CSIRO scientists elected to Australian Academy of Science

Three of CSIRO's leading scientists – Professor Brian Boyle, Dr Steve Rintoul and Professor Andrew Holmes – have been elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science.

The Fellowship of the Academy consists of about 380 of Australia's leading experts in the physical and biological sciences and their applications. Each year 16 scientists, judged by their peers to have made an exceptional contribution to knowledge in their field, are elected as Fellows of the Academy.

CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Geoff Garrett, said: 'We are proud to see our scientists recognised in this way and it is testimony to their outstanding and long-term contributions to Australian science. Their election to the Academy will further cement our ongoing close interactions with the Academy in its important work.'

Dr Rintoul is a senior scientist with CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and is currently leading two major research projects within the Wealth from Oceans Flagship. He also leads projects at the Antarctic Climate & Ecosystem Cooperative Research Centre. Dr Rintoul is internationally recognised as the world’s leading authority on the circulation of the Southern Ocean and how it affects global climate systems. In June 2005, Dr Rintoul also received the inaugural Wealth from Oceans Appreciation Award for exceptional leadership and commitment to the development of the Ocean-based forecast of Australian Climate Change Theme, within the Flagship.

Dr Rintoul recently identified the key processes responsible for recirculation of water in the extreme depths of the oceans. He also recently provided the first ever estimates of the development rates of two mid-depth water types – the Subantarctic Mode Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water. These findings have had a profound influence on scientists' understanding of the major effect the Southern Ocean has on world climate patterns.

Professor Boyle is the Director of the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility. He is also the Australian Director for the giant Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope project and the Vice Chair of the International SKA Steering Committee. During 1996-2003 he was Director of the Anglo-Australian Observatory which operates the largest optical telescope in Australia. His main research interests are cosmology and the properties of active galactic nuclei and quasars.

During 1996-2002, he led the '2QZ' survey, which obtained the distances to 10 000 quasars. This was by far the largest survey of its kind ever made.

Professor Boyle held positions at the University of Edinburgh, the Anglo-Australian Observatory and the University of Cambridge before becoming Director of the Anglo-Australian Observatory.

CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies' scientist, Professor Andrew Holmes' research interests include semi-conducting polymers and the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules.

He won international renown in the 1990s when, in collaboration with Cambridge physicists, he developed a new class of light-emitting plastics. These plastics promise to transform technology for televisions and computers with lightweight, super-thin, flexible video screens bright enough to be viewed even in direct sunlight. Professor Holmes' current research includes work on addressing the global energy crisis by developing efficient, flexible, plastic solar cells.

Professor Holmes and his research team within Melbourne's Bio21 Institute are also exploring a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding cellular processes involved in diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Ultimately the convergence of his research into polymers and biological processes may lead to advances in tissue engineering and replacement body parts.
 

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The Wealth from Oceans Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.