David Cookson's job is to make sure that this mind-boggling pile of technology pushes - and keeps up with - Australian science and industry. After obtaining a PhD in physics from Monash University, David worked with Kodak doing industrial research. After a few years he was drawn back to academic research - working in Japan to further Australian interests at the Photon Factory in Tsukuba. David later moved to Chicago where he became Scientific Manager of the Australian Synchrotron Research Program at the Advanced Photon Source. Fifteen years later, Australia has its own world-class synchrotron and David is back on home soil. In addition to his position at the Australian Synchrotron, David is an adjunct Associate Professor with the University of Melbourne School of Physics.