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AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE WELCOMES DECISION TO CONSTRUCT RESEARCH REACTOR
5 April 2002

The Australian Academy of Science has welcomed the decision to build a new research reactor to replace the one at Lucas Heights.

Professor Michael Barber, Secretary, Science Policy said, 'A state-of-the-art research reactor is critical to the national interest, both in developing a radiopharmaceutical industry in health care and in maintaining the excellence of Australian research. The reactor will form a significant part of Australia's major national research infrastructure and benefit a wide range of Australian industry, research and society.'

Professor Barber went on to say that it is easy to justify this investment in a research reactor on the grounds of

• national interest;

• the continuation of internationally recognised Australian basic and strategic research; and

• strengthening strategic industry-research links to promote technological development.