Gamma-ray burst astronomy in the Swift era

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The study of gamma-ray bursts is one of the most active and exciting fields in contemporary astrophysics, and touches on subjects that are of interest to all humans: e.g., to what extent was life on earth shaped by cataclysmic explosions in our galaxy? ROTSE-III, at Siding Spring Observatory, is arguably the best telescope in the world for answering some of these questions, and the only telescope capable of rapid (under 10 seconds) follow-up in the Southern Hemisphere. It will provide Australian astronomers with a competitive advantage in this high-profile field. This project, and our proposed innovations in instrumentation, will involve and inspire some of our best physics and engineering students.