Further (well a bit) to the Governance of the Australian Synchrotron. (February 10, 2010)

University of Melbourne Professor of Chemistry Robert Lamb, and the ex-director of the Australian Synchrotron (AS) was back on site today, but this time as a user. He, together with his colleagues, has found that if you roughen surfaces down to nano dimensions they become non-stick. Professor Lamb explains his presence as AS: "The beauty of the synchrotron is that we can actually see what is happening when the water is in contact with the rough surface."

Questioned by  The Australian's Bernard Lane regarding his abrupt dismissal^{1, 2} by the AS Board Professor Lamb told Mr Lane he has yet to be given clear reasons, and so far Catherine Walters, the Board's chair refers to  "stakeholder relations" and "compliance issues" as justification for Professor Lamb's removal from the directorship.

Being a good scientist Rob Lamb cites the following data, however: "The way my secondment agreement was structured, if I'd done something that required that sort of treatment [removal without notice] I probably would have been out on the street, but the university did the opposite, they welcomed me back."

Meanwhile, Mr Lane notes: "[S]upport has strengthened for a staff protest action at the synchrotron, where Lamb's surprising removal is seen as part of a bigger problem of governance."

Note added February 12, 2010:  Synchrotrons are typically 24/7 operations but the scientists who run the Australian Synchrotron say they have lost confidence in governance at the Clayton facility. They have voted to work 9am to 5pm and weekdays only.