Year 11 Chemistry’s Excursion to ANSTO

Year 11 HSC Chemistry students, along with their teachers Mr Douglass and Miss Della Mura, had the exciting opportunity to visit Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The day started with an engaging lecture about ANSTO, its research and general nuclear chemistry. There was even a demonstration on measuring the radioactivity of various objects and radioactive samples. After the students explored the activities at the Discovery Centre, they journeyed into the main facility centre which the bus and passengers had to be approved by the Australian Federal Police. No phones or smartwatches allowed into this area!

The students toured around some of the facilities. They observed the staff in the Nuclear Medicine office where the radioisotope molybdenum-99 is manufactured. This resource decays to form technetium-99m, which is delivered to medical practices across Australia and the world. They also had a look into the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering. The instruments are named after some of our Australian animals! They walked past the nuclear reactor, called OPAL and were able to view in real-time on screen, inside the reactor.

Overall, it was a very insightful day. Thank you to all of the staff at ANSTO for providing this experience for our students.

Rhys Briscoe-Hough
Assistant Head of Department – Science