SIROSCOPE

Dear Alumnus,

We are delighted to announce that our membership has now reached 3,000. To celebrate this milestone we have launched a 'Permanent Alumni Email Address' for our members.

We have also developed a number of new features and improvements on our online network - AxON. You can now track any new member referrals you have made and link your public profile from other social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to your AxON profile.

Victorian members are also invited to attend the 2009 Snowdon Lecture to be held at AAHL on 2 July 2009. The guest speaker will be Prof. Thomas Ksiazek from Galveston National Laboratory and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston Texas, USA who will present: Emerging Infections: A 'One biology' Approach to Discovery of New Pathogens. The event is free and it is necessary to register to attend.

There is also a new science volunteer opportunity to mentor secondary students in the inner Melbourne suburbs listed on AxON. By committing to an hour a week for one school term you can assist young people to explore career pathway options and make a difference in a young persons life.

We also have some free copies of the Lennox Legacy - the History of the CSIRO Laboratory at 343 Royal Parkville, Victoria to give away.

Preparations are underway for another Alumni event in Melbourne. We would like to feature a wine tasting similar to the successful 'Grapes and Greenhouse' event held in Canberra, so if you are a winemaker or know of ex-CSIRO winemakers who may like to participate, please Contact Us with their details.

If you are still in contact with former CSIRO colleagues please invite them to join our community via AxON. Read more.

We hope you enjoy the below newsletter, designed to keep you informed of the activities and achievements of CSIRO. Articles are taken from CSIRO staff newsletters, with links to press releases, podcasts and vodcasts.

Alumni news and events are updated daily on AxON and the right hand column of Siroscope contains links to the latest updates.  

Feedback is welcome.

CSIRO Alumni

"We know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so much, and still more astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power."
- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), English philosopher and mathematician.

Slurry holds key to productivity gains

CSIRO researchers are investigating slurry viscosity in an effort to help high pressure acid leaching (HPAL) operations increase production from low-grade nickel laterite ores.

Read the full story »

Rabbits on the back foot - but naturally they're fighting back

Australian rabbits have had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at them over the years. Myxomatosis knocked them about, but they bounced back. The same with rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) or the calicivirus.

Read the full story »

Spotlight on Science: Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL)

For the past quarter of a century, CSIRO has managed the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) at Geelong as a major national facility to help protect Australia from the threat of exotic (foreign) and emerging animal diseases.

Read the full story »

Jeff Ellis elected to Royal Society

Plant Industry scientist Jeff Ellis, has been elected Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his work toward understanding the molecular basis of plant immunity to diseases caused by rust fungi.

Read the full story »

Budget backs science for the future

With the Federal Budget announced last week, Chief Executive Megan Clark, said the Federal Budget firmly backed research priorities aimed at delivering benefits for all Australians, and welcomed the announcements of major investments in national research infrastructure.

'This Budget represents an increase in direct funding to CSIRO of $43 million, or 6.4 per cent, next financial year', Megan said.

Read the full story »

National lifestyle survey
online now

A national online survey has been launched to gather detailed information about Australian lifestyles and consumption habits. In just over four weeks, more than 1200 people nation-wide have responded to the survey and the researchers are encouraging more people to participate.

Read the full story »

Other Features

Agribusiness

• Neurobiology featured in a Brisbane peptidomics symposium: A recent symposium on the emerging science of peptidomics accelerates its application to animal neurobiology in CSIRO.
• Victoria's Agriculture Minister visits AAHL: Minister Joe Helper MP recently inspected AAHL and was also briefed on CSIRO's Foot and Mouth Disease research.
• Ladybirds spread their wings: ABC viewers have been involved in a nationwide survey of ladybirds.
• Evolving together: The relationship between organisms that cause diseases and their plant hosts is the topic of a recent review published in Science.
• Dementia: early detection is key: CSIRO recognises importance of new report on dementia.
• Senator takes a taste test at the Food Futures Flagship: New technologies and techniques are being developed to make foods lower in fat, salt and sugar than previously thought possible.
• $30 million for Atlas of Living Australia: New funding is an important foundational step in the deeper understanding of national biodiversity.
• Livestock Industries' last day at Yalanbee: CLI's exit from Yalanbee Research Station in WA closing the gate on some rich science history in the west.

Energy

• Australia and New Zealand sign up to ocean drilling program: A consortium of 14 Australian and New Zealand universities, the Australian Research Council and three government agencies (including CSIRO) signed the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP).
• Partnering to unearth new oil and gas reserves: CSIRO's Petroleum Resources and the Victorian Department of Primary Industry have joined forces to explore Victoria's basins.
• Australian marine fishery management world-class: Australia has won international acclaim for its management of marine fisheries.

Environment

• Red hot research – Pyrotron fires-up for Scouts and Inventors: CSE scientists fire up the CSIRO Pyrotron for the cameras and young minds to demonstrate bushfire research and fire safety.
• Innovation prize for CSIRO climate adaptation research: A climate change vulnerability assessment awarded the Victorian Coastal Council's 2009 Innovation Prize.
• $120 million for new marine research vessel: The Federal Budget delivers funds for a new vessel to replace the Southern Surveyor.
• 'Invasive aliens' threaten global biodiversity: This year's United Nations' International Day for Biological Diversity theme was invasive alien species.
• The reality of climate change – its science, impacts and solutions: Leading climate researcher Barrie Pittock revisits the effects global warming is having on our planet, in this second edition book.
• Deep-sea sharks move in mysterious ways: A greeneye spurdog shark tagged near Port Lincoln swims all the way to Portland in Victoria.

Information and Communication

• Telescope upgrade turns data stream into a torrent: A major upgrade of CSIRO's radio telescope near Narrabri in NSW is almost completed.
• Funds for the stars of radio astronomy: Australia's position as a world leader in radio astronomy has been strengthened with new funds for the Australian National Centre for SKA Science in Perth.
• CeBIT - Catching the eye of government and industry: CeBIT – Catching the eye of government and industry: CSIRO proved to be a showstopper at this year's information and technologies trade show – ask NSW Premier Nathan Rees.

Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals

• CSIRO signs new plastics deal with PETRONAS: CSIRO, through the Sustainable Polymeric Materials Theme, has partnered with PETRONAS to develop new degradable plastic technology.
• CSIRO hosts Malaysian Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation: The Malaysian Minister for Science Technology and Innovation Dr Maximus Ongkili visit Molecular and Health Technologies (CMHT) and the Future Manufacturing Flagship (FMF).
• Smart young physicist wins dual awards: Amanda Barnard awarded the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics 2009 Young Scientist Prize in Computational Physics.
• CSIRO and BHP Billiton increase collaboration: A new agreement will deliver significant benefits to both organisations.
• Global agreement signed for mine safety system: Mining Logic Solutions in agreement with Exploration and Mining to develop the Nexsys™.
• Casting a partnership for export success: Technology developed by CSIRO scientists in collaboration with an Australian SME and Rio Tinto Alcan is boosting global sales of Australian ingot casting machines.
• Neutron beamline used to develop new technique: Scientists are using neutron diffraction to develop an in-situ technique to examine inert anode deterioration during the electrowinning of light metals.

Handy Links

• CSIRO Alumni
• CSIRO Alumni Online Network, AxON
• CSIRO.au