Australia races forwards with high precision positioning tech

Very Long Baseline Interferometry telescope at Yarragadee

AuScope’s investment in geodesy has enabled a step-change in Australia’s national positioning capability, forming the backbone of Geoscience Australia’s National Positioning Infrastructure (NPI) and supporting the rollout of Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) services. By delivering a continent-wide network of GNSS stations and data systems, AuScope has underpinned a transition from metre-level to centimetre-level positioning accuracy—transforming […]

AuScope

AuScope is Australia’s provider of research infrastructure to the Earth and Geospatial Science community. Our tools, data, services and analytics enable scientists to understand Earth’s evolution through time and explore how Earth resources may support growing human demands.

Heavy Ion Accelerators (HIA)

Our $150M world-class accelerator facilities for high-energy ion beam research represents decades of strategic investment by the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, our industry partners and the Australian Government. With R&D capabilities unparalleled in Australia and matched by few globally, we support research activities in sectors of national priority, including quantum computing, space and astronomy, advanced materials, environment and climate, cancer therapies, minerals exploration, and fundamental nuclear science.

Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS)

IMOS is a national collaborative research infrastructure, undertaking systematic, sustained and scientifically-robust observations of our vast and valuable marine estate. All IMOS observations are made discoverable and accessible via the Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN) platform, using FAIR data principles. Additional data is incorporated into the AODN from a wide range of partner organisations including research institutions, federal and state government departments, and private industry.

Microscopy Australia (MicroAu)

Microscopy Australia provides researchers and industry with open access to the nation’s largest range of high-end microscopes, microanalysis tools, and specialists. It consists of university-based microscopy centres around the country. Our instruments have dedicated experts to deliver high quality training and support to ensure you get the best research outcomes.

National Imaging Facility (NIF)

National Imaging Facility (NIF) is Australia’s advanced imaging network. We provide open access to world-class imaging equipment, expertise, tools, data and analysis. We address Australia’s strategic science and research priorities, and this benefits Australian industry and helps keep Australians healthy.

Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre (Pawsey)

Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre is home of Setonix, Australia’s fastest and most energy-efficient supercomputer, delivering the nation’s most advanced AI research infrastructure through massive GPU power.
Our integrated platform combines cutting-edge GPU acceleration with AI frameworks, real-time analytics, and advanced remote visualisation services and expertise. This gives researchers nationwide access to the scale, speed and expertise needed to accelerate discovery and innovation across every field, from climate modelling and drug discovery to quantum research and astronomy.

AARNet

AARNet is Australia’s national research and education network, a not-for-profit organisation equally owned by 38 Australian universities and CSIRO. AARNet provides essential high-speed internet and advanced network services tailored to meet the specialised needs of researchers in Australia.

Listening to the ancient world beneath our feet to support critical mineral discovery

Curnamona Province

At the border of South Australia and New South Wales lies the Curnamona Province, a region that holds an untold story about Earth’s evolution over billions of years. By using NCRIS-enabled infrastructure, researchers are building a detailed 3D model of the Province, known as the ‘Curnamona Cube.’ The Cube reveals the hidden geological history of […]

Cutting-edge laser boosts thermochronology research at the University of Melbourne

Two researchers operate an ESL193 ImageGEO laser ablation system in a laboratory while monitoring mineral analysis data on computer screens.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne’s School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences are transforming the speed and scale of their thermochronology research, enabling more effective and precise analysis of geological samples. The faster research is thanks to a new, state-of-the-art ESL193nm ImageGEO laser system from Elemental Scientific. The laser will accelerate earth science research […]

AuScope in Antarctica: unlocking climate-response secrets hidden beneath the ice

Professor Anya Reading stands beside a newly installed solar powered seismic monitoring station on rocky ground near the Lower Vanderford Glacier in Antarctica, with the ice covered glacier stretching across the background.

Antarctica holds clues about how our planet is responding to climate change, and what that means for our future. AuScope is helping Australian researchers uncover critical new knowledge, by building and deploying polar-rated instrument sets that can withstand Antarctic extremes, drilling deep beneath the ice to retrieve ancient sediments, and developing software for modelling how […]

The future of gold is green: new tech recovers the precious metal without pollution

woman sorting electronic waste materials

New technology out of Flinders University uses harmless chemicals to make a unique polymer that specifically binds to gold, making it possible to extract and concentrate gold from complex sources such as ore and e-waste. Scanning electron microscope image of the sulfur-based polymer showing bound gold (red). Sulfur shows as yellow and carbon as blue. […]

Strengthening our European connections to EMBL and beyond

On a recent visit to EMBL Heidelberg, Ian Smith, Chair of the EMBL Australia Council, spoke about the synergies between EMBL and EMBL Australia, opportunities for collaboration and ideas for exciting future programs. Ian Smith, Chair of the EMBL Australia Council, chatted to EMBL about the synergies between the organisations, opportunities for collaboration, and ideas […]

AuScope underpins Julimar polymetallic minerals discovery

In November 2021, Chalice Mining Limited released a maiden resource statement for the Julimar polymetallic mineral deposit on Wadjuk Country in Western Australia. This is an exciting milestone for Chalice on the path to delivering palladium, nickel, copper and platinum for clean energy technologies. Equally impressive is the decades-long backstory to the Julimar discovery, which […]

A wonder material made from waste

FALSE COLOURED SCANNING ELECTRON MICROGRAPH OF PFAS DROPLETS (GREEN) ADSORBED BY THE POLYMER SPONGE (BROWN)

In February 2020, Clean Earth Technologies (CET) signed an agreement with Flinders University to produce commercial quantities of an environmental wonder material. Developed by Prof. Justin Chalker and his team at Flinders University, this novel polymer — made exclusively from waste materials — is capable of pulling oil from the oceans and contaminants like mercury […]

Making mining models with magnetic minerals

Dr Kate Robertson in the field setting up equipment for magnetotelluric imaging.

Australian Geophysicists are mapping the possible location of economic mineral deposits in South Australia and relying on the NCI to produce advanced 3D models of the subsurface. The great challenge of this work is that over 80% of the surface of the state is covered by younger sediment, such as vast fields of sand dunes, […]