Benefits of access

The New Zealand Synchrotron Group enables and coordinates Aotearoa New Zealand researchers’ access to the Australian Synchrotron.

Access to world-class facilities on our doorstep

Before the construction of synchrotron facilities in Australia, the closest major facilities to New Zealand were Japan and California.

Through our arrangement with ANSTO, scientists can apply for beamtime from a pool of beamtime set aside exclusively for New Zealand users whereas in the past they had to apply at other facilities through a highly competitive process, which made it difficult for new users, particularly students, to gain experience needed to be outstanding synchrotron scientists.

The NZSG shareholders receive favourable access and pricing conditions, while other New Zealand researchers pay commercial rates. These are double the rates paid by shareholders.

The allocation for paid access is also much smaller than guaranteed access to ensure our members have sufficient access for their research needs.

Our current shareholders report that the benefits of access far outweigh the costs of membership and the access provided has enabled discoveries they would not otherwise have made.

Access types

Under the current agreement with ANSTO, NZSG researchers effectively have four types of access to the synchrotron:

1. Guaranteed access to the original beamlines. New Zealand’s NZSG-affiliated researchers have rights to a specific number of shifts (usage units annually), which researchers can apply to use through NZSG. There is no restriction on which original beamlines are used, so researchers have the flexibility of more time on their preferred beamlines. This arrangement effectively puts our researchers in a priority position, as these shifts must be allocated by ANSTO before Australian researchers’ shifts.
2. Merit access to the original beamlines. Research proposals from any source compete openly for beamtime, with those considered the highest quality receiving the shifts.
3. Guaranteed (Preferred) access to the new beamlines. Time is allocated to NZSG, with access guaranteed because of New Zealand’s capital investment. We have guaranteed access for five years after each new beamline comes into operation. The first of these rights expire in 2028 and the remainder will expire around 2031, five years after the last of the new beamlines is commissioned.
4. Merit access to the new beamlines. Proposals by Australian and New Zealand researchers are allocated time based solely on research quality.

Researchers from other organisations can be associated with applications for Guaranteed or Preferred Access, but proposals must be led by a researcher from one of the shareholder organisations. 

In addition to guaranteed access rights, students and other researchers benefit from a range of other NZSG-coordinated initiatives, which enable them to gain experience using the synchrotron. This support includes seed funding and travel assistance.

Complementary travel funding and accommodation

Each NZSG-affiliated team awarded beamtime also receives travel funding and access to accommodation at the Australian Synchrotron Guesthouse by ANSTO.

Free accommodation is provided for up to three people for each group who have been awarded Merit or Preferred Access beamtime.