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The University of Western Australia now boasts a world-first imaging and analysis facility with the addition of a powerful and sensitive instrument that can search for evidence of the earliest life on Earth, help find new ore deposits, and detect weapons-grade uranium in minute dust particles.

The only microprobe of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and one of only 15 worldwide, the new Cameca IMS 1280 ion microprobe joins its ‘little sister' the Cameca NanoSIMS 50 at UWA.  Nowhere else in the world are the two instruments located together.

The Ion Probe Facility, to be launched by the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, houses the two instruments, both of which are flagships of the $39 million national Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility (AMMRF).

WHAT: Launch of Ion Probe Facility

WHEN: Friday August 28, 2009, at 9.15am

WHERE: Ross Lecture Theatre, UWA Physics Building, UWA, Crawley, enter via Fairway entrance 1 or 2 (Parking available in car park 17, off Fairway)

MEDIA PIC OPPORTUNITY: Tour of the facility with Minister Carr.

Media references

Winthrop Professor David Sampson 61 8) 6488 7112  /  2770
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716