Nigel Spooner

The focus of my research is measurement of radiation dose in natural and artificial materials within the environment.

Fields of application include Retrospective Dosimetry (population dose reconstruction - measurement of the radiation dose accrued by people following a radiological event such as a nuclear accident), radionuclide concentration measurements, and environmental dosimetry using luminescence for geochronology - Thermoluminescence and Optical Dating.

Key technological developments I have pioneered include the development of the world’s most sensitive radiogenic luminescence imaging technology, a novel class of radiation-sensitive optical fibres and single grain analysis technology.

The Prescott Environmental Luminescence Laboratory (PELL) is currently engaged in multiple collaborative and consultancy projects with universities, private industry and Australian and international government agencies.

Research areas include retrospective dosimetry (Japan Atomic Energy Agency), mining and mineral processing research (SA EPA, BHPB, OZ Minerals), geochronology (palaeontology, archaeology and landscape evolution) and the creation of novel fluorescence analysis techniques.