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Honours student amazed by nuclear school
The first University of the Sunshine Coast student to attend a Winter School at Australia’s nuclear science facility has described the experience as “mind-blowing”.
USC Science Honours student Krystina Lamb, 22, of Mountain Creek, did a five-day intensive course through AINSE (Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering) at Lucas Heights near Sydney earlier this month.
AINSE is the link between universities and the state-of-the-art facilities at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
The centre supports research activities that have applications in technology, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, medicine and environmental protection.
Ms Lamb was selected as USC’s representative for the 2011 Winter School, which involved hands-on experiments in neutrons (using instruments on the centre’s nuclear research reactor), ions, gamma irradiation, natural radioactivity in environmental studies and nuclear techniques for groundwater studies.
She enjoyed lectures, demonstrations, tours and networking with the centre’s nuclear scientists and university students from across the country.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to get a feel for what Australia’s nuclear science industry is all about, and explore more research ideas for my Honours and PhD at USC,” Ms Lamb said.
“Environmental Science is my major but I’m also interested in physical chemistry and it was amazing to see their capacity for research in this area.
“They’re exploring piezoelectrics, which are used in electronic goods such as touch-screen phones and computer monitors.
“Because most piezoelectrics contain lead, which is not good for people or the environment, they’re developing a more biodegradable compound to do the same functions. The research uses neutrons produced in the reactor.”
Ms Lamb’s research partner at USC, fellow Science Honours student Nikita Tully, also attended the Lucas Heights centre recently as part of an AINSE scholarship she received earlier this year.
Both students are working on an $85,000, 12-month, collaborative project to measure and source the input of nutrients into the Noosa River catchment.
Their initial aim is to date the sediment cores collected from Lake Cootharaba to determine whether nutrient build-ups are natural or man-made.
– Julie Gatehouse