Funding for disadvantaged students
ANSTO has provided equity-based funding to increase accessibility for disadvantaged students to visit the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron.
Please contact the PrimeSCI! Office at ansto@swinburne.edu.au to confirm your school's eligibility for a 30 per cent discount on excursion fees for facility tours or lab bookings for Year 9 to VCE Year 12 Physics and Year 11 Chemistry classes.
The Australian Synchrotron in Clayton is a world-class science facility that supports a broad range of high-quality research across medicine, nanotechnology, manufacturing and mineral exploration. Amongst many of its benefits is that it can produce a powerful source of light a million times brighter than the sun.
Swinburne PrimeSCI!, in partnership with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), runs one-of-a-kind specialised science education programs for secondary school students, teachers and the public.
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Two students on a synchrotron school tour. -
High school girls walking on footpath [jpg] -
Students at a museum -
Student using technology
[Opening shot: Outside Synchrotron Education Lab.]
SPEAKER: Welcome to the Synchrotron Education Lab.
[Camera pans into the lab space.]
SPEAKER: Here in this lab, we offer a range of programs from Year 7 all the way up to Year 12 delivering different components for each year level, so you don't get back-to-back labs that are exactly the same. So, we're going to take you through quickly each of the components of these labs and demonstrate what the students will learn and outlining which components are part of each level's program.
[Cut to Steering Electron Beams equipment.]
SPEAKER: In this experiment we learn about electron beams and how to manipulate them using electrical and magnetic fields.
[Cut to Focusing coils equipment.]
SPEAKER: In this experiment we look at, focusing our electron beam and manipulating its size and shape using fixed and electromagnets.
[Camera pans to spectroscopy equipment]
SPEAKER: In this spectroscopy experiment we'll be looking at several known elements in their emission spectra to determine a couple of unknown samples.
[Cut to speaker sitting at computer]
SPEAKER: In this experiment, students will work with diffraction using both single and double slit diffraction slides to get some nice pretty patterns on the screen. They will investigate slit width, diffraction plane, wavelength and a bunch of other variables to see how that affects their pattern.
[Pause in narration]
SPEAKER: In the final experiment, students will work with the Planck's constant apparatus to understand initial current and stopping potential across a range of different wavelengths, getting hands-on experience with the photoelectric effect.
[Cut to speaker standing]
SPEAKER: All of the experiments that have been done in your lab session, will generate high quality data. It can be taken back to school to be used for an assignment, for a SAC, whatever you would like to use it for. So we hope to see you soon!
[End screen: Synchrotron Education Lab.]
[END OF TRANSCRIPT]
Year 9 and 10 Light It Up sessions
Bring your Year 9 and 10 students to the Australian Synchrotron for a specialised lab session and facility tour. Learn how the Australian Synchrotron combines science and technology to produce cutting edge research.
Visit our education lab to experience hands-on activities using specialised equipment to illustrate concepts in physics of interaction of light and energy, nuclear physics, radioactivity and dark matter.
Bookings available in Tearms 1, 2 and 4 2026.
Sessions include a tour of the Australian Synchrotron research facility and immersive lab session.
- Duration: 2.5 hours (morning or afternoon)
- Cost: $275 plus GST for groups up to 13 students or $20 plus GST per student for groups over 13 students
- Capacity: maximum of 28 students per session
For groups less than 13 students, we will try to combine your class with another group to reduce the per student costs (unless otherwise requested).
- Levels 9–10 Science as a human endeavour: Advances in scientific understanding often rely on developments in technology and technological advances are often linked to scientific discoveries (VCSSU115)
- Levels 9–10 Science as a human endeavour: The values and needs of contemporary society can influence the focus of scientific research (VCSSU116)
- Levels 9–10 Chemical sciences (incidental): All matter is made of atoms which are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons; natural radioactivity arises from the decay of nuclei in atoms (VCSSU122)
- Levels 9–10 Physical sciences (incidental): The interaction of magnets can be explained by a field model; magnets are used in the generation of electricity and the operation of motors (VCSSU131)
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Note: This form collects data using a third-party provider (Airtable) and you consent to this by completing the form. The data we collect is treated in accordance with Swinburne's Privacy Statement. Please be aware that the form below may take a few seconds to load. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the PrimeSCI! Office (Ph: 03 9210 1961). You can unsubscribe at any time.
VCE lab sessions
Bring your Year 11 and 12 students to the Australian Synchrotron for a specialised lab session and facility tour. These sessions are the only hands-on experience in Australia that allow students to comprehensively explore key curriculum concepts such as interaction of light and energy and nuclear physics. The sessions are curriculum-aligned to the newly implemented VCE Physics Study Design.
Sessions include a tour of the Australian Synchrotron research facility and immersive lab session.
- Duration: 9.30am–2pm (or as arranged with individual schools)
- Cost: $400 plus GST for groups up to 13 students or $30 plus GST per student for groups over 13 students
- Capacity: maximum of 24 students per session
For groups less than 13 students, we will try to combine your class with another group to reduce the per student costs (unless otherwise requested).
Synchrotron and its applications
- VCE Physics Unit 2 / Area of Study 2 / Option 2.16: How Do Particle Accelerators Work?
- VCE Physics Unit 2 / Area of Study 2 / Option 2.18: How Is Contemporary Physics Research Being Conducted in Our Region?
Interactions of light and colour
- VCE Physics Unit 4 / Area of Study 1: How Has Understanding About The Physical World Changed?
- VCE Physics Unit 4 / Area of Study 2: How Is Scientific Inquiry Used To Investigate Fields, Motions or Light?
Molecular interactions and its effects (New for 2026)!
- VCE Chemistry Unit 1: How can the diversity of materials be explained?
- VCE Chemistry Unit 2: How do chemical reactions shape the natural world?
Please complete the form
Note: This form collects data using a third-party provider (Airtable) and you consent to this by completing the form. The data we collect is treated in accordance with Swinburne's Privacy Statement. Please be aware that the form below may take a few seconds to load. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the PrimeSCI! Office (Ph: 03 9210 1961). You can unsubscribe at any time.
School tours
Get your students talking about atoms, light refractions and vacuum centres! The Australian Synchrotron hosts school tours with the aim to enhance students’ understanding of science and technology. These run Monday to Friday during the school term.
- Duration: 9.30am–11am (or as arranged with individual schools)
- Cost: $225 plus GST for groups up to 15 students or $15 plus GST per student for groups over 15 students
- Capacity: maximum of 24 students per session
For groups less than 15, we will try to combine your class with another group to reduce the per student costs (unless otherwise requested).
For more information, please email the PrimeSCI! Office at ansto@swinburne.edu.au or call 03 9210 1961.
Please complete the form
Note: This form collects data using a third-party provider (Airtable) and you consent to this by completing the form. The data we collect is treated in accordance with Swinburne's Privacy Statement. Please be aware that the form below may take a few seconds to load. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the PrimeSCI! Office (Ph: 03 9210 1961). You can unsubscribe at any time.
Tours of the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron: Industry and Community organisations
Explore this world-class facility that is able to examine materials at an atomic level and learn about the broad range of important research applications from medicine to biotechnology, advanced materials and even cultural heritage. Guided 90-minute public tours of the Australian Synchrotron are available throughout the year.
For tour bookings, please contact the PrimeSCI! office directly: ansto@swin.edu.au or +61 3 9210 1961.
Please note:
- Bookings can be made throughout the year on weekdays, except between July 13 and September 18 due to high demand from VCE level school groups.
- Participants must be a minimum of 12 years old.
- Students/ participants under 16 years of age must complete the provided ANTSO Directors Permission form.
Saturday public tours of the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron for individuals and small groups (e.g. families)
Explore this world-class facility that is able to examine materials at an atomic level and learn about the broad range of important research applications from medicine to biotechnology, advanced materials and even cultural heritage. Guided 90-minute public tours of the Australian Synchrotron are available throughout the year.
Please note:
- Saturday public tours are intended for small groups (e.g., families) and individuals.
- Participants must be a minimum of 12 years old.
- Students under 16 years of age
- A minimum number of 10 participants is needed to run a public tour.
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Subscribe to our school mailing list
Keep up to date with the latest news and upcoming programs by subscribing to our mailing lists.
Note: This form collects data using a third-party provider (Airtable) and you consent to this by completing the form. The data we collect is treated in accordance with Swinburne's Privacy Statement. Please be aware that the form below may take a few seconds to load. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the PrimeSCI! Office (Ph: 03 9210 1969). You can unsubscribe at any time.
Subscribe to our school mailing list
Keep up to date with the latest news and upcoming programs by subscribing to our mailing lists.
Note: This form collects data using a third-party provider (Airtable) and you consent to this by completing the form. The data we collect is treated in accordance with Swinburne's Privacy Statement. Please be aware that the form below may take a few seconds to load. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the PrimeSCI! Office (Ph: 03 9210 1969). You can unsubscribe at any time.
Feedback
Let us know about your experience with our school programs.
Send us your feedback
To send us feedback on one of our programs, please complete the form below.
Note: This form collects data using a third-party provider (Airtable) and you consent to this by completing the form. The data we collect is treated in accordance with Swinburne's Privacy Statement.
Have any questions?
Contact us via our email on ansto@swinburne.edu.au or call us on +61 3 9210 1961 to find out more about our education programs at the Australian Synchrotron.