THE Clayton-based Australian Synchrotron was among the big winners of the second round of the Federal Government's education investment fund.
Treasurer Wayne Swan announced a $36.8million grant for the construction of the National Centre for Synchrotron Science, to be built next to the existing synchrotron.
The centre will include 50 self-contained rooms for visiting scientists, a 400-seat auditorium, exhibition space, seminar rooms, a cafeteria and support services.
Technical support laboratories will be moved to the new centre, freeing up space for extra laboratories.
The synchrotron's electrical plant will also be extended, enhancing the power available for the particle accelerator.
Synchrotron director Professor Robert Lamb said the extensions would enhance the centre's capacity for scientific discovery.
Synchrotron chairwoman Catherine Walter said the grant recognised that to be world-leading, Australia needed world-class facilities.
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