* Process Cooling project is nearing completion. Now at implementation stage we have 3 furnaces running and the cooling system working. (photos)

* SHRIMP SW tested with LabVIEW 8.61. (2009-08)

* SHRIMP SI sees vacuum. Vacuum testing has begun on parts of the new SHRIMP SI. (2009-08)

* SHRIMP II has been moved. The SHRIMP II instrument at RSES has been moved to the new SHRIMP Building. (2008)

* LabVIEW 8.5. Finally we are moving to LabVIEW 8.5 with SHRIMP SW. Not an easy step thanks to the picky project environment in LabVIEW 8.5. One of the good outcomes is the further merger of the software, especially between the SHRIMP II and SHRIMP RG. (2008-03)

* Geoscience Australia gets SHRIMP with Automation. The new SHRIMP II at GA here in Canberra is the first SHRIMP installation outside of RSES to come with the SHRIMP Automation Software. This enables for unattended operation of the SHRIMP analysing many spot locations on a mount. (2008-02)

* Earth Chemistry Christmas Party 2007. Another great success, this time at John Foster's residence near Googong. Here are some photos.

* SHRIMP SI Building. SHRIMP SI building is funded! Finally it is here, the new (and very needed) building for the new generation of SHRIMPs is to be build this year. An extension to the current SHRIMP RG building here at RSES, the new extension will accomodate not only the new SHRIMP SI but also our exisiting SHRIMP II.

* Goldschmidt. Melbourne. Australian Scientific Instruments will have a stand with the remote link to one of the SHRIMPs in Canberra. Two aspects will be tested over the remote connection. First the remote monitoring of an automated run. Second the remote control of the machine with driving the stage while viewing the sample mount's position via a remote video window within the SHRIMP software.

* SHRIMP Workshop 2006. This year's SHRIMP Workshop is going to be in Perth, WA, Australia from 3rd to 7th September. Number of people from the RSES will (as always) come to the meeting. Some of the topics covered will be automation development, SHRIMP SI, SHRIMP 1 report, and future plans.

* SHRIMP 1 Automation. Fully automated runs of mounts with over 400 grains are now being performed with quick Pb206/Pb207 age measurement followed by full age determination for grains within the age band of interest. Also the Pb204 is checked prior to the full analysis of a grain to skip grains with high common lead count.

* SHRIMP 1 Resurrection. SHRIMP 1 is well on its way to run in a fully automated fashion. The sample stage arm drive has been modified by John Foster and a new linear bearings slide added. The manual x axis (focus) drive has been replaced with a DC-MIKE motor. At the collector end an encoder has been mounted on to provide feedback for the motor drive card (MCSAD). This new motor drive cards now also control the sample stage.

* Earth Chemistry Christmas Party 2005 - Lake Cruise on lake Burleigh Griffin in Canberra on Wednesday 30th November. (photos)