Australian Institute for Nuclear Science and Engineering
From Envirowiki
The Australian Institute for Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) was established in 1958 to facilitate the access of universities to the facilities at Lucas Heights and to provide a focus for cooperation in the nuclear science and engineering fields (AINSE, 2006a).
AINSE mission is to "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" (ibid). AINSE is promoted as a way for universities to avoid the duplication of costs of expensive equipment and for Commonwealth funding to be directed to one national facility (ibid).
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[edit] AINSE Funding
AINSE has a member list of all Australian universities bar one (AINSE, 2006b). It offers research awards and postdoctoral fellowships that include access to the OPAL research reactor (AINSE, 2006c). A yearly membership fee is paid by universities to become "members" of AINSE. For every dollar universities provide, ANSTO and the Australian Federal Government invests a dollar. AINSE provides grants of around $8,000 - $11,000 to individual nuclear research projects. AINSE funded projects often receive Australian Research Council funding at a later date (Thompson B, 2006, email correspondence).
[edit] AINSE Established Goals
By end of 2008 members will have access to the Australian major nuclear and related research facilities and some overseas through AINSE
By end of 2008 the research performance of our scientific outcomes will have increased substantially
By end of 2008 all universities in Australasia, the some sections of the CSIRO, many major museums, many non teaching hospitals and a significant proportion of the scientific institutes in Australasia will be members of AINSE
By end of 2008, we will have expanded AINSE's existing set of excellent scientific networks (AINSE, 2006a).
Whilst AINSE has an impressive list of member universities. The research work funded through AINSE is of particular interest. Within its "specialist areas" is the 'Materials - Properties and Engineering Committee,' which studies the "structure and composition of engineering and inorganic materials; surface modifications, surface characterisation and surface properties; advanced materials processing; specialist techniques in materials characterisation; materials testing, bulk and local materials properties; effects of radiation on materials" (AINSE, 2006d).
This is applied mostly to monitoring the effects of and disposal methods of radioactive waste.
[edit] Building infrastructure for nuclear education and research
In July, John Howard announced $12.5 million for the Nuclear Collaborative Research Program, beginning what is expected to be half a billion dollars pouring into universities to build a skills pool of nuclear scientists and engineers in Australia. The funding is administered by the Australian Institute for Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), of which 36 of Australia’s 37 universities are members. AINSE believe the funding will “help develop a core nuclear skills base“ and is part of a “nuclear capability building exercise that will introduce research programs into universities and facilitate the training of graduate engineers, chemists and materials scientists whose skills could support a nuclear power industry”. Specifically, the research dollars are marked for a project of the US-led Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), developing so-called Generation IV nuclear energy reactors. Five million dollars is also earmarked for establishing infrastructure at ANSTO to support collaborative research with universities. The remaining $7.5 million will fund new academic positions, targeted research grants, and scholarships.
Following the announcement, AINSE formed the Nuclear Technology Specialist Committee and Australian Nuclear Education Forum were established, with representation from universities and ANSTO. These Committees are responsible for administering the funding and for developing of nuclear courses in universities. AINSE claim “the overall aim of the establishment of these committees is to maximize university input and to reinforce the linkages between the universities and ANSTO”.
[edit] Interests in Mining, Enrichment, and Waste Dumps
In a recent Submission to the 'House of Representatives Inquiry into the Development of Non-Fossil Fuel Energy,' AINSE argued for both increased mining of uranium and the storage of radioactive waste in Australia. "(B)y adopting a positive attitude to expansion, possibly linked to storage of waste, Australia's commercial and strategic interests could be served" (AINSE, 2006e p.2 9).
The Submission states that due to Australia's geological nature, there "may be good business opportunities associated with the storage and handling of nuclear waste" (ibid)
Whilst the Submission looks into the role that nuclear power could play in the energy market, the reflection on issues such as enrichment and waste storage as business opportunities is most disturbing. The logic behind acknowledging that there is no agreement on the disposal of nuclear waste internationally and then arguing that it would be a "good business opportunity" is astounding. This submission highlights the interests of industry and organisations such as AINSE.
In addition to this, other examples of research into radioactive waste monitoring and management include Bernd Lottermoser's Study 'Radionuclide Characterisation of Tailings Seepage Precipitates at the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine.' HYPERLINK www.ainse.edu.au/proprep2000/R_00_089.pdf and Jennifer Brazier's 'Fate of Metal Pollutants Released from the Rum Jungle Uranium/copper mine into the Finniss River, NT Australia.' HYPERLINK www.ainse.edu.au/postrep2002/brazier.pdf
Both Reports outline affects that uranium mining on the environment and the management of radioactive waste. If radioactive waste exists, it is recognised that it needs to be managed properly. Then there is the issue of public funds being spent on dealing with the waste of the private sector.
