ANSTO scientist wins competition after research turning mining

waste and CO2 into resources!

ANSTO scientist, Jessica Hamilton, has been named the winner of the Falling Walls Lab
Australia Competition - bringing down walls using science and innovative breakthroughs

The competition had scientists, academics, and innovators from across Australia presenting their
ideas, research, and initiatives focusing on the theme, ‘Which are the next walls to fall?’

The ANSTO scientist gained first prize after using beamline technology for solutions to mining, finding
a way to produce valuable products and offset CO2 emissions by recycling mining wastes.

Dr Hamilton broke through some big walls in finding two uses for mining waste– by using it to trap CO2
in mineral form, and transforming mineral wastes into a metal-enriched resource that could be remined.
This year, the competition was hosted by the Australian Academy of Science, with participants
presenting solutions to the challenges of our time in a three-minute presentation.

ANSTO’s Professor Andrew Peele, Group Executive for Research Translation and ANSTO’s
Australian Synchrotron, labelled the win a tremendous achievement, as well as much-needed good
news in light of all things COVID in Victoria at the moment.

“As scientists, we are always looking for ways to apply science to deliver an outcome or benefit and
what we have here is a very practical and clever way to help support our environment,” Dr Peele said.
“This is a highly regarded competition and I would like to congratulate Dr Hamilton on this win.

“The X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) at the Australian Synchrotron has been used to make
significant improvements in health and innovation and this new solution to mining waste is most
impressive.

“This win is good for ANSTO, our female leaders in STEM, and the environment. I hope it inspires our
younger generation to consider the many great things they can do with a career in STEM.”

As the top contender in Australia, Dr Jessica Hamilton beamline scientist at the Australian
Synchrotron, will now compete in the global event to be held virtually from Germany later in the year.

“I feel very grateful to have been a part of this competition and am excited to have the opportunity to
share my ideas on a stage as big as Falling Walls,” Dr Hamilton said.

“The approach I developed during my PhD at Monash University is currently being tested in diamond
mines in Africa and Canada in a collaborative effort led by my PhD supervisor Dr. Sasha Wilson and
colleagues at the Universities of Alberta and British Columbia, with industry, and the Canadian
Government, and hopefully one day it will be used to offset emissions at mines around the world.”

“It was inspiring to hear the talks from all the participants in the Australian Falling Walls Lab, and I’m
looking forward to the global event in November!”

Dr Hamilton’s method reuses mineral waste, by combining it with waste acid to accelerate a natural
weathering process leading to the capture of CO2. Valuable products are produced like calcium and
magnesium carbonates that can then be re-used

Phil McCall 0438 619 987

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