Event Horizon

The Australian National University

Event Horizon

Research School of Physics

Weekly newsletter | vol 47 no 15 | 18–22 April 2022

Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you enjoyed a very pleasant Easter long weekend. It’s nice to see the autumn colours start to set in.

Last Wednesday, the steady process of handing over the new building to the ANU commenced. Seen at the far end of our new Conference room Project Lead for Hindmarsh, Jonathan De Puit hands the access to “Separable Portion One” (offices and auditorium) over to Peter Geerdink, Associate Director, Facilities & Services. The hand-over initiates a cascade of actions ranging from integrating cardex, cabling every workstation, safety systems to tying building IT into ANU systems. The School Facilities team will spend the next few weeks ensuring the new functionality is integrated and undertaking a workplace inspection with WEG before starting to move people into the office space. The plan is to provide removal services to people grouped in the same neighbourhood within the new building. Over the next few weeks the School Facilities team will be working through the Heads to move groups into the office space, neighbourhood at a time. Consisting of Level 4 meeting rooms, stores, helium recovery, stable labs and cleanroom “Separable Portion Two” will be complete in a few month’s time, which will trigger the commencement of laboratory equipment relocation. Details of this complex and lengthy process will be developed once the office relocation is safely underway.

Below you’ll see the first in a series of interviews from the Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Science. My thanks as always to Phil Dooley, and also to all those sharing their joys in working with this unique Australian facility.

Please note the safety notice below concerning the need to ensure a residual current device (RCD), present on all mains power outlets in the School, resides on the device-side of any UPS you might be using or procuring.

Finally, if you are considering a LIEF bid in this round and will be requesting cash support from the DVC(RI) please discuss with your Head before Friday, 12pm. The School Executive will meet on Friday to discuss the possibility of School support.

Have a good short week.
Tim

RCD Requirement for All UPS Equipment

A RCD (Residual Current Device) needs to be applied downstream of all UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) equipment as part of the ANU electrical safety policy for electric shock protection to be maintained.

UPS procured before now need to have RCD’s installed to them. This will at minimum require a downstream RCD device to be installed between the UPS and the equipment it is protecting.

Any new purchases of UPS’ will need to either have this capability built in or downstream devices purchased alongside. Procurement will not continue unless this is confirmed.

The School purchasing page has more information on the requirement.

For further details, please contact whs.physics@anu.edu.au

Shining a Light on Outstanding Research

Each year, the Australian Academy of Science shines a light on researchers who have made outstanding contributions to science, and in progressing the advancement of science in Australia, by awarding our prestigious honorific awards.

The awards recognise remarkable achievements in research fields including Earth sciences, biology, physics, mathematics, chemistry, biomedicine and more.

Nominations are now open for the Academy’s 2023 honorific awards, research conferences, research awards and travelling fellowships.