Director, Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist
Dr. Katherine (Kath) Smith joined the Supervising Scientist in April 2020. Kath oversees the Institute’s research and monitoring programs on the effects of uranium mining on the environment of the Alligator Rivers Region, with a focus on the application of research and monitoring outputs to inform the rehabilitation of the Ranger mine, and to support regulatory decisions. She also seeks to identify and realise opportunities for the Branch to participate in national, and international, scientific and/or nuclear fuel cycle related programs at a whole of Government level.
Kath has extensive experience, skills and knowledge in scientific and technological research, policy and strategy. She has enjoyed a varied government career which has included: more than twenty years as a Principal Research Scientist and Section Head with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO); more than six years of experience as an Australian (nuclear) diplomat in Washington (2008-11) and Vienna (2015-2018, working closely with the IAEA & OECD NEA); four years as a Senior Advisor in ANSTO’s Security and Safeguards and International Relations groups (2011-2015) and two years as the Director External Engagement within ANSTO’s Transformation and Engagement Group.
Areas of expertise and research interests
Radioactive waste management, crystal chemistry, nuclear security and safeguards, international nuclear energy and fuel cycle policy.
Key publications
Aughterson RD, Lumpkin GR, Smith KL & Cairney JM (2020). Novel complex ceramic oxides, Ln2TiO5 (Ln = La, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb), for polyphase nuclear waste-forms in press, Manuscript ID JACERS-45509
Toole K, Bull T, Keegan E, Goralewski J, Griffiths G, Hill D, Lee S, Smith KL, Young E, Reinhard M (2019). Training in nuclear forensic science: the Australian experience supporting the development of regional capabilities, Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2019.1569139
Aughterson RD, Lumpkin GR, Smith KL, de los Reyes M, Davis J, Avdeev M, Ridgway MC & Cairney JM. (2018) The ion-irradiation tolerance of the pyrochlore to fluorite Ho(x)Yb(2-x)TiO5 and Er2TiO5 compounds: a TEM comparative study using both in-situ and bulk ex-situ irradiation approaches, Journal of Nuclear Materials. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.05.026
Gieré R, Lumpkin GR & Smith KL (2018). Titanate Ceramics for High-Level Nuclear Waste Immobilization. In: Heuss-Aßbichler S., Amthauer G., John M. (eds): Highlights in Applied Mineralogy. de Gruyter, pp. 344 (ISBN: 978-3-11-049122-7); 223-241
Smith, K.L., Gieré R. (2017): Why some nations choose nuclear power. Kleinman Center for Energy Policy; Policy Digest, pp. 10.
Press coverage: Penn Current; DailyCaller.
Lumpkin GR, Pruneda M, Rios S, Smith KL, Trachenko K & Whittle KR (2007). Nature of the chemical bond and prediction of radiation tolerance in pyrochlore and defect fluorite compounds Journal of Solid State Chemistry 180 (4), 1512-1518
Smith KL, Zaluzec NJ & Lumpkin GR (1997). In situ studies of ion irradiated zirconolite, pyrochlore and perovskite Journal of nuclear materials 250 (1), 36-52
Smith KL, Colella M, Cooper R & Vance ER (2003). Measured displacement energies of oxygen ions in titanates and zirconates Journal of nuclear materials 321 (1), 19-28