Innovation: Are We Getting It Right?

Australian academy of Technological sciences and engineering (ATSE)

Number 156 June/July 2009

Innovation ARE WE GETTING IT RIGHT? Contributors discuss the Federal Budget impact on innovation and commercialisation, the focus on picking winners and how Australia can do it better MassMotion Limitless applications, definite answers

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We shape a better world | www.arup.com contents 3 Jun/jul 09 Focus 5 Commercialisation gets a Budget boost By Rowan Gilmore

7 NICTA’s Smart Transport and Roads (STaR) project – page 7. Innovation – have we got it right yet? 13 The march of (technological) progress By Ron Johnston 18 Budget energy and innovation initiatives welcome 19 Eight visionary Australian innovators honoured 23 sTELR boosted by Federal funding 10 25 ESE: a great recipe for hands-on science Picking winners is government’s real task 26 We need a scientifically literate nation By Michael Vitale 30 ATSE helping develop tomorrow’s scientists and engineers 30 Energy White Paper: more strategic AustrAliAn AcAdemy of technologicAl sciences And engineering (Atse)

number 156 June/July 2009 technology planning needed 32 ATSE hosts Taiwan workshop on water and energy issues 32 Water and climate collaboration key to national benefit

InnovatIon 39 ATSE in Focus ARE WE GETTING IT RIGHT? Contributors discuss the Federal Budget impact on innovation and commercialisation, the focus on picking winners and how Australia can do it better Front cover: Enduring image of innovation – the Sydney Opera House. Photo: Brad Collis, Coretext

ATSE is an independent body of eminent Australian engineers and scientists established to promote the application of scientific and engineering knowledge to practical purposes. ATSE Focus is produced to serve this goal. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of ATSE. Material published in Focus may be reproduced provided appropriate acknowledgement is given to the author and the Academy. ATSE Focus is produced to stimulate discussion and CEO: Dr Margaret Hartley Editor: Bill Mackey public policy initiatives on key topics of interest to the Technical Consultant: Dr Vaughan Beck FTSE Academy and the nation. Many articles are contributed Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) by ATSE Fellows with expertise in these areas. Opinion Address: Level 1, 1 Bowen Crescent, Melbourne pieces on topics of national interest, particularly Postal Address: GPO Box 4055, Melbourne Victoria 3001 the Academy’s key interest areas – climate change, Telephone: 03 9864 0900 water, energy and education – will be considered for Facsimile: 03 9864 0930 publication. Items between 800 and 1500 words are Email: [email protected] preferred. Please address comments, suggested topics ACN 008 520 394 and article for publication to [email protected]. ABN 58 008 520 394 Print Post Publication No 341403/0025 Deadline for the receipt of copy for next edition of Focus is ISSN 1326-8708 31 July 2009 Design and production: Coretext 03 9670 1168 www.coretext.com.au TO JOIN THE TOP RESEARCHERS IN AUSTRALIA’S LEADING ECONOMY, LOOK WEST

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jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus Commercialisation gets a Budget boost The view that pumping more money into research does not automatically increase innovation within an economy seems finally to have become respectable thinking in politics

By Rowan Gilmore [email protected]

ne of the unexpected announcements in the Aus- ment risk, governments should not necessarily step in. The tralian Government’s 2009-10 Budget was the al- Commission argued that government intervention could location of nearly $200 million in seed funding to be justified only when there were costs that had to be borne establish the Commonwealth Commercialisation by a market leader that would benefit other followers (that OInstitute, and ongoing funding of $85 million per year. is, spillover effects), and when there was additionality (that With such a commitment, commercialisation, particularly is, the firm would not have invested in commercialisation of publicly funded research, looks set to accelerate once without government incentives). more. Of course, that was 2007 and the world view of the fi- As noted by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Sci- nance sector and some economists has since changed. In Pumping ence and Research, Senator Kim Carr, on Budget night, all sectors of the economy, we observe much more stimula- more money the challenge will be to leverage capital from industry, and tory activity on the demand side, rather than solely on the into research particularly the superannuation funds, to co-invest in tech- supply side. does not nological innovation and, through that, to help shape the What seems to be obvious to most of us involved with automatically Australian economy for the future. commercialisation – that pumping more money into re- increase However, with an Australian culture that prefers in- search does not automatically increase innovation within innovation. vestment in real estate and the occasional flutter on penny mining stocks, this could prove difficult. Indeed, most Australian venture capital funds investing in new knowledge-based industry have achieved historically poor returns. As measured by their cumulative performance since inception, such funds established between 1985 and 2007 had a pooled return at the end of June 2008 of –1.4 per cent, although that rises to 3.9 per cent measured over a five-year horizon. The return of the government to invest in pre-seed, seed and early-stage companies is not only welcome – it is a brave decision as well. Even when confronted by the venture capital data above, many economists deny there is market failure with early-stage commercialisation. For example, in 2007 the Productivity Commission argued that just because the private sector would not take the invest- 6 innovation jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au

an economy – seems finally to have become respectable good track-records for picking winners, particularly with thinking in politics. Measures to stimulate the many new pre-revenue, early-stage companies. It is simply impossible value chains that could be created from this research are to know from the multiplicity of seeds that are sown which back in favour around the world. will become thriving plants. Furthermore, by helping early-stage companies com- What is critical is to ensure that the well-known suc- mercialise products and services, government has recog- cess factors for growth are in place, and to judiciously re- nised that, as well as yielding demonstrable economic duce both the technical and market risks as the firm pro- benefits by growing emerging industries, positive environ- gresses. Equally important is tolerance for the losers that mental and social outcomes result in many cases as well. wither, recognising that in cultures such as Silicon Valley, The infusion of government-funded stimulus into the it is by learning from their earlier mistakes that ‘losers’ be- clean-energy sector is a good example where the outcomes come ‘winners’ when they try again. will benefit the nation along multiple dimensions. Perhaps cognisant of this, the government will want to However, there are undoubtedly many who still believe ensure that it is not capital alone that it provides, but also that government should not co-invest in companies that the commercialisation expertise of organisations like the commercialise publicly funded research. Their first posi- AIC to provide additional skills in developing collaboration is to deny that market failure exists. tions, and in implementing commercialisation strategies. Yet the amount of venture capital invested in Austra- Although funding and resourcing might be the big- lia in genuine early-stage research is so low that markets gest challenges in commercialising research, establishing in early-stage IP or pre-revenue companies barely exist. the collaborations necessary to develop a new product or The evidence of the past 18 months in the biotech sector, service and delivering it into new markets are also essential. where the commercialisation chasm is well documented, is With the lowest collaboration rate between the uni- that private capital has essentially dried up totally. versity sector and industry in the developed world, this In 2008, only $10 million was committed in Austra- problem must be tackled on a number of levels.: lia specifically for seed-stage investment, compared with ¢researchers need to be motivated to collaborate more $6.3 billion for all private equity investment. Not only is with industry, perhaps through the grants process; there market failure, there is almost no market! ¢market research needs to become much more wide- The second criticism will be to blindly recite the man- spread to ensure the value proposition is both unique tra that ‘governments can’t pick winners’. My view is that and has value to a customer; and this claim needs closer observation. ¢boards of companies need to recognise the imperative First, the bailout of banks around the world would to collaborate and embrace open innovation, rather suggest that even the highest-paid and smartest analysts than do it all alone, if they are to prosper as the world within industry have done an exceedingly poor job of pick- economy recovers. ing winners or, at the very least, in undertaking proper due With a 25 per cent increase in support in the May Bud- diligence. One could argue that the due diligence required get, innovation is again high on the national agenda. to receive a $2 million injection of funding from a venture ‘Front-ended’ by big increases in science and back-end- capitalist (or a government grant for that matter) is much ed by the R&D tax credit, direct support for commerciali- higher than that which preceded the numerous multi- sation itself and programs on collaboration promise new billion dollar investments by many investment banks into life for Australia’s emerging technological industries. t their repackaged derivatives. Further, at least in Australia when allocating innova- Dr Rowan Gilmore has been CEO of the Australian Institute tion grants, it is not ‘government’ that makes the decision. for Commercialisation (AIC) since 2003. He is responsible for Typically a panel of research peers or an industry advisory leading the organisation in its mission to provide innovation board will review the applications and sort the wheat from and collaboration services that help businesses grow. Prior to the chaff before advising the relevant minister. The probity his role at AIC, he was based in London and Geneva from 1998 standards are exceedingly high and generally well managed. as Vice President of Network Services (Europe) for the airline IT Finally, the number of Australian companies that have company SITA, now part of France Telecom. He is an engineering suffered lapses in governance with shocking consequences graduate of the University of Queensland and earned his doctorate for their investors recently (for instance, in timber schemes from Washington University in St. Louis. He also holds adjunct or childcare centres) would seem to indicate that perhaps in- professorships in both the School of Business and School of dustry is not as good at ‘picking winners’ as it might believe. Information Technology and Electrical Engineering at the U The truth is, neither government nor industry have niversity of Queensland. innovation 7

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus

NICTA’s Smart Transport and Roads (STaR) project will enable traffic managers and road users to predict and respond to traffic conditions. Photo: NICTA Innovation: have we got it right yet?

Minister Carr may have to shoulder the additional challenge of reform to the public service to achieve his vision of an innovative Australia, powering ideas

By Ron Johnston [email protected]

uch has been written about innovation in Aus- So this time, it’s fair to ask the question: have we got tralia. Since the Australian Centre for Innova- it right? tion was established in 1992 there has been a The evidence presented in the Cutler review indicates major review of innovation on average almost that, more than ever, getting innovation right is a press- Mevery two years, and many more reports in which innova- ing matter for the future of the Australian economy. It as- tion is central. sembles a range of indicators which show that Australia’s Consider this quote: innovation-related performance has declined over the past “The picture that is emerging suggests a nation needs to have: decade relative to many comparable OECD countries: ¢ world-class firms capable of introducing innovations; “Australia has slipped from fifth to eighteenth in the World ¢ a system capable of quickly diffusing expertise and Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. Our multi- technology throughout the economy; factor productivity grew 1.4 per cent a year on average ¢ competence at commercialising significant discoveries between 1982-83 and 1995-96. Growth has averaged only and major technological advances; and 0.9 per cent a year since then.” ¢ the capacity to generate its own innovations.” It points to declining government investment as the Sound familiar? Terry Cutler’s review Venturous Aus- key cause of this decline: tralia or the ‘Powering Ideas’ White Paper? Well, no. This “Commonwealth spending on science and innovation has quote is actually to be found in The Innovation Framework: fallen 22 per cent as a share of GDP since 1993-94.” Recent Findings released by the Department of Industry Hence, the substantial increase in investment in re- Technology and Commerce in 1993! search and innovation by 25 per cent over the 2008-09 Harnessing the power of the sun

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jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus

Budget to $8.58 billion must be welcomed, particularly given the deficit being faced. In Australia government is certainly a significant But the key questions are whether and how this invest- funder and promoter of innovation. But ment will enhance Australia’s innovation performance. the vision of government departments and First, there is a significant restructuring of the archi- agencies as beacons of innovative achievement, tecture of governance of the innovation system. A consid- leading in the development and adoption of erably strengthened Chief Scientist and Prime Minister’s innovations in meeting social challenges and Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) delivering public services, is nowhere to be seen. will be charged with introducing a greater foresighting capacity to innovation policy. A series of Innovation Councils have been established But the 25 per cent increase would only raise the Aus- to provide advice and intelligence on industry and inno- tralian proportion of innovation firms to 37.5 per cent, vation system needs. Enterprise Connect has the role of still well behind our competitors. Nor is it clear how Enter- developing and delivering services to firms. In addition, prise Connect and the Clean Energy Initiative will deliver the establishment of the Commonwealth Commercialisa- it. What may be needed are even more demanding targets, tion Institute, presumably to replace the axed Commercial and mechanisms to drive their achievement. Ready scheme, has been announced. Perhaps the biggest gap in the White Paper, particular- Much of the success in promoting innovation in coun- ly when compared with a recent similar report in the UK, tries such as Finland and Sweden has been attributed to is the role that is charted for government in empowering the strength of their intermediary organisations linking innovation. In Australia government is certainly a signifi- the worlds of research and commerce. Hence much will cant funder and promoter of innovation. But the vision depend on the performance of the new intermediary or- of government departments and agencies as beacons of ganisations in Australia. innovative achievement, leading in the development and Second, seven Innovation Priorities have been identi- adoption of innovations in meeting social challenges and fied to focus the production, diffusion and application of delivering public services, is nowhere to be seen. new knowledge. This is a significant step towards elevat- Indeed, there is reason to speculate that this and pre- ing the place of innovation in national performance, but vious reports on innovation have not achieved their in- their generality, as in ‘supporting high-quality research tended effect at least partly because the procedures and that addresses national challenges’, ‘a strong base of skilled practices of modern public management, with their appro- researchers’, ‘fostering industries of the future’ and ‘more priate emphasis on accountability, risk management and effective dissemination of new technologies’, will pose large outcomes, have created an ethos that has great difficulty in challenges for implementation and assessment. encompassing the new, the different, the unexpected. Third, most of the new funding addresses major con- Minister Carr may have to shoulder the additional straints in the public research sector. challenge of reform to the public service to achieve his vi- While appropriate, strengthening Australia’s supply- sion of an Innovative Australia, powering ideas. t side inputs to innovation appears to be largely a continua- tion of past policy and what we know how to do best. The These views were nourished by fruitful discussions with my approaches to the more difficult challenge of promoting colleague Don Scott-Kemmis an enterprise-based culture of innovation, which lies at the heart of the Cutler analysis, are less well developed. Professor Ron Johnston FTSE, founder and Executive The significant exception is the replacement of the Director of the Australian Centre for Innovation at the University R&D tax concession by tax credits, which would appear of Sydney, has worked for more than 25 years in pioneering better to be far more supportive of the many small and medium- understanding of the ways that science and technology contribute sized enterprises that perform the great majority of the in- to economic and social development, of the possibilities for dustrial R&D and innovation in Australia. managing research and technology more effectively, and of the An apparently bold target is announced: to increase processes and culture of innovation. He is also one of Australia’s the proportion of businesses engaging in innovation by leading thinkers about the future. He led the major national 25 per cent over the next decade. Latest OECD data shows foresight study ‘Matching Science and Technology to Future Needs’ that currently less than 30 per cent of Australian firms re- by ASTEC. Over the past eight years he has conducted more than port a product innovation in the past two years, whereas in 100 futures projects for private and public sector organisations in most other countries the figure is around 50 per cent. Australia, Asia, Europe and the Pacific. 10 innovation

jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au Picking winners is government’s real task Objections to picking winners are generally either philosophical or practical – both lack factual support and fly in the face of actual government practice

By Michael Vitale [email protected]

he goal of government support for commercial funds directly, without the competitive proposal processes R&D is to encourage projects with large social typical of many grant programs. benefits but inadequate returns to private investors, For example, Healthy Futures, the 2006 Victorian Gov- and around the world many governments offer ernment statement on the life sciences, included $50 mil- Tsuch support. lion to support the expansion of the Walter and Eliza Hall There have been relatively few rigorous attempts to Institute, $16 million to facilitate the merger of the Austin demonstrate the benefits of such support, and there is an Research Institute and the Burnet Institute, and $35 mil- ongoing dispute about ‘picking winners’ – although theo- lion to create a new Australian Regenerative Medicine In- retical objections to that approach rarely seem to stand in stitute at Monash University. The statement contains no the way of accepting cash when it is offered, even if not all justification for the choice of these particular institutions the companies shall have prizes. to receive government support, nor any indication of how Objections to picking winners are generally either the success of these investments will be judged. The exer- philosophical – the government should not be making cise must be seen as a clear instance of picking winners. choices among competing demands – or practical – the In the commercial sector, the Victorian Govern- government is not able to make such choices successfully. ment VicStart program awards funds to assist companies Both sorts of objections lack factual support and fly in the to utilise and exploit science and technology for export, face of actual government practice. growth and profit – another instance of picking winners. Taking the philosophical question first, governments The point of these examples, and the many others that are constantly making choices – that is, they are constantly could be given, is that governments are already in the busi- picking winners – and there is no reason that this behav- ness of selecting the individuals and organisations that they iour should not extend to selecting recipients of support believe to be the most worthy recipients of citizens’ money. for R&D. There is no other sensible way for many government Grant programs, for example those run by the Austra- programs to function, and there is no reluctance on the lian Research Council and the National Health and Medi- part of many governments to dispense funds to winners cal Research Council, are exactly exercises in picking win- chosen by processes that are neither revealed nor measured ners. How else could they be run – as lotteries? – just reluctance to admit that that is what they are doing. It might be argued that the government itself is not The practical objections to government attempts to directly picking winners in these cases, but surely working pick winners often exhume examples such as the Victorian through proxy peer-review committees chosen by govern- Economic Development Corporation, a venture capital ment does not change the essence of the situation. fund that lost $110 million before it collapsed due to poor Moreover, in many cases, government does dispense management and a lack of accountability. (It is not often noted that VEDC’s $15 million investment in AMRAD Grant programs, for example those run by eventually earned back almost half of its losses, nor that its the Australian Research Council and the investment in Biota kept licensing revenues from the flu National Health and Medical Research Council, drug Relenza in Australian hands.) are exactly exercises in picking winners. How There is no question that investment decisions must be else could they be run – as lotteries? made in a careful and transparent manner. The fact that things are sometimes not done properly is not proof that innovation 11

Jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus they cannot be done properly, or indeed proof that they are Further reading not usually done properly. ¢ Den Butter, Frank A G, and Seung-gyu Jo, ‘Pros and Cons of In fact, published peer-reviewed studies show that ‘Backing Winners’ in Innovation Policy’, Tinbergen Institute governments have been, and can be, effective at selecting Discussion Paper 09-012/3, February 2009, http://papers.ssrn. commercial R&D projects to receive support. It is impor- com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1345748 tant, of course, to design appropriate selection procedures ¢ Hollinger, Peggy, ‘France bets all on picking winners’, Financial and to measure the outcomes, but these are what citizens Times, 24 June 2005, 13 would expect of any program that disburses public funds. ¢ Klette, Tor Jacob, Jarle Moen, and Zvi Grilliches, ‘Do subsidies It should also be noted that, in general, performance to commercial R&D reduce market failures? Microeconometric shortfalls are only rarely taken as an indication that gov- evaluation studies’, Research Policy, 29 (2000), 471 – 495 ernment should not be involved in a particular area. From transport and health to bushfires and swine flu, govern- Professor Michael Vitale teaches, researches, and consults in ment bodies have recently performed less than adequately. the areas of commercialisation and innovation. He is the Director, However, in many such cases government does not even Commercialisation, of the Asia–Pacific Centre for Science andW ealth admit to the existence of problems, much less propose that Creation at Monash University, and is a member of the University’s it not be involved in the future. Commercialisation and Intellectual Property Advisory Committee. Yet the failure of some admittedly high-risk invest- Professor Vitale also teaches at the Melbourne Business School, ments in R&D seems to frighten the horses and raise con- Macquarie University and the Australia and New Zealand School cerns about ‘backing winners’. of Government, as well as in executive programs in the public Given that neither the philosophical nor the practical and private sectors. He is chairman of the Australian Centre for objections to ‘picking winners’ hold up, what is behind the Posttraumatic Mental Health and a director of Australian Science concerns that continue to be expressed? Innovations Inc. He is president of the Harvard Club of Australia From the government side, it may simply be an unwill- – Victoria and a member of the Victorian Branch Committee of ingness to make a commitment that will be measured by AusBiotech. the objective and unambiguous terms of the marketplace. Picking individual winners for research grants or or- ganisational winners for uncontested funds has an advantage for government: the winners are not going to com- plain, and neither are the losers, who hope to get in on the next round. Moreover, the success criteria are generally suf- ficiently vague as to make retrospective analysis unlikely. Picking winners in the commercial realm is subject to much clearer outcome measures, and may therefore be avoided via an appeal to philosophy and practicality. From the commercial side, objections to picking winners often seem to boil down to objections to the picking of other winners. In essence, the reluctance of government to pick winners and the objections from some elements of the private sector to having the government pick winners may boil down to a reluctance to compete on a level playing field and a reluctance to be measured. While these are understandable human emotions, they must not be allowed to stand in the way of effective government support for commercial research and development. Logically, private sector executives who object to gov- Picking ernments picking winners should refuse government mon- winners – ey when their organisation is chosen and, equally logically, governments responsible government employees who have a principled are constantly reluctance to make choices and be evaluated on the out- making comes should find another line of work. t choices. 32nD Atse nAtionAl sYMPosiuM BRisBane, 16-17 novemBeR 2009 Future - ProoFing AustrAliA Rising to the Challenge of Climate Change sPonsorsHiP oPPortunities AVAilABle

The academy welcomes participation by sponsors to support this influential symposium. sponsors will benefit from exposure to many key decision makers in industry, government, academic and research communities – both during the symposium and through the symposium Report distributed widely afterwards. The 2009 symposium will continue the academy’s long, successful and distinguished tradition of providing forums for:  discussing issues relevant to the formulation of public policies;  conveying expert advice to Governments and the community; and  promoting the application of scientific and engineering knowledge to practical purposes. The 2009 symposium will examine the issues of climate changes that threaten our economic and ecological sustainability and our lifestyle – and the daunting challenges of meeting the targets that are being debated for emissions reduction over the period to 2050. The symposium will focus on the practical potential of current and future low emission technologies and other greenhouse gas abatement strategies. Four large emissions sectors will be addressed – electricity generation, transport, the minerals industry and land management. The academy has arranged symposium technical sessions, an open forum and broad community participation to help clarify positive paths forward for australia. To take advantage of sponsor benefits please contact aTse now. Dr Margaret Hartley Professor John simmons Atse Ceo 2009 symposium Convenor (03) 9340 1207 (07) 3365 3595 [email protected] [email protected]

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jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus The march of (technological) progress Technology sometimes moves more quickly than our ability to absorb the changes – even in such simple devices like remote controls and mobile phones

By Ziggy Switkowski [email protected]

ur forebears 100 years ago could not have dreamt an ambitious plan to build a national high speed, 100Mbs of the emergence of television, computers, satel- broadband network. lites, lasers, iPods, or Google and Facebook. Nor In 1996, wireless text messaging was not available in of a global population (then approaching 2 bil- Australia – at all. Today more than a billion SMS messag- Olion) trending towards 10 billion people 150 years later in es are sent each month, a volume to be further increased 2060. Or that a 21st century challenge would be an ageing by the number of tweets being broadcast by the Twitter population, not a prematurely dying one. message service. Subscription television had just been The defining technologies of the 21st century may not launched on the back of a controversial dual cable rollout, yet have taken form, but we can be certain that society’s but plasma and LCD screens were yet to appear. challenges, our way of life, and our standard of living will The past two decades have seen an evolution from be reshaped and improved by inventions and system leaps analogue products (think vinyl records, black telephones yet ahead. tethered to wall sockets, photographic film, 26-inch boxy Looking at the recent past, when Paul Keating handed televisions) to an all-digital ecosystem largely shaped by government to John Howard in March 1996, none of am- advances in the broad categories of IT, communications azon.com, eBay, Google or Yahoo! were yet a significant and the internet. The last industry to convert to a digital public enterprise. base is free-to-air network television, which will belatedly All subsequently listed in the following three years and join the 21st century by 2013 according to the Govern- helped propel the dot.com era. ment’s timetable. In 1996, one in five Australians owned a mobile phone. Spending on information technology has lifted to The phones were mainly analogue and in the hands of about half of many firm’s capital budget with large invest- commercial and tradespeople. The mobile phone had just ments still ahead to address remaining legacy issues and arrived as an important productivity tool. Today, there are new opportunities. more phones than people and all are digital with features Ubiquitous communications have given meaning to far beyond simple voice calls. And they resemble mobile the concept of 24/7. Technology sometimes moves more video handsets more than telephones. No business – or quickly than our ability to absorb the changes – even teenager – can operate without one. in such simple devices like remote controls and mobile Although the personal computer had appeared in the phones. early 1980s, by 1996 only one in three Australian homes owned a computer and fewer than one in 20 had internet Where are we heading? access. Today, more than three-quarters of homes and all The CEO of IBM, Sam Palmisano, recently offered his businesses have a PC, and almost all of them also have perspective about a world becoming smarter as intelli- some form of internet access. gence is incorporated into more environments, which are In 1996 domestic internet access speeds were just increasingly linked. 14.4 kilobits a second. Content was text-only – no video, He pointed to the following: let alone YouTube. Outside of engineering and technology ¢two billion people (out of a global population of seven firms and universities, email was just appearing in the more billion) will be on the web in 2011. At the same time, progressive businesses. Today, almost all enterprises have we are heading toward one trillion connected objects – internet access, with the Government recently announcing cars, appliances, cameras, roadways, pipelines; 14 innovation

jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au

¢one in two people globally now own a mobile handset more complex market than our currently damaged debt – 3.4 billion; markets; ¢an estimated two billion Radio Frequency Identification ¢food distribution – addressing supply-chain inefficien- (RFID) tags were sold in 2007, embedded in products, cies, reduction in ‘food miles’ (the distance travelled passports, buildings, toll-road sensors – even animals. by food from farm to your kitchen) and ensuring the This number should rise to 30 billion by next year; and integrity of the food and minimisation of food-borne ¢massively powerful computers can be affordably applied infections; to processing, modelling, forecasting and analysing just ¢healthcare – online access to a patient’s health history about any workload or task. And to monitoring the in- and records would cut administrative costs, reduce teractions between these trillion connected objects. medical error rates and improve patient outcomes; and For the first time in history, almost anything can be- ¢traffic systems – congested roadways, imperfect se- come digitally aware and interconnected – and it will be. quencing of lights and searching for parking spots He goes on to list modern society’s key processes and how probably cost us billions of dollars annually in lost they will be transformed and made safer and more effi- hours, petrol costs and polluting exhaust emissions. cient. For example: He goes on to cover air travel (1400 new international ¢energy – where homes and individual appliances will airports by 2050), weather forecasting, oil field manage- be continuously monitored, and an intelligent electric- ment and water systems. His point is that information ity grid balanced to reduce energy costs to users; technology from, say, 1996 couldn’t even have begun to ¢financial systems – even the most sophisticated systems seize the opportunities and attack these problems. Neither designed and deployed just a decade ago were built could you have done it four years ago – IT was too expen- for a different world. He says that given the complex- sive, too hardwired and too underutilised, with too many ity, speed, and scale of today’s financial markets, those distributed parts in an unconnected world. systems are as antiquated as the horse and buggy. For Now there is the potential in 2030, when computers are instance, in the global currency market, US$10 trillion expected to rival the capacity of the human brain, to suggest can be traded on a single day. This is a far bigger and unimaginable opportunities ahead. One well-known global

using these highly competitive facilities to Getting the best for industry quite different levels. Meanwhile, although the capabilities now from R&D infrastructure exist in Australia, and while similar facilities are The Australasian Industrial Research Group’s NCRIS and the MNRF program before it, the being used overseas by industrial competitors, (AIRG) winter conference in Canberra Synchrotron, the new nuclear reactor at some major Australian companies (or even will examine how the nation’s research ANSTO and lots of other instrument-driven industry sectors) might not be fully aware of infrastructure can impact the R&D and capabilities in universities and CSIRO, all of what could be available locally and how it innovation activities in various industrial sectors. which are capital-intensive. might then impact upon research productivity This focus is driven by a belief that It is recognised that many of these and outcomes. heavy investment in major government pieces of major equipment, and the skilled The meeting will explore the impact of and university research infrastructure is not people who work with them, have significant industry usage and consequent measurable bringing optimal results for industry. potential to accelerate the progress of economic impact on the economy. Several Titled ‘The importance of Australian Australian industrial R&D, although their other key issues potentially impacting the national research infrastructure to industry and present use by industry appears to be less consideration of Australian industrial R&D the economy’, the conference will discuss this than optimal. staff relative to its use of this national research disparity and the economic impact of better Therefore, it seems timely for the AIRG to infrastructure will also be considered. access to and usage of this new infrastructure sponsor an assessment of how the nation’s The conference will be held at Parliament by industry. research infrastructure can impact on various House on 20 August, preceded on 19 August by The conference program notes that both industrial sectors’ R&D and innovation activities. a dinner with key Opposition Parliamentarians. Australia and New Zealand have invested A brief informal survey conducted by heavily in major research infrastructure – some AIRG members has suggested that More information: [email protected], or examples of which (in Australia) include various Australian industry sectors may be Meg Caffin, 03 9864 0913 innovation 15

Jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus company’s mission statement ‘To digitise all the world’s in- location-based products and services and appliances to formation’ no longer sounds like corporate hubris. proliferate. Low, earth-orbiting satellites will provide de- Still, to help you recover your composure about such tailed views of all surface-based features – as Google Earth upcoming technology intrusions into our ordered lives, hints at today. let me note that many interesting innovations of recent Continually increasing affordable computer process- years mostly arise from technologies and systems that have ing power, bandwidth and data storage, friendlier user in- evolved in a leisurely fashion, sometimes over decades. terfaces, coupled with proliferating devices (Blackberries, The concept of machine-readable barcodes was patent- iPods, motor vehicles) will most assuredly push personal ed in 1952, but the Universal Product Code that helped and corporate productivity to record levels, while raising a revolutionise supply-chain management became ubiqui- number of public policy issues such as privacy. tous only in the past decade. But predictions can also misjudge the uptake of seem- The fax machine – a basic business tool from the 1980s ingly appealing products and processes. – facilitated development of home-based businesses when In the recent past the promise of video telephony/ affordable models led to accelerated use in the mid-1990s conferencing, voice activation technology, smart cards, and drove the installation of a second phone line in many HDTV, telecommuting, virtual reality and artificial in- Australian homes. Of course, it is heading for extinction. telligence have fallen short to various degrees, although it Since some productivity-enhancing innovations often may well be just a timing issue. emerge in prior periods, it should be possible to predict some of the technology forces that might shape this gen- Systemic changes ahead eration’s experiences. For example, smaller more powerful During the 1970s France showed how a national strat- batteries will increase portability and underpin wireless in- egy obsessively followed could build a better future for its teractivity of … everything. citizens. Traumatised by the impact of the first oil shock The Global Positioning System, available for civilian in 1973-74, which saw interruptions to their key energy use since 1983, together with continuing microminia- turisation of componentry (such as cameras), will enable mContext (a NICTA Project) enables mobile devices to compress large amounts of data – in particular, XML, text and multimedia information – while maintaining low access and update costs for all desired operations, which is essential for devices with limited resources such as mobile phones.

Photo: NICTA The NSW Office for Science and Medical Research www.osmr.nsw.gov.au

Promotes growth, innovation and the public profile of science and medical research to achieve better outcomes for the people of NSW through:

• Funding to foster and build NSW research capabilities • Legislative, regulatory and policy advice • Creation of research networks and hubs • Science communication and public engagement • Forums, workshops, conferences and promotions • Strategic investments in areas of State strength

Contact NSW Office for Science and Medical Research T: 02 9338 6700 E: [email protected] innovation 17

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus fuel – Middle Eastern oil – and massive price hikes, a ernment leadership makes an emphatic difference and ac- coalition of industry, trade unions (communist) and the celerated progress follows. government agreed to introduce nuclear power to achieve national energy security and independence. Technology-friendly culture In the next 15 years, 57 nuclear reactors were built Many factors influence a nation’s productivity, competi- (now 59), which now generate about 80 per cent of tiveness and wellbeing: education, work practices, quality France’s electricity while supporting ‘non-nuclear’ nations of infrastructure, regulatory framework and so on. The such as Denmark and Italy with exported nuclear power. role of technology and innovation is especially important, France is a country three times ours in population and although the near-term connections are sometimes hard to GDP but with a smaller greenhouse gas footprint! quantify. Australia does not yet see its industrial processes under The modern economy runs on brainpower and skills. similar threat, although the GFC may yet come close to Initially, the new digital economy was owned by the having such an impact. But with considerable vision and young. Beginning in 1996, most high-school graduates conviction, the government is putting in place key tech- were internet trained. By 2016, 20 years later, half the Aus- nology policies with principles around which our industry tralian workforce will be of the internet generation, where and society will organise. web usage, and search and networking dexterity will be First, the commitment to clean energy, while still hotly core skills – albeit in the hands of young people where only debated in some quarters, will inevitably see dramatic in- 35 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds will have a bachelor-level creases in efforts directed at new energy platforms and qualification. solutions that prevent GHG emissions from fossil fuels And mobile computing devices will be the ubiquitous reaching the atmosphere. tool of trade. ATSE has published a number of authoritative techni- Technically competent people will be needed – to help cal reviews in this area which I have no doubt will grow in allocate increasingly scarce capital to the best investment consequence. There appear to be few truly objective com- alternative, to manage large and small engineering projects, mentators on the subject of global warming and climate to inform and drive public debate and policy and to make change. Of course, ATSE’s members cover the spectrum of reasoned judgments about new technologies, which are public opinion on this subject, but the Academy’s techni- not always free from controversy and concern and some- cal judgments are supported by the wide and deep exper- times push us out of our comfort zones. tise of its members leading to scholarly, well researched Realising the potential within our technically enabled and authoritative studies to date. society will not happen automatically. There is an impor- The second strategic initiative is the commitment to tant technology leadership role – for our universities, building a high-speed national broadband network. Few CSIRO, our national and industrial R&D laboratories, government or individual industry strategies will have as our great Academies, our governments – which could also wide-ranging and important an effect on our economy as deliver community understanding and support. the availability of affordable internet access with world- And it seems to me that ATSE, through forums such as class bandwidth by all Australians. this evening, is leading the way in illuminating the central This policy is an example of informed government role of science and technology in modern society and in leadership and will lead to an environment within which celebrating our technology heroes. t many exciting and unforeseen applications and businesses will emerge even as the details of NBN execution poten- This is an edited version of Dr Switkowski’s address to the tially lead down unexpected paths. ATSE Clunies Ross Awards dinner in Sydney in May. On the topic of technology, there are certain laws that can be relied upon to produce breakthroughs as well as Dr Ziggy Switkowski FTSE is chair of the Australian Nuclear continuous change – like experience curves and Moore’s Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). In 2006 he chaired Law. These often underpin our confidence in claiming that the Prime Minister’s Review of Uranium Mining, Processing and no matter the (technical) problem, a solution will most Nuclear Energy, whose report re-introduced nuclear power into certainly be found. The only points of dispute might be in Australia’s energy debate. He is a former chief executive of Telstra, the time estimated or the emergence of social issues such as Optus and Kodak (Australasia). Presently he is a non-executive ethical considerations and privacy. director of Suncorp, Tabcorp and Healthscope, and Chair of But when a nation agrees on its priorities, especially Opera Australia. Dr Switkowski is a graduate of the University of when reinforced by a real and visible urgency, strong gov- Melbourne with a PhD in nuclear physics. 18 innovation jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au Budget energy and innovation initiatives welcome The Academy welcomes a number of the 2009 and innovation increased from $6.9 billion in from the corporate tax rate and thereby Federal Budget initiatives, particularly in the 2008-09 to $8.9 billion in 2009-10 – an increase create greater certainty in the level of area of energy and innovation. of 25 per cent, the largest increase on record. assistance. ATSE applauds the Government’s Budget The 2009-10 Budget allocation to science “ATSE particularly welcomes the four-year decision to invest $4.5 billion to support the and innovation is 0.73 per cent of GDP, which funding extension of $185.5 million to National growth of clean energy generation and new returns expenditure to levels that existed in ICT Australia (NICTA) to ensure the long- technologies, and to reduce carbon emissions the mid-1990s. term viability of this vital centre of research and stimulate economic activity through the “The Academy continually argues its belief excellence, which is a key asset in Australia’s Clean Energy Initiative. that enhanced RD&D in our key science and innovation system,” Professor Batterham said. ATSE sees this as a strong response to technology fields is a key to a technology-led ATSE acknowledges a number of other its recent call for an investment of $6 billion recovery from the global financial crisis – and Budget initiatives and its increased focus on by 2020 on RD&D in new power generation to successfully addressing the challenges science and innovation. technologies (made in ATSE’s December 2008 of climate change, rising health costs and ATSE also welcomes the Government’s report Energy Technology for Climate Change: increasing global economic competition,” response to the Review of Australian Higher Accelerating the Technological Response). Professor Batterham said. Education, Transforming Australia’s Higher It supports the Government’s proposed ATSE has been calling for a greater Education System, and its allocation of some investment of up to $100 million in recognition for research collaboration $2.6 billion over four years. partnership with the energy sector for the with industry in the allocation of funding Some of its key features include: development of a new National Energy to universities, given that Australia ranks ¢ a demand-driven, student-centred model; Efficiency Initiative – using 21st century last in the 26 OECD countries on rates of ¢ funding provided for each student eligible technology to assist transition to a low carbon collaboration between firms and universities. for a university place; economy by encouraging a smarter and more The Government has the aim of doubling ¢ increased participation, targeting a lift from efficient energy network, using smart grid the level of collaboration. 32 per cent (now) to 40 per cent (2025) technology and smart meters in homes. Several Budget initiatives were relevant in of the 25 to 34-year age group holding a ATSE also commends the commitment supporting collaboration – the Joint Research bachelor degree or higher; to invest $4.1 million over three years to fund Engagement Exercise, Collaborative Research ¢ an extra 50,000 commencing tertiary a strategic approach to the nation’s energy Networks, new research infrastructure, students by 2013; and security. This reflects the importance of ATSE’s the Commonwealth Commercialisation ¢ infrastructure funding through the April communiqué calling for a major increase Institute, the renewal of the CRC program Education Investment Fund. t in base-load electric power generation and the proposed improvement in Enterprise capacity and the urgent introduction of new Connects’ services to firms. energy technologies to meet the expected ATSE notes that, while these initiatives growth in demand to provide the energy are valuable, there is a need for a more security Australia requires (communiqué strategic approach to achieve coordination from ATSE International Workshop, April 2008 of the multiple programs that are currently titled Electricity Generation: Accelerating supporting collaboration. Technological Change). It welcomes other Budget initiatives, “These Budget measures accord with the including: Academy’s focus over the past year on clean, ¢ Sustainable Research Excellence – funding adequate, reliable and affordable energy for the indirect costs of research will more as a fundamental for Australia’s economic than double over time, with the aim of prosperity,” said ATSE President, Professor Robin raising the average level of support to 50 Batterham, in a media release. cents in the dollar of direct competitive “We also welcome the innovation focus funding by 2014; and in Powering Ideas: An Innovation Agenda for ¢ R&D Taxation – for several years ATSE has the 21st Century, supported by a proposed been calling for a revision of the taxation Energy Technology for Climate Change: $3.1 billion boost in funding over the next four treatment of R&D. The Government will Accelerating the Technological Response called for years,” he said. replace the tax concession and introduce an investment of $6 billion by 2020 on RD&D in The Commonwealth spend on science a refundable tax credit that is decoupled new power generation technologies innovation 19

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus Eight visionary Australian innovators honoured Robotics systems Hugh Durrant-Whyte Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte FTSE, Research Director, Australian Centre for Field Robotics, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Sydney Hugh Durrant-Whyte is a leading national and international figure in the research, development and commercial exploitation of robotics systems in applications including cargo- handling, mining and defence. He has made substantial contributions in both research and commercial applications of robotics technologies, especially in large-scale field applications of key importance to the Australian economy. His vision of robotics science and application, and the passion with which he articulates this vision, have played he winners of the prestigious 2009 ATSE Clunies a critical role in raising the visibility of Australian robotics in Ross Awards are eight leading Australian innova- government, industry, academia and the community. tors impacting global development in fields such as Professor Durrant-Whyte is an Australian Research Council robotics, remote renewable energy, mobile phone (ARC) Federation Fellow. He leads the ARC Centre of Excellence Ttechnology, health and mining. for Autonomous Systems and is also the Research Director of The awards recognise Australia’s pre-eminent scientists the Rio Tinto Centre for Mine Automation, the BAE Systems and technologists who have bridged the gap between re- Strategic Partnership for Autonomous Systems and the DSTO search and the marketplace. Centre of Expertise in Unmanned and Autonomous Systems – Winners are honoured for having persisted with their all based at the University of Sydney. ideas, often against the odds, to the point that their inno- His research contributions have focused on two main areas: vations are making a real difference to the economic, social autonomous vehicle navigation and multi-sensor data fusion. He or environmental benefit of Australia. pioneered the field of autonomous navigation, particularly the The 2009 awardees follow in the footsteps of past development and application of probabilistic methods, critical luminary winners such as: Dr Fiona Wood, inventor of for robust commercial application of large outdoor robots. He spray-on skin; Professor Ian Frazer, inventor of the cervi- was also the originator of Simultaneous Location and Mapping cal cancer vaccine; Professor Graeme Clark, inventor of (SLAM) method. This allows a robot vehicle to be ‘dropped’ into an the bionic ear; and Nobel laureate Dr Barry Marshall, who unknown environment and to incrementally map the environment discovered the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers. and use that map to navigate the environment – perhaps the “It is safe to say that the 2009 ATSE Clunies Ross single most important step in achieving robot autonomy. Award winners have touched all our lives and are playing a He pioneered work in Decentralised Data Fusion (DDF) significant role in enhancing Australia’s international rep- in which information from a network of sensors is utation for innovation,” said Mr Bruce Kean AM FTSE, put together to produce a single coherent picture Chairman of the ATSE Clunies Ross Foundation. of an environment. He built some of the very first Chris Nicol Mr Kean was speaking at the ATSE Clunies Ross sensor networks, in applications such as surveillance, Award presentation dinner in Sydney attended by more demonstrating key DDF features such as modularity, than 350 eminent entrepreneurs, decision makers, govern- scaleability and fault-tolerance. ment officials, researchers, academics and business leaders. It was the first timer the awards had been made in Sydney. Mobile phone technology Key speakers were Dr Ziggy Switkowski, Chairman of Dr Chris Nicol FTSE, Chief Technology Officer, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisa- Embedded Systems at NICTA, Sydney tion, and Professor Penny Sackett, Australia’s Chief Scien- Chris Nicol is a key figure in how Australians use their tist, who also presented the Lifetime Achievement Award. 10 million mobile phones, having had a hand in a The 2009 ATSE Clunies Ross Award winners are: number of the key technologies that have led to an 20 innovation Alan Langworthy jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au

amazing whole-market penetration of more than 50 per cent. Dr Nicol’s innovation commitment is demonstrated by his strong track-record of success in silicon chip research and development in Australia – both in innovative solutions in the research phase and in the use of a cross-discipline approach to technology transfer from research to product. He is an inventor of low-power integrated circuit design techniques for broadband communications that have been widely adopted in xDSL, mobile phones and other systems and has pioneering inventions in 3G wireless systems. His major scientific contribution has focused on the After distinguished service with Bell Laboratories in the US diagnosis and treatment of the LSD group of more than 50 he returned to Australia to pursue his vision of building and inherited diseases, which cause progressive destruction of the sustaining a world-leading integrated circuit research group and brain and other organs. Recent research, population screening a state-of-the-art chip design team. and the detection of later-onset LSD suggests an incidence of His first innovation in Australia created the unified voice at least one in 1000 births. Further, lysosomal dysfunction is also and data channel decoder technology (called Soft Information implicated in otherwise unexplained stroke and heart disease, Processor or SIP) for processing both voice and data services cancers and neuro-degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, in 3G mobile phones simultaneously. The SIP technology was Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. deployed in some eight million 3G handsets. Thirty years ago laboratory diagnosis of LSD was crude and His second innovation was co-conceiving an architecture did not allow effective differentiation of each disorder, a critical that enabled a single chip to process the signals of multiple element in providing accurate genetic counselling to parents. users simultaneously with different service combinations, Professor Hopwood’s work revolutionised diagnosis and his effectively raising the user-per-chip from eight to 64. His team methods are still used in state-of-the-art referral laboratories today. was involved in the development of this base-station-on-a-chip In developing treatments he came to understand that clinical technology, known as ‘OneChip’, which symptoms of LSD arise from aberrations in protein structure and remains as one of the most advanced function and he and his team generated several world-firsts, such application-specific-integrated-circuit as the discovery of the genes responsible for some LSD, taking it (ASIC) initiatives in the 3G mobile to the forefront of the world scientific stage in LSD research. industry. His third innovation was the world’s Power for remote communities first silicon chip implementation of Mr Alan Langworthy, Managing Director, Bell’s very complex MIMO technology Powercorp, Darwin that is transforming global wireless Alan Langworthy established and currently manages John Hopwood communications. Powercorp, a world-leading and groundbreaking power systems engineering company whose technology is enabling remote Lysosomal disease research communities to have large-city-quality power, almost entirely Professor John Hopwood AM FAA, Head, Lysosomal from renewable sources. Diseases Research Unit, SA Pathology, Women’s and When Alan established Powercorp in Darwin 22 years ago his Children’s Hospital campus, North Adelaide aim was to automate the wide variety of diesel generator power John Hopwood is a biochemical geneticist of outstanding stations in the Northern Territory for the Power and Water Authority. international repute who has led Australia’s research efforts and Since then Powercorp has become the most advanced achieved world-first treatments for two lysosomal diseases – high-penetration renewable energy company in the world, due Maroteaux-Lamy and Hunter syndromes. to its exceptional application of research and innovation for This has improved clinical outcomes for patients worldwide tangible social and economic outcomes. Alan’s contribution has and generated multi-million-dollar revenue for South Australia – spanned the full spectrum – from innovative ideas in research the largest public sector commercialisation deal in Australia. and development, to commercial application, operation and Over 30 years Professor Hopwood, arguably the world’s large personal financial investment. pre-eminent scientist in the area of lysosomal storage diseases With the initial success in the development of a new power (LSD), led the Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s Lysosomal station automation system in the early 1990s came the possibility Diseases Research Unit (LRDU) to become world-renowned for to integrate renewable energy for fuel saving. This work and its research capabilities. the demand side management capability of the control system innovation 21

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus

the face of scepticism in a highly competitive international telecommunications R&D and standards environment dominated by well-resourced multinational corporations and development laboratories. The QPSX Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), developed in prototype by a research group led by Professors Budrikis and Hullett, became an international standard, the first (From left) Antonio Cantoni, John Hullett and Zigmantas Budrikis. for an Australian telecommunications technology. led to Powercorp delivering advanced wind diesel systems Lifetime achievement award in Western Australia for Western Power Corporation. With the Laureate Professor John Ralston AO FAA FTSE, Director, winning of a Showcase grant from the Federal Government, Ian Wark Institute, University of South Australia Powercorp pioneered high-penetration wind diesel systems that As creator and foundation director of the Ian Wark Research now Power remote communities from Antarctica to the Azores. Institute (the Wark) at the University of South Australia, The chief problem facing wind diesel systems when John Ralston has influenced the mining, materials, specialty connected to isolated grids is the instability caused on the grid chemicals, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors – and by wind gusts induced power surging. It is not possible for become recognised as one of Australia’s influential scientists. conventional generators to cope with these power instability A physical chemist, specialising in colloid and surface issues and blackouts usually result wherever the wind power is. chemistry, with complementary training in metallurgical Even when the wind flow is low the fluctuations in wind speed engineering and technology, Professor Ralston has established a can cause unacceptable generator response called ‘hunting’, very strong international reputation in research, particularly the which uses more fuel and can cause engine damage. This physical chemistry of the mineral flotation process. instability must be managed to achieve high penetration. As DIrector of the Wark, which incorporates the Australian Research Council Special Research Centre for Particle and Material Beating internet congestion Interfaces and the headquarters of the Australian Mineral Science Professor Zigmantas Budrikis, Adjunct Professor Research Institute (AMSRI), he has contributed strongly to the at the Western Australian Telecommunications productivity, profitability and sustainability of many industries. Research Institute Since 1984 he has attracted more than $150 million in Professor Antonio Cantoni FTSE, Research Director at research funding and has authored more than 300 refereed journal the WA Telecommunications Research Institute articles and textbook chapters. His work has been recognised Professor John Hullett, a consultant in Perth internationally and in Australia. He was named South Australian of At the heart of solving crucial broadband congestion problems the Year and South Australian Scientist of the year in 2007. is the work of three Perth inventors, which has netted massive In the 14 years since its foundation, the Wark has built an revenue from major international communications companies. outstanding reputation nationally and internationally, with its The problem of congestion arises because packets of data researchers collaborating in Australia and around the world with over the broadband internet are transmitted in segmented more than 30 highly reputed research institutions in Europe, form by much smaller component cells. One cell lost due to North America, South America, Asia and Africa. congestion overload therefore destroys the whole associated The considerable and continuing achievements of the Wark packet, producing a drastic cell loss multiplier effect (‘cell loss are very much Professor Ralston’s achievements as a research tyranny’), which can reduce network goodput – or throughput leader. In little more than 14 years, the Wark has grown from 85 of useable data ‘cells’ – to zero. people and an annual budget of $4 million to more than 150 The invention by Zigmantas Budrikis, Antonio Cantoni people driving a budget of $25 million. t and John Hullett can maintain goodput at 100 per cent during overload by ensuring no component cells of destroyed packets John Ralston and can be transmitted. The solution is known as Early Packet Discard. Penny Sackett Their invention was assigned to Curtin University of Technology in 1997 and subsequently transferred to Australian company QPSX Communication, in which all three held senior roles. It has been taken up by most major international communications switch manufacturers for payments to date topping US$35 million. The achievement was made against significant odds, in

Education 23

JUn/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus STELR boosted by Federal funding

he Federal Government has committed to support the STELR program during 2010 with funding The STELR project aims to: of $2 million – its first funding commitment to ¢ increase students’ scientific capabilities as they learn STELR. the underlying scientific principles behind renewable TThe Department of Education, Employment and energy resources; Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has confirmed it will pro- ¢ stimulate students’ interest in science through vide funding of $2 million to support the further devel- inquiry-based learning; opment of the STELR program to enable it to extend to ¢ promote science, engineering and technology careers; and more than 150 schools. ¢ support the development of teachers’ understanding The funding – under the Federal Government’s Qual- and skills in best practice pedagogy. ity Outcomes Program – followed an approach to Educa- tion Minister Julia Gillard by ATSE President Professor Robin Batterham and ATSE Director and STELR ‘cham- pion’ Dr Alan Finkel. The funding will enable the STELR project to run in up to 150 secondary schools drawn from each state and territory in its third year. The initial aim is to have the numbers of schools proportional to the relative state or territory populations. STELR is in its second year in Australian schools, following a successful ‘proof-of-concept’ program in four Victorian high schools in 2008. The 2009 pilot program involves 30 metropolitan and regional schools across five states, bringing the relevance concept to some 3000 high school students. The new funding will enable STELR to build on the work of the pilot project to enhance the teaching of science in Australian schools in Years 9 and 10. The project will be aligned with the national science curriculum. It will build on contemporary teaching of chemistry, physics, bi- ing communities of teachers. These communities will be Students ology and mathematics through the theme of renewable supported through the STELR website and by visits from get close to energy, and will demonstrate how theoretical knowledge STELR project officers who will run local workshops. the action can lead to practical applications and careers. STELR will provide schools with sufficient class sets in the STELR STELR will provide extensive teacher support through for experiments in solar electricity, wind turbine electric- program. the development and delivery of curriculum materials that ity generation and investigations into the production and align with the new national science curriculum. The deliv- properties of biofuels. ery of these materials will be integrated with professional A new steering committee for the project will be estab- learning that reflects best practice pedagogy and content lished comprising academics, industry experts, representa- in junior secondary science education. tives of professional associations and education authori- Planning provides for two-day professional learning ties. This committee will include the project director of seminars for two teachers from each new school as well as the Science by Doing Project of the Australian Academy other teachers from schools in the pilot program as neces- of Science and a representative of the Department of Edu- sary. STELR will provide teacher-release funding for the cation, Employment and Workplace Relations. teachers as well as support for travel and accommodation. The project will be evaluated to gauge its quality and The training will be held in major centres and the seminars effectiveness. This evaluation will be ongoing and under- will be the basis for local and national professional learn- taken by independent professionals. t Leaders in Engineering and Science

Internationally renowned The Faculty of Engineering is ranked 1st in Australia for progressive research by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and has the largest cohort of higher degree with a significant history of research students in Australia, addressing complex commercial innovation. problems across a range of areas including energy, health, water, infrastructure and ICT.

Strong collaborative Researchers in the Faculty of Science were awarded partnerships with industry the highest number of ARC Federation Fellowships and prestigious institutions in 2008 of any Australian university in the disciplines of materials science, biotechnology and biomolecular worldwide. sciences and physics Postgraduate students For more information visit: are offered competitive www.eng.unsw.edu.au scholarships of over $35k. www.science.unsw.edu.au education 25

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus ESE: a great recipe for hands-on science

ake a boisterous MC, a committed Chief Scientist tory with teams using test tubes and pipettes to identify and an inspiring young astrophysicist, then mix in ‘unknown’ solutions. Sixty students brought their mobile seven of Australia’s best technology ‘commercialis- phones to a fourth workshop to explore how the web ers’ and combine them thoroughly in a great venue functions, and then developed their entrepreneurial skills, Twith 400 secondary students. ‘selling’ their own inventions to the world market. The last That’s the recipe for a hugely successful interaction – workshop had 60 students controlling 30 robots via lap- which is exactly what the 2009 Extreme Science Experi- tops, doing their best to avoid problem ‘pedestrians’. ence (ESE) in Sydney turned out to be. The verdict was “a great day at a great venue”, provid- Nearly 400 Year 10 students (and their teachers) from ing some awesome young science talent an opportunity to across Sydney and NSW converged on Sydney’s Australian meet with some of the best scientists and technologists in Technology Park in May for this year’s ESE – designed to Australia and to shine in their own right! t fire their interest in exploring careers in science and technology. Australia will face a shortage of 20,000 scientists and The program was a huge success by any measure. engineers by 2012 according to a Federal Government The opening was ably hosted by Bernie Hobbs, the Training audit published in 2006. The same report found effervescent ABC Science presenter, and started with a that the percentage of students choosing to study science in down-to-earth address by Professor Penny Sackett, Austra- secondary school is declining, with Year 12 science enrolments lia’s Chief Scientist. Drawing on her background in science falling from 19.1 per cent of total enrolments in 1993 to and astronomy, she encouraged students to take up the 15.4 per cent of total enrolments in 2003. Extreme Science challenges and rewards that a career in the sciences offers. Experience is designed to help stem that decline by giving keen Her experience, manner and engagement resonated students a unique opportunity to interact with Australia’s top with the students, especially with the more than 200 Year commercially successful scientists and engineers. 10 girls in the audience. Professor Sackett was followed by an inspiring talk given by one of Australia’s pre-eminent astrophysicists, Dr Bryan Gaensler. The student questions that followed his presentation highlighted how much his topic engaged the audience. Questions such as “We know the speed of light, so what is the speed of dark?” were answered with the same wit and insight with which they were asked. Suitably revved-up by the opening speakers and nourished by morning tea, the students then got their first in- Bernie Hobbs, Penny Sackett and Alan Finkel Intense focus during the teraction with the 2009 ATS Clunies Ross Awards win- ready to launch the Sydney ESE. hands-on phase. ners, announced the previous evening. Each of these Australian scientists is a leader in his field, recognised for the quality and benefit of his research and his persistence in its commercialisation, and their pre- sentations drew a host of questions from the students. After a quick lunch break, it was time for the students to show their talents. They divided into five workshops based on the field of research of each of the Clunies Ross awardees. While one group used embedded systems to develop Chris Nicol their own light shows, others designed their version of a working self-sustaining community in a remote location in Australia. with the ESE Another workshop simulated a biological research labora- participants. 26 education

jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au We need a scientifically literate nation

By Alan Finkel byline email address

n the aftermath of the global financial crisis, our ability system to make us more competitive takes time, planning, to emerge as a stronger nation, more competitive with teacher training and massive funding. our peers, will depend on many factors. In the short The Federal Government recognises the need to im- term, the stimulatory and regulatory decisions made prove our education system across the spectrum of pri- Iby our State and Federal governments will be key. mary, secondary and tertiary education. In the primary In the long term, our competitive ability will depend and secondary sectors, large amounts of money have been on our productivity, which in turn will depend on the committed recently to rebuilding school infrastructure. quality of our workforce and the innovation skills of our Further, the process to develop a national curriculum that technologists and business leaders. Workforce quality and will lead to higher and more uniform standards in history, innovation skills are not inherited characteristics. They are English, science and mathematics is well under way. the product of the education system. As a professional engineer involved in science commu- Australia’s secondary educational outcomes are above nication, I have been particularly concerned about science average among OECD countries, but there are numer- education. For the past 30 years there has been a steady de- ous countries that do better than us, including some non- cline in the number of secondary school students choosing OECD developing countries. Improving the education science and mathematics. education 27

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus

While optimistic about the improvements that might ensue from the increased funding and the design of the national curriculum, it would be inappropriate to wait patiently for these developments. Instead, it is essential to do whatever is possible with the available resources. ATSE is committed to the education of the next generation of experts. ATSE already has an established its Extreme Science Ex- perience program that introduces Year 10 students to the successfully commercialised technology of the annual winners of the Clunies Ross Foundation Awards. To maximise our national economic success, to ensure that In an effort to reach more stu- we make the right decisions about critical issues … we need dents, ATSE is testing a program a scientifically literate population, one trained to ask questions, known as STELR that operates evaluate the evidence and form considered opinions. within Year 9 and 10 curricula and has the potential to be expanded to reach all secondary students in the country. tional economic success, to ensure that we make the right Our approach with STELR follows the classic innova- decisions about critical issues – such as technological re- tion approach: take existing technology and knowledge sponses to climate change or adoption of new medical and transform it into a product. The technology in this technologies based on stem cells – we need a scientifically case is the pedagogy, a teaching approach known as inqui- literate population, one trained to ask questions, evaluate ry-based learning. A significant component of the STELR the evidence and form considered opinions. program is professional development training provided to The new national science and mathematics curricu- participating teachers. lum, coupled with programs such as STELR, will help us The knowledge in this case is renewable energy. Why to achieve this goal. renewable energy? Surveys have shown what you probably In his speech to the US National Academy of Sciences have observed yourself: young people are concerned about on 27 April this year, US President Obama listed the short- the world in which they will grow up. Will it be physically comings in American research and development, then hospitable, or will it be ravaged by the consequences of announced a series of challenges and funding initiatives. global warming? Renewable energies are a toolbox of ap- Three of the key challenges he announced were: proaches that can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emis- ¢double the capacity to generate renewable energy; sions and hence mitigate global warming. ¢shift the performance of American students in maths As it happens, renewable energies are also a wonderful and science from the middle of the comparable-coun- context for teaching some of the big ideas in science, such try performance band to the top; and as the transformation and conservation of energy, one of ¢ensure that by 2020 America will have the highest pro- the key concepts highlighted in the draft national science portion of college graduates in the world. curriculum. Importantly, students enjoy investigating the If funded, the Australian programs I have mentioned operating principles underlying wind turbines, solar panels would help Australia respond to similar challenges. t and biofuels. STELR is in pilot-phase testing in more than 30 Dr Alan Finkel AM FTSE is an acclaimed engineer and schools. Depending on the availability of funding, it may neuroscientist and publisher of Cosmos, a popular Australian be rolled out over the next several years to all interested science magazine. He is Chancellor of Monash University, a Director secondary schools in the country. of ATSE, Executive Publisher of Cosmos Magazine and Chair of the The world is changing rapidly. To maximise our na- Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia centre. 28 innovation

jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au Scientists for a new age: Masters of Biotechnology

Michael t just 25, Michael Song is at the forefront of the provide that science and business combination,” Professor Song booming Australian biopharmaceutical market. Barnard said. putting his The University of Queensland (UQ) Master The most recent figures from the Australian Bureau skills to use. of Biotechnology graduate is working on the pilot of Statistics show that the number of people employed in Ascale production of therapeutic proteins and bioprocess the Biotechnology sector grew from 5600 in 2003-04 to development for the National Collaborative Research In- 14,189 in 2006-07 – more than doubling. frastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Biologics Facility, funded According to the same ABS figures, the Australian by the Australian Government. Stock Exchange listed 75 biotechnology companies at the Mr Song says he owes much to the Master of Biotechnol- end of last year that had a combined market capitalisation of ogy that he completed at UQ – part of an exciting new area over $22 billion, compared to $10 billion at the end of 2004. of postgraduate degrees called Professional Science Masters. “The Australian Biotechnology sector has matured sig- “I enjoy being at the interface between research and com- nificantly in recent years,” Professor Barnard said. “As a re- mercial production, and operating both cutting-edge and high- sult, Biotechnology graduates who have a solid grounding end research instruments,” Mr Song said. “This experience has in quality research, as well as in business practices, are best given me the opportunity to interact with experts from the placed to take advantage of this rapidly growing sector.” Australian biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and “The main appeal to students of our Master of Biotech- also researchers from Australian research institutes.” nology degree seems to be a fast, portable and specific de- Originating in the US about 10 years ago, Professional Sci- gree that can lead to a job in industry or research that pays ence Masters (PSM) are designed to develop advanced scien- more,” Professor Barnard said. tific knowledge in combination with professional skills such as “The program is designed for scientists who want to communication, project management, and commercialisation. update their technical skills in core areas such as recom- The PSM came about in response to calls from indus- binant DNA technology, protein technology, biopharma- try, government and other parts of the science community ceuticals or bioinformatics, and wish to acquire research for the equivalent of an MBA in science – to educate scien- laboratory experience,” Professor Barnard said. “But it’ll tists who are as comfortable in the boardroom as they are also suit legal or business professionals and teachers with in the laboratory. some scientific background who want to learn about the “They’re not intended to displace traditional pro- latest technological developments.” grams,” said Professor Ross Barnard, Director of the Master Divya Sarma Kandukuri is another UQ alumnus who of Biotechnology program at UQ. “Instead, PSMs engage credits the innovative Master of Biotechnology degree students with professional goals and help them become with launching her career. scientists uniquely suited to the 21st century workplace, Originally from the Indian city of Hyderabad, Ms equipped with a deeper and broader scientific knowledge, Kandukuri is now a research assistant at Innovative Puri- and the skills to apply that knowledge in a business context.” fication Technologies Pty Ltd (IPT), a company based at Demand in the US for PSM programs is rapidly in- Australian Technology Park in inner city Sydney, where creasing. In its 2009 stimulus bill, the US Congress allo- she uses cutting-edge biotechnology techniques to aid IPT cated $15 million specifically for the development of PSM to discover and develop novel applications in the ground- programs. Even before this funding boost, the number of breaking field of biopharmaceuticals. such programs across the US had risen from just one in Professor Barnard said the ultimate goal was for gradu- 1997, to 138 programs at 67 institutions in 2008. ates with this new kind of degree to earn the respect ac- “It strikes me that Australian employers are going to be corded graduates with an MBA, but with much greater increasingly looking for graduates with PSM type degrees, scientific credibility, which is essential for work in the and our Master of Biotechnology is the perfect program to modern biotechnology community. t innovation 29

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus Australia’s best for Science Olympiads

rilliant Australian Year 11 and 12 students are chas- cover a major medical breakthrough that has profound ing Olympic gold when they take on the world’s benefits for people throughout the world,” he said. best in the 2009 International Science Olympiads. Australian students have donned the green and gold at The 13 science stars go head to head with the Olympiads since 1987. Last year the three teams brought Bhundreds of students from all over the world in biology, home two gold, six silver and four bronze medals. t chemistry and physics competitions in Japan, Mexico) and the UK in July, thanks to funding from the Department of Australian Science Innovations (ASI) organises the Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Merck Sharp Australian Science Olympiads and the Rio Tinto Big Science & Dohme and Monash University. program in schools, with nearly 50,000 students taking They were chosen to represent Australia after a gruel- part in ASI activities each year. These programs encourage ling series of special classes, exams, study sessions, and an students to study science at school and university. intensive summer scholar school training program run at Monash University by Australian Science Innovations Australian team members for the (ASI), the not-for profit organisation that trains and man- International Science Olympiads ages the team, and is chaired by Dr Mark Toner FTSE. Biology – Tsukuba, Japan 12-19 July 2009 – Mel Chen, Brighton Grammar Mr Toss Gascoigne, Executive Director of ASI, says School, Victoria; Kristijan Jovanoski, Melbourne High School, Victoria; James that competing in the Olympiads is a fantastic stepping Woodmansey, Sydney Grammar School, NSW; Thomas Brereton, North Sydney stone that can lead students into glittering careers in the Boys High School, NSW. field of science. Chemistry – Cambridge, UK 18-27 July 2009 – Fangzhi Jia, Northern Beaches Professor Ian Frazer FAA FTSE spoke at the National Secondary College, NSW; Jason Kong, Christ Church Grammar School, WA; Bill Press Club to promote the Olympiads and said developing Huang, Melbourne High School, Victoria; Kelvin Cheung, James Ruse Agricultural emerging young talent was the key to building Australia’s High School, NSW. competitive scientific edge. Physics – Merida, Mexico 11-20 July 2009 – Cathryn McDonald, Immanuel “It’s essential that we nurture budding scientists and College, SA; Fiona Naughton, North Sydney Girls’ High School, NSW; Christopher give them all the training and support they need to com- Herron, Gosford High School, NSW; Robert Holt, Christ Church Grammar School, pete on the world stage. One of these students could dis- WA; Thomas Lacy, Sydney Grammar School, NSW.

Jason Kong from Christ Church Grammar School, Perth. 30 atse in action jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au ATSE helping develop tomorrow’s scienti sts and engineers

ATSE maintains a strong interest in science, The project aims to establish a framework areas. This explicit teaching of literacy and technology and engineering education and develop resources to assist teachers to numeracy is integral to the teaching of process at all levels and aspires to make positive systematically and explicitly teach science and and content in science and technology K–6. contributions at every opportunity. It is often technology skills, by building upon literacy It allows students to communicate their difficult to know what activities are most and numeracy foundations at each stage of observations, ideas and solutions. The project useful, and given the demands and the limited primary school learning. draws heavily on current syllabus documents resources available, ATSE must be selective. This program involves the Science such as the English, mathematics and creative ATSE’s NSW Division is especially interested and Technology Units of Curriculum K–12 arts to inform the development of the in the Science and Technology Key Learning Directorate managing the development of framework and subsequent teaching resources. Area at the primary school level and has an analysis of the science and technology Literacy is the ability to understand and long-standing links to the Curriculum K-12 processes of investigating scientifically (for evaluate meaning through reading, writing, Directorate of the NSW Department of example, graphing of data) and designing and listening, speaking, viewing and representing. Education and Training. Recently these links producing (for example, technical drawings) Numeracy involves using mathematical ideas enabled ATSE to identify a useful opportunity and the specific literacy and numeracy efficiently to consider evidence and make in this area, when it was able to provide demands of these requirements. sense of the world. While it necessarily involves financial support for the Department’s initiative Teachers need to provide explicit understanding some mathematical ideas, to map the literacy and numeracy demands of instructions for students to meet the literacy notations and techniques, it also involves science and technology in primary schools. and numeracy demands of the various subject drawing on knowledge of particular contexts and circumstances in deciding when to use Literacy in science mathematics, choosing the mathematics to • Technical words • Working scientiﬁcally use and critically evaluating its use. • Models, principles, • Describing theories, laws • Ethics Scientific and technological literacy can be • Instructing • applications • Recounting • Problem-solving thought of in terms of the circles in the diagram • Explaining • Designing • Discussing • Using equipment (left). Science and technology has elements • Arguing Systems that are exclusive to the subject, but it also Literacy in English incorporates significant elements from the • Number Technological • Narrating • Diagrams • Responding •Symbols literacy • Relationships ‘circles’ of literacy in English and numeracy. • Graphs Currently, there is very little support • Tables for primary school teachers regarding the alignment of the literacy and numeracy Numeracy demands of science and technology to Energy White Paper: more strategic tech nology planning needed

The Academy has welcomed the Australian key questions in the Discussion Paper, based The Australian community expects the Government’s release of the National Energy on the experience of a range of Academy 1 energy technology mix to deliver energy Policy Framework 2030 strategic directions Fellows in the energy field. It also built on the security for stationary electricity generation paper and notes there are significant work recently completed and published in the and an assured supply of transport fuels at challenges to accelerate the deployment of report Energy Technology for Climate Change: least equivalent to present levels through to technology to meet climate change targets Accelerating the Technology Response that 2030 and beyond. that are being set by Government. quantified the investment needed in research, In response to the associated Discussion development and demonstration if declared Energy technology is capital intensive Paper, Maximising the Value of Technology in the greenhouse gas reduction targets are to be met. 2 and needs investors prepared to accept Energy Sector, ATSE notes that the Government ATSE believes that technology can provide the risk. While the new suite of Government needs to follow the White Paper with more answers provided the policy settings are right. programs is generous, most still require the detailed strategic technology planning. The other main points of the Academy’s proponent to provide at least matching funds The Academy’s submission responded to submission were: for grants. atse in action 31

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus ATSE helping develop tomorrow’s scienti sts and engineers

specific stages of learning. The table below materials that will be trialled at teacher funding to allow attendance at workshops shows one example of how the skill of workshops organised by the Department. and the production of materials, including graphing is developed in each stage of A further stage is planned in which teacher annotated student work samples and advice learning. It was an outcome of the project. workshops and teaching materials will be on teaching strategies. The mapping stage of the project is made available across NSW. The cost of this ATSE’s NSW Division will be seeking nearing completion and will produce teaching stage is significant as it requires relief teacher funding from its supporters later in 2009. t

Early Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 (Kindergarten) (Years 1 and 2) (Years 3 and 4) (Years 5 and 6) • Grouping of objects or pictures • Tally marks or concrete • Vertical and horizontal column • Calculate and use ‘mean’ of data according to characteristics materials to gather and and picture graphs, using 1:1 • Question to obtain information from graphs and tables record data e.g. blocks, correspondence • Organising groups of objects for • Organise information from survey in database counting and comparing e.g. rows coloured squares symbols to • Graph features: title, axes labels, represent objects/pictures equal spaces on axes • Use technology to organise and display data e.g. • Representation of objects with using 1:1 correspondence database, tables, graphs, spreadsheet pictures • Technology used to generate • Picture/column graphs • Evidence of ability to use a variety of graphs • Simple interpretation of data e.g. graphs most • Graph features: baseline, • Questions to obtain information • Explain rationale for graph choice equal spacing, same size from graphs • Picture and column graphs: scale and key, construction, symbol • Detailed interpretation making interpretation using key/scale, generalising and • Interpretation of graph more complex comparisons predicting e.g. compare using words, • Line graphs: naming and labelling of axes, construction numbers • Apply multiple representations of data e.g. table, picture, column to represent continuous change, vertical axis scale, • Technology used to construct graphs. Justify most appropriate interpreting using scales on axes, generalising and picture graph predicting • Devise questions to obtain information from graphs and • Divided bar graphs: graph name, category name for tables each section, interpretation of data, generalising and predicting • Interpret data making more complex comparisons • Reading and interpretation of sector (pie) graph, Graphs The purpose of a graph is to organise, display and stating absolute quantities for ½ or ¼ segments or summarise information so that patterns and relationships from relative size of segments can be identified. Features include a title, axes labelled • Graph features: many-to-one correspondence with variables and units of measurement. • Analysis of data to suggest possible trends and explanations

Energy White Paper: more strategic tech nology planning needed

Two classes of technology strategically fit International collaboration being fostered by While Governments should not try to 3 Australia’s interests. 4 Australia in carbon capture and storage has 6 ‘pick winners’, they need to ensure that The first includes energy resources which no considerable merit. However it is early days and funds outlaid to support the innovation chain other economy will develop. Here Australia before embarking on further worldwide initiatives are well invested, not wasted on duplication, must carry the development task. Examples it might be desirable to learn from this experience. pipe dreams or projects where a commercial include Australia’s brown coal reserves and pathway is unclear. geothermal resources. To meet declared emissions targets the The second includes technologies in which 5 cost of energy will undoubtedly need The Government needs to follow the Australia has strong inherent advantages. to rise substantially. Government programs 7 White Paper with more detailed strategic Examples include carbon capture and storage should target energy efficiency and energy technology planning, based on rigorous and certain advanced solar thermal and conservation behaviours so, while unit costs numerical analysis rather than unsupported photovoltaic technologies. (electricity and transport fuels) may even aspirations, involving energy industry players double, user costs will be minimised. and leading researchers. t 32 atse in action jun/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au ATSE hosts Taiwan workshop on water and energy issues

The Academy hosted a two-day international of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials. by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor workshop with scientists from Taiwan in After an afternoon visit to CSIRO Energy Penny Sackett, with opening addresses by Sydney in May to examine the many common Technology at the Queensland Centre for Professor Ching-Ray Chang, Director General, issues the two countries share in water and Advanced Technologies, the group travelled International Cooperation Department, energy related issues. the following day to Newcastle. Here it visited National Science Council of Taiwan, and The workshop was arranged to explore CSIRO Energy Technology at Mayfield, where Professor Robin Batterham AO FREng FAA key issues, develop technology transfer it was hosted by Dr David Brockway FTSE, FTSE, President of the Academy. opportunities and build new networks Chief of CSIRO Energy, and the University The workshop was conducted in two parts while exploring areas for research projects of Newcastle, where the group met with – Sustainable water use and management for for mutual scientific, technological and Professor Bogdan Dlugogorski FTSE, Director the future and Energy technologies for a low commercial cooperation between Australia of the Priority Research Centre for Energy and carbon future, both followed by roundtable and Taiwan. Professor Terry Wall AM FTSE, Professor of Fuel sessions and a plenary session where It was designed to help both and Combustion Engineering. workshop convenors reported on technology countries, each striving to link scientific The water group spent two days in transfer opportunities and possible new areas and technological knowledge with best Brisbane on a program of technical visits of research. ATSE workshop convenors were Dr management practices, to ensure water and organised by Dr Tom Connor AO FTSE, Director John Radcliffe AM FTSE (water) and Mr Martin energy resources are utilised in a sustainable Engineering and Technology at KBR. The Thomas AM FTSE (energy). manner. first day included visits to the Yatala Brewery The water workshop recommended a The workshop, attended by 44 people, Wastewater Reuse Plant, the Pimpama series of future actions: was preceded by technical visits organised Recycled Water Plant and the Southern ¢ form a regional consortium for fostering for the visiting water and energy groups in Regional Water Pipeline site. The second cooperation of science and engineering in Brisbane, Newcastle and Sydney, which aimed day included visits to the Queensland Water water environment; to identify possible areas of future cooperation Commission, the Brisbane City Council, the ¢ establish a networking system for and complement the workshop aims. University of Queensland and the Luggage technology and information exchange and The energy group started the week Point advanced recycling plant. identify a moderator; in Brisbane with a series of technical visits Once they linked up in Sydney, the16- ¢ organise specialty conferences, regional hosted by Mr Ken Dredge FTSE (formerly strong Taiwan delegation visited Sydney workshops, and roundtable discussions for Chair of Tarong Energy) which included the Olympic Park to see a variety of sustainable mutual commercial project opportunities University of Queensland – where it met energy and water-efficient features followed and for technology transfer, consulting Professor Max Lu FTSE, Deputy Vice Chancellor by a tour of the Olympic Park site. services and R&D; and Research and Director of the ARC Centre The workshop was officially opened ¢ encourage institutions, researchers and Water and climate collaboration key to national benefit

Australia needs to manage potential risks to of achievement in climate modelling. ATSE noted that many countries, ensure the availability of the needed expertise But Australia’s expertise is spread across including Australia, were moving towards and infrastructure for effective long-term government and university institutes, which the development of ‘seamless’ weather weather forecasting as it moves towards a traditionally use different modelling systems and climate prediction systems, where ‘seamless’ system of weather and climate and this is a potential risk to the national common infrastructure was used to predict prediction. benefit unless a collaborative approach is taken. meteorological variations on time scales from The development, evaluation, These comments are key elements of hours to years. maintenance and application of modern ATSE’s recent submission to the House of It had been demonstrated that these climate modelling systems require large Representatives Standing Committee on models could be used to assist decision- and sustained investments in expertise and Industry, Science and Innovation inquiry, Long- making in many sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure and Australia has a long record term meteorological forecasting in Australia. water management and energy management. atse in action 33

jun/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus

ATSE acknowledges the contribution of all its participating Fellows, including:

Water: Dr Tom Connor and Mr Brian Sadler, Session Co-Chairs; Dr John Radcliffe and Dr Peter Crawford, who presented papers. Energy: Mr Ken Dredge and Professor Mark Wainwright, Session Co-Chairs; Dr Vaughan Beck and Mr Martin Thomas, who presented papers. Participants: Dr Sukhvinder Badwal, Dr Bob Durie, Professor Dongke Zhang, Professor Mike Manton, Dr David Brockway and Professor Max Lu. Workshop participants (from left) Professor Robin Batterham, Professor Penny Sackett and Professor Ching-Ray Chang.

students in regional cooperative research ¢ explore opportunities for financial ¢ provide detailed information of programs. support for visiting scientists to undertake technologies that can be transferred to The energy workshop also proposed exploratory visits to further research local industries, exploiting the natural several future actions: projects; strengths of both Australia and Taiwan; and ¢ organise exchange programs of scientists, ¢ explore possible financial support for ¢ identify lead contact persons from involving technical visits to develop and proposals to progress international Australia and Taiwan to progress each area progress research cooperation; cooperation between Australia and Taiwan; of proposed research cooperation. t Water and climate collaboration key to national benefit

“Climate prediction is vitally dependent information to assist countries in their including both air pollutants and long-lived upon sustained and consistent observations provision of emergency services to manage greenhouse gases,” ATSE said. t of the atmosphere, ocean and land surface,” extreme meteorological events. ATSE said. “Australia has a national strategy for “International arrangements, largely meteorological modelling to support both ATSE’s submission, through the World Meteorological long-term and short-term prediction. coordinated by Organization and the Intergovernmental “However, there are some potential risks that Professor Michael Manton FTSE, is available Oceanographic Commission, provide the basis need to be managed to ensure the availability at www.atse.org. for the collection and sharing of the required of the needed expertise and infrastructure. au/?sectionid=1157 observations. Complementary arrangements Overseas priorities for meteorological prediction ensure the sharing of weather and climate include greater emphasis on air chemistry, 34 water

JUN/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au

CSIRO scientists inspect one of the floating nodes monitoringL ake Wivenhoe.

an area about the size of the city of Brisbane, and supplies water to the region’s residents. Approximately 120 nodes, using CSIRO's FLECK™ smart wireless sensor network technology, are monitoring environmental conditions on Lake Wivenhoe and in the surrounding catchment. The sensor nodes operate in a meshed network, which means they record environmental variables and cooperate with each other to set up an ad hoc network to Ph

oto wirelessly transfer data.

: CSIRO : Of the 120 nodes, 45 are floating and measure water temperature through the water column, while another 70 are land-based and spread across the catchment. An autonomous solar-powered catamaran travels between the floating nodes gathering data. Developed by CSIRO, this is Keeping a clever controlled through a PDA, web interface or web-enabled mobile phones. CSIRO senior research scientist Dr Matthew Dunbabin said it was eye on our water hoped that these sensors could provide the platform for the next generation of water quality monitoring systems. One of the major sources of drinking water for south-east Queensland is “This is about real-time data collection from the storage to the shore now under the watchful eye of Australia’s largest integrated intelligent with a level of speed and detail not seen before,” Dr Dunbabin said. wireless sensor network. “This gives us the capacity to monitor ‘events’, such as high rainfall, CSIRO and a local water authority in Queensland, SEQWater, have droughts or contaminants entering the waterway, in real time. If the joined forces to monitor the Lake Wivenhoe catchment, which spans network detects an ‘event’, it can advise the boat to sample in more detail.”

Innovation is what we do... www.coalandallied.com.au

090306_Ad_Clunies Ross.indd 1 16/03/2009 12:37:19 PM WATER 35

JUN/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus

“If you can run a process at low temperatures to produce drinking Energy-efficient water, then you can use ‘low quality’ industrial waste heat to produce the water, almost for free,” Professor Pashley said. desalination “All you do is build the desalination plant next to a suitable industrial plant and use the heat that the industry wastes every day to run the attracts $25 million process.” Professor Pashley and two PhD students have been drinking the to Murdoch water from their laboratory model of the invention for some time – successfully producing drinking water at temperatures of 45˚C and below. Research to lower energy use and carbon emissions in desalination Professor Pashley also has a patent pending which he says could technology by scientists at Murdoch University has been boosted by solve the problem of high-salt water being returned to the sea, as is the Federal and State government funding totalling $25 million. case with WA’s desalination plant at Kwinana. Australian and international researchers will collaborate at Murdoch's It’s no surprise then that Professor Pashley hopes to play a vital role in new National Centre of Excellence in Desalination to safeguard future the establishment of Perth’s new National Centre of Excellence in Water water supplies for consumers and industry. Desalination. The Federal funding over five years will be topped up by an extra $5 “Even in the best desal plants in the world – and the Kwinana plant million from the Western Australian government. is at the cutting-edge – we are still some way from what’s possible. Murdoch University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Yovich, said the There really are new technologies that can reduce the energy costs of centre, based at Murdoch’s Rockingham campus, would draw together producing water by a factor of two to three,” he said. the nation’s top scientists in desalination to provide solutions to the water Professor Pashley has already formed a company called Desal crisis, and build on Murdoch’s historical research strengths in renewable (Australia) Pty Ltd to commercialise the technology which has received energy, water and environmental sciences. venture capital investment and interest from several companies. “This important new national research hub at Murdoch will offer energy-saving solutions to safeguard future water supplies for both consumers and industry, and these new technologies will have widespread application for the benefit of all Australians,” Professor Yovich said. Murdoch University will host the centre with strong involvement from other Australian universities, industry and international partners. The initial partners are Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan University, Flinders University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland, the University of South Australia, Victoria University, the University of WA and WA’s Water Corporation. There will be opportunities for the centre to work collaboratively with others on joint research initiatives. It is anticipated that the centre will commence its activities in the second half of 2009. Revolutionary desalination process created A Murdoch University scientist has created a process to extract drinking water from seawater that could revolutionise desalination and reduce energy costs. Chemistry Professor Ric Pashley has patented a process that separates salt and water by exploiting their molecular properties and, for the first time, can do this without boiling the water – which dramatically reduces the costs and carbon emissions. This process has many advantages over the two conventional methods of desalination, which need large amounts of energy: Murdoch Vice-Chancellor distillation, where saltwater is boiled to produce vapour that is collected Professor John Yovich with as fresh water; and reverse osmosis, which pushes water at high pressure Murdoch desalination scientist through filtering membranes. Professor Ric Pashley. 36 research & technology JUN/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au

funding of $465,000 over two years. Carr lauds “The outcomes of this funding will: assist leaders and the public to understanding more accurately the role of the humanities in Australia; Academies allow reflection on the changing nature of security threats; help understand the role of physics to our economy; and identify new low- The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim emission technologies where large-scale investment is justified.” Carr, has praised Australia’s four Learned Academies for their research. The last of these is a project grant is $120,000 to ATSE for 2009 "The Learned Academies provide a unique perspective on research and 2010 for a project entitled ‘Analysis of Strategies to Accelerate the addressing our national priorities,” Senator Carr said. Deployment of Low Emissions Technologies for Electric Power Generation "This unique perspective helps to advance our knowledge and in Response to Climate Change’. produce results that have a broad benefit in the natural and applied This new project follows the earlier ATSE project Accelerating the sciences, technological development and applied technology, social Technology Response to Climate Change. Funding is also being sought sciences and humanities.” from other sources to enable the project to be completed expeditiously Senator Carr was announcing funding of $465,000 over two years for so that the results can be considered in the development of the the Learned Academies under the Linkage Learned Academies Special Government’s Energy White paper due at the end of this year. Projects scheme. The Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects scheme supports “The four Learned Academies receiving funding are the Academy of programs of research, or programs that support the conduct of programs the Social Sciences in Australia, the Australian Academy of Science, the of research, undertaken by one or more of Australia’s Learned Academies. Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and the Australian Academy of the Humanities,” he said. More information about the Linkage Learned Academies “Through their funding proposals, these four academies have shown Special Projects scheme and the programs supported in this individual and innovative thinking to solve Australia’s unique problems. round of funding is available at:

NICTA_IEEE_advert_A5hrzntl“This is why the Australian finalPage Government 1 3/2/09 is awarding 12:05:54 them PMwith www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/lasp/lasp_default.htm

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K research & 37 technology JUN/jul 09 www.atse.org.au Focus

bits (0’s and 1’s) encoded into physical systems that follow the laws of Dr Benjamin Lanyon everyday `classical’ physics. In a traditional computer, a set of two bits getting ‘hands-on’ at UQ. gives four unique configurations (00, 01, 10, and 11), but the two bits can only be in one configuration at a time. Quantum computers use quantum bits – qubits – encoded in physical systems that follow the laws of quantum mechanics. In a quantum computer, a set of two qubits can, in some sense, be in all four unique configurations at the same time – a state known to physicists as a `quantum superposition’. “A qubit is like a coin that can be heads (on), tails (off) or simultaneously heads and tails (on and off) or any possible combination in-between,” Dr Lanyon said. “This is impossible with normal bits, but a qubit can be in two possible states, two qubits can be in four, three qubits in eight, and so on – so quantum memory sizes grow exponentially with the number of qubits.” Dr Lanyon’s research focuses on using light from lasers as a base for these qubits, and hence, quantum computing. “If you turn light down to a very low intensity and have a sensitive A quantum leap enough detector, you’ll find that it has a particulate nature to it – it comes in discrete bits called photons,” he said. “We’re trying to use these in computing quantum particles, the quantum particles of light, as the carriers of quantum information.” From simple solutions, like slash marks in the mud and the abacus, to very To do this, Dr Lanyon said he and his colleagues had to construct a high-tech supercomputers, thousands of methods have been developed number of quantum logic gates to process the photons (qubits). throughout history to help perform calculations. None, however, have “Your everyday computer, mobile phone or mp3 player has had the same impact as the computer. logic gates in it and you can do any kind of operation you want by Since their emergence in the 1940s, computers have changed just rearranging your logic gates; they’re the building blocks of your dramatically. The earliest computers used gears and vacuum tubes, while computer. In a normal computer nowadays you might have hundreds of today’s computers run on miniscule logic gates, transistors and silicon millions of logic gates. We have a couple – a handful – of quantum logic chips that perform calculations with mind-bending speed and accuracy. gates and that’s where we’re at. And they’ve changed the way we live almost every facet of our lives – “Although we’ve built a very small quantum computer we’re not there’s little left out there without a computer chip in it. Yet despite this, ready to just go and make it bigger and bigger,” he said. “I think there are and the massive impact computers have had, there’s a new technology still some physical obstacles that we need to overcome in the path to lurking that could have just as significant an impact. scaleability, but there’s none that we know of that are just ‘no goers’, that Although it’s a technology still in its infancy, the idea of encoding we’ll never be able to overcome. and processing information in quantum systems – and using quantum “We’re almost at a stage where we need massive investment in order computers – is being hailed as a technology that could spark a new to get the technology that we need.” technological age. Dr Lanyon said that, along with the fragility of the logic gates holding Dr Benjamin Lanyon, a quantum physicist in the School of back the development of a quantum iMac, there was also the issue of size. Mathematics and Physics at the University of Queensland (UQ), is at “These things are massive in comparison to the single transistor chips the forefront of this exciting new area of research, “the aim of which is that are inside your computer, which are on the microscopic scale. We’re to investigate the capabilities of encoding and processing information building single logic gates that are one foot across.” But Dr Lanyon said going in physical systems that are so small, they must be described using the much smaller is certainly feasible, and that this is an active research area. bizarre laws of quantum physics,” he said. While Dr Lanyon acknowledges the quantum computer built at UQ is Dr Lanyon said the research at the UQ node of the ARC Centre of a long way off a full-scale device, he’s convinced quantum computing will Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology was based on the principles be hugely important in the future. of quantum mechanics, an area of physics concerned with the subatomic. “Physicists and computer scientists have some ideas about quantum He said particles of a subatomic size, such as electrons and photons, computing that could revolutionise what we could do in terms of new behaved very strangely. “The idea is that you can exploit their strange physics and new technology, but I think it’s fair to say that while we behaviour to do very powerful information-processing tasks.” haven’t got a clue as to the full extent of what these things can do, we’re Traditional digital computers are built on the power of processing pretty confident that it’s going to be fairly significant.” 38 Climate / Book review JUN/jul 09 Focus www.atse.org.au

and identify strategies to position Victorian industry as national and Green jobs report regional leaders in these areas. The report will provide input into the Government's Green Economy and Jobs Action Plan announced in its The Victorian Government has released the first report from the Allen Annual Statement of Government Intentions in February 2009. Consulting Group, which it commissioned to assess future commercial opportunities arising from climate change and the ability of Victorian Major biochar boost industry to capitalise on them. The Federal Government has announced $1.4 million for the biggest Victoria's greenhouse opportunity set: new growth prospects in a biochar research project in Australia – and one of the biggest in the carbon constrained world revealed economic potential over the next two world – under its Climate Change Research Program. decades worth up to a maximum net present value of $10 million: CSIRO will coordinate the three-year project on biochar’s potential ¢ $4.6 billion in water infrastructure and technology; to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and boost farm productivity. ¢ $2.25 billion in green building and construction services; and Experts in biochar, soil science and emissions management from across ¢ $3.3 billion in energy storage and technology. Australia will join the project. The report reflects on an assessment of possible climate futures Biochar is a fine charcoal, produced when organic matter such as and the ability of Victorian industry to gain climate-driven competitive wood or crop waste is burnt without oxygen. It has potential to store advantage from activities that are instrumental in delivering lower carbon from the atmosphere in soil and could be used to help offset GHG emission dependency. emissions. Other potential benefits include storing more nutrients and The Government says Victorian sectors are well placed to harness water in soil and reducing acidity. the significant forces for economic adjustment brought about by climate “This project builds significantly on current research within CSIRO change and international abatement efforts. and our research partners,” said Dr Brian Keating, CSIRO Director of Phase two of the Allen Group's research will be to develop five the Agricultural Sustainability Initiative. ”It will define the potential case studies in close collaboration with industry. Studies into green contribution that biochar production and application can make to construction and water infrastructure and technologies will consider productivity and carbon management in Australian agriculture.” export and domestic markets, identify the opportunities for jobs growth More information at www.daff.gov.au/emissions-reduction.

Dr Phillip Garth Law: His Extraordinary Life & Times, Law's lore by Ian Toohill , The Royal Societies of Australia, By Ian Rae Melbourne, 2009. Printed in Australia by On- [email protected] Demand, Southbank, Melbourne.

ajor Ian Toohill, an enthusi- prescience, planning, and physical endurance have made big con- astic Antarctic one-tripper, tributions to ‘Law Luck’. interviewed Phillip Law If you have never read of Law’s struggles with the bureaucracy and AC CBE FAA FTSE and heard his stirring tales of Antarctic exploration and Antarctic science, Mhis wife Nel on several occasions be- then here is a chance to acquaint yourself with a great Australian. tween 1984 and 1987. If you thought you had heard it all before, look here and you will Transcribed, the interviews allow us to hear Law’s voice again as find that Toohill’s questions have produced the frank expressions we have heard it in his own books and in Ralston’s two-volume biog- that hitherto have been edited out. However, some mysteries remain. raphy. Nel, an accomplished artist, gets a word in from time to time. You won’t find just when Phil grew his beard (I reckon it was Toohill takes him through his early childhood, his teaching ca- on the first voyage in that ‘terrible tub’ theWyatt Earp, 1947-48) or reer, university studies and research, before getting to the Australian how expeditioners tolerated the fug of tobacco smoke that seemed National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) and Law’s last to characterise the living quarters aboard and ashore in Law’s time paid job as founder of the Victoria Institute of Colleges. A personal (1947–66). foreword by Professor Geoff Vaughan AO FTSE sets the scene. Phil has passed his 97th birthday. If his luck holds out, his 100th The book contains the sort of stunning photographs you would birthday party will eclipse those of his 90th and 95th – which will expect of Law and ‘down south’, together with a detailed chronology then be seen as having been held ‘just in case’. of Law’s life – ‘life so far’, I should say – and I’ll expand on that, later. Toohill’s book is right up the minute in every respect. Law describes himself in an earlier book as a man gifted with luck, which he defines as the ‘tiny margin between success and di- Professor Ian Rae FTSE is a former Technical Director of ATSE and Honorary saster’. There’s more to it than that, as we all know: intelligence, Professorial Fellow, History and Philosophy of Science, University of Melbourne. Australian academy of Technological sciences and engineering

Number 156 IN June / july 2009 excellence in practical measurements by an Mike Taylor to head individual or group in the fields of academia, research or industry in Australia. Murray–Darling Basin Authority Making the announcement, the ATSE Fellow and former senior public servant Ms Davidson is one of Australia’s leading Minister responsible for Australia‘s National Mike Taylor AO FTSE is chair of the Murray– viticulturists and has a strong background in Measurement Institute, Dr Craig Emerson, Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). Fellow natural resource management, particularly said: “Professor Tobar, of the University of Dianne Davidson will serve as a part-time water and irrigated agriculture. She is a member WA, has worked at the leading edge of Member of the MDBA. of the SA Premier's Climate Change Council and sophisticated frequency control systems for Mr Taylor, appointed for four years, held previously served on the SA Murray–Darling many years leading to patents of inventions senior positions in the Commonwealth Basin Natural Resource Management Board. with commercial applications. and Victorian public services for 17 years. “The independent MDBA will play a crucial “In particular, his work with oscillators He recently retired as Secretary of role in helping Basin communities, irrigators and forms the basis for the next generation of the Commonwealth Department of our rivers prepare for a future with less water,” radar, telecommunications and precision Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Senator Wong said. “MDBA members will draw measurement applications.” Development and Local Government. on their expertise and experience to prepare a Professor Tobar became an ATSE Fellow ”Mr Taylor's leadership qualities and Basin Plan that will, for the first time, set a long- last year. breadth of experience and expertise in term sustainable limit on the use of both surface water, the environment, natural resource and groundwater in the Murray–Darling Basin.“ Alan Robson named management and agriculture make him an WA Citizen of the Year ideal choice for this important new role,“ said Michael Tobar measures up Professor Alan Robson AM FTSE was recently the Minister for Climate Change and Water, on World Metrology Day awarded the status of WA Citizen of the Year Senator Penny Wong. WA scientist Professor Michael Tobar FTSE in the Professions category. has been awarded the Barry Inglis Medal for Professor Robson was appointed Excellence in Practical Measurements by an Vice-Chancellor of UWA in 2004, following Individual in Australia. The announcement 10 years’ service as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. coincided with World Metrology Day which His citation noted that: “He has worked commemorates the anniversary of the signing tirelessly to implement new strategic of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875. directions and build a global reputation Metrology is the science of measurement. for UWA as one of Australia’s leading The Barry Inglis Medal was created to research institutes and best comprehensive honour the first Chief Metrologist and CEO of universities. He achieved high standing in the National Measurement Institute, Dr Barry teaching, research and administration within Inglis FTSE, who became an ATSE Fellow in 2004. Australia and brought an increased emphasis It acknowledges and celebrates outstanding on the leadership of a Vice-Chancellor achievement in measurement research and/or in the development of international and domestic strategic alliances with State and Michael Tobar Federal Governments. Professor Robson is a supportive mentor to UWA students, staff- members and academics. He is an energetic advocate on behalf of the university system, which has carved him an international (Left to right) David Green, Professor Barry Hart, standing in this field, as well as being a Dr Diana Day, Chief Executive Rob Freeman, passionate supporter for research in WA, Chair Mike Taylor and Dianne Davidson. especially in the field of medicine.’” 40 atse Jun/jul 09 Focus in focus

¢ Professor James Stanislaus Williams AM who has worked in small agencies, large Eight Fellows FTSE, Director and Professor, Research departments and in both national and state School of Physical Sciences, ANU, for offices and has held statutory appointments. in Queen’s service to the physical sciences and His most recent appointments in engineering through education, research the Australian Public Service were in the Birthday and administrative roles, particularly in the Education, Employment and Workplace area of semiconductor physics – a Fellow Relations portfolio. He was appointed Honours since 1992; and Australia’s first Federal Safety Commissioner The Academy extends its congratulations to ¢ Dr Graeme Leslie Blackman OAM FTSE, in June 2005 and held that position until Fellows who were recognised in the Queen’s Chairman and Managing Director, Institute July 2008 – concurrently serving as Group Birthday Honours: of Drug Technology Australia Ltd, for Manager, Office of the Australian Safety and ¢ Malcolm Alexander Kinnaird AC FTSE, service to the pharmaceutical industry, Compensation Council. prominent South Australian businessman, and to the community through a range of He was also the Head of the Office for service through the development of church, heritage and welfare organisations of Small Business for several years and public policy in the defence procurement, – a Fellow since 2004. both Deputy Chief Executive Officer and infrastructure and energy sectors, and to Chief Executive Officer of the National business – a Fellow since1990; Tom Fisher joins ATSE Occupational Health and Safety Commission. ¢ Dr Bruce Edward Hobbs AO FAA FTSE, in Canberra He has represented the Australian former Chief Scientist of WA and Deputy Tom Fisher, a former senior public servant Government internationally at APEC and Chief Executive of CSIRO Strategic, for has joined the ATSE team in Canberra as International Labor Organisation forums services to science, particularly in the Government Liaison Consultant. and at a number of domestic forums, field of structural geology as a leader His appointment recognises the need to including the Australian Industrial Relations in the development of innovative enhance ATSE’s engagement with government Commission. research centres and mineral exploration and industry organisations. His primary role In these roles he worked closely with the techniques – a Fellow since 2006; is to assist the ATSE Executive and Board in relevant ministers and ministers’ senior staff ¢ Professor Peter Numa Joubert AM FTSE, enhancing relationships with Government in the Deputy Prime Ministers’ office, as well Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne, Departments and Ministerial staff. as the Departments of Prime Minister and for service to engineering through research Mr Fisher’s role will also include assisting Cabinet and Innovation, Industry, Science in the field of fluid dynamics, particularly the ATSE Office with building stronger and Research. in relation to submarine design and relationships with the broader Australian More recently, Mr Fisher has been education – a Fellow since 1979; business community/industry. working with a number of private and ¢ Dr Roger Malcolm Lough AM FTSE, His appointment begins the building of public sector organisations, assisting in former Chief Defence Scientist, for a stronger Canberra presence and a more reviews, strategic OHS issues and corporate service to national security and defence effective representation base for the Academy. governance arrangements. capability through leadership roles with Mr Fisher is a very experienced former the Defence Science and Technology senior Commonwealth public servant, Wendy Craik joins Organisation – a Fellow since 2005; Productivity Commission ¢ Professor John Alan Richards AM FTSE, Dr Wendy Craik AM FTSE has been appointed former Deputy Vice-Chancellor and a full-time Commissioner of the Productivity Vice-President, ANU, and ACT Division Commission. President and ATSE Councillor, for service Until recently Dr Craik was Chief to electrical engineering as an academic, Executive Officer of the Murray–Darling Basin through professional associations, and a Commission, with extensive prior experience contributor to the development of space in very senior positions associated with science – a Fellow since 1996; natural resource management and rural ¢ Emeritus Professor Calvin Wyatt Rose policy. She is widely recognised for her long- AM FTSE, Emeritus Professor, Griffith standing contribution in this area. University, for service to education in Dr Craik, who joined the Academy in the areas of soil and water conservation, 1996, has extensive experience in the area of and to the promotion of environmental Tom Fisher ecologically sustainable development and science – a Fellow since 1993; environmental conservation. atse 41 Jun/jul 09 in focus Focus

Liberal Member for Port Stephens. Alan Finkel Mr Bauman, one of only three engineers in the Parliament, in the words of NSW achieves Division Chair Richard Kell AM FTSE, placed “our potential contribution to science and new engineering strongly on the public record”. The Hansard record of the Parliament heights noted Mr Baumann’s remarks, which praised ATSE’s Fellows and activities. “ATSE Fellows are Australia's leading technological scientists and engineers, eminent in their fields, who work together through the Academy to help design a better, more prosperous future. Combining Alan Finkel on Mehra Peak, their skills, these ATSE Fellows provide with Mt Everest in the background. expert advice to governments, professions, industries and the Australian community. They raise issues of concern and search for ATSE Fellow and Director – and Monash Dr Gill was the Water Corporation’s creative solutions. They debate the hard University Chancellor – Dr Alan Finkel AM FTSE inaugural CEO from 1996 to December 2008. A questions and look for practical answers,” reached a new career high in April when he major focus during his tenure was a program to Mr Baumann told the Parliament trekked to Mehra Peak, 28 kilometres south of greatly increase the WA's water source capacity “ATSE is an independent, non- Mt Everest and just over 6400 metres in height. and promote efficient water usage to adapt to government organisation, promoting the He described the climb as “relentless, significantly drying climate. He also introduced development and adoption of existing and gruelling and exhausting”. seawater desalination to Australia and this has new technologies that will improve and “But at the end of the day, the sense now been adopted by four other states. sustain our society and economy. of achievement getting to the summit Most recently he received the “ATSE tackles many of the most difficult was fantastic,” Alan said on his return to International Water Association's Grand Award issues governing our future by offering fresh Melbourne, when the “relentless, gruelling in Vienna last September in recognition of ideas, practical solutions and sound policy and exhausting” memories were fading. WA's leadership in adapting to drying climate. advice, and putting them on the public As a publisher of Cosmos, Australia’s Dr Gill graduated with a Bachelor of record,” he said. acclaimed science magazine, Alan couldn’t Engineering (Civil) from the University of WA resist the obligatory ‘Cosmos on top of the in 1968 and obtained a PhD (in the field of Ian Frazer wins world’ picture shown here. computer-aided design) from Cambridge AMA Gold Medal He discovered new pain and made new University in 1972. Dr Gill also attained a Immunologist Professor Ian Frazer has been friends – including a “crazy but gorgeous” Masters Degree in Public Administration from named the winner of the prestigious AMA Gold dog that “trekked with us for over two Harvard University in 1983. Medal for his work in developing the human weeks and came all the way to the summit: He started with the WA Main Roads papillomavirus cervical cancer vaccines. no jacket, no mittens, no crampons. Department in 1972. From 1988–95 Dr Gill was “The Gold Medal is the highest award Extraordinary physiology.” WA’s Commissioner of Railways. the AMA can bestow,” the Association’s Alan has apologised to the Editor of Focus for Curtin’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jeanette retiring President Dr Rosanna Capolingua taking the wrong magazine to Mehra Peak. Hacket, welcomed Dr Gill’s appointment. said. “Through the development of vaccines, “Dr Gill will bring enormous knowledge Ian has helped protect the lives of countless Jim Gill is Curtin’s and experience to our Council and we look women and he is truly deserving of this new Chancellor forward to working with him,” she said. honour.” Curtin University of Technology has Professor Frazer won the 2005 CSIRO appointed former WA Water Corporation ATSE gets the nod Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science, was Chief Executive Officer Dr Jim Gill AO FTSE in NSW Parliament named Australian of the Year in 2006 and as Chancellor, effective from early next year, In May, the Academy received a glowing won both the Howard Florey Medal for succeeding Mr Gordon Martin, Executive mention in the Legislative Assembly of the Medical Research and an ATSE Clunies Ross Chairman of Coogee Chemicals. NSW Parliament from Craig Baumann MP, Award in 2007. 42 atse Jun/jul 09 Focus in focus

unsaturated soil behaviour, nonlinear optimisation methods and georemediation. Professor Sloan’s project will develop new methods for estimating the static and cyclic load capacity, and hence safety, of geostructures in two and three dimensions. The result of the project will strengthen Australia’s leadership in computational methods for designing cheaper and safer infrastructure, supported by scientific publications and software. Professor Sloan is Director of the Priority Kim Carr congratulates Scott Sloan on his Laureate Fellowship. Research Centre for Geotechnical and Materials Modelling and is the recipient of national innovation system. a number of distinguished awards such as Three Fellows “The scheme takes the best elements of the Telford Medal, a Centenary Medal, the the previous Federation Fellowships scheme Desai Medal and the Booker Medal from win Laureate and adds a focus on team work, career paths the International Association for Computer and leadership.” Methods and Advances in Geomechanics Fellowships Professor Jagadish is a current Australian and the Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award from Three ATSE Fellows were among the recipients Research Council (ARC) Federation Fellow and the American Society of Civil Engineers. of 15 Australian Laureate Fellowships worth Head of the Semiconductor Optoelectronics Professor Tobar is an ARC Australian about $2.7 million each. They are: Group in the Research School of Physics and Professorial Fellow in the School of Physics ¢ Professor Chennupati Jagadish FAA Engineering at ANU. He has an extremely high at the University of WA. Professor Tobar's FTSE, Australian National University – international profile and is widely recognised expertise encompasses the broad discipline project: Nanowire Quantum Structures for as a pre-eminent Australian researcher in the of microwave and optical technology and Next Generation Optoelectronics. fields of optoelectronics and nanotechnology. applications to fundamental and industrial ¢ Professor Scott Sloan FAA FTSE, Nanowire research is a new and emerging physics. University of Newcastle – project: Failure field growing at an incredibly fast pace. The project will develop new techniques Analysis of Geotechnical Infrastructure. Professor Jagadish aims to build a world-class in time and frequency metrology to test ¢ Professor Michael Tobar FTSE, University research program on quantum nanowire fundamental physics and create essential of Western Australia – project: Frontiers of optoelectronics leading to next-generation technology for commercial, space and Precision Time and Frequency. nanowire lasers, optical switches and optical astronomical applications. It will strengthen Announcing the Australian Laureate interconnects. The project has the potential Australian knowledge and expertise, and Fellowships in a ceremony at Parliament to lead to fundamental discoveries and place us in a position to participate in current House, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, technologies of immense industrial interest. and future space missions. Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, Professor Jagadish is President of the Professor Tobar has received the Walter said the inaugural round of fellowships Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Boas Medal from the Australian Institute of would also support the work of up to 60 Nanotechnology Council, Convenor of the Physics. postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, ARC Nanotechnology Network and Director who would work with the Laureates in high- of the Australian National Fabrication Facility. WA Fellows go to water powered teams. He has won a number of awards including the Twenty WA Fellows and their partners “I created the Australian Laureate Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers visited the Water Corporation’s seawater Fellowships to give researchers at the peak of Millennium Medal and the Peter Baume Award desalination plant at Naval Base, south of their careers the opportunity to develop and from ANU. Perth recently. Guided by Water Corporation mentor strong teams of emerging talent,” Professor Sloan is a current ARC Federation CEO Ms Sue Murphy, they were able to Senator Carr said. “Through the Australian Fellow and Deputy Head of the School of see models of the facility and the filter Laureate Fellowships the Australian Engineering at the University of Newcastle. mechanisms, and walk around the seawater Government is creating viable career paths Professor Sloan’s research interests include pump station, pre-treatment facilities, reverse for Australian researchers to build the computational limit and shakedown analysis, osmosis building, potabilisation facilities and necessary skills and capacity for a strong nonlinear finite element algorithms, modelling drinking water pump station. atse 43 Jun/jul 09 in focus Focus

More recently, the company built the Organisation research reactor, the Australian Vale Sir John Eastlink freeway linking Melbourne to Frankston. Synchrotron, and the Australian Square Sir John retired as Chairman of John Kilometre Array Pathfinder radio-telescope Holland Holland in 1972. By 2007 the company was have been funded on an individual basis. Sir John Holland AC FTSE, an ATSE Foundation 100 per cent owned by Leighton Group. The NRIC will oversee a process to identify Fellow and Honorary Fellow and a stalwart of “His work for the wider community and prioritise Australia’s landmark research the Academy for more than 40 years, died on involved a range of causes, from the Board of infrastructure needs,” Senator Carr said. 31 May, just short of his 95th birthday. the Royal Melbourne Hospital, to the Bone The NRIC, chaired by Mr John Ryan, He was a former company director and Marrow Foundation, the National Stroke former Deputy Secretary of the Department Chairman of John Holland Holdings Ltd Foundation, the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, of Resources, Energy and Tourism, will include: 1949–86 and was renowned in Australian as Chairman of the Sir Edward Dunlop Memorial ¢ Professor Warwick Anderson, Chief engineering circles. Committee and, from 2000, as patron of the Executive Officer, National Health and He served ATSE as Honorary Treasurer Children First Foundation,” said The Age obituary Medical Research Council; 1975–80; Councillor 1975–80; Chairman, “His tireless spirit in helping children was ¢ Dr Megan Clark FTSE, Chief Executive Appeal Executive 1987–90; and Chairman, evident when he agreed to become patron of Officer, CSIRO; Symposium Organising Committee 1977–80. the Children First Foundation at the age of 85.” ¢ Professor Thomas Cochrane, Deputy Vice- ATSE notes Sir John’s passing with regret. Chancellor (Technology, Information and Sir John grew up on a small family farm at Three Fellows on Research Learning Support), Queensland University Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula, went Infrastructure Committee of Technology; to Frankston High School and graduated Three ATSE Fellows have been appointed ¢ Professor Edwina Cornish FTSE, Deputy as a civil engineer from the University of to the new National Research Infrastructure Vice-Chancellor (Research), Monash Melbourne. He joined Commonwealth Oil Committee (NRIC), which will provide strategic University; Refineries in 1936 before enlisting in the advice on future research infrastructure ¢ Professor Peter Høj FTSE, Vice-Chancellor, Australian Army engineers, serving in the investments, including those to be funded University of South Australia; Middle East, Europe and the Pacific and through the Super Science Initiative. ¢ Ms Patricia Kelly, Deputy Secretary, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. Dr Megan Clark, Professor Edwina Cornish Department of Innovation, Industry, After working for BP Australia post-war, he and Professor Peter Høj will join the NRIC. Science and Research; established John Holland engineering in 1949. Innovation Minister Kim Carr said the NRIC ¢ Dr Suzanne Miller, Director of the South Sir John was acknowledged in a would drive and undertake strategic planning Australian Museum; generous obituary in The Age, which noted and mapping across all categories of research ¢ Professor Penny Sackett, Chief Scientist of his first contract was to build a shed on (later infrastructure and contribute policy advice to Australia; Prime Minister) Malcolm Fraser's Western Government and to the Education Investment ¢ Professor Margaret Seares, Former Senior Districts family farm. Fund Advisory Board. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of WA; “Over the years his company grew into the “To date, landmark facilities such as the ¢ Professor Margaret Sheil, Chief Executive John Holland Group, which is best-known as Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Officer of the Australian Research Council. the co-builder of the ‘new’ Parliament House in Canberra, while its most visible project in Melbourne is the West Gate Bridge,” The Age said. Meeting WA’s new Fellows “The company also built another Mark Cassidy FTSE, Professor of Civil Melbourne landmark, the Myer Music Bowl, as Engineering at the UWA Centre for Offshore well as Sydney’s Entertainment Centre and the Foundation Systems, explains his work at a Australian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WA Division ‘new Fellows’ evening in June. “Its legion of other projects includes the Professor Cassidy received his Fellowship Adelaide to Darwin railway, the Captain Cook certificate from WA Division Chair Dr Ian and Silverwater bridges in Sydney, the Sorell Duncan FTSE, along with Professor at causeway in Tasmania, docking facilities UWA's School of Physics Mike Tobar FTSE, in Townsville and Bunbury, a desalination Commissioner of Main Roads Mr Menno plant on the Gold Coast, power stations, as Henneveld FTSE, and Managing Director and well as the Jindabyne pumping station and CEO Woodside Mr Don Voelte FTSE. More than the Talbingo diversion tunnel as part of the 50 Fellows and their partners attended. Snowy hydro-electric scheme.” 44 atse Jun/jul 09 Focus in focus

of transmission lines and more than 100 major Czech citizens seeking to migrate to Australia. substations throughout Queensland. Powerlink Dr Kolm was an ATSE Fellow for more than provides, operates and maintains the essential 30 years. He served on Council 1980–94 and ‘backbone’ of Queensland‘s electricity grid. was Vice-President 1987–90. He Chaired the As Chairman of the recently formed Symposium Organising Committee 1988–91. Power Engineering Alliance and Director of the Australian Power Institute, he has also President leads been the driving force behind achieving CAETS team the reinvigoration of power engineering ATSE President Professor Robin Batterham education across Australia. AO FREng FAA FTSE led a strong team of Simon attained a Bachelor of Electrical ATSE Fellows to the 18th CAETS Convocation Engineering at the University of Queensland in in Calgary, Canada, in July. 1973 and a BSc (Mathematics and Computing) The Convocation’s theme is ‘Our Heritage in 1976. He held senior executive positions of Natural Resources – Management and Simon Bartlett across government and also the corporate Sustainability’. The ATSE team included sector. He received the Certificate of Special Dr John Burgess, Professor Michael Manton, top engineer Commendation for Outstanding Leadership Chair of the ATSE International Strategy in Cyclone Larry Relief Effort, awarded by the Group, (former President) Dr John Zillman Prime Minister and Queensland Premier in 2006. and Technical Director Dr Vaughan Beck. Simon Bartlett FTSE, Chief Operating Officer The National Professional Electrical Professor Batterham addressed CAETS of Powerlink Queensland, has been named Engineer of the Year award was instigated to on ‘Sustainability in the minerals industry – a National Professional Electrical Engineer of recognise the professional excellence, highlight global perspective’, and his paper posed the Year 2009 in recognition of his excellent the contribution the engineering profession some challenges to speed up the changes technical, managerial and leadership skills. makes across the community, and encourage already under way in minerals processing. The Chair of Engineers Australia's young women and men to consider electrical “If we take sustainable development to Electrical College Board, Albert Koenig, engineering a desirable career. mean development that meets the needs highlighted Mr Bartlett's electrical of the people without compromising the experience, vision and leadership skills. Vale Jan Kolm ability of future generations to meet their ”For over 35 years, Simon Bartlett has The Academy notes with regret the passing in own needs, there is much happening within been the initiator and driving force behind Melbourne of Dr Jan Kolm AO FTSE, aged 90. the mining, minerals and metals business a range of new technologies and innovative After migrating to Australia in 1950, that makes an important contribution to design, maintenance and work practices in Dr Kolm joined ICI Australia and spent his entire the ongoing, global transition to sustainable the Queensland electricity supply industry,” professional career in Australian with that development,” Professor Batterham says. he said. ”His outstanding engineering company. He joined as a research chemist, was He notes the long-term commitments skills, strategic thinking and leadership of later appointed Corporate Research Manager, in of most leading companies provide significant engineering workforces has 1973 joined the ICI Australia Board as Technical opportunities to plan, implement and deliver drawn the highest respect across Australia and Research Director and stayed with the sustainable contributions to social wellbeing, and internationally, and his advice is highly company until his retirement as a Board environmental stewardship and economic regarded by government, universities and key Director. He was also an adviser to various other prosperity. stakeholders across the electricity industry. chemical and industrial companies and became “A recent focus of many of the ”Simon is a passionate promoter of the a respected voice in the scientific community. Academies has been on energy and water, engineering profession and engineering Dr Kolm was a Member of the National particularly as they are impacted by climate education and consistently makes the time Energy Advisory committee, the CSIRO Advisory change. Within this context, the targets to mentor engineering graduates and to Committee and the Monash University for sustainable development in mineral reinforce the critical value of continuing Council. He Chaired the CSIRO Manufacturing processing are changing quite markedly. professional development throughout a Committee, the Victorian Committee of CSIRO “This pressing need for new technology career,“ Mr Koenig said. and the National Energy Research Development is made difficult by the capital-intense nature As Powerlink‘s COO, Mr Bartlett is and Demonstration Council. of the industry, the long-term investments responsible for managing and coordinating In retirement, and after receiving an that are made and the poor track record all aspects of high voltage electricity honorary doctorate from Monash University, of breakthroughs succeeding in the transmission, which includes 12,000 kilometres Dr Kolm continued consulting and also helped marketplace,” he adds. atse 45 JJun/UN/jul 09 in wwwfocus.atse.org.au Focus

development. During 1964-72 his group of patents for his innovations in the field. Basil Hetzel developed – in conjunction with the Papua In 1988, Professor Chaikin set up his own New Guinea Health Department – the use foundation, which awards scholarships and wins Pollin of iodised oil injections for the correction of prizes to science and engineering students, severe iodine deficiency. and has been a strong supporter of ATSE Prize It was the first to show activities, including sponsorship of Symposia The first Chief of CSIRO that the effects on the brain and Clunies Ross and ESE events. Human Nutrition, Dr Basil could be prevented by • Scientist, academic and industrialist Lord Hetzel AC FTSE, has correction before pregnancy. Oxburgh of Liverpool also received an received the prestigious This method has now been Honorary Doctorate of Science. Lord Oxburgh, 2009 Pollin Prize for his applied on a massive scale in an internationally renowned geologist and research into the effects Asia, Africa and Latin America. geophysicist, has made a telling impact in the of iodine deficiency on While Chief of CSIRO academic world, industry and government, brain developments in Human Nutrition, Dr Hetzel particularly in fields related to energy and the newborns. Basil Hetzel led a team of scientists that environment. He is a former rector of Imperial Dr Hetzel is a renowned established, for the first time, the effect of College, chair of Shell and chief scientific adviser medical pioneer and ranks as one of iodine deficiency on brain development in to the Ministry of Defence, was knighted in Australia’s National Trust’s Living Treasures. animal models. 1992 and made a Life Peer as Baron Oxburgh of He was Chief of CSIRO Human Nutrition from Dr Hetzel is Professor Emeritus of Medicine Liverpool in 1999. He was a keynote speaker at 1975 until 1985. Dr Hetzel’s work led to the at the University of Adelaide and Chairman the ATSE National Symposium in 2006. implementation of a worldwide campaign Emeritus of the International Council for the supporting salt iodisation programs aimed at Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. He Assessing the eradicating iodine deficiency disorders. is a former Lieutenant Governor of SA and a water scene The Pollin Prize – the largest international former Chancellor of the University of SA. Dr John Radcliffe AM FTSE award for paediatric research – was recently He was elected to the Academy in 1981. represented ATSE at the awarded to Dr Hetzel at the NewYork- recent National Water Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Malcolm Chaikin Commission Stakeholder Hospital in the US. Dr Hetzel will share half of honoured by University Forum in Canberra, following John Radcliffe the US$200,000 prize with a PhD candidate at of Leeds an invitation from the NWC the University of Adelaide, Paul Fogarty. Emeritus Professor Malcolm Chaikin is among Chair Ken Matthews for ATSE to participate. The Director of CSIRO’s Preventative Health 11 people – five of them University of Leeds The invitation reflected the Academy’s Flagship, Professor Richard Head, says Dr Hetzel’s graduates – to be honoured by the university growing status in the water sector through work has been the epitome of research in July. Professor Chaikin receives an Honorary the activities of the Water Forum and recent excellence in his delivery of translational science Doctorate of Science. projects. The subject of the one-day forum to the world community. “He is one of our Philanthropist, inventor and academic, was the National Water Commission’s cherished medical scientists and, in addition Malcolm Chaikin graduated from the 2009 Biennial Assessment of Progress in to his outstanding achievements, has inspired University of Leeds in textile industries in Implementation of the National Water a generation of Australia’s leading researchers,” 1950 and was awarded a PhD in textiles three Initiative. Professor Head says. years later. He emigrated to Australia in 1955, ATSE was fortunate to have Dr Radcliffe's It has been estimated that his work on to take up the Chair of Textile Technology experience and overview (particularly as a identifying iodine deficiency as the most at the University of NSW, becoming the former NWC Commissioner) at this event to common preventable cause of brain damage, youngest ever professor at an Australian ensure that ATSE was well represented and and his tireless championing of salt iodisation university. able to contribute. His attendance programs, has benefited 80 million newborns. He spent his entire and participation was another step This is comparable to the public health career there, becoming in enhancing ATSE’s visibility and campaigns to eliminate smallpox and polio. one of Australia’s positioning in the water space. Dr Hetzel’s interest in the effects of foremost authorities Forum details and communiqué iodine deficiency and their eradication on textiles and are available on the NWC began in 1964. Iodine deficiency can lead registering a number website (www.nwc.gov.au/www/ to goitre and if more severe, to retarded html/2369-2009-stakeholder-forum- growth and development, particularly brain Malcolm Chaikin communique.asp?intSiteID=1). 46 overline in here apletsease JJun/UN/jul 09 Focus inwww. afocustse.org.au

those businesses up to global standard. Stuart ASEA received strong unified support from the Australian automotive industry, Wenham including funding from Ford, GM Holden, Toyota, Mitsubishi, the Federation of wins major Automotive Products Manufacturers and the Australian, Victorian and SA governments. award for The particular focus for the CRC STAR award was the high level engagement of the efficiency ASEA program with SMEs. A good example is Geelong-based components supplier gain Backwell IXL, which participated strongly in the ASEA program and achieved excellent Stuart Wenham gains in productivity, as well as identifying new opportunities for growth. Solar cell inventor Professor Stuart Wenham He has also received the US Institute of Dr Cuthbertson, who accepted the award, FTSE has won the 2009 University of NSW Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ William says that the pilot of ASEA stage three (with Inventor of the Year award. Professor Cherry Award for outstanding contributions to 27 companies participating) is still in progress Wenham, 51, has invented several products the advancement of photovoltaic science and and hopes ASEA can expand to support all the that have sold worldwide. technology. companies involved in stages one and two. One of his earliest, which he invented “Our mission is to ensure the automotive with colleague Professor Martin Green FAA AutoCRC wins STAR Award industry in Australia is vital and strong so that FTSE at the university, was a buried-contact The CRC for Advanced Automotive Technology when there is an upturn in the economy, solar cell. It first converted sunlight into (AutoCRC) won a 2009 CRC Program STAR they will be ready,” Dr Cuthbertson said. electricity in 1991and was named by the Award, which was presented in Canberra by Academy as one of the top 100 Australian the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science Sydney University has 14 inventions of the 20th century. He also won and Research, Senator Kim Carr, during the Fellows in Engineering an ATSE Clunies Ross Award in 2008 for his CRC Association conference. Sydney University’s Faculty of Engineering work in developing silicon cell technology. The award to the AutoCRC, headed by and Information Technologies enjoys a But technology has moved on, and CEO Dr Matthew Cuthbertson FTSE, was distinct place within ATSE – the number of Professor Wenham is now more excited in recognition of the Automotive Supplier Fellows it boasts. Professor Greg Hancock, about his most recent invention, called Excellence Australia program (ASEA). The aim Bluescope Steel Professor of Steel Structures Pluto technology, which lowers the cost of ASEA is to support Australian component and Dean of Engineering and Information of electricity by converting solar energy to suppliers in competing internationally, and Technologies, told the ATSE Clunies Ross electricity efficiently and effectively. accessing global automotive supply chains. The Awards dinner in Sydney recently about “The Pluto technology will represent sales three stages of the program were: identifying the the ATSE impact in the Faculty. Professor of more than $1 billion each year because it is key success factors for global competitiveness, Hancock, on behalf of Sydney University technology that is more efficient and cheaper benchmarking the performance of 63 – a platinum sponsor of the awards – was to produce than anything that has ever been companies against those factors, and presenting an ATSE Clunies Ross Award to his invented,” Professor Wenham said. developing action plans to bring key areas of colleague Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte. He explained that companies that have The details are: licensed the product include Suntech-Power Kim Carr congratulates Matthew Cuthbertson. ¢ Emeritus Professors: Robert Bilger (a Chinese company started by one of his FAA FTSE, Graeme Bird FTSE, Trevor former students), BP Solar and Samsung. Cole FTSE, Rolf Prince FREng FTSE and Professor Wenham said he couldn't Grant Steven FTSE. take all the credit. “I’m not a genius,” he said. ¢ Professors: Hans Coster FTSE, Hugh “I couldn’t have done it without the help of Durrant-Whyte FAA FTSE, David Feng my fantastic students who help me with a FTSE, Gregory Hancock AM FTSE, Brian lot of my research. I’ve been an academic for Haynes FTSE, Yiu-Wing Mai FRS FAA FTSE, more than 20 years and they are the highest- Roger Tanner FRS FAA FTSE, Lin Ye FTSE quality students I’ve been able to work with.” and Liangchi Zhang FTSE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2009 ATSE CLUNIES ROSS AwARd wINNERS The winners of Australia’s most prestigious awards for commercialisation of innovation in 2009 are: Professor Zigmantas Budrikis, Adjunct Professor at Western Australian Telecommunications Research Institute; Professor Antonio Cantoni FTSE, Research Director at Western Australian Telecommunications Research Institute, and Professor John Hullett, a Consultant in Perth – for their work on overcoming internet congestion. Professor Hugh durrant-whyte FTSE, Director, Australian Centre for Field Robotics, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Sydney – for his ground-breaking work in field robotics. Professor John Hopwood AM FAA, Head of Lysosomal Diseases Research Unit at the Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service, Adelaide – for his distinguished medical research in lysosomal diseases. Mr Alan Langworthy, Managing Director of Powercorp, Darwin – for his pioneering work in remote renewable energy technology. dr Chris Nicol FTSE, Chief Technology Officer, Embedded Systems, NICTA, Sydney – for his contribution to key mobile phone technologies. A lifetime achievement award was awarded to: Laureate Professor John Ralston AO FAA FTSE, Founder and Director of the Ian Wark Institute, University of South Australia.

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2010 NOMINATIONS CLOSE 31 JULy 2009 The ATSE Clunies Ross Awards are awarded to people who have persisted with their ideas, often against the odds, to the point that their innovations are making a real difference economically, environmentally and socially. If you can identify a worthy candidate you should make your nomination now. For information on the ATSE Clunies Ross Foundation and past Award winners – and the 2010 nomination forms – go to www.cluniesross.org.au or call (03) 9864 0908.