ASTRO 3D was a seven-year $40 million Centre of Excellence project funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council (ARC). The Centre began in June 2017 and ended December 2024. Our Centre unified over 460 world-leading astronomers to understand the evolution of matter, light and the elements, from the Big Bang to the present day. We combined innovative optical and radio 3D technology with new theoretical supercomputer simulations on a massive scale, requiring new big data techniques.

Through our nationwide training and education programs, we trained young scientific leaders and inspired high-school students into STEM sciences to prepare Australia for the next generation of telescopes: the Square Kilometre Array and the Extremely Large optical telescopes.

OUR VISION: TO UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE USING INNOVATIVE 3D TECHNOLOGY, WHILE SHARING THE EXCITEMENT AND WONDER OF ASTRONOMY TO INSPIRE THE BROADER COMMUNITY

OUR MISSION

  • To propel Australia to the forefront of astronomical research by combining Australia’s radio, optical and theoretical expertise to understand the origins of our Universe and the galaxies within it.

  • To train future Australian astronomers to lead breakthrough science on the next generation of telescopes.

  • To share our discoveries and passion for research with the broadest possible audience and inspire the scientists of the future.

ASTRO 3D nodes and partners

ASTRO 3D is comprised of nine Australian collaborating universities (Node Universities) and a number of world-class Australian and International Partner Organisations.

NODE UNIVERSITIES:

  • The Australian National University (ANU) – Centre Administering Organisation

  • Curtin University

  • The University of Western Australia

  • Swinburne University of Technology

  • The University of Melbourne

  • The University of Sydney

  • The University of New South Wales

  • Macquarie University

  • Monash University

Partner Organisations

  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

  • National Computational Infrastructure (NCI)

  • Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

  • University of Oxford

  • University of Toronto

  • University of Washington

  • University of Hertfordshire

  • California Institute of Technology

  • Chinese Academy of Sciences

20

Chief Investigators

9

Partner Investigators

40

Associate Investigators

9

Research Fellows

82

Post-Doctoral Researchers

28

Affiliate Members

179

PhD Students

84

Masters and Honours Students

38

Professional Staff

462

Members

$30,300,000

ARC Funding Dollars

$8,400,000

University Funding Dollars

STRATEGIC GOALS

1

Transform our understanding of the Universe and how we got here.

2

Build and maintain the infrastructure, skills and expertise required to maximise Australia’s investment in the new era of mega-scale optical and radio telescopes.

3

Inspire, train and mentor the next generation of diverse Australian scientific leaders.

4

Provide young Australian scientists with transferable skills for the modern workforce.