Adelaide Microscopy opened their new state of the art $4.1 million ‘George Rogers Laboratory’ refurbishment on the 23rd of July, 2015. The facility is named after Emeritus Professor George Rogers AO FAA who is recognised as one of the first transmission electron microscopists in Australia and who, well into his eighties, continues to use the facilities regularly.

The facility includes a new $3.6 million atomic resolution transmission electron microscope that will form a critical part of future research work. The design involved the provision of a tailor made magnetically shielded laboratory to house the microscope which stands at nearly 3.5 metres tall.

“It is the first atomic resolution electron microscope to be installed in South Australia”, said Mr Angus Netting, Director Adelaide Microscopy, “and is the only one with its significant level of capability nationally. It’s a critical piece of research infrastructure that is now available to Australian researchers and to Australian industry nationally. Microscopy allows researchers to view nano-materials literally at the atomic level. That means being able to study material atom by atom to better understand, for example, chemical reactions critical to energy conversion or the structure of nano-crystals used for optical communication or sensing.”

The project, undertaken over the last two years, saw detailed work undertaken by a very collaborative client, design and construction team to ensure a highly successful outcome.