 2025 AINSE Winter School. Over the course of the seven-day online program, students heard from leading ANSTO and university researchers about the ongoing ground-breaking research made possible by the unique scientific infrastructure at ANSTO and other AINSE-supported facilities, including:
- The Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS),
- The Centre for Accelerator Science (CAS),
- The Australian Synchrotron,
- The National Deuteration Facility,
- Nuclear Materials,
- Nuclear Stewardship,
- Environmental Applications of Natural Radioactivity, and
- Health Research and Technology.
During the follow-up on-site visits in September, 52 student attendees had the opportunity to visit selected ANSTO facilities in-person. Over the course of three weeks, in three separate visiting groups, these students were given rare access into some of Australia’s most advanced nuclear science and technology facilities, including:
- The Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS),
- The Centre for Accelerator Science (CAS),
- Nuclear Materials, and
- Environmental Applications of Natural Radioactivity, and Nuclear Stewardship.
AINSE Winter School students also had the opportunity to network directly with ANSTO researchers and senior staff, including ANSTO CEO, Shaun Jenkinson, Group Executive of Nuclear Operations, Safety and Security, Miles Apperley, and Group Executive for ANSTO Nuclear Science and Technology, Andrew Peele to discuss their career journeys and potential opportunities for future research collaborations. This unique experience provided valuable insight for the students as they prepare for their journeys into Honours, postgraduate research, and beyond.
Each week of Winter School featured a compelling presentation from Dr. Joseph Bevitt, ANSTO’s resident “dinosaur detective,” who showcased special fossils, shared his career journey, and discussed his current research at ANSTO.
A Message from the AINSE Team:
The AINSE team extends our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making the 29th Annual Winter School a success—including the dedicated staff at ANSTO and the remarkable students who participated. It’s our privilege to support students throughout their research journeys, from undergraduate studies to postgraduate and early career research in the STEM industry. We are proud to help foster connections between ANSTO and the next generation of world-changing researchers.
As we celebrate the success of this year’s Winter School, we look forward to continuing our support through upcoming programs, including our Postgraduate Orientation Week, where we’ll be celebrating Nuclear Science Week and welcoming more students online. For more information about the Winter School, and to apply to be part of the next round, please visit ainse.edu.au/winter-school/.