A high-level delegation from Australia, including the Hon. Kim Carr, Australian Federal Minister for Science, visited Argonne National Laboratory and the Advanced Photon Source (APS) on May 2, 2010. The visit afforded the group an opportunity to meet with Murray Gibson, Argonne Associate Laboratory Director for Photon Sciences, and engage him in informal discussions related to understanding models for operating national scientific research facilities such as the APS. Accompanying Minister Carr were Rachel Stephen-Smith, Minister-Counsellor for Innovation, Industry, Science & Research; Mark I. Paterson, Department Secretary/CEO for Innovation, Industry, Science & Research; Stanley G. Anson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Senator Hon. Kim Carr; and Elizabeth Schick, Consul General of Australia in Chicago.

The Advanced Photon Source is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.