What a stimulating week dedicated to energy in Sydney and Canberra, spent in the company of Professor Piero Martin!
On Monday 13th, we attended the Energy Transition Forum where prominent stakeholders from Australia and Italy shared their visions on energy transition and decarbonisation strategies. Many thanks to Andrea de Felip, Consul General of Italy in Sydney, and Rachele Grassi CEO and General Secretary of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Sydney for organizing this informative event and allowing Piero to present the Italian Divertor Tokamat Test Facility project, led by ENEA.
On Tuesday, we visited the OPAL nuclear reactor at ANSTO laboratories at Lucas Heights and the ion accelerator facilities. We are grateful to Stefania Peracchi for organizing the visit and leading us through this remarkable scientific infrastructure.
On Wednesday, we visited the University of New South Wales, where the Department of Mechanical Engineering is home to a hundred Masters and PhD students who will be involved in the construction of a student-grade tokamak under the direction of Prof. Patrick Burr. With the support of Dani Alexander, CEO of the UNSW Energy Institute, we hope to establish a robust and productive collaboration with UNSW.
On Thursday we visited the Mathematical Science Institute at the ANU, where there is also a growing interest in developing accurate models of nuclear fusion reactions. We were able to have pleasant and friendly conversations with Professor Matthew Hole and Professor Lilia Ferrario, the Director of MSI.
Finally, on Friday, we visited the Mt. Stromlo Space Test Facility and the School of Physics, which is still located at the ANU and is home to one of the most powerful ion accelerators in the world. Thanks to Eduardo Trifoni, director of the space test facility, Dr Tom McGoram, CEO of Heavy Ion Accelerators, and Daniel Brown, ANU international relations.
After such an eventful week, we enjoyed the Week of the Italian Cuisine in the World closing dinner at the Australian National Museum in Canberra.
