ANU innovation boosting green and manufacturing revolutions

Professor Mark Knackstedt. Photo: Tracey Nearmy/ANU - A new training centre hosted by The Australian National University (ANU) is upskilling the next generation of researchers in cutting-edge 3D imaging and analysis technology to help repair bones, safely store CO2, deactivate viruses on surfaces and recycle car parts among a range of critical applications. The ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing, M3D Innovation, is using a "disruptive" digital imaging, analysis, modelling and manufacturing technology developed at ANU for more than 15 years. The micro-imaging technology provides users with 3D "super vision" into a range of materials at scales ranging from metres to 10 nanometres - a measurement 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. The technology was originally developed by a team of researchers with M3D Innovation Director, Professor Mark Knackstedt, who has won a Eureka Prize as well as an ENI award - the 'Nobel prize' for energy resources research - for his innovation.  "Our centre brings together researchers from ANU and Queensland University of Technology, 15 industry partners and end users to harness the 'super-power' of advanced imaging and analysis technologies," Professor Knackstedt said. "We are building a vibrant research training environment and creating a workforce that is expert in applying the new technology to a range of new industry sectors and mentoring PhD students and early career researchers in industrial collaboration and commercialisation.