CSIRO has unveiled $6.5 million in new research facilities at its Waite Campus in Adelaide, delivering groundbreaking capability for environmental and groundwater management.
The investment includes two laboratories—the Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ICR) facility and the Tritium Facility via INgrowth (TRIFIN)—the first of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Both will play a vital role in safeguarding Australia’s water security and managing pollution.
The $4 million ICR facility houses one of the world’s most powerful mass spectrometry instruments, capable of detecting tens of thousands of chemicals within a single sample. It enables detailed analysis of pollutants such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals, plastic waste, and bushfire ash, while also supporting remediation strategies to protect human and environmental health. Senior CSIRO scientist Dr Robert Young described the technology as producing a chemical “fingerprint” that reveals contaminant pathways and helps manage toxins, waste, and carbon in soils—knowledge crucial for climate change mitigation.
The $2.5 million TRIFIN facility, co-funded by the Science and Industry Endowment Fund, offers a breakthrough in groundwater analysis. By detecting tiny traces of tritium, a rare isotope of hydrogen, TRIFIN determines the age of groundwater and how quickly it is replenished. This rapid and automated process provides essential data for managing groundwater, which supplies around 30 per cent of Australia’s total water use. The technology will enable more sustainable water management, building resilience against climate impacts while supporting industries such as agriculture, mining, and energy.
Together, the new facilities will enhance Australia’s ability to monitor and manage environmental change, prevent contamination legacies, and protect vital water resources—positioning CSIRO at the forefront of environmental science.
Photos of Dr Kate Holland and TRIFIN supplied by Dr Vicki Mavrakis; photo of Dr Robert Young sourced from CSIRO media release 21 Aug 2025.