Australian academy of Technological sciences and engineering (ATSE)

Number 174 October 2012

BOOSTING OUR SMEs Optimising innovation and technology Contributors discuss the impact of innovation and technology in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cross-fertilisation between SME sectors and big business Thoughts

Contributor / Innovation / Seeing is believing Ben Cooper-Woolley 1 October 2012 / 1 / Ben Cooper-Woolley

I am based in Arup’s office and have a background in geographical information systems ©Arup (GIS). I work with teams from around the world to Do you digest data more effectively if it’s presented graphically? Would you trust data pre- use spatial technology to sented outside of traditional tables and graphs to make important decisions on subjects such facilitate the communication as your building maintenance, the cost of public transport or whether or not you object to a and better understanding road being built? of complex data. I believe innovative visualisation of data can help us to engage with data and improve our I’m passionate about decision making process. Quite simply, informative, engaging, graphical representations making information of data make for effective communication. Data visualisation can take many forms: from meaningful and relevant infographics that provide a concise visual representation of cumbersome pages of data or text to the intended audience. to detailed interactive time series visualisations that enable users to navigate through spans of On a daily basis I do this time at the click of a mouse, or explore virtual 3D digital environments. by creating interactive, data-driven experiences that We’ve used the latter successfully for several public consultations on major projects. Using range from web-based data innovative visual tools, users can explore existing and proposed locations in digital virtual visualisations to mobile environments and gain an understanding of the invisible infrastructure and information flows applications and 3D real that keep them functioning. time digital environments. I’ve been involved in a number of large-scale infrastructure projects for Arup where we’ve used data visualisation to help local residents and communities understand the impact the project will have on them. It is my experience that the greatest levels of engagement are Thoughts / achieved when people can use tools that they’re already familiar with to discover and explore why we’re doing something and how it will benefit them. For example, using widely used The best solutions can only online, interactive maps (like Google Maps) or exploring virtual environments using an Xbox come about by continually controller to see how a place or area will be affected. listening, learning and chal- lenging. That’s why we’ve For one project, we enabled people affected by a highway project (the A465 in South Wales) created Thoughts - to interact with a 3D visual representation of our latest thinking on the project design. This a place for experts, gave them a much greater understanding of how it might impact the landscape familiar to practitioners and them. enthusiasts to talk about the issues affecting the built Live building information can also be displayed graphically to give people a simple summary environment now and in of the building’s current performance and environmental impact. Graphical visualisations can the future. help people relate building metrics to real world equivalents – comparing current and historic Please join us. electricity usage to the number of computers currently on, for example. www.arup.com/ Would you rely on graphical data visualisations as part of your decision-making process, or do you think they’re too far removed from the safety of the numbers they represent? thoughts

We shape a better world | www.arup.com Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au CONTENTS 1 3 Eat like a bird, poop like an elephant By Erol Harvey 5 Collaborating to manage innovation and technology By Adam Long Climate change – always in the headlines (page 20). 11 The keys to the cloud 13 CSIRO rolls up its sleeves with SMEs 8 16 Science meets Parliament means CA offers a three-tier “unfiltered access” support program By Doron Ben-Meir 17 Third ATSE Roundtable moves to 20 The IPCC: “delinquent teenager” or disciplined guardian?

AustrAliAn AcAdemy of technologicAl sciences And engineering (Atse)

number 174 october 2012 24 Let’s stop pretending and just do it 30 Energy productivity – how prosperity and energy are linked 34 Schaffer report targets global engineering lead for Queensland BOOSTING 41 ATSE in Focus OUR SMEs Optimising innOvatiOn Front cover: A microfluidic DNA analysis and technOlOgy Contributors discuss the impact of innovation and card being developed by MiniFAB. technology in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cross-fertilisation between SME sectors and big business Photo: MiniFAB

COPYRIGHT This publication contains copyright material. Some of the material is owned by Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Ltd ACN 008 520 394 (ATSE) and some material is owned by others. All copyright and other intellectual property rights in the materials remain with the owner. No material in this publication may be copied (except as legally allowed) or further disseminated without the express and written permission of the holder of that copyright. ATSE Focus is produced to stimulate discussion and public policy initiatives on key Copyright © ATSE 2012 topics of interest to the Academy and the PUBLISHER nation. Many articles are contributed by ATSE Fellows with expertise in these areas. Opinion CEO: Dr Margaret Hartley FTSE ACN 008 520 394 Editor: Bill Mackey ABN 58 008 520 394 articles will be considered for publication. Print Post Publication No 341403/0025 ISSN 1326-8708 Items between 800 and 1400 words are Australian Academy of preferred. Please address comments, Technological Sciences and Design and production: suggested topics and article for publication to Engineering (ATSE) Coretext 03 9670 1168 www.coretext.com.au [email protected]. Address: Level 1, 1 Bowen Crescent, Deadline for the receipt of copy for next edition Postal Address: GPO Box 4055, Melbourne, Victoria 3001 of Focus is 9 November 2012. Telephone: 03 9864 0900 Facsimile: 03 9864 0930 Email: [email protected] BC+Y UNWG1018 CRICOS Provider Code 00126G

He’s engineering ways to help others. What would you like to achieve?

Darren Lomman, UWA Engineering graduate and CEO of The Dreamfi t Foundation, with Shane Thompson, the inspiration behind Dreamfi t.

Darren Lomman is a graduate from The University of Western who is using his mechanical engineering knowledge and practical skills to help people with disabilities fulfi l their dreams. Through The Dreamfi t Foundation, of which Darren is the founder and CEO, he works alongside volunteers and engineering students from UWA to design and re-engineer innovative recreational equipment. “My connection to UWA has continued through Dreamfi t’s partnership with UWA. Engineering students can be involved in a range of Dreamfi t’s unique projects whilst receiving course credit for their work. It is a win-win situation for everyone concerned. The students gain vital practical industry experience under the guidance of mentors whilst helping people with disabilities to live their dreams.” UWA produces Engineering graduates that have industry experience, creativity and passion. Like Darren Lomman, many of them go on to be innovators in their chosen fi eld. To make the most of your talents, with the support of a world-class university, visit uwa.edu.au

UNWG01018 FP 297x210 ATSE REV_F 19OCT.indd 1 28/09/12 10:32 AM Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au boosting our SMEs 3

Eat like a bird, poop like an elephant Many surveys have shown the importance of external sources of innovation – clients, customers, buyers and competitors are sources second only in importance to internal employees.

By Erol Harvey [email protected]

The headline is a quote from Guy model as a contract product developer technical, legal and financial issues. All Kawasaki in a talk I heard him give in and manufacturer of microfluidics and events are apparently well supported by 2002. He has since written on the idea consumable medical devices, tapping the participants in the Kennispark. in his book Rules for Revolutionaries: directly into the trend to outsourced Many surveys have shown the The Capitalist Manifesto for Creating and innovation. More than 80 per cent of our importance of sources of innovation Marketing New Products and Services. business is with clients outside Australia. that are external to the organisation During a recent visit to a Science Park concerned. Clients, customers, buyers n relation to their body mass, around the University of Twente in The and competitors are sources second only birds eat a lot. Hummingbirds eat Netherlands (Focus No. 173 August 2012, in importance to internal employees. 50 per cent of their bodyweight page 24) nearly everybody we spoke to So being in an active, dynamic and each day. Elephants are famous referred to the “ecosystem” that existed stimulating business environment is a Ifor the volume of their output. around the Kennispark (a Dutch word critical element to success of any innovating So the headline phrase is about how for Knowledge Park). The participants in SME. There are many elements to this entrepreneurial SMEs should relentlessly the Kennispark include two universities, environment, from the all-encompassing consume and absorb knowledge the local and federal governments, ecosystem referred to by the Dutch to about their industry, customers and agencies, consultants, firms and support the more modest regional cluster or even competition, and then how this digested businesses. Even the new football stadium business incubator you find yourself in. information should be shared in large is in the middle of the Kennispark and Current communication and social volumes to employees, collaborators, considered part of the ecosystem. networking tools give Australian the market and even to competitors. The range of networking events SMEs global access in a way that Another approach to this challenge and collaboration opportunities that was formerly only afforded to large could be ‘How to do everything when existed was impressive, from formal multinational organisations – so that you have so little’. The answers are events and presentations to monthly now this entrepreneurial ecosystem that you have to make a little go a ‘boring-but-important’ talks on in-depth can be truly international. long way, focus and depth are vital and collaborations are essential. Figure 1 Source of innovation among innovation-active rms For any business, but particularly Percentage of respondents for a SME, the business environment 70 extends well beyond the confines of the 60 enterprise you are in, and being an active 50 and contributing part of your business environment is critical to success. 40 Open Innovation is a term coined by 30 Henry Chesbrough roughly 10 years ago 20 and is becoming a mainstream strategy 10 for both large and small companies. 0 The concept of active participation in a broad innovation and entrepreneurial Suppliers or buyers enterprises

environment is increasingly common, Consultants trade shows publications independent of the size of the organisation. same industry research papers, research related company related Private non-pro t Private Clients, customers Clients, Websites, journals, Websites, This talks to the concept of sourcing meeting, seminars, businesses from the businesses from research institutions research Industry associations education institutions Government agencies Within the business or Within ideas that drive innovation from a range of and other Competitors Professional conferences, Professional Commercial laboratories/ Commercial research and development research external agencies, including competitors. or other higher Universities At MiniFAB we have built our business SOURCE: ABS 2010 INNOVATION IN AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS 20082009. CATALOGUE NO B158.0 october 12 Focus 4 boosting our SMEs www.atse.org.au

Professor Göran Roos, a consultant Products and services with value – offer the innovative SME. That is one of to the Prime Minister’s Manufacturing 7 compete on the basis of value and not global technology networking. Any good Taskforce and the South Australian on the basis of cost. academic will be an active participant Government’s Thinker in Residence, is Innovation – make this part of the with his or her international peers in a frequent speaker and commentator 8 fabric of the company. It is a process the development of the subject. High in Australia. He points out that there that can be managed and will be the performance academics have extensive and are nine key elements to success in the engine of competitiveness. trusted relationships that are both highly high-cost environment Australian Linkages with research institutions competitive for grants, confidential in the businesses find themselves in: 9 that reduce business risk and drive peer review processes that are used, and Ambitious leadership – we must aim to innovation – research is a global collaborative in terms of discoveries. 1 be the best in the world at what we do. industry and it is not hard to build In MiniFAB’s early days our Skilled workforce – our people are not connections to major research in commercial partners and competitors 2 a commodity, they are our investment. Europe, North America or China. could not understand how internationally Global – the Australian market will Building those connections in Australia connected we could be even when our 3 never be large enough to support the is unnecessarily difficult for a variety of marketing budget was a fraction of theirs. specialisation needed – we must be reasons and needs urgent attention. The secret lay in tapping into and using global. Like all areas, the focus on the extensive global academic network Focus and depth – other words for commercialisation and innovation that was our company’s origins. Therein 4 niche, but with more impact. goes through cycles and has its share lies one of the value propositions that Distributed business structure – of fads. Over the past 20 years that I could encourage improved industrial and 5 don’t try to do everything yourself. have been involved in SME innovation academic collaboration in Australia. Build valuable partnerships. This I have noticed that the fashion for Once identified as being part of an is the best way to contend with our commercialisation pathways has changed entrepreneurial ecosystem, the next step geographical isolation from major – and doubtless will continue to change. to success lies in the SME being able to markets. For some time the Venture Capital find value within that ecosystem. Tapping Strategic alignment with client – be process was seen to be the major driver into innovation processes, facilities, 6 an important part of their success and of innovation and it was judged that too infrastructure, experience, knowledge and they will help address your challenges. much involvement from governments or networks all contribute to SME success. Sensible intellectual property universities was a bad thing. Professors The SME must have the ability arrangements will make this work. were seen to offer little to the process other to focus and build depth. Again than to contribute to the feeding off the ecosystem helps and initial idea. Certainly creates competitive value within the involving academics products and services offered. in the entrepreneurial The SME must – lastly – contribute team was regarded with back to the development of the ecosystem, suspicion by investors the ‘pooping’ part of the equation. Only and commentators. by being an active and valued contributor Since the Global to the entrepreneurial ecosystem can Financial Crisis many the process be made sustainable. of the Venture Capital At some times that means helping your investment models have competitors, but more often you will find collapsed and have been they are helping you. shown to have been over-hyped, perhaps even Dr Erol Harvey FTSE is CEO, MiniFAB (Aust) more so than some of Pty Ltd, a product development company and the technologies they OEM volume manufacturer of polymer-based were investing in. Now microfluidic, lab-on-a-chip diagnostic devices the relative stability of for clients around the world. Originally trained in public institutions such laser and , he has been involved in as universities is seen commercial and academic development of micro, as attractive to helping nano and bio-production techniques for more than shield new ventures 20 years. A former Professor of Microtechnology at from financial and Swinburne University, he served on the Australian technical buffeting. Government’s Future Manufacturing Industry There is another even Innovation Council (FMIIC) and is a Member of more valuable contribution MANCEF, the global association focused on the Medical device manufacture at MiniFAB. that I believe academic commercialisation of small technologies, and the researchers have to Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au boosting our SMEs 5

Collaborating to manage innovation and technology Creating the right working environment is a critical part of a collaborative approach to innovation; creative and innovative people are attracted to autonomy and the freedom to explore.

By Adam Long [email protected]

hile we may think of that generates value to a user. For QSR Creating the right working environment ourselves as a dynamic International, innovation is where is a critical part of a collaborative approach and innovative country, an understanding of our users and to innovation. It’s important to understand in truth Australia needs technology meet, resulting in outstanding that creative and innovative people are Wto turn its attention towards fostering products for the research industry. attracted to roles that provide them with innovation. We rank 22nd in the world for The other important thing to some autonomy and the freedom to explore. innovation and while we are very good remember is that taking on board At QSR we adopted a ‘Development at undertaking research we are far less customer feedback is not a substitute for Days’ policy, which we modelled on successful at taking that research and self-generated innovation. Yes, customer practices at leading innovators Google, applying it to commercial outcomes. feedback provides invaluable insight into 3M and Atlassian. This means that our In the US for example, the alignment your market but the greatest inventions are employees can use a set amount of time to between research organisations, borne out of innovation, which means the work on personal development or charitable universities and commercial enterprise process for any organisation must begin projects. This includes everything from is especially powerful and through their with a strong product vision and strategy. time to explore their concepts and ideas collaboration many great inventions in more detail to attending training and solutions have been born. Product strategy days, conferences and doing research Australia is home to many great To set an agenda for the product development work. This has helped not only with job companies, many great research process you must have a formulated idea satisfaction for the team, but also helped us organisations and many great ideas. There for how you will foster collaboration and significantly with our recruitment efforts. is however definitely more work to be innovation. It is this product strategy that It is also important to have fun together done to foster collaboration between will guide the specific activities the company on non-work activities and to provide these organisations and improve our needs to take in order to innovate. people with the flexibility to work in the national innovation scorecard. Every For QSR it starts with technology and most productive way possible for them business – and especially small business a platform strategy that outlines the big personally. We have flexible start and – has an important role to play in picture perspective on what technically finish times for different people within creating not only its own but a powerful we want to achieve. There is also a product the development team and also offer national culture of innovation. feature roadmap that outlines the specifics weekly work-from-home days and part- The good news, however, is that this of what part of the development process time opportunities for those who need it. is not as difficult as many companies we are going to deliver when. We make imagine. While it does take a mind shift sure we have incremental deliverables Project management and often a culture change, there are for every quarter, which allows us to Project management is at the heart of any a number of simple steps to applying make decisions around priorities. business’ product development and rigid a collaborative approach to managing The product strategy also includes methodologies can often be key factors innovation and technology. competitor analysis and articulating how in restricting innovation. By adopting Innovation requires an understanding we will maintain our position as the market a flexible approach – such as the agile of available and existing technology, an leader. We also analyse alternative industries method – the important outcomes of the understanding of your industry – and and observe what they are doing and also project are not just delivery on the scope, it must produce a deliverable result what trends are becoming prevalent. cost and schedule but also the value and

Letters ATSE Focus welcomes letters from readers in response to to the published article or on technological science and related topics. Editor Please keep letters brief. Longer letters may be run as contributed articles. Please address to [email protected]

Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au boosting our SMEs 7

the quality of what is delivered. Agile is the methodology used by QSR to great success because it is highly flexible and interactive. Using this method we have come to value collaboration more than ever. For example, every day the team spends 15 minutes in a stand-up meeting talking through what they worked on yesterday, what they are working on today and what challenges they are facing. The rest of the team then contribute with advice and we re-adjust our priorities on the go as a result. We also rank all the pieces of work as critical, important, desirable or ‘out of scope’ to prioritise delivery times. In addition, we focus on short iterations for design and development with each to be implemented in two weeks at the most, minimising the ‘work in progress’ by ensuring each element is completed. All of these elements help us to achieve and provide value. Achieving quality on the other hand comes through a combination of defect tracking, performance tracking, Why should you beta test? unit tests and continuous integration. ¢ To validate your objectives and confirm that the market is there for your product. It also ensures Another important part of a the product delivers value to customers and is of high quality. collaborative approach to innovation ¢ To collaborate with beta testing customers to improve outcomes through refinement. is knowing what is possible for your ¢ To improve your product marketing. Beta testing means the interaction with customers has company to achieve and knowing when you been constant and they are at the ready to become product champions once it is launched. should look to bring in existing ideas or ¢ To optimise your product plans, identify gaps and future opportunities. technology. The most innovative companies often stick exactly to their area of expertise Once established in your business, Adam Long is the Chief Technology Officer at but choose to add best-of-breed existing this collaborative approach to managing QSR International and is responsible for the vision technology to enhance their products. innovation and technology can only be and development of QSR’s software products, At QSR this step is about maintaining maintained through strong leadership. As including the world’s most popular qualitative our innovation focus on inventing in our with any shift in your business, innovation research software – NVivo. Adam is passionate own technology space by not unnecessarily as a culture must be fostered from the top about innovation and technology, especially where reinventing good technology in other areas. down. At QSR we have achieved buy-in it is applied to create value for organisations and We prefer to license some technology, and support for our collaborative approach delight customers. He has held a range of software which reduces our development and not just from the product development development roles over 20 years, including previous maintenance effort and increases our team but also the marketing division, positions at Aviva, IBM Global Services and the speed to market with products. the management team and the Board of ANZ Banking Group. Adam holds an Honours While we’ve established that customer Directors. This ensures we not only walk degree in Business Systems and a Master’s degree feedback is no replacement for innovation, the talk, but most importantly deliver in Information Management and Systems from it has a vital role to play in quality product valuable products to our customers. . development. At QSR International we set our product vision based on input from customer surveys, customer interviews and even customer observations. Vale Nancy Millis We combine this with our knowledge The Academy regrets to advise that Academy Stalwart Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE of industry best practice, gathered FAA FTSE died on 29 September aged 90 at Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, where she had been at conferences, in interactions with convalescing following a recent car accident. Professor Millis had an illustrious career, which competitors and from research collected commenced with the pioneering study of biotechnology in Australia and culminated in her from journal articles and the media to appointment as the Chancellor of La Trobe University from 1992, a position she held until her map the ideal customer experience. The retirement in 2006. She had continued her work at the since, working a next stage for engaging our customers full day in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, until her recent accident. She joined is beta testing through focus groups, the Academy in 1977. forums and application analytics. october 12 Focus 8 boosting our SMEs www.atse.org.au

CA offers a three-tier support program Entrepreneurial success turns IP into a product, process or service that people want to buy. It requires technical understanding, market insight, financial resources and execution talent.

By Doron Ben-Meir [email protected]

here is clear consensus that benefits. Put simply, if people don’t use the (R&D), but to successfully commercialise innovation is an essential innovation, there is no economic benefit. them so that the economic benefits flow component of modern, growing It is more appropriate, therefore, through society, creating new jobs, new economies. Less clear is precisely to think of innovation not simply industries and higher productivity. Twhat we mean by ‘innovation’. as invention, but invention plus Entrepreneurial endeavour involves Many equate innovation with adoption. And the most common turning raw intellectual property (IP) into invention and consequently look to our mechanism by which people adopt a product, process or service that people research and development (R&D) efforts an invention for their day-to-day want to buy. Success requires a combination for insight into our national innovation use is through commercialisation of technical understanding, market insight, performance. There is a correlation – in other words, they buy it. financial resources and execution talent. between the two, but to equate them This semantic argument matters The essential skill of the entrepreneur neglects the fundamental reason why because the assumption that good is to harness all of these to enable full innovation is so economically important. inventions will somehow sell themselves realisation of the commercialisation When we innovate we look to create (i.e. invention = innovation) lies at opportunity. That’s what inspires a better (faster, more efficient or cheaper) the heart of our relatively poor track optimism and attracts the smart money. way of doing things. For those benefits to record in commercialisation. Few Australian researchers and flow through the economy, many people Our challenge, therefore, is not simply inventors have the entrepreneurial and/or organisations must derive those to invent better ways of doing things talent the investment community seeks. Figure 1 Value of grants by key technology Figure 2 Value of grants by key market

Auto, aviation, marine and TCF

OEM Manufacturing, engineering and design $51.2 million Infrastructure and building 43% Health and medical

Biotechnology Entertainment, $12.1 million tourism and sport 10% Energy, mining and resources Computer systems and hardware Education and $15.7 million training

13% Software and web Defence and design security $40.6 million Business and 34% communications Agriculture and food

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Grant value ($million) As at 1 August, 2012, 303 participants have been supported with grants valued at $119. 6 million

SOURCE: COMMERCIALISATION AUSTRALIA Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au boosting our SMEs 9

The limited availability of risk capital makes it doubly difficult to attract the right people to help build investable propositions. This ‘catch 22’ is largely to blame for what is termed the ‘valley of death’ – a place where many early stage businesses with promising IP end up, after running out of capital before they can establish traction in their target market. For the most part, successful commercialisation is the result of founders relying on their own resources or being able to secure investment from angel investors, strategic corporations or family and friends. To take fuller advantage of our substantial investment in R&D and our inventive talents more generally, we need to consider mechanisms by which talented people may be brought together and better resourced so that more quality opportunities make it across the valley of death and emerge as viable businesses. Commercialisation Australia (CA) addresses this challenge with a three- tiered program designed to grow an effective early stage commercialisation ecosystem that feeds on its own success and provides an environment which encourages and supports entrepreneurial CA Participant FirstPhysio’s new tool, HALO, is endeavour at its grass roots. Established a handheld digital goniometer for physical and occupational therapists that measures angles digitally by the Australian Government in January in three planes of movement. 2010, it comprises grant funding, Case Managers and Volunteer Business Mentors. ¢ management capability; and Once an applicant successfully Grant funding ¢ national benefits. enters the program, CMs provide CA has been allocated $278 million from Subject to a bona fide need for funding ongoing non-executive assistance for 2010 through to 2014 with an ongoing (that is, the applicant neither has nor the duration of the grant term. allocation of $82 million a year thereafter. could reasonably be expected to obtain CMs are successful business builders Funding is available through competitive the necessary funds from other sources to and advisers in their own right, with direct grants under four components: progress the project without Government experience in commercialising IP and the ¢ Skills & Knowledge – up to $50,000; assistance), these criteria aim to identify ability to provide substantial assistance ¢Experienced Executives – up to viable and sustainable business opportunities to participants in developing their $350,000 (over two years); with attractive value propositions. entrepreneurial capabilities and business ¢ Proof of Concept – up to $250,000; and networks. While participants work closely ¢Early Stage Commercialisation Case Managers with an assigned CM, they also have – $50,000 up to $2,000,000. Each applicant is allocated a Case Manager access to the collective skills, experience Funding for each component is highly (CM) to provide feedback during the and domain expertise of the entire CM competitive and all applications are assessed application process. The CM is also network (currently 26 around the country). by the CA Board across five criteria: required to analyse each application and Importantly, CMs are incentivised ¢ need for funding; provide a written assessment to the CA to work with each other to deliver value ¢ market opportunity; Board providing detailed commentary addition to CA participants, ensuring ¢ value proposition; on each of the merit criteria. every participant may potentially gain

Contributions Opinion pieces on technological science and related topics, are welcome preferably between 600 and 1400 words, will be considered for publication. They must list the full name of the author, if a Fellow of the Academy. Other contributors should provide their full name, title/role and organisation (if relevant) and email address. Please address to [email protected] october 12 Focus 10 boosting our SMEs www.atse.org.au

advantage from the combined skills source experts with particular experience To date CA has supported more and experience of the team. Many and skills. This information is treated in than 300 businesses and invested participants are already enjoying the strictest confidence and is only accessible $120 million. A number of outstanding benefits of such fruitful collaborations. by CMs and CA administrative staff. portfolio companies are now The system also works in reverse. generating solid revenues and securing Expert network Experts have access to the full list of CA significant private investment. Effective entrepreneurs know that building participants and can request introductions The story is really only just beginning a business is all about reaching the right to companies of interest. The CMs then but the results to date, and the interest people at the right time. To further catalyse qualify this interest with the participants generated within the entrepreneurial this activity CA has established an expert before making the introduction. community, auger well for significant network (currently known as the Volunteer Over time the network will grow achievements in the years to come. Business Mentor – VBM – network).The in depth and breadth, providing all CA network reduces the degrees of separation participants with a significant resource Doron Ben-Meir, Chief Executive Officer of between participating companies and for adding value to their businesses. This Commercialisation Australia, has extensive the people they ideally should meet. infrastructure provides for a virtuous experience in commercialisation, innovation, Importantly, only CA CMs have circle as successful entrepreneurs look to technology and the venture capital industry. Over access to the expert network, to protect give back and can channel their interest 20 years he has been involved in numerous venture members from unwanted or inappropriate through the CA participant base. capital organisations and founded six start-up communication. Once the facilitated CA is keen to attract new companies, as well as been an investor, investment meeting concludes, experts and participants members who fall into one or more manager and/or adviser to several others. He are free to develop whatever relationship of the following categories: has been involved in identifying and assisting (if any) they choose. There are no ¢successful entrepreneurs who innovative companies to commercialise their commitments on mentors, participation have commercialised new IP; intellectual property and transition through various is entirely at their discretion and they ¢domain experts with specific market stages of business development. He holds a BSc may opt out of the network at any time. and/or technological expertise; and and a Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Systems Experts highlight their areas of interest ¢professional investors with a focus Engineering and has built a substantial network within CA’s database so that CMs can on early stage, innovative business. both domestically and internationally.

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The keys to the cloud Even if your cloud data could be secure, it may never be truly private – because your data on someone else’s disk isn’t yours!

By Rick Harvey [email protected]

o you want to use the Public of the Public Cloud, such as low dropping it into a folder on their device. Cloud for sharing information? cost, convenience and flexibility. Behind the scenes, the Lockbox key Perhaps you are working on a ¢ If you are a large organisation, then agent is managing all the encryption, cross-company project or you are a the risks may be too high, so you may the creation and distribution of keys and Sbusiness that needs to interact with clients. choose to keep your systems in-house certificates to other agents, checking There are plenty of choices: or incur the expense of building and digital signatures and more. The user Dropbox, Google Drive, (Microsoft) operating your own Private Cloud. does what he always does, while the SkyDrive, Apple iCloud and numerous In a perfect world, you would have Lockbox key management platform others. All are tempting: cheap, both: the benefits of the Public Cloud makes it happen using the highest easy, convenient and scalable. along with some way to ensure your standards of security and privacy. Unfortunately, cloud services also data is under your complete control, The technology is truly unique. have risks, especially if information is independent of the cloud sharing provider. A portfolio of patents has been filed confidential, sensitive or private. These The answer to the privacy and sharing for innovations in security, privacy risks are real as evidenced by frequent dilemma is encryption and keys. Encryption and key management. Recent awards news of data leaks, security breaches, can lock down data wherever it resides. include the 2012 Australian iAward and hackers or rogue administrators Keys can control who is able to unlock the for security and at the 2012 Security compromising people’s data. data and thus limit sharing to only those Network conference (US). Though cloud sharing providers who have been given appropriate keys. promote lots of ‘trust us’ marketing So why isn’t everybody doing this? After Growing the business and make reassuring promises all, encryption is as old as the ages. The The market rewards technology when about security and privacy risks, obstacle is how to manage and share the keys. it produces easy-to-use products with their fine print says otherwise. quickly realisable value. Lockbox has For example, the Google Drive terms Lockbox’s solution released a range of products that allow of service give Google a “worldwide Lockbox’s new way of thinking arose organisations to save real money by using license” to use your data as it pleases, from deep domain experience in Public Cloud services to store and share while disclaiming all liability if your security, privacy and cryptography. The data with all the advantages of high data is compromised. This is typical lead developers behind the Lockbox security and privacy, and without the need for all large cloud sharing providers technology also founded and have led for dedicated IT infrastructure or staff. – all care, no responsibility! the development of one of the world’s Most of the many thousands of Lockbox So even if your cloud data could be best regarded open source cryptographic users today are non-IT professionals – secure, it may never be truly private. projects which is being used by over accountants, lawyers, doctors, financial Essentially, this is because your data 10,000 organisations around the world brokers and more. In many cases they on someone else’s disk isn’t yours! including Google (in Android), NASA, have a statutory responsibility to preserve Visa and Coca-Cola, just to name a few. the privacy of client data which is now Market dilemma The Lockbox key management assured by their use of Lockbox. The There is no doubt that individuals platform makes use of a lightweight fact that these non-technical users are and companies dealing with sensitive automated key agent on each user device. using Lockbox for secure and private information want data privacy. From the users’ perspective, the act of data sharing is significant validation But along with the benefits of cloud storing or sharing data is as simple as of Lockbox’s approach and strategy. sharing, comes significant security and privacy risks. So what are the choices? The Lockbox key management platform makes use of a ¢ If you are a small business or lightweight automated key agent on each user device. From consumer, you may choose to ‘take the users’ perspective, the act of storing or sharing data is as the risk’ in order to enjoy the benefits simple as dropping it into a folder on their device. october 12 Focus 12 boosting our SMEs www.atse.org.au

Keys Keys

Bene ts Easy, cheap Encrypted data Sharing

Bene ts “Blind” cloud Easy, Risks cheap Pro ling

Data Administrators Sharing breaches Hackers Encrypted messges cloud dilemmas Public Cloud sharing and privacy areConvenient, almost mutually exclusive. Cloud storage offers Risks great convenience and cost savings,exible, but offers cheap no guaranteesNo control,about the privacy or security of data. Melbourne-based Lockbox has recently launchedno privacy a new product claimed Virtual Pro lingKeys to allowPublic any user to share information privately and securely in the Public Cloud. Lockbox private cloud says itscloud innovation solves the Public Cloud’s sharing and privacy dilemma by protecting data with encryption and controlling how it is shared with keys. Lockbox says this brings Data Administrators the highest levels of security and privacy to cloud sharing and has the potential to open a breaches Hackers vast new world of privacy-enabled applications.

Lockbox is now in theOutsource stage of building Google Drive’s Convenient, significant growth, moving from early Terms of Service exible, cheap No control, adopters to mass market. The timing is When you upload or otherwise no privacy good as there is growing concern about submit content to our Services, Public you give Google (and those we cloud the continual erosion of privacy. The work with) a worldwide license longer-term plan is to use to the Lockbox to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works technologyPrivate to enable true privacy and (such as those resulting from security for a vast array of applications, translations, adaptations or other cloud ? Outsource from totally private social networking to changes we make so that your content works better with our private communications and collaboration. Services), communicate, publish, The Lockbox vision is for any person publicly perform, publicly display or organisation to easily share information and distribute such content. using the cloud, whilst keeping full control of their privacy. All you need is your keys to the cloud! Private cloud ? Rick Harvey FACS FIEAust CPEng is a well regarded

technologist, executive and entrepreneur.Internal He has 25 years’In-house experience developing world-classExpensive, security products and running international R&Ddicult teams. Secure, Currently, he is CTO at Lockbox having previously been private SVP/Distinguished Engineer at CA, VP Development at Platinum Technologies and CTO/Founder of a highly successful Australian security start-up in the mid-1990s. He has filed 40 patents in distributed Internal management, security and privacy, and is a regular industry presenter and advisor to start-ups, VCs and In-house Expensive, dicult Secure, government. Mr Harvey has an honours degree in private Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering and is a Fellow of both the Australian Computer Society and the Institution of Engineers Australia. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au boosting our SMEs 13

CSIRO rolls up its sleeves with SMEs It’s tough and it takes resilience, nerve and courage. It takes positive people who can work together to develop ideas, to see and seize an opportunity.

By Michael Egan michael.egan@.au

he world is about to change, as it the SME Engagement Centre is to facilitate are more sophisticated in terms of does every year. Spring comes and SMEs seeking to gain a competitive collaboration, such as IT and biotech. is followed, hopefully, by a good advantage through the use of the problem- They exist on their technology and have summer. Yet every year is different. solving capabilities and intellectual knowledgeable people who know how THow do we know a good year from horsepower that research institutions such to engage in the research community. bad? Is it the taste of the fruit, the as CSIRO can provide. Ideally, we aim to CSIRO is also very aware that there brightness of the flowers, or is it by size, find those businesses we think we can help are other domains, such as food or general weight or price that we measure a good before they come in search of us; helping manufacturing, where there are a vast season? Does a good season come about to break down barriers, build trust in number of companies but many are small by chance, because of environmental the research community, and help SMEs – with little, if any, research capability. We influences or when someone does understand the value research can provide. understand that there are many businesses something new, different or more timely? Companies may come to CSIRO for that work under short-term pressures What matters is what delivers value. all sorts of reasons, perhaps legislation and don’t have the time, contacts or For Botanical Resources Australia has changed and the company can’t knowledge to seek out the research to be (BRA), a Tasmanian small-medium continue using the same methods, the more competitive in the long term, either enterprise (SME), another harvest will product needs to be improved to make from areas that are familiar to them or to come, and the company has taken steps to it more competitive or the company make the links to research from other areas provide value beyond the production of has reached the point where it needs to that have application for their business. nature’s insecticide, the Pyrethrum daisy. diversify its product in order to expand. Since 1949, when CSIRO was Today, BRA produces more than 60 per Already we know the SMEs that set up under the Science and Industry cent of the world’s supply of Pyrethrum. have experience in collaborating Research Act, with the post-war impetus It’s also a company that has been working with research scientists. Some sectors to advance technology and reach to a with CSIRO to develop new knowledge. While it has R&D activity, the company recognised it didn’t have the resources or equipment to rethink its techniques and needed access to other capabilities. So, together with Dr Jack Ryan, a synthetic organic chemist from CSIRO, BRA worked to develop new techniques for more efficient production of new products that are set to expand the company. And now, as a result of more interaction with CSIRO scientists, BRA has identified an opportunity to use its waste product to develop new revenue streams. These links are not obvious – if they were, every country would be delivering research and invention to innovation and competitive advantage. However, it is broadly acknowledged that Australia could be doing this much better than it does now. CSIRO is trying to address this with its SME Engagement Centre. The aim of Dr Jack Ryan holding an image of the structure of Pyrethrum. october 12 Focus 14 boosting our SMEs www.atse.org.au

better future, CSIRO has had a primary projects there is a tacit knowledge exchange ¢ AQ1 is developing new marine function to encourage or facilitate the where the researcher works in industry sensing technology with applications application or utilisation of the results and can experience first-hand the pressure in prawn farming; and of its research. Making sure our science SMEs are under and decisions they face. ¢ MDI is developing a new manufacturing is used is even more relevant now. The company, in turn, develops more process to increase throughput by five Today CSIRO delivers well in research sophisticated technical knowledge. times at half the cost, to support its terms and is the only Australian R&D AW Bell, for example, is a family- growth in international markets. organisation positioned in the world’s owned Victorian company that has been Each one of these SMEs is achieving top10, with 14 research fields in the top one supplying metal parts for Australian positive impact with CSIRO and there are per cent of global research organisations. industry for more than 50 years and plenty of examples, but neither invention CSIRO is diverse and widely dispersed, has 100 staff. It needed new technology nor innovation is easy. It is tough and with about 6500 staff, a $1 billion budget to tap into an international market it takes resilience, nerve and courage. and interests across five broad areas: opportunity in the aerospace sector. It takes positive people who can work food, health and life science industries; Working with CSIRO researchers it together to develop ideas with business and technology, to see and seize an CSIRO wants to do more with Australian SMEs and find the opportunity where others may not. It needs new ways of working that will deliver to SMEs and support the people who take action on knowledge. development of sustainable business. One way to do this is SME Engagement is about getting the increasing the interaction between researchers and business. right people together with the best possible support and advice to develop their skills energy; environment; information and developed a new aluminium casting and take that leap. The links that we build communications; and manufacturing, technique that virtually eliminates here will help SMEs engage with our materials and minerals. CSIRO works materials waste and produces lightweight, strategy in precincts that are looking to with more than 1000 SMEs each year, high-strength, complex precision parts leverage the research capability of Australia as well as having deep links to many for the North American market. and good industrial links need to start now. large Australian companies and about Axxin is a small biomedical design “Watching the daisies grow’’ was 375 multinational corporations. and development company of about an expression Alan Turing, born 100 In addition to all this, CSIRO 25 staff founded in 2007 that saw a years ago and considered one of the executes around 80 new commercial need to develop new products and pioneers of the computer, coined to licences every year, has spun out more engaged CSIRO researchers to help describe morphogenesis, the biological than 150 companies and holds an on a new equipment design for drug process that creates cellular patterns interest in 34, which have a market detection. From early negotiations to and determines an organism’s shape. capitalisation of $1 billion and generate engagement took less than two weeks. We are working on how best to build $120 million in annual sales. While every case is not usually the links and networks between humans CSIRO wants to do more with that quick, especially where IP is that will help us form clusters of people who Australian SMEs and find the new ways complex, CSIRO does want to share a common ambition in innovation. of working that will deliver to SMEs and come up with solutions that make And for this to happen there needs support the development of sustainable companies effective. There needs to be to be an alignment of mutual incentives, business. It sees one way to do this is clarification around risk and reward there needs to be shared projects that will increasing the interaction between to get this to work, so it’s a question of help research organisations and SMEs researchers and business where there is working out that balance together. understand each other, work together and an expectation that researchers spend CSIRO’s Australian Growth build trust. How do we measure the value time in and out of industry. This builds Partnerships program helps it work of that? understanding between people, so they with Australian SMEs it believes in and can see where they can provide value, with supports with investment funding. Michael Egan is the Corporate Manager of the a flow of knowledge in both directions. Direct Nickel (DNi) is another SME CSIRO Small & Medium Enterprise Engagement This is already happening with the that engaged in the RIB program and has Centre. He previously spent 14 years in industry support of the Enterprise Connect developed its engagement to a significant covering material processing, metrology and Researcher in Business (RIB) program. AGP project that will demonstrate DNi’s semiconductor production in Europe, the Middle The CSIRO SME Engagement Centre has nickel extraction technology in a purpose- East, Japan and the US. Using core technology from facilitated more than 50 of these projects, built pilot facility in Western Australia. Imperial College London, Michael was a founding where almost half of these use research There are others: member of a successful company making solid state capability outside of CSIRO. The goal here ¢ Dyesol is developing a highly high power lasers specialising in applications in the is to identify the best capability to support efficient application in building- materials processing and microelectronics markets. the needs of the SME and its market. integrated photo-voltaic materials; This company now enjoys 233 per cent year-on-year This program supports researchers ¢ Biofiba is working on the growth and was listed as the fifth fastest growing working in the SME on a technical production process of eco-friendly venture capital backed company in the UK in April challenge faced by the company. In these export shipping pallets; 2006 and third fastest in 2007. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au ATSE IN action 15

STELR-API solar cars running

The Australian Power Institute (API) API Bursary holder Matt has sponsored a new STELR thrust to extend Thomas (centre) from QUT watches (from left) Lishan the solar section of ATSE’s STELR (Science and Collins, Mayumi Chamberlain Technology Education Leveraging Relevance) and Ryan Johann put their alfoil reflector ideas together renewable energy program now running in 300 at Buderim. schools nationwide. API’s $30,000 sponsorship has enabled 900 solar car kits to be distributed to participating schools across Australia on the basis of population. API’s support means 60 schools have each received 15 basic solar car kits on which they can build their own version of a solar car. The kit includes a chassis, two PV cells, a four- speed Photo: Brett Wortman/APN gearbox and motor, basic wheels and axles, plus a Myer grant 10-Farad supercapacitor. boosts STELR The challenge for each school – eagerly The Trustees of the Sidney Myer Fund have grasped by students – is to design a fast vehicle provided a grant of $55,000 for the deployment with plenty of style. of the STELR educational initiative in 10 One of the first schools to get the program targeted financially disadvantaged, rural or going was Brentwood Secondary College in remote Australian schools that would otherwise Melbourne. Teacher Robin Gamble had his Year be unable to participate in the program. Nine class very involved in the program, and The grant will provide the hands-on solar said the winning vehicle included LED lights and wind power kits, curriculum materials, and some well-designed wiring to include the specialised training for teachers and ongoing capacitor. support for the schools. As a bonus to the program, API bursary ATSE will work with State and Territory coordinators in each state/territory are allocating Education Departments to identify and recruit API bursary holders one or more of the 60 schools schools that would otherwise be unable to take to visit and encourage students to consider up the STELR program, targeting at least one engineering, in particular power engineering, as school from each state and territory a career. Funding will help leverage the best The first to visit was Matt Thomson, studying educational outcomes for young people in the power engineering at Queensland University of targeted communities by demonstrating the Technology, who was invited by teacher Wendy relevance of science to their lives, engendering Clark to visit Immanuel Lutheran College at a greater enthusiasm for science and revealing Buderim, south of . He reported a very study pathways to careers where there is a successful visit with plenty of design ideas being Lishan, Mayumi and Ryan cheer on their winning shortage of trained engineers, technologists worked up by the students. combination, which uses reflector-boosted PV cells. and trades people. Top universities choose Focus

Austr AustrAliAn AcAdemy of technologicAl sciences And engineering (Atse) AliA n A cAdemy of The recently released Shanghai Jiao number 172 Symonds rankings. We acknowledge their June 2012 technologic

Al sciences A Tong University Academic Ranking of nd engineering (A support. Advertising inquiries should

tse ) number 173 World Universities named five Australian August 2012 be directed to [email protected]. universities in the top 100. Three of these Tertiary Education Minister leading academic institutions advertise in Senator Chris Evans said Australia ATSE Focus – The University of Melbourne now had the third highest number of (57), The (90) universities in the top 100. SUSTAINABLE and The University of Western Australia WATER “This is an outstanding result when you (96). Another advertiser, the University of MANAGEMENTINNOVATION consider that the top two countries have Taking South Australia, was one of the five ATN The impacT of Green GrowTh policies aus significantly more universities than Australia’s Contributors discussinnovation the implicationsContributors – Australia’s discuss skill atT ralia’sthe the gulf former between and difficult R&D and T of a green growth approach to Australia’swaterwith the latter – and theo need T to bridgeTechnology the gulf universities that were ranked in the top 300 issues – and particularly the Murray–Darling Basin he marke 37. There are 4495 universities in the US and in the third decade of the 21st century T of the subsequently released Quacquarelli place 115 in the UK.” ies october 12 Focus 16 Atse in action www.atse.org.au

ATSE prominent at CAETS meetings in Zurich

four-Fellow team represented Convocation in Cairns – consisted of: Secretary-Treasurer Bill Salmon, of the US. the Academy at the 2012 ¢meetings of the CAETS Executive The symposium was opened by CAETS (International Council Committee and Board of Directors Dr Mauro Dell’Ambrogio, Swiss of Academies of Engineering (including Professor Manton) on State Secretary for Education and Aand Technological Sciences) meetings in 29 August and an evening welcome Research, with about 100 participants Zurich in August, hosted by 2012 CAETS from the Swiss Government including senior figures from the President – and former Swiss Academy of and the Mayor of Zurich; Swiss transport, urban planning and Engineering Sciences (SATW) President ¢an all-day symposium on general industry sectors, in addition Professor René Dändliker and current ‘Urban Development and Public to the 50-odd CAETS participants. SATW President, Professor Ulrich Suter. Transportation: Improved It included technical sessions on: The ATSE delegation to Zurich Understanding of their ¢urbanisation, land use and transport; consisted of Professor Robin Batterham Interdependencies’ on 30 August; and ¢planning and implementation of (President), Professor Mike Manton, Dr ¢an all-day meeting of the CAETS public transportation systems; Vaughan Beck and Professor John Zillman, Council on 31 August, which included ¢innovation in transportation a former President of ATSE and CAETS. a number of general business items systems; and From the Australian perspective, the and briefings and formal approval of ¢intermodality and integration CAETS meetings were successful and a new CAETS Statement based on in transportation systems. productive. The ATSE-led low-carbon the outcome of the Symposium. There were many excellent presentations, energy group, led by Dr Beck, has been The Executive and Board meetings on which provided a good overview of transformed into a standing committee Wednesday 29 August dealt mainly with modern developments in transportation of CAETS and there is considerable preparations for the Council meeting and in several countries, including especially opportunity for further useful inter- a range of administrative matters including the impressive and far-sighted Swiss system academy collaboration on energy research the sensitive issue of encouraging the of public transport. The conference was and related issues over the next few years. smaller-contributing academies to increase followed by a dinner for participants The 2012 program – excellently their annual support for the CAETS at the Guild House of Blacksmiths in organised by Dr Hans Hänni who Budget. The meetings were efficiently downtown Zurich with some short represented SATW at the 2005 CAETS organised by long-serving CAETS speeches and traditional Swiss music.

Science meets Parliament means “unfiltered access”

he Academy – as a sponsor of Science meets Parliament systems engineer in charge of radiation monitoring systems, 2012 – supported two early career scientists to attend the the outgoing president of Women in Nuclear Australia and is event in in September. Dr Hamish Innes-Brown on the board of the international body of Women in Nuclear. is a research scientist at the Bionics Institute in Melbourne, “The most dangerous thing I do each day, without a doubt, Twho was nominated by Mr Gerry Moriarty AM FTSE, and Dr is drive to work,” Jasmin says. “And the most common spills Jasmin Craufurd-Hill, a Senior Reactor Systems Engineer at in this workplace are from coffee.” In the 10 years that she’s ANSTO, who was nominated by Mr Martin Thomas AM FTSE. worked at ANSTO the highest exposure to radiation she has Hamish is a research scientist at the Bionics Institute in experienced was from a CT scan she received after being hit by Melbourne who is interested in all aspects of how the mind a car and from a bone scan she had after breaking her wrist. perceives and builds up a representation of the outside world. Reporting on the event to ATSE, Hamish noted that He has a Bachelor of Cognitive Science from the University of 188 scientists ascended Capital Hill to mix with Senators, Western Australia, and a PhD in neuroscience from Swinburne Members, political advisers, journalists and a host of University. Currently, he is working to improve the way that vital other people involved in policy-making and politics. but subtle sounds are transmitted via a bionic ear to the brain. “We were given unfiltered access to the machinery that Perceiving these sounds properly is crucial for communication and drives the nation. The result was an impressive whirlwind of function in complex social, education and work environments. organised chaos, with an emphasis on as much interaction Jasmin was the first person to drive OPAL, Australia’s only between the scientists and politicians as possible,” Hamish says. nuclear reactor, at its full potential of 20 megawatts thermal “One of the main themes that came out of the exercise was heat. Now onto her third reactor operator licence, she is the the need for greater communication of Australian science to our only female currently qualified to drive it. She is also a lead policy-makers. There are currently only 12 Senators and Members Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au atse in action 17

ATSE prominent at CAETS meetings in Zurich

The Council meeting on Friday, ¢a comprehensive presentation by (on ‘Current Innovative Approaches to August 31 was chaired by President Dr Beck on the CAETS project Engineering Education’) and the 2014 René Dändliker with support form Bill he has led for the past few years on Convocation planned for late May/early Salmon and active participation from low-carbon energy technology; June 2014 in China on the theme of most academies. The highlights included: ¢two lively Council discussion sessions ‘Engineering and the Future of Mankind’. ¢formal election (according to led by Professor Manton (with Professor The brief closing ceremony included the CAETS rotation system) of Batterham as a key commentator) presentation of certificates of appreciation to Board members for 2013 including and former CAETS President, Achiel outgoing Board members including Professor incoming CAETS President for van Cauwenberg of Belgium; Manton. With the completion of his two- 2013, Professor Janos Ginsztler, ¢a constructive review of the year term, ATSE is not due for election to President of the Hungarian draft CAETS Statement the Board of Directors again until 2016. Academy of Engineering (HAE); ‘Urban development and public The formal CAETS events were ¢a report on CAETS links with transport’, including its five key followed by an informative Saturday bus trip other international organisations recommendations, for consideration by for Academy delegates to inspect progress (including UN System organisations, governments, national transport and on the new Gotthard Base Tunnel through the World Federation of Engineering urban planning authorities and other the Swiss Alps which, when completed, will Organizations (WFEO) and the public and private sector organisations be the world’s longest (57km) and deepest International Council for Science involved in the planning and railway tunnel. The tour included a late- (ICSU)) by Professor Manton as implementation of urban development afternoon visit to the Operations Centre of a chair of the CAETS Committee on and transportation systems over the private Swiss Rail Company. International Organisations (CIO); next 50 years. The statement was ¢a briefing from ICSU representative formally approved by the Council ATSE was one of the five founding Professor Rik Leemans on ICSU’s for national and international academies of CAETS in 1978 and the Future Earth program, including promulgation by member academies. CAETS membership now stands at 26 discussion of various avenues for The Council also previewed next engineering and/or applied science CAETS-ICSU cooperation on disaster year’s CAETS meetings and symposium academies, all but three of which were risk reduction and other issues; planned for 26 to 28 June 2013 in Budapest represented at Zurich.

Hamish Innes-Brown

of Parliament who have science degrees, and thus it is vital that scientists themselves are able to stand up and communicate effective messages to politicians on the issues that matter. “As well as improving our own methods of communication, it’s also important to try and educate policy-makers on what science can and cannot provide. “Thinking in science continually changes as new evidence is gathered. In the political landscape, this is all too often called a ‘back-flip.’ We need to work towards an understanding that policy should be changed according “Events like Science meets Parliament are a fantastic way to to the prevailing balance of evidence and where a change in start this process. I feel enormously privileged to have been able to policy doesn’t result in an erosion of trust in the evidence. attend, and hope that the event continues to grow.” october 12 Focus 18 atse in action www.atse.org.au

Third ATSE Roundtable moves to Adelaide

The third in the series of ATSE Industry Roundtables, held in Adelaide in September, At the Adelaide Roundtable (from left, foreground) Susan Pond, Rob Chapman and Alan Finkel. brought together leaders from business, government and universities in South Australia. Convened by ATSE Vice President Professor Susan Pond AM FTSE and the ATSE SA Division Committee Chair, Mr David Klingberg AO FTSE, the Roundtable was hosted by Mr Rob Chapman, Chairman, Bank SA Advisory Board. The other industry participants were Ms Jane Kittel (Managing Director, Bank SA), Mr Geoff Knight (CEO, Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy), Mr Stephen Young (Executive Chairman, E&A Ltd), Mr Stephen Ludlam (CEO, ASC Pty Ltd), Mr Frank Seeley AM (Chairman, Seeley International), Mr Rob Stobbe (CEO, ETSA Utilities), and Robert Chalmers (MD, Adelaide Research & Innovation, ). ATSE President-elect Dr Alan Finkel AM FTSE, Vice President Professor Mary O’Kane FTSE, University of South Australia Chancellor ¢improving scientific literacy in the Australian the Hon Lyn Breuer, and attendees included Dr Ian Gould AM FTSE, Bionomics CEO Dr population is key to unlocking productivity the Hon Gail Gago, Minister for the Status of Deborah Rathjen FTSE and Flinders University growth; and Women, and some 20 other Members and Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Barber FTSE ¢changing corporate culture to embrace guests. ATSE was represented by Directors represented ATSE. diversity, to promote women, to incorporate Dr Finkel, Professor Pond, Professor O’Kane, With science, engineering and time sharing, flexible hours – for both men Professor Mike Miller AO FTSE and SA Division technological innovation central drivers of and women – leads to shareholder benefits. Fellows Dr Meera Verma FTSE (SA Secretary) productivity growth across the whole economy, Earlier Roundtables were hosted in Sydney and Dr Gould. the purpose of the ATSE Roundtables is to in September 2011 by Telstra Chair Dr Catherine The dinner discussed public policy actions understand through the discussions with Livingstone AO FTSE and in Melbourne in March that might be taken to address the decline influential business leaders what Australia needs by Qantas Chair Mr Leigh Clifford AO FTSE. in innovation and productivity in technology to do to improve its position in sectors where The Roundtables are planned to lead to a industries, the deepening of skills shortages the country is already strong and diversify into set of recommendations on which ATSE and its and the lack of progression of women in these and develop greater strength in others. industry partners can take action. fields to senior ranks. A subset of these discussions is Australia’s The Roundtable, which included lunch, Minister Gago commented on the SA capacity to attract and retain SET talent, including was followed the same evening with a dinner Government approach to improving the status from the underutilised pool of female talent. briefing to SA parliamentarians and staff, of women, and the discussion addressed The Adelaide Roundtable agreed that: which focused on ‘Public Policy for Innovative possible future actions that could contribute ¢ innovation and automation are the keys to Technology Industries’. to addressing the challenges for innovative Australia’s future in manufacturing; It was hosted by The Speaker of the House, technology industries. Science is “crucial” to policy development Science is crucial to policy development because it is relevant to almost when the evidence stands scrutiny. Science rarely yields unequivocal facts. It every decision we make, it is a process by which the best decisions can can however, give you the best possible understanding on the best available be made and it is inherently international, according to Australia’s Chief evidence. It works in the realm of probability. Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb. “It is for this reason that the idea of involving science in policy He told a Canberra audience recently that scientific evidence was development is gaining traction worldwide. Good science will often seen as a source of unimpeachable authority that should dispel encompass global issues and it will add to the knowledge we need to political prejudices. Its appeal was as an objective rock that could ground solve or mitigate global problems. the bias and interests of politicians. “Now more than ever, governments rely on the perspective of “But scientists develop theories to explain the evidence. And as new facts science – the product of science, the evidence, for guidance. The emerge, or new observations made, theories are challenged – and changed problems they have to grapple with appear ever more complex.” Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au climate / environment 19

GE’s $10 million for cleantech innovation GE and five venture capital partners have pledged $10 million to find, fund and bring to market breakthrough ideas for reducing the carbon footprint from Australia and New Zealand. GE’s local ‘ecomagination Challenge’ is an open innovation competition which calls on businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators and students to submit real ideas for low-carbon solutions and technologies. The Challenge is part of GE’s global ecomagination initiative, a commitment to imagine and build innovative solutions to today’s environmental challenges while driving economic growth. Selection of five $100,000 Innovation Award winners will be based : CSIRO : on the most progressive ideas that represent entrepreneurship and innovation around technologies, processes and business models. In P hoto addition, GE and its Challenge partners will seek to pursue commercial The Mekong Delta region of Vietnam is already experiencing relationships with promising Challenge entrants. climate change impacts of increased inundation. Leading Australian and New Zealand venture capital firms including Southern Cross Venture Partners, MH Carnegie & Co, Cleantech Ventures, relationships between CSIRO and scientists from Vietnam’s Ministry for CVC Limited and Greenhouse Cleantech are supporting the Challenge. Natural Resource and Environment and the Hanoi University of Science. GE says it will support winning ecomagination Challenge entrants Throughout the project Australian scientists and Vietnamese through: scientists will work together to share knowledge of the Vietnamese ¢investment – a $10 million capital pledge from GE to be invested into climate system and to ensure that Vietnamese scientists are able to promising start-ups and ideas; develop future climate projections for their country. ¢validation – evaluation of entrant’s business strategy through in-depth discussions with GE‘s technical and commercial teams; ¢distribution – exploration of partnership opportunities with GE to Climate Institute says scale a business and create global reach; ¢development – leveraging GE‘s technical infrastructure and GE Global we’re confused Research Centres to accelerate technology and product development; Australians are confused about climate science and unconvinced about and carbon pricing solutions, but are still ‘up for grabs’ on both, according to ¢growth – exploring opportunities to use existing GE customer key findings from Climate of the Nation 2012, a public climate attitudes relationships for your go-to-market strategy. research report, released by The Climate Institute. Submissions close 30 November with winners announced in early Climate of the Nation 2012 starts an annual mid-year benchmarking 2013. Submissions to http://challenge.ecomagination.com/anz research into public attitudes. It is a mix of national qualitative (focus groups) and national quantitative (poll) research conducted in April and May 2012. CSIRO working on Other key findings included: ¢almost two-thirds (64 per cent) agreed that climate change was Vietnam climate occurring, but 19 per cent were unsure – a fifth agreed that humans Australian and Vietnamese climate scientists are working on developing were the main cause, with 49 per cent saying it was due to a mixture higher-resolution climate change projections for Vietnam, to help in of human causes and natural cycles; industry and government in Vietnam better understand the likely effects ¢a majority of Australians (54 per cent) are concerned about climate of climate change in their country. change; Funded by the Australian Government’s aid program, AusAID, the ¢climate impacts of highest concern were: a more polluted Australia project is delivered by CSIRO in collaboration with Vietnam’s Institute of and destruction of the Great Barrier Reef (79 per cent each), more Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment (IMHEN) and Hanoi University droughts affecting crop production and food supply (78 per cent), and of Science. CSIRO has undertaken similar downscaled projections to animal and plant species becoming extinct (75 per cent); support climate change planning in the Pacific and in Indonesia. ¢four in five (81 per cent) placed solar energy within their top three The CSIRO scientist leading the project, Dr Jack Katzfey, explained preferred energy options, followed by wind power (59 per cent); that improving knowledge of climate change impacts will help identify ¢two-thirds (66 per cent) placed coal in their least preferred three the people and sectors at risk and, in doing so, will support Vietnam in the options, slightly more than nuclear (64 per cent). Opinion on gas was challenging task of prioritising its climate change response. divided, with 28 per cent having it in their top three and 31 per cent in “Vietnam is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, their bottom three; and particularly in the Mekong Delta, where rising sea levels, salt water ¢two-thirds (66 per cent) thought there are too many conflicting intrusion and flooding are already impacting on vulnerable coastal opinions for the public to be sure about the claims made around communities,” said Dr Katzfey, adding that the project builds on existing climate change. october 12 Focus 20 climate www.atse.org.au

The IPCC: “delinquent teenager” or disciplined guardian?

By John Zillman [email protected]

he Intergovernmental Panel on information on climate change, the a media frenzy over leaked email Climate Change (IPCC) has IPCC has also been strongly criticised exchanges between a number of IPCC now been operating for almost 25 by a significant minority of scientists and Lead Author scientists, and allegations years as the primary international other stakeholders who disagree with of conflict of interest against some Tmechanism charged with providing its procedures or who seek to discredit participants in the IPCC process. policy-neutral but policy-relevant its conclusions or the greenhouse gas It prompted the IPCC Chairman assessments of the contemporary state of reduction policies based on them. and the UN Secretary-General, in early knowledge of the science, impacts and The criticism intensified in 2009 2010, to commission an independent policy implications of climate change. following the discovery of a Himalayan review of IPCC procedures by the Although its four major assessments glacier-melt error in one of the underlying non-governmental Inter-Academy (1990, 1995, 2001 and 2007) have been authored chapters (albeit not in the Council (IAC), one of the peak bodies widely accepted by governments as the approved Summary for Policy Makers) of the world’s science academies. definitive source of expert, up-to-date of the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report, While the IAC Review Committee

ATSE’s participation in the IPCC process The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) light of the IPCC’s 2001 Third Assessment Report (ATSE Focus, No. 124). has a long-standing investment in efforts to ensure the integrity of the The Academy subsequently issued a short Policy Statement on IPCC process. Fellow Greg Tegart, then Secretary of the Australian Science Climate Change in 2004 (ATSE Focus, No. 132), which reaffirmed its and Technology Council (ASTEC), led the Australian delegation to the first support for the IPCC assessment process. As the national climate session of the IPCC in 1988, chaired the intergovernmental consultations change debate intensified through 2005-06, with increasingly extreme which determined the basic structure and modus operandi for its first misrepresentation of the IPCC mechanism and its conclusions by both assessment and served as Principal Delegate of Australia until 1993. greenhouse activists and sceptics, I felt bound to re-state the essentials In 1994, he led a major joint Academies study, funded equally by of the IPCC process and explain its strengths and weaknesses via a short industry and government, under guidance of a Steering Committee note in the March 2006 issue (No. 140) of ATSE Focus. I argued that, chaired by then ATSE President Sir Rupert Myers and including the despite the enormous pressures under which it had operated, the IPCC presidents of the other Learned Academies and senior representatives of had, thus far, done its job very effectively and served the world well. industry and environment organisations, to produce an expert Australian I have not been centrally involved in the IPCC assessment process assessment of Climate Change Science: Current Understanding and since the completion of the Fourth Assessment in 2007 (my earlier role Uncertainties in parallel with, and as input to the Australian government as South-West Pacific member of the IPCC Bureau from 1994 to 2004 is response to, the IPCC’s 1995 Second Assessment. now carried by ATSE Fellow Neville Smith) and I take no position, here, The joint Academies report, launched by Sir Rupert’s successor on either its scientific conclusions or their policy implications. Nor do as ATSE President, Sir Arvi Parbo, in March 1995 (ATSE Focus, No. 86) I consider myself as an apologist for the IPCC, having been, from time provided the scientific foundation for the Academy‘s October 1995 to time, among the sternest internal critics of particular aspects of its Invitation Symposium on Greenhouse Abatement Measures – ‘No operation. But I did serve as the only significantly IPCC-knowledgeable Regrets Action Now’, which was immediately preceded by the 1995 independent reviewer of the draft of the 2010 IAC report and I did Oration by Ian Plimer on ‘Geology of Greenhouse’ and opened by the participate in the October 2010 session of the Panel at which IPCC then President of the Business Council of Australia, Ian Salmon. Member governments determined their initial response to the IAC In 1996, ATSE joined with the other Learned Academies in a National recommendations. Against this background, I feel it necessary, for the Academies Forum (NAF) workshop on ‘Australians and our Changing information of those who may be interested, to make clear that I disagree Climate’ (in which I made a presentation on ‘A Critical Review of the IPCC with the basic conclusions of Donna Laframboise’s book and I consider Second Assessment’) and, in 2002, Fellow Jerry Ellis and I convened a that it gives a highly misleading impression of almost every aspect of the further workshop to update the 1995 joint Academies conclusions in the IPCC process. – John Zillman Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au climate 21

“found that the IPCC assessment process climate change. Bill Kininmonth’s Climate IPCC process, I feel obliged to explain has been successful overall”, it also offered Change: A Natural Hazard (2004), Garth the basis on which I believe it should be 22 recommendations for improving the Paltridge’s The Climate Caper (2009), rejected as a credible critique of the IPCC. process and enhancing the authority Ian Plimer’s Heaven + Earth (2009), Bob In summary: of IPCC reports. Most of the IAC Carter’s Climate: The Counter Consensus recommendations were accepted by the (2010) and A W Montford’s The Hockey ¢The IPCC is a scientific assessment IPCC Bureau (its elected office bearers) Stick Illusion (2010) all criticise the process not a group of people with and the more than 100 governments IPCC assessment process as part of a a political agenda participating in the October 2010 broader attack on various aspects of the Ms Laframboise explains that “This 32nd session of the Panel. But the IAC mainstream consensus on the state of book is about a spoilt child” that “has been Review also produced a comprehensive knowledge of climate change science. admired, flattered and praised” and given file of IPCC stakeholder responses to But the Laframboise book is the first little “honest feedback or criticism”. She a Review Committee questionnaire, to focus its attack primarily on the IPCC has formed, or at least presents, an image which has provided a rich source of itself and the first to base its arguments of the IPCC as an individual or a group critical commentary and quotes in so heavily on the qualifications, motives of individuals pursuing an irresponsible support of renewed attack on IPCC political agenda, indeed as “a slap- personalities, processes and conclusions. dash, slovenly teenager who has trouble One such recent no-holds-barred distinguishing right from wrong”. The attack on the IPCC – which makes metaphor is ridiculous. The IPCC extensive use of IAC review is a highly disciplined process material – has been launched through which hundreds of by Canadian journalist eminent scientists and senior

Donna Laframboise in : iStockphoto representatives of most of her 236-page ‘IPCC the world’s governments exposé’ with the unlikely Photo go to enormous lengths title of The Delinquent to ensure the accuracy, Teenager who was objectivity and integrity Mistaken for the World’s of their reports. In such a Top Climate Expert. large, complex, scientific- In July 2012, she political process involving introduced the Australian thousands of individual edition (published by experts with different Connorcourt), with a backgrounds, skills, values and foreword by ATSE Fellow motivations it is inevitable that and climate change science critic there will be occasional hidden Professor Ian Plimer, to highly agendas, omissions or scientific receptive sell-out audiences under IPA Parched earth view of climate. errors that will creep through into its (Institute of Public Affairs) auspices in reports. But to suggest that, collectively, the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and . participants in the IPCC process should be Her ‘exposé’ of the IPCC, which is and integrity of individual participants characterised as an “obnoxious adolescent” quoted with approval in recent (March, in the IPCC process. While it provides seems slightly bizarre. After several May and June 2012) Quadrant critiques of persuasive advocacy for the sceptic position thousand hours of involvement in most the IPCC by journalist Tony Thomas, relies on human-induced climate change and aspects of its operation over 25 years, I have heavily on denigration of the qualifications, can be seen, from the sceptic perspective, never seen anything approaching the IPCC motives and integrity of individual as a timely counter to the (in my view, for professionalism, rigour and objectivity participants in the IPCC assessments comparably conspiratorial) Oreskes and in its assessment of the state of knowledge to discredit both the assessment process Conway Merchants of Doubt (2010), the of climate change or of any other field. and its findings. It does not deal in Laframboise book is full of factual errors, any detail with the science of climate selective quotation and misrepresentation ¢Most of the most widely quoted change, but its arguments invite detailed of the IPCC process, which cannot but sources of criticism of the IPCC are response from those with a broader give the unwitting reader a seriously biased ill-informed, selective or factually understanding of the climate change issue impression of the objectivity and reliability wrong and a less ideologically shaped perspective of the IPCC findings on the science. It is difficult to tell how widely read on how the IPCC process works. This is not the place for detailed review the author really is on the IPCC beyond The Delinquent Teenager is certainly and rebuttal of the 36 individual chapters her quoted references because most of not the first book to attempt to use of Donna Laframboise’s book but, because her three pages of description of her criticism of the operation of the IPCC it draws on and reinforces many of the own “evidence” focuses on criticism of as a basis for discrediting its findings on common misunderstandings about the IPCC sources and what she regards as october 12 Focus 22 climate www.atse.org.au

the inaccessibility of material in scientific ¢Belittling of participants in the generate some vigorous disagreements journals. She claims a “more accessible IPCC assessment process is not a and some disillusioned scientists who approach” than the IPCC’s reliance on sufficient basis for discrediting the feel incensed when their views are not published (mostly peer-reviewed) journal process or its findings accepted by the majority of their peers. articles and her text notes make extensive Through chapters with titles like Selection of a set of Lead Authors who use of websites and blogs. While she “Twenty-something graduate students”, will provide the best balance of expertise includes several quotes from the current “The right gender or the right country”, to assess the literature even in the narrow IPCC Chairman, Rajendra Pachauri, and “Activists” and “Moral midgets”, Ms field of an individual IPCC chapter is not includes two quotes from his predecessor, Laframboise seeks to undermine the straightforward and I have seen Working Bob Watson, she provides no evidence credibility of the IPCC by naming and Group Bureaux spend days working that she is aware of any of the definitive belittling four young scientists who served carefully through metre-high piles of CVs books and articles on the operation of the as Lead Authors before gaining their PhDs, of potential Lead Authors nominated IPCC by its first Chairman (Bert Bolin), anonymously quoting claims that some by governments and organisations. It is the long-serving Co-Chair of its Working Lead Authors were selected primarily on rarely easy to distinguish between many Group on Climate Change Science (Sir the basis of gender or country of origin, very-well-qualified nominees. I consider John Houghton) or any of the many other identifying half a dozen Lead Authors that it is more a strength than a weakness authoritative sources on IPCC procedures with connections to environmental of the IPCC process that it has included and operation. But, most disconcertingly, organisations and highlighting some some promising young scientists as Lead with little familiarity with the key sharp personal clashes that have developed Authors and that, other things being individuals and issues to guide her, she amongst participants in the assessment equal, it has sought to achieve a reasonable makes extensive use of selective and mostly process. While, in my view, the IPCC balance of gender and geography. And anonymous quotes from the hundreds of has been remarkable for the number I do not accept that scientists with IPCC-knowledgeable and IPCC-ignorant of distinguished senior scientists who environmental (or business) affiliations respondents to the IAC Review. She also have agreed to take on the onerous Lead are incapable of providing thoroughly relies heavily on quotes from the relatively Author responsibilities for one or more professional assessments of the literature small band of legitimate scientific critics assessments, the responsibilities of Lead in their own fields of scientific expertise. of the IPCC and from a few disenchanted Author are to review, assess and summarise scientists whose findings have not been the published expert literature rather than ¢It is important to distinguish accepted or not included in IPCC reports. to write their own views of the science. between advocacy and analysis Her referenced sources are narrow, biased Some of the best literature summaries Ms Laframboise explains, in an and selective. It would require considerable in many rapidly developing fields have appendix, that “I marshalled my evidence generosity to suggest that her three years been written by doctoral students and the and ordered my argument in the way that of work on the book provided her with best experts on the climate of a country seemed to me to have the greatest chance sufficient understanding of the IPCC to often come from the country concerned. of persuading a reasonable person with offer informed comment on many of the And it would be surprising, indeed, if the an open mind that this organisation (the complex issues she attempts to address. intensity of the IPCC process did not IPCC) wields an inappropriate level of Photo: iStockphoto influence over our lives – and that it has a credibility score of zero”. If the applause for her Melbourne IPA presentation is a guide, there is no doubt that she is a compelling advocate for the sceptic perspective on human-induced climate change. While she makes no claim to present a balanced picture and is prone to sweeping journalistic dismissal of the many eminent climate scientists whose views she seeks to discredit, it is, in my view, important to make much clearer than she does that The Delinquent Teenager is unambiguously a work of advocacy rather than of objective analysis. As a proponent for the sceptic view, Ms Laframboise provides an impressive array of quotes and anecdotes but it seems to me to border on the dishonourable to do this, as she largely does, through personal denigration of IPCC scientists and office- Climate change – always in the headlines. bearers who I know, from observation and Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au climate / environment 23

interaction over many years, to be people discussions that led to the establishment that the book itself is a work of advocacy of professionalism, honour and integrity. and initial modus operandi of the IPCC, rather than analysis. In my view, many While this is not the place, either, I can assure him that that was not so. The of her arguments are invalid and most to take issue with what I regard as the IPCC was established, rather, because of her main conclusions are wrong. serious misunderstanding, or at least governments collectively were not willing A more accurate and informative misrepresentation, of substantial areas to take, on faith, the warnings of the then account of the origin and operation of the of climate science in Ian Plimer’s recent still relatively small group of very eminent IPCC can be found in Bert Bolin’s History books on climate change, I feel bound climate scientists who, by the 1980s, of the Science and Politics of Climate Change to comment on his foreword to The had become convinced that enhanced published by Cambridge University Press Delinquent Teenager. In particular, I greenhouse warming could present major in 2007. contrast his assertion that ‘‘Climate problems for humanity in the 21st century. science is a very recent scientific discipline In summary, although I felt that the Professor John Zillman AO FAA FTSE is that had an ideological consensus IAC Review itself was not as insightful a Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of before it was invented” with the, in or well-informed as might have been Melbourne. He was Director of the Bureau of my view, far more insightful 1975 hoped, I believe that the overwhelming Meteorology (1978 to 2003), President of the observation by the late CHB (Bill) weight of evidence supports the IAC’s World Meteorological Organization (1995 to 2003) Priestley, founding Chief of CSIRO conclusion that the IPCC assessment and headed the Australian Delegation to the Meteorological Physics and a harsh critic process has been successful overall. 1987 World Meteorological Congress which led of premature public warnings of climate And I believe that, despite the to the establishment of the IPCC. He represented change, that “it (climatology, climate pressures under which it operates, the South-West Pacific on the IPCC Bureau (1994 science) is the oldest science we have”. it has served the world well. to 2004) and chaired the international Steering And I reject Ian’s claim that “The IPCC I have no problem with Donna Committee for the Global Climate Observing was established to prove pre-ordained Laframboise’s advocacy for the opposite System (2006-09) He was President of ATSE (2003- conclusions contrary to a huge body of conclusion but I think that the reasonable 06), President of the National Academies Forum existing validated evidence”. As one of person with an open mind to whom she (2005-06) and President of the International Council those who were intimately involved in addresses her book needs to be reminded of Academies of Engineering and Technological both the scientific and intergovernmental that her ‘evidence’ is highly selective and Sciences (CAETS) in 2005.

Australia needs carbon La Trobe tackles tyres levy, nuclear energy to lower emissions

One of the world’s noted energy experts has urged the Australian La Trobe University is tackling campus carbon dioxide (CO2) Government to impose a “carbon duty” on imported goods and services emissions by targeting tyre pressures through an innovative tyre pressure from countries that do not have a carbon tax. station at its Melbourne campus. The Director of Energy Research at Oxford University, Professor Sir Chris The tyre pressure station, designed to encourage students and Llewellyn Smith FRS, says a carbon levy would serve to redress the balance staff to ensure their tyres are optimally inflated, communicates data for the absence of a carbon tax among many of Australia’s trading partners. via blue-tooth technology, tracking information on the number

He said he would also like to see Australia introduce a significant of tyres inflated and calculating by how much CO2 emissions are amount of nuclear energy into its clean energy mix. reduced over time. “Of all the major forms of power production, nuclear energy remains Data generated from the system will be used to help reduce La the safest. Australia has substantial solar and wind energy resources, but Trobe’s carbon footprint. It is an initiative of La Trobe’s Department of there is no reason why it can’t also use nuclear, as well as taking what Electronic Engineering and the Office of Sustainability. it can from geothermal and wave energy sources,” he said ahead of “There are an estimated 6500 staff and student vehicles that come the clean and renewable energy conference and exhibition ‘All-Energy to La Trobe University,” says the project’s principal investigator, Electronic Australia’ in Melbourne in October. Engineering PhD candidate Edhem Custovic. “If we can target at least “Despite the hysteria it is unlikely anybody will be killed by radiation a percentage of these vehicles we’re looking at a saving of hundreds of released as result of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.” tonnes of carbon emissions per year.” Sir Chris was formerly Chairman of the Council of ITER, the Underinflated tyres have been shown to increase vehicle fuel international nuclear fusion research and engineering project, which consumption by up to three per cent and can significantly increase began construction in 2007 in southern France of the experimental ITER tyre wear. A UK survey found that 72 per cent of tyres on the road were reactor, which is hoped to pave the way for a demonstration power underinflated. plant. He was also Director General of CERN – the European organisation “If there are similar numbers in Australia, up to 12 million cars could for nuclear research – where he obtained approval for the start of have underinflated tyres on our roads, leading to almost a million tonnes construction of the Large Hadron Collider. of extra carbon emissions emitted every year,” Mr Custovic says. october 12 Focus 24 education www.atse.org.au

Let’s stop pretending and just do it Universities are an Australian success story but for years we have been busy constructing what is now a dysfunctional, smothering array of regulation

By Fred Hilmer [email protected]

hat would you think of a nation worldwide. And where in recent years Australian universities is not nearly as that had a really successful area universities have received more funding bright. US and UK universities, aided of activity but so regulated and in total (reflecting welcome increases by currency movements, are aggressively constrained the activity that in participation), funding per student recruiting international students. Our Asian Wits full potential was not realised, and its continues to decline, and our dependence neighbours are also developing first-rate competitive position was threatened? on international student fees continues to institutions as national priorities and they That is the story of universities in rise. In business parlance, we are milking are competing for the best academics and Australia today. Universities are an an area of social and economic strength the best students. The best that can be said Australian success story. About 20 of our rather than developing and investing. of policy development over the past 20 or 40 or so universities are ranked in the top If the situation is as bad as I have so years is, to quote Mark Twain, “I just 400 universities world-wide. By way of outlined, why have our rankings growed”. And what has “growed” is currently comparison, only eight Australian firms continued to be so strong? The answer a mix of rose-coloured aspirations, oppressive are in the Fortune 500. Students from is that university rankings are backward regulation and scrooge-like funding. around the world flock here to obtain looking, reflecting work done 10, 20 or world-class qualifications. Education is even 50 years ago rather than current Sameness now our major non-resource export. performance. Nobel Prizes, which The stand-out pretence to which we pay lip Yet for years we have been busy strongly influence rankings, are usually service in public, though rarely in private, constructing what is now a dysfunctional, awarded for work done many years is that all universities are the same. This smothering array of regulation. We treat earlier. Citations and publications in fetish with sameness limits the benefits that our universities as if they were fly-by- top journals, another key ranking factor universities could provide. Our students night ventures rather than respected also reflect work done many years ago. aren’t all the same. Industrial and research colleagues of the best universities If we look forward, the picture for challenges aren’t all the same. Rather Top 100 universities: five, six or seven

Five Australian universities have for the first time been ranked in the All five ATN universities made the QS top 300 – with RMIT University world’s top 100 in the recently released Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranked 246 globally, 258, Queensland University of Academic Ranking of World Universities – with 19 of Australia’s 37 public Technology 281, University of Technology Sydney 284, and University of universities making the Top 500. They are The University of Melbourne (57), South Australia 293. Australian National University (64), The University of Queensland (90), The Six of the IRU group were listed in the QS Top 500 – with The (93) and The University of Western Australia (96). University of Newcastle at 268, Flinders University 342, James Cook Commenting on the results, Tertiary Education Minister Senator University 362, 368, La Trobe University 375 and Chris Evans said Australia now had the third highest number of 448. universities in the top 100. The final instalment of the annual rankings – the Times Higher “This is an outstanding result when you consider that the top two Education version – listed six Australian universities in its Top 100 – countries have significantly more universities than Australia’s 37. There Melbourne (28), ANU (37), Sydney (62), UQ (65), UNSW (85) and Monash are 4495 universities in the US and 115 in the UK. (99). Adelaide (176) and UWA (190) were ranked in the next 100. Other Go8 universities’ rankings were Monash University and The University of NSW (100-150) and The University of Adelaide (201-300). Details: www.shanghairanking.com, The subsequent release of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world- University Rankings® showed 25 of Australia’s 39 universities in its world’s university-rankings, top 500 and seven in its Top 100 rankings – ANU (24), Melbourne (36), www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university- Sydney (39), UQ (46), UNSW (52), Monash (61) and UWA (79). rankings/2012-13/world-ranking/region/oceania Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au education 25

than sameness, we need differentiation. need a coherent national The move toward sameness started research strategy within around 1988 when John Dawkins (then which different types Minister for Employment, Education of institutions can play and Training) restructured the system of constructive roles. universities, colleges of advanced education So, if I were and institutes of technology into a “unified Minister for Education, national system” of universities. All were what would I do? to be funded the same way, use the same Cut red tape and qualifications framework and produce 1regulation, in graduates with equivalent degrees. particular: Since then we keep hoping for ¢restructure the newly and aspiring to diversity, but reward formed regulator, everyone in the same way, referring to TEQSA (Tertiary teaching, learning and research as if Education Quality and they are identical in each university. Standards Agency), as What is the rest of the world doing? a minimum standards Exactly the opposite. China has selected compliance agency; nine universities as its global research ¢make the Australian flagships and funds them accordingly. And Qualifications in Europe, there is now recognition that an Framework (AQF) undifferentiated system will not produce the advisory rather than research or graduates needed to rebuild the a straight jacket to European economies. So France is prepared restrain innovation; and to allocate €1 billion to each of five to seven ¢simplify and cut back universities, with similar developments in reporting and other Germany. These are hard-headed economic requirements that add commitments in difficult times in Europe, little or no value. not merely statements of aspiration. The Deregulate domestic situation is similar in Singapore, South 2undergraduate fees Korea, Switzerland and Finland, to name with appropriate access safeguards, – and regulation of honours years that a few other successful economies. focusing on areas such as business and the is out of step with established practice. The US, home to far more professions where the education provides TEQSA and the AQF are the leading universities than any other the student with high private benefit. wrong answer to what is, at its most nation, has sharply differentiated Adopt a long-term national strategy severe, a minor issue of quality. public systems alongside a wide 3for research recognising national needs The Australian quality issue is not range of private institutions. as well as capabilities and excellence. about the vast majority of universities, and Why do these nations believe they certainly not about the 20 or so which are need world-class universities? For exactly Regulation ranked internationally. It is about a small the same reason we do. Innovation is the By any standards, Australian universities number of private and public institutions single most important factor in enhancing are heavily regulated. The Commonwealth either in the market or about to enter that productivity and competitiveness. regulation of courses, programs and need to be held to a minimum standard According to the Australian Government’s degrees, despite an avowed goal of so “brand Australia” is not tarnished. own innovation blueprint, Powering differentiation, strongly reinforces This could be readily achieved with a far Ideas, an internationally competitive sameness. TEQSA and the AQF simpler, less intrusive licensing regime. Australian innovation system relies on illustrate the point. Recently the AQF Meddling in the decision-making of world-class universities. Public research Council proposed axing graduate what have historically been autonomous, generates three-quarters of the world’s certificates as not sufficiently “robust”. self-accrediting organisations with sound patents. If universities slip, innovation The consequence according to a number academic and overall governance, if not slips, and national economies follow. of university leaders is to “enforce a stopped, will be a costly mistake. Diversity, Three reforms are needed to tackle static narrow framework in which few innovation and autonomy go hand in hand. the lack of diversity in Australia. First, providers go wrong but none can do well” The incentive of the current regulation is: we require substantial deregulation and to limit the capacity of universities ‘Don’t change anything unless absolutely and a reaffirmation of the importance to develop innovative offerings. necessary! Innovate at your peril’. of university autonomy to the quality There are hosts of other examples, Second, all this regulation adds of teaching and research. Second, a including restrictions on one-year masters cost with no discernable benefit. The new funding model incorporating fee degrees – restrictions not found at good cost of the regulator was the single deregulation is vital. And third, we universities such as Harvard and Cambridge largest area of increased funding in the october 12 Focus 26 education www.atse.org.au

Commonwealth education budget. The Research strategy standing, leading the world in a number costs within institutions are not readily The third area in critical need of reform of areas and being competitive in others. measurable but also significant. is research. We lack a coherent national But we face a choice: do we milk research strategy that covers long- the sector, living off past successes, Funding term funding and whether and where or do we get our policy settings right Every review of universities in recent years research should be concentrated. and build on our strengths? has found that we are underfunded and What would it look like? First, it would None of the proposed reforms should overly dependent on international student provide for long-term, consistent funding be hard to implement. Both major parties income. The need to review funding has for facilities, people and operating costs condemn unnecessary red tape. Both become more acute with the demand- rather than the stop/start approach now argue for the innovation that fee flexibility driven system recently introduced by the in place. Second, grant periods would would provide, and both recognise the government for undergraduate study. be extended from three to five years for importance of a national research strategy. With volume deregulated and price tightly projects and from seven to 10 years for All that remains is to “stop pretending regulated no one should be surprised by centres. Third, it would outline priorities and just do it”. unintended and unwanted consequences. reflecting national needs, capabilities Given the budget situation and and excellence. Finally, it would cover This is an edited version of an substantial increases in cost to the allocation principles for funding such address by Professor Hilmer to the Commonwealth from higher participation, as competition and strategic grants (for National Press Club in July. a significant increase in government funding example, for new areas of infrastructure) is unlikely. Hence, many Vice-Chancellors and how these should be balanced. are now coming to the view that fee Such a strategy would allow Professor Fred Hilmer was appointed President flexibility, with appropriate safeguards to us to be both more internationally and Vice-Chancellor of the University of New South provide access for students from low socio- competitive and more cost effective. Wales in 2006. Prior to that he was CEO of John economic backgrounds, is the best option. Tackling these challenges would Fairfax Holdings Ltd (1998 to 2005). Other previous The Government should allow be of enormous benefit to Australia. posts include Dean and Director of the Australian universities to charge increased fees from Innovation and productivity Graduate School of Management at UNSW, a Director students in degrees with high private would be stimulated. More students of Port Jackson Partners Ltd and a Director of benefit, such as business, law, engineering would successfully complete their McKinsey & Company, responsible for managing the and medicine. The impact on these studies. Contributions to the nation’s Australian practice. Professor Hilmer holds a degree students is significantly ameliorated by the cultural and social life would be even in law from the University of Sydney, an LLM from HECS system, which requires repayment greater than is the case today. the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the of fees only when and if certain income Freed up to pursue excellence in its Wharton School of Finance, where he was appointed thresholds are reached and could be different forms, I believe Australian a Joseph Wharton Fellow. He was appointed Chair of further ameliorated by scholarships. universities can continue to improve their the Group of Eight (Go8) in December 2011. Sydney students to drive Mars robots Exploring Mars with roving robotics may become a virtual reality for across Australia” says Professor Sukkarieh, himself a former mechatronic remote and rural students as part of a program underpinning the engineering undergraduate at the university who now teaches space National Broadband Network (NBN)-Enabled Education and Skills robotics. Services Program. “Using the NBN, students will be able to control the robots, which Students will be able to remotely control robots similar to those sent will be located at the Powerhouse Museum (also in Sydney). We already to Mars from their classrooms, says Professor Salah Sukkarieh, Director have experimental Mars Rovers housed there and can already control of Research and Innovation at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics at them remotely via our labs on campus.” the University of Sydney. Education 2020 is one of several programs the university is involved Professor Sukkarieh and his team were awarded $1.3 million to in focused on encouraging study in science, technology, engineering bring futuristic technologies to life as the centrepiece of the ‘Education and maths (STEM), including workshops for high school teachers to 2020: enabling learning in science, engineering and mathematics increase their knowledge and ability to teach computer science and project’, which aims to entice students to study science, engineering computational thinking in classrooms. Education 2020 will be delivered and mathematics in early years at in conjunction with the University of NSW and Sydney’s leading science, high school and to foster interest in technology and design museum, the Powerhouse Museum. careers in these areas. Professor Archie Johnston FTSE, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering “Our participation in the and Information Technologies, and chair of ATSE’s Education Forum, project involves building space acknowledges the importance of raising participation rates in STEM robots, teleoperation software and subjects. “We hope that initiatives such as Education 2020 will capture the designing new online engineering imagination of students and increase the uptake in these areas at school, Professor education curriculum material for creating a flow-on effect through to university and, ultimately, address Salah Sukkarieh high school and university students the national skills shortage in these crucial fields,” he says. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au research & Technology 27

postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too. JFK makes his Rice University speech. “But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun … and do JFK makes his Rice all this, and do it right, and do it first before this University speech. UQ student’s levitating decade is out – then we must be bold.” Apollo 11 landed on the moon on 20 July 1969 – less than seven light starts bulb buzz years after the Kennedy speech – and Neil Armstrong (who died on 25 A levitating light bulb invented by a 19-year-old student from the August this year, aged 82) became the first person to walk on the moon. University of Queensland has been singled out as an exciting industry innovation by an American lighting firm. • Thanks to Professor Brian O’Brien FTSE for reminding Focus of the Chris Rieger’s ‘LevLight’, which hovers below a ceiling while glowing, anniversary. The JFK speech transcript and video is available at has been viewed more than 330,000 times on YouTube, spawning www.space-video.info/speech/19620912-jfk-rice.html – Editor features by Britain’s Daily Mail and international technology blogs. Now US lighting company BulbAmerica, the US‘s largest wholesale provider of quality lighting fixtures and light bulbs, says it is keen to see We’re losing our science how the innovative project might shape up for commercial production. “Rieger’s innovative project clearly demonstrates the fact that there connection – Chubb are innumerable possibilities when it comes to technological innovations The Australian community seems to have lost – or be losing – its in the lighting,” BulbAmerica said on PRWeb, adding “We are really excited connection with science, according to Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb. to see how this project shapes up for commercial production.” Despite making extensive and productive use of science and its The LevLight combines wireless power transfer and magnetic levitation, applications every day, the “Apple and Android generation” appeared to a combination of the two technologies believed to be an industry first. lack understanding or comprehension of the science and mathematics A second-year electrical engineering student, Mr Rieger said he and engineering behind the things they focus on or use every day, he worked on the LevLight for about six months while studying at university. told the Science Industry Association recently. “What I found is that there are many existing projects of both wireless In fact, he said, attitudinal studies of students last year showed what power transfer or magnetic levitation, but only a few have combined can be best described as a “perverse indifference” to science. both these technologies,” he said. “Once you have both working, it’s really “It could be because humans are no longer worried about the future just a matter of overlaying them. The high frequency magnetic field because we believe we will always have technology and innovation to get generated from the wireless power transfer circuit does not affect the out of trouble, as is suggested in the 2010 book The Rational Optimist,” he said. levitation aspect of the build.” “But we really can’t take for granted that it will be there when The budding inventor has already begun work on an improved we need it. Without more people studying the science, technology, LevLight prototype featuring a new levitator designed to have greater engineering and mathematics disciplines, our capabilities will slip. strength and a better control system. “After school retention rates stabilised in 1992, the proportion of Year 12 students taking physics, chemistry and biology fell by 31, 23 and 32 per cent respectively. And there has been a shift from advanced 50 years since JFK’s mathematics to elementary mathematics. “Enrolments for university mathematics, engineering and a number Rice Uni moon speech of the science disciplines have flat-lined for about a decade and IT It is just 50 years since US President John F Kennedy made his famous enrolments, for a number of reasons, have plummeted.” “we’re going to the moon” speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Professor Chub said there were many reasons but the message that a “We choose to go to the moon,” he told a large crowd at Rice science education can lead to interesting careers was not “out there” widely University Stadium on 12 September 1962. enough. “But we must remember that this generation of students has “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, many, many more options open to it than were around when many of us not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will were choosing our study paths, and that they exercise their right of choice. serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills, because “And they need to be helped to make the right one. It is up to us to that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to explain science in ways that make the wonder of science clear for all to see.” october 12 Focus 28 research & technology www.atse.org.au

Our Future World is the flagship publication of CSIRO Futures. The CSIRO reviews its 2012 edition follows the first version was released in draft form in March Megan Clark 2010 and notes that the CSIRO Futures team is building a comprehensive megatrends multidisciplinary trends database relevant to Australian industry, CSIRO has updated its megatrends forecasting with the release of Our government and community organisations, with an approximate Future World 2012, which updates the earlier version published in 2010. timeframe of 20 years. Subtitled ‘Global megatrends that will change the way we live’, the CSIRO CEO Dr Megan Clark FTSE launched the report at the National 32-page report discusses the outcomes from a CSIRO global foresight Press Club in Canberra. project. It presents six megatrends that will redefine how the world’s She said the six megatrends all had impacts on how we innovate, people live. what we focus on and how we optimise our efforts. CSIRO describes a megatrend as a collection of trends – patterns of “The centre of gravity is shifting to our region, economically and economic, social or environmental activity – that will change the way in a research and development sense. Australia can’t meet the level of people live and the science and technology products they demand. investment of our regional neighbours but we can be smarter and more The six interrelated megatrends identified in the report are: focused about bringing the best we have together,” she said. More from less – the earth has limited supplies of natural mineral, “We know we cannot compete on sheer volume of investment 1energy, water and food resources essential for human survival and but we can bring the very best that Australia has together and we can maintaining lifestyles. connect with the very best in the world to ensure our innovation is visible Going, going ... gone? – many of the world’s natural habitats, from Shanghai, London, Frankfurt, Jakarta and New York. 2plant species and animal species are in decline or at risk of extinction. “One researcher can make a breakthrough but to have a profound The silk highway – coming decades will see the world economy impact on the challenges that face this nation and humanity it takes 3shift from west to east and north to south. a team, or if you want to build the next Silicon Valley it takes a whole Forever young – the ageing population is an asset. Australia and ecosystem. 4many other countries that make up the Organisation for Economic “There is no reason why, as we head into what is undoubtedly the Co-operation and Development (OECD) have an ageing population. Asian Century, that Australia should not be a source of excellence in the Virtually here – what might happen in a world of increased region, in science, research and innovation,” Dr Clark added. 5connectivity where individuals, communities, governments and businesses are immersed into the virtual world to a much greater extent than ever before? CSIRO and China boost Great expectations – this is a consumer, societal, demographic and 6cultural megatrend that explores the rising demand for experiences over border security products and the rising importance of social relationships. CSIRO and Chinese company Nuctech have commercialised a world-first The report’s genesis was a CSIRO global foresight project started in cargo scanner that is now installed and in use at Abu Dhabi Airport in the 2009 to inform internal and long-range investment planning choices. The United Arab Emirates and at Nikola Tesla Airport in Serbia. work attracted much interest and, responding to external demand for The device incorporates CSIRO’s novel neutron technology and evidence-based strategy and foresight consulting, a new research team Nuctech’s proven X-ray systems and can detect illicit and dangerous called CSIRO Futures was launched. goods in air cargo through rapid imaging. The scanner was developed to solve an urgent global need for the Figure 1 The six interrelated CSIRO megatrends rapid scanning of air cargo. It can also be adapted for scanning sea and truck cargo. More CSIRO’s world-first technology combines neutrons and gamma-rays to from less detect the composition, shape and density of an object, helping identify suspicious materials such as explosives, drugs and other contraband. Over the past five years numerous alterations to the design have Going, going …gone? been made to make the device ready for the commercial environment Great and less costly to manufacture. The latest ‘Mark 3’ model of the scanner expectations has recycled rubber shielding, new detector systems, a decrease in radiation emissions during scanning and a 10-fold reduction in the neutron flux used during scanning. Dr Megan Clark FTSE, CSIRO Virtually here The silk highway Chief Executive, recently visited the Nuctech facility near Beijing where the cargo scanners are built as part of a mission to The air cargo scanner uses world-first deepen CSIRO’s relationships technology to detect the composition, Forever young shape and density of an object, helping with key Chinese partners in identify suspicious materials. research and industry. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au Women IN TSE 29

More efficient solar cells Dr Baohua Jia au with quantum dots . com Dr Baohua Jia, from Swinburne University of Technology, is working . with quantum dots in thin-film solar cells for increased efficiency – and her work has been awarded with one of three $25,000 L’Oréal Australia sdpmedia / and New Zealand ‘For Women in Science Fellowships’ for 2012. The global race for high-efficiency, low-cost solar energy is fierce. ustralia

Dr Jia and her team are front runners in that race, using her knowledge A of . They have already created thin-film solar cells that increase efficiency by 23 per cent, and two patents have been lodged. r é al L’O : Thin-cells efficiently capture visible light but miss the ultraviolet light;

quantum dots can convert UV to visible light. So Dr Jia is developing thin- P hoto cells with embedded quantum dots, working closely with Suntech Power, the world’s largest producer of silicon solar modules. research role in science and technology and provides her with Dr Jia participated in the April 2009 Australia China Young Scientist additional funding to help her mentor women in science. Exchange Program, which consolidated linkages with Suntech, leading “I applied for the Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship to a team of researchers from Swinburne collaborating with the because I needed a sustained period of time and support to focus on company. some difficult mathematical problems,” she said. Growing up near Beijing, Baohua was fascinated by . This led “At the same time, I was very aware of the support my father her to a degree in physics, a Masters in optical communications and, in had given me early in my life, which enabled me to become a 2002, the opportunity to do a PhD at Swinburne with a microphotonics mathematician. His philosophy in life was to give before you take. I research team led by Professor Min Gu FAA FTSE. wanted to support early career researchers, particularly women, to enter “Science is beautiful, that’s why I love it. It tells you how the world and establish careers in mathematics and science as he supported me.” works and the rules behind it,” Dr Jia says. Professor Joshi’s Fellowship will help her create new mathematical The other two awardees are working in breakthrough areas in methods to describe critical solutions of nonlinear systems, which are medical research. Dr Kylie Mason, a leukaemia survivor, from the Walter ubiquitous in modern science. It will also help her increase the profile and Eliza Hall Institute/Royal Melbourne Hospital, is working on a new of women in science through workshops that will simultaneously treatment for blood cancers. Dr Suetonia Palmer, from the University of promote women researchers and provide mentoring-style activities. Otago, Christchurch, is working on kidney disease treatment. “As one of very few women in mathematical research in my early This is the sixth year of the Australian Fellowships and the first years, I found it incredibly empowering to meet and talk to other year they have been open to New Zealand scientists. The Fellows women in similar circumstances and hear about their solutions. I would were chosen from 142 applicants by a panel of scientists that included like to bring about similar opportunities for others. I hope to hold two CSIRO’s Dr Cathy Foley PSM FTSE. workshops a year, one primarily for early career researchers and one for more experienced researchers,” she said. In 1987, Professor Joshi was awarded her PhD in the field of Maths leader wins Applied and Computational Mathematics from Princeton University in the US. Before moving to the University of Sydney in 2002, she Fellowship held visiting positions at Princeton and was appointed an ARC Senior Professor Nalini Joshi FAA, Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide. She has been a Visiting University of Sydney, has been named the 2012 Georgina Sweet Fellow at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences at Australian Laureate Fellow. This fellowship recognises her leading Cambridge and President of the Australian Mathematical Society. Supporting Women Scholarships The Queensland Government has allocated $10 million to its Supporting Women Scholarships program, which encourages women to enter the fields of agriculture, architecture, engineering, geology, building services and IT. Five hundred scholarships of up to $20,000 will be available over four years, starting in 2013, for women wanting to study in these fields at Certificate IV through to postgraduate level. The scholarships are available to women of all ages, including school leavers, women looking for a career change and women who are Laureate Fellow currently out of the workforce and returning to study. Applications Nalini Joshi. closed on 12 October and recipients will be notified in December. october 12 Focus 30 opinion www.atse.org.au

E nergy productivity – how prosperity and energy are linked Is the global economy like a giant heat engine chugging away at generating our wealth? Energy productivity data seem to say so.

By Tom Biegler [email protected]

recent issue of Focus devoted to (1 GJ = 109 J). The reciprocal, ‘energy exchange rate, which converts currencies productivity, innovation and intensity’, is perhaps more common but I to, say, US dollars at rates supposed to prosperity (February 2012, like energy productivity better because it’s produce equal purchasing powers. The number 170) barely mentions a more descriptive term that sits well with PPP exchange rate, like the popular Aenergy. Yet most of us realise that energy the current political focus on productivity. Big Mac Index, is not perfect but seems and prosperity are somehow connected. Here are some examples of energy the best method available. Results for A standard economic indicator for productivity: World $126/GJ, Asia different years are adjusted using inflation the link is called ‘energy productivity’. $149/GJ, Australia $128/GJ, USA factors. The US dollar in year 2000 is Economists watch its progress closely $125/GJ, China $130/GJ, Gibraltar the reference currency unit used here. in countries like Australia but don’t $131/GJ and Haiti $120/GJ. As for quantifying energy, there are attach much significance to international Surprised at how close they are? several possibilities. One could argue that comparisons. Complaints that Australia OK, I confess these were cherry picked, energy’s economic productivity occurs is lagging in productivity generally refer but the many similar numbers in a full right where the useful work happens, to growth rates, not absolute figures. global list demand a closer look. like at a truck’s wheels or within a However, some intriguing data First, one needs to decide how to make furnace, and that’s where it should be gathered for the 2009 ATSE report The valid comparisons between economies. measured. But apart from being almost Hidden Costs of Electricity: Externalities A national economy comprises many impossible to determine for every of Power Generation in Australia got goods and services that must somehow be application, that method would miss a me wondering: is there a quantitative summed. The only common measure is major objective, measuring and tracking connection between wealth and money, as in GDP. Energy creates goods improvements in the inefficiencies in raw energy that has broad significance? and services, not money. So we need a fuel pathways and energy conversion. Energy productivity is simply economic consistent monetary measure of physical The best practical choice looks to output per unit energy input. For an quantities of goods and services in different be the Total Primary Energy Supply economy it is measured in terms like gross economies. The accepted methodology (TPES). This is the total energy content domestic product (GDP) per gigajoule is the ‘purchasing power parity’ (PPP) of unrefined fuel, like coal and oil, at the source of energy conversion chains. Data are available for most economies. Then Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner (left) and ATSE President Professor Robin Batterham at the We know from thermodynamics launch of The Hidden Costs of Electricity report. that only a fraction of such energy performs useful work. So using TPES to compare different economies amounts to assuming that energy losses (mainly as heat) are not too different when averaged over every productive activity. This is a big assumption. The numbers should tell us how good it is. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a major source of data for TPES and energy economic indicators. Where the energy source is not a fossil fuel (like nuclear energy, hydroelectricity or wind energy) the IEA has conventions to standardise energy content to an equivalent TPES. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au opinion 31

To sum up, the ratio of an economy’s for Economic Co-operation and like energy mix, technology, geography GDP, expressed in constant purchasing Development. The 34 OECD member and climate. The OECD’s $150/GJ power dollars, to its TPES, expressed states co-operate in programs specifically offers a working benchmark for judging here in GJ, should give an energy for improving data collection, their national energy performance. It’s a better productivity figure usable for international economic statistics are more credible and benchmark than the world figure of $126/ comparisons. There are several assumptions their smaller PPP currency adjustment GJ because of the latter’s significant in this calculation, so the results are factors ought to be more reliable. content of dubious data. With enough approximate at best. Nevertheless it is information it ought to be possible to useful to have the raw numbers as quoted Narrower band figure out why any economy does better here, to three significant figures. The OECD numbers in the table, while or worse than $150/GJ. The benchmark A ranked list of energy productivities not constant, lie within a much narrower offers a potential energy policy tool. for the 137 economies tracked by the IEA band than the full list. The spread is Going a step further, the global (too many numbers to show here) presents exacerbated by the low outlier Iceland, $48/ economy could be imagined as a giant a confusing puzzle. Perhaps this is why GJ. This low figure seems to be an artefact heat engine chugging away at, say, 30 per no-one seems to have bothered before. The attributable at least in part to Iceland’s cent average thermodynamic efficiency range is large: Iraq $23/GJ at the bottom unique dependence on geothermal energy, and generating wealth at an overall and Hong Kong $383/GJ at the top. This which provides a quarter of its electricity. rate of $150 per gigajoule fed into it. is a spread of about 16. The corresponding The IEA convention for calculating TPES This is surely a pleasurable thought for GDP spread is much greater, about 4000. is to assume 10 per cent efficiency for engineers. Another physical analogy is Further, there is no obvious pattern, geothermal electricity generation. That that energy acts like a lever to multiply though there is some clustering near the convention has a big effect in raising the economic output achievable through world figure of $126/GJ. Most of the big oil Iceland’s apparent TPES and hence human personal effort. The multiplier producers fall at the low end but otherwise lowering apparent energy productivity. effect arises from the human inventiveness there are no clear correlations with However, simply by treating geothermal that has created energy-consuming factors like geography, climate, industry energy like hydroelectricity and equating engines, machines and other devices. mix, education, or level of technological its TPES to the electrical energy, Iceland’s Let me turn to the topical development, which one might expect energy productivity rises to a more likely subject of energy conservation. to influence energy productivity. $91/GJ, still at the bottom of But the most telling feature is the the OECD range but perhaps random distribution of poorer, developing consistent with its cold Table 1 OECD Energy Productivities countries. Do Albania and Bangladesh climate. The spread from top in 2009 $ purchasing power parity (PPP) (US, really have double the energy productivity to bottom then falls to 2.6. year 2000)/GJ of Australia? Can Cambodia’s really be the The Iceland example $US (year $US (year Country Country same as the UK’s? It seems highly unlikely. shows how tricky energy 2000)/GJ 2000)/GJ So the credibility of these numbers is productivity determination a problem, with PPP-adjusted GDP the can be. However, let’s take Iceland 48 Norway 160 most likely weak point in the data. The the data at face value. Mean Canada 96 Netherlands 161 limitations of PPP methodology are well energy productivity in the Estonia 96 Chile 163 recognised by economists. It relies on OECD (2009) is $162/ price data collected by the International GJ, median $160/GJ and Finland 111 Germany 168 Comparison Program of the World Bank. overall figure (weighted Czech Republic 117 Japan 172 For developing economies, national average) $146/GJ. There is Korea 119 Luxembourg 185 statistical capabilities are lower, prices less no point doing a statistical certain, the gap between normal and PPP analysis. These are not United States 125 Portugal 190 currencies larger and conversion multipliers samples with measurement Australia 128 Turkey 193 as used by the IEA also large (for example, errors. National differences Eritrea 5.7, Bangladesh 4.2). Everything are probably real. Slovak Republic 130 Austria 199 points to lower reliability of GDP (PPP) So $150/GJ can be Belgium 133 Spain 199 data from developing economies. In taken as a rounded indicator New Zealand 141 Denmark 207 addition, some of the economic production of energy productivity of poor countries comes from ‘traditional’ for the whole OECD, Hungary 142 United Kingdom 212 methods. These depend little, if at all, on looked at as one giant Poland 145 Israel 213 energy but their contribution to GDP economy that represents Sweden 151 Italy 214 will raise apparent energy productivity. all economic sectors of Until the inconsistencies are resolved, the industrialised world. Mexico 154 Greece 216 it seems wise to concentrate on data This figure would relate Slovenia 154 Switzerland 231 from advanced industrialised economies, to some kind of notional France 159 Ireland 235 as represented by the Organisation global average of factors october 12 Focus 32 opinion www.atse.org.au

One gets the impression that politicians wastage. How far we can take such he calculated the constant as 0.306 and the public, while paying lip service to improvements is presently a matter of exajoules per trillion US dollars (1990) energy’s essential role in creating wealth, speculation. I hope this analysis will help. per annum (one exajoule = 109 GJ). treat it as an optional extra when it comes A critical issue is whether a country like Garrett was lambasted (as I might to setting high conservation targets. While Australia could reasonably aspire to the be) for his venture into economics. governments can decree that private energy productivity of, say, Ireland, or that One reviewer wrote: “I am afraid the cars be smaller and clothes driers more oft-quoted beacon for energy efficiency, author will need to study harder before efficient, 80 per cent of energy usage is in California. Could we halve our energy he can contribute.” Unfortunately that industry and commerce where economic needs by following such examples? I think critic did not spot the real problem; incentives have long been in place and not, but it’s a subject worth further study. Garrett’s result translates to an energy further savings will be harder won. An interesting consequence of using productivity of $4350/GJ (US$2000), The robust link between prosperity TPES in these calculations is that higher which is more than 30 times actual! and energy proves that it’s no optional renewable electricity content will raise So, Garrett’s bold attempt to use extra. But energy productivity is not apparent energy productivity without physics to calculate the energy/prosperity some kind of universal constant. Indeed any real change in energy efficiency. This connection arrives at the wrong answer. it is rising steadily at around one to distortion basically results from lumping But I do like the idea. two per cent a year. Also, differences in ‘refined’ energy (electricity) with between industrialised economies primary energy in the TPES figure. Dr Tom Biegler FTSE has studied in are real. Some of these rises are due Finally, I am certainly not the first electrode kinetics, electrocatalysis in fuel cells, to efficiency improvements driven by to think in physical terms about the electrochemical reactions of sulphide minerals, engineering innovation, as in the power connection between energy and prosperity. and electrowinning and refining of metals. He generation industry, but some are also Joseph Henry, a physicist and first was Chief of the Division of Mineral Chemistry due to ‘structural effects’, that is, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, (later Mineral Products) in 1985 and then head changing international distribution of said in 1873 that “the physical labor of CSIRO’s Corporate Business Department. After industry sectors. Often this amounts of man” is “ameliorated by expending retiring from CSIRO in 1996, he consulted on fuel to rearranging the global deck chairs, what is called power or energy”. cell commercialisation and has worked to improve with little or no net benefit. More recently (2009) Tim Garrett, public understanding of energy issues. He was the The key message is that we cannot another physicist (University of Utah), author of ATSE’s 2009 report The Hidden Costs of just give up energy without risking living postulated a theoretical link, a kind of Electricity: Externalities of Power Generation in standards. Energy productivity has universal constant, relating economic Australia. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Australian to rise too, and that means increasing production to rate of energy consumption. Chemical Institute and the Australasian Institute of energy efficiency and/or reducing From thermodynamic first principles Mining and Metallurgy.

CRCs get a strong report on benefits Australia’s Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program will have This study estimated the economic, environmental and social produced some $14.5 billion worth of technologies, products and impacts of the CRC program since it commenced in 1991 and out to processes by 2017, according to an Allen Consulting Group study 2017. Nearly 120 past and present CRCs contributed to the study. released recently. It found that between 1991 and 2017 almost $14.5 billion of direct The Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, said the economic impacts are estimated to have accrued from CRC-produced report showed that CRCs had already made an $8.6 billion impact on the technologies, products and processes. This included $8.6 billion of economy with at least another $5.9 billion to come in the next five years. impacts already materialised from 1991 to 2012 and a further $5.9 billion “It shows that Australia’s world-class CRCs have the critical mass of of imminent impacts estimated to occur over the next five years. resources to create new industries and improve Australia’s competitive CRCs were asked to report estimates of their economic, social advantage,” Senator Evans said. and environmental impacts and then assessed using a model of the “CRCs are helping Australian industries to produce globally Australian economy. This allowed for an objective comparison to a competitive products that are being used in everything from new cars counterfactual case in which no CRC program existed. and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program through to agriculture and Using this model, it was estimated that the program generated a net mining.” benefit to the economy of $7.5 billion over the period, or around 0.03 Senator Evans said the Government aimed to double the level percentage points of additional GDP growth each year – the majority of of collaboration between business, universities and publicly funded which came from increased export earnings. research agencies over the next decade and over the next four years Relative to the funds committed to the CRC program by the would invest more than $625 million in CRCs to establish strong Australian Government, the partnerships that could focus on delivering real impacts for Australia CRC program had generated a net economic benefit to the community, through the application of science and research. which has exceeded its costs by a factor of 3.1, the report found. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au energy 33

and Energy Transformed Flagships and included an analysis of the Nano-structures indicate resource, cost to market, technologies and future take-up projections by oceanographers, engineers and economists. The study also engaged the hydrogen’s potential ocean energy industry and related sectors. University of New South Wales engineers have demonstrated that hydrogen can be released and reabsorbed from a promising storage material, overcoming a major hurdle to its use as an alternative fuel source. UQ and UNSW partner Researchers from the Materials Energy Research Laboratory in nanoscale (MERLin) at UNSW have synthesised nanoparticles of a on solar farm research commonly overlooked chemical compound called sodium borohydride The University of Queensland has been appointed the lead research and encased these inside nickel shells. organisation for two large solar photovoltaic (PV) projects that will be Their unique ‘core-shell’ nanostructure has demonstrated remarkable built in the next three years in western NSW. UQ will partner with the hydrogen storage properties, including the release of energy at much University of NSW in a $40.7 million Education Investment Fund Research lower temperatures than previously observed. Infrastructure Program that will support the two projects, totalling 159MW. “No one has ever tried to synthesise these particles at the nanoscale AGL Energy was announced in June as the successful bidder for because they thought it was too difficult and couldn’t be done. We’re the first funding under the Australian Government’s Solar Flagships program. First to do so, and demonstrate that energy in the form of hydrogen can be stored Solar, the US-based international solar solutions provider, will supply the with sodium borohydride at practical temperatures PV modules and provide engineering, procurement and construction and pressures,” says Dr Kondo-Francois Aguey-Zinsou, services for the projects. The companies will receive $129.7 million from UNSW‘s School of Chemical Engineering. of Australian Government support to develop the projects. The NSW Considered a major a fuel of the future, Government will provide $64.9 million to support the projects, which are hydrogen could be used to power buildings, due for completion in 2015 at an estimated capital cost of $450 million. portable electronics and vehicles – but this First Solar will design and construct the solar power plants – 106MW application hinges on practical storage technology. at Nyngan and 53MW at Broken Hill – using its advanced, thin-film CdTe Dr Kondo-Francois Lightweight compounds known as (Cadmium Telluride) PV modules. Aguey-Zinsou borohydrides (including lithium and sodium The research program involves building a large PV pilot plant with compounds) are known to be effective storage research components focused on energy storage, plant optimisation, materials but it was believed that once the energy was released it could power systems and the impact of renewable energy on the national not be reabsorbed – a critical limitation. This perceived ‘irreversibility’ electricity market. means there has been little focus on sodium borohydride. The research facility will be housed in UNSW’s recently completed “By controlling the size and architecture of these structures we can Tyree Energy Technologies Building, named for UNSW alumnus Sir William tune their properties and make them reversible – this means they can Tyree OBE FTSE, a successful innovator and businessman and a major release and reabsorb hydrogen,” Dr Aguey-Zinsou says. “The new materials philanthropic supporter of Australian engineering and educational that could be generated by this exciting strategy could provide practical research, who donated $1 million to the centre and has pledged a further solutions to meet many of the energy targets set by the US Department of bequest of $10 million. Sir William received the ATSE Clunies Ross Lifetime Energy. The key thing here is that we’ve opened the doorway.” Achievement Award in June. UQ’s Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Max Lu FTSE, said it was significant UQ was forming a strategic partnership with UNSW, an Study sees 10% role international leader in photovoltaic research for almost 30 years. “UQ is making a strategic push into energy research across the board for wave power and renewables are a significant component of that work, which is taking Australia’s oceans hold a bounty of energy and could produce 24-hour place across the university and its institutes,” Professor Lu said. “We are also power from tides, currents or waves, according to a CSIRO study. delighted to be working with AGL, First Solar and the NSW and Federal CSIRO hopes the report, Ocean renewable energy: 2015-2050, will governments on this landmark, large-scale project.” inform the ocean energy industry, government and investors about the challenges and potential for the technology. UNSW’s Tyree Energy Technologies Building where Key findings from the study include: the research facility will be housed. ¢ although wave energy could supply about 10 per cent of our energy by 2050, there are many economic, technological, environmental and societal challenges that will determine its place in Australia’s future energy mix; and ¢ the areas that could benefit from wave energy technology include Perth, the southern coastline and, to a lesser extent, the east coast of Australia; tidal technology could supply niche areas such as north-east Tasmania and the Kimberley region. The CSIRO study found that ocean waves could supply about 10 per cent of Australia’s electricity by 2050 – the equivalent of powering a city the size of Melbourne. It was carried out by the Wealth from Oceans october 12 Focus 34 engineering / Water www.atse.org.au

Schaffer report targets global engineering lead for Queensland

he resizing of the resources industry A proposal to build Queensland as a global Sydney and the second highest and the associated increase in centre of excellence for specialised engineering proportion of engineers, behind Perth. infrastructure needed to service this services – was prepared by Professor Engineering provides resilient growth is driving an increase in the Graham Schaffer FTSE, Executive Dean, employment because engineering skills Tdemand for both engineering services and Faculty of Engineering, Architecture are transferable across industries and for professional engineers in Queensland, and Information Technology at the geographical locations and is therefore according to a new report commissioned University of Queensland, in consultation less susceptible than other occupations to by the Queensland Government. with leading engineering, academic and changes in the business cycle. In addition, Engineering underpins the government and industry authorities. It many of the engineering occupations are Queensland economy, the report will be formally launched in November. in areas which are highly knowledge- says. Mining, construction and The report, initiated by the Queensland intensive, such as bioengineering, ICT, manufacturing are engineering-intensive Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett AO FTSE elaborate manufacturing and resource industries and they contribute the and commissioned by the Government, extraction. This provides opportunities for greatest share to gross state product. proposes a vision and a plan to sustain and the accelerated growth of human capital. With more than 33,000 professional further develop engineering in Queensland. It notes there is some risk that the engineers now employed in The report notes the engineering employment demand will Queensland, the growth rate of engineering decrease towards the end of the decade as number of engineers employment in Queensland the mines and gas fields mature because as a proportion of has also outpaced the engineering intensive portion of all employment the national growth the resizing of the minerals industry is has increased by 40 rate. The majority of the early part, during feasibility, design, per cent over the Queensland’s engineering procurement and construction. past decade and the workforce is employed A second threat to engineering unemployment rate in Brisbane, which is the increasing capacity to procure for the engineering has the third highest engineering services from low-cost workforce is 25 per number of engineers countries, although this applies more cent less than general of Australian cities, to the codified, less complex end of the unemployment. behind Melbourne and engineering services spectrum and less The report – to the high-value, ideation-intensive*, Engineering Queensland: The Schaffer report. creative component that depends largely Australia “must help” in groundwater depletion A recent UNESCO report warning that the degradation and depletion of when it comes to water, Australia has an obligation to help its neighbours the world’s precious reserves of groundwater was continuing unabated come to grips with the silent menace of global groundwater depletion. on a global scale has drawn a strong response from one of the nation’s “One of the main reasons groundwater declines is simply that people leading water scientists. don’t know how much they have, or how long it takes to recharge. Thanks Professor Craig Simmons, director of the National Centre for to significant research investment, these are matters that Australia is Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT), says Australia should take a rapidly coming to grips with. We now have real knowledge and expertise lead in tackling the emerging global crisis in groundwater. that can be taken advantage of. “There is undoubtedly a very serious situation emerging with respect “As a leader in water management and technologies, we have an to groundwater in certain parts of the world,” he said. obligation to support our neighbours in relation to groundwater,” he adds. “In the 1990s, the world extracted about 102 cubic kilometres a year, The UNESCO report, Groundwater and Global Change, emphasises but in the 2000s this rose to 145km3 – and there is every indication it has that groundwater is the world’s largest fresh water reserve. It warns that continued to increase. “current stresses on groundwater systems are without precedent in “In many situations groundwater is a finite resource and is not many parts of the world. These stresses are still increasing and produce renewed at anything like the rates it is being extracted. This poses real considerable risk and uncertainty.” risks for economic growth, the sustainability of huge cities and vital The UNESCO study lists among areas of significant groundwater industries like food and energy production, especially in dry, heavily decline as California and the High Plains in the US, the Mexico Basin, populated regions,” he explains. several river basins in Spain, the Arabian peninsula, Iran, the Indus basin in Professor Simmons says that as a technologically advanced country India, the North China Plain and the Great Artesian Basin in Australia. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au engineering / Water 35

on the application of tacit knowledge. supported by four core competencies in – State’s university campuses through the To be truly effective on a global ¢technically grounded engineering design; redevelopment of obsolete building stock. scale, it is not feasible to be excellent at ¢computational engineering; Develop human capital by investing everything, the report notes, suggesting ¢sustainability; and 6in postgraduate coursework programs in Queensland needs to build specialised ¢project management. each of the specialised fields. strengths in fields where there is genuine Starting from the premise that An internationally recognised materials comparative or competitive advantage. knowledge and innovation are the basis of engineer, Professor Schaffer took on “We need to be both discriminating and economic growth, the report recommends the position as Special Adviser for the selective in the fields we specialise in and the that the Queensland Government should Queensland new Smart Engineering State expertise that we develop,” Professor Schaffer partner with industry, the universities and initiative, announced by the Government says. “In essence, we need to be excellent, the research sector to create a new, world in January. we need to be concentrated, we need to be leading, cluster of engineering expertise. global and we need to be specialised.” Specifically, the Government should: * Ideation – the process of forming ideas The report recommends the Support the Queensland Investment or images. development of a cluster of companies, 1Attraction Service to retain tier suppliers, universities and research one companies in the mining, minerals, organisations providing global scale, unconventional gas, construction and specialised engineering services in specific biotechnology industries and to attract new fields where Queensland can build a companies to relocate to Queensland. competitive advantage and compete Procure to encourage innovation internationally. It says this will deliver 2through a demand-driven innovation new knowledge-based jobs, exports and policy for Government as an intelligent and revenue for the State by building on demanding customer. the existing critical mass of engineering Establish a collaborative virtual expertise and re-shaping it for the future. 3network – the Queensland Engineering It is proposed that specific fields Innovation Network – based on a robust where Queensland can build competitive business case to enhance collaboration advantage in specialised engineering services between industry, the universities, research in order to compete internationally include: organisations and government. ¢mining and minerals; Invest in people and equipment ¢unconventional gas extraction; 4to develop world-leading expertise ¢infrastructure in the tropics in specialised fields and selected and sub-tropics; competencies. ¢bioengineering; and Maintain the university engineering ¢engineering education. 5system by providing essential teaching These five engineering fields need to be and research infrastructure on the Graham Schaffer UQ studies CSG and water supplies Measuring the impact of the coal seam gas risk indicators, provide a baseline for assessing industry on Australia’s underground water “Incorporation of aquifer connectivity, and guide water re-use, supplies will be one of the initial research water chemistry treatment and re-injection options.” projects at the University of Queensland’s data that is held by In two more technically focused projects, Centre for Coal Seam Gas. CSG companies into researchers will improve understanding of Researchers in the three-year project will a unified database coal permeability and stimulation methods, analyse underground water chemistry, thereby will greatly extend including hydraulic fracturing, permitting better improving conceptualisation and numerical understanding of gas recovery, and establish how unwanted modelling of the impacts coal seam dewatering basin hydrology, solid particles resulting from drilling and well has on aquifers at both regional and local levels. aquifer interactions operation can be reduced. “Incorporation of water chemistry data and processes The Centre for Coal Seam Gas was established that is held by CSG companies into a unified controlling the water in 2011 as a research centre of the Sustainable database will greatly extend understanding chemistry.” Minerals Institute at UQ. It draws together the of basin hydrology, aquifer interactions and – Associate Professor Sue Vink. research capabilities of UQ, which has been processes controlling the water chemistry,” said conducting research into coal seam gas for almost lead researcher Associate Professor Sue Vink. two decades. The Centre has four key research “The project will result in publicly available areas: water, geoscience, petroleum engineering databases that identify health and environmental and social impact, as well as a focus on education. october 12 Focus 36 health www.atse.org.au

normally susceptible to Hendra and Nipah. This tantalising difference may ANSTO in global help scientists understand how to better manage and control its deadly cousins. disease fight The findings were announced in the journal PLoS Pathogens, The Australian Government has announced a $168 million plan to published by the Public Library of Science. position the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Dr Wang, who heads the virology group at CSIRO’s Australian Animal (ANSTO) at the centre of the global fight against cancer and heart disease. Health Laboratory at Geelong, said researchers were looking at structural The plan will be delivered at ANSTO’s Lucas Heights Campus and and behavioural differences between the viruses and the way each virus includes a new investment in nuclear medicine and treatment that will interacted with its host. He said the discovery had wider implications create about 250 jobs. The two key elements of the plan are: because viruses that originated in animals were considered the most ¢an export-scale nuclear medicine manufacturing plant, which will likely source of the next human pandemic. secure Australia’s ability to produce Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) and Dr Wang is an internationally recognised leader in the field of increase capacity to meet a significant proportion of the world’s emerging viruses. He is a member of the WHO SARS Scientific Research needs; and Advisory Committee and played a key role in identification of bats as the ¢a collocated Synroc waste treatment plant, which will deliver a natural host of SARS-like viruses. His research achievements extend from permanent, safe and economical way of treating waste from past, the rapid discovery and characterisation of highly pathogenic viruses to current and future manufacture of nuclear medicines. the development of cutting-edge technologies with applications in novel Mo-99 is primarily used for diagnosis of diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutics to combat emerging viruses. heart disease and cancers. Applications include CSIRO bat virus researcher Mr Gary Crameri said the new discovery bone oncology, neurology and kidney and had significant potential implications for protecting animals and humans gastrointestinal tract disorders. In Australia each from the Hendra and Nipah viruses. year 550,000 people receive a diagnosis using “The significance of discovering a new henipavirus that doesn’t cause Mo-99. Current world demand is 45 million disease is that it may help us narrow down what it is about the genetic doses a year. Australian nuclear medicine is make-up of viruses like Hendra and Nipah that does cause disease and produced using low enriched uranium, which death,” Mr Crameri said. “The more that we can learn about bat-borne is part of the push toward nuclear non- viruses, the better chance we have of developing antivirals and vaccines Adi Paterson proliferation. to help protect human health, Australia’s livestock industry and our Synroc is an Australian innovation that can export trade from the threat of current and emerging animal diseases. also reduce the volume of nuclear byproducts by 99 per cent (compared “Over 70 per cent of people and animals infected with Hendra and to other methods such as cementation). The synroc-treated waste will be Nipah viruses die. This ranks henipaviruses amongst the deadliest viruses sent to the national radioactive waste management facility once it has in existence, yet little is known about just how such viruses actually cause been sited, constructed and licensed. disease or death. ANSTO’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adi Paterson FTSE, said the plan was Photo: CSIRO a major endorsement of ANSTO’s Australian role and international standing. “Already ANSTO produces half a million doses of nuclear medicine a year, which we distribute to more than 200 hospitals and medical centres,” Dr Paterson said. “This is good and important work of which we are rightly proud – and today’s announcement is nothing less than a stunning endorsement of ANSTO’s role, its performance and its future. “Through the expansion enabled by this plan, ANSTO will go from supplying the medicine one in two Australians need, to significantly contributing to the global nuclear medicine community along with its partners.” Planning for the nuclear medicine manufacturing plant and Synroc plant is underway, with construction to start in 2014 and be completed by the end of 2016. Cedar may hold key to Hendra virus Australian scientists led by ATSE Fellow Dr Linfa Wang FTSE have discovered a new virus in bats that could help shed light on how Hendra and Nipah viruses cause disease and death in animals and humans. The new virus – named ‘Cedar’ after the Queensland location where it was discovered – is a close relative of the deadly Hendra and Nipah viruses, but CSIRO’s initial studies have discovered one surprising key CSIRO’s Dr Glenn Marsh, research scientist on the Cedar virus difference: the Cedar virus does not cause illness in several animal species discovery team, collecting samples from underneath a bat colony. Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au research 37

Fornax boosts computer research capability A $4 million terascale research supercomputer named Fornax (Latin for ‘furnace’) – the second of three supercomputers commissioned as part of the $80 million Pawsey Centre project – has been launched at the University of Western Australia. Fornax is operated by iVEC, a collaboration between CSIRO, UWA and Murdoch, Curtin and Edith Cowan universities. The system contains 6.9 terabytes of RAM, 672 terabytes of storage and 1152 CPUs, operating across 96 nodes. At peak performance, the system is capable of performing 62 teraflops, or 62 trillion (62,000,000,000,000) operations per second. The computer, funded under the Australian Government’s Super Science Initiative, was launched by the Minister for Science and Research, DSTO researcher Vivienne Wheaton operates the SPD-Smart glass display. Senator Chris Evans, who said that, as part of the Pawsey Centre, Fornax would be at the heart of Australia and New Zealand’s successful bid to Camouflage to co-host the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope. “It gives Australian researchers access to the kind of computing protect ADF vehicles power that is critical to signal processing needed for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) vehicle camouflage could be enhanced, international SKA project,” Senator Evans said. “This is the second based on research at a Defence Science and Technology Organisation of two forerunners to the more powerful petascale Pawsey Centre (DSTO) laboratory. The work is focused on the development of supercomputer system being installed in 2013. Fornax and its partner electrochromic materials that change colour with subtle variation in Epic are helping researchers to develop the expertise needed to get the applied voltage. best out of the Pawsey supercomputer when it comes online. “An outcome is still some years off, but the ADF has expressed “With these systems, we’re building world-class supercomputing interest in the concept,” explains DSTO researcher Vivienne Wheaton. facilities, and expertise to match, that will put Australia at the forefront Currently, ADF vehicles are coated with a paint scheme, devised of research in radioastronomy, the geosciences and other high-end by DSTO, according to a standard specifying colours and near-infrared computational research.” properties, but the effectiveness is limited by changing backgrounds and The director of UWA’s iVEC Centre, Associate Professor Paul Bourke, environments – in the past 50 years they have operated in Vietnam, the said Fornax had been designed to give researchers unprecedented access Gulf, East Timor and Solomon Islands, each requiring specific camouflage to both highly parallel processing and data-intensive computing. “These to suit respective environments. are critical in many areas of research, particularly for astronomy signal In the DSTO laboratory a voltage supply is connected to five board- processing (including the SKA) and geoscience,” he said. mounted polymer film panels, known commercially as SPD-Smart film – purchased samples of electrochromic material that can be deposited onto iVEC Centre Director Paul Bourke deep in Fornax. glass or other polymer surfaces. Within moments of being powered the densely coloured panels illuminate to a murky green – enough to visualise the potential of the energy transfer at play – as applied voltage changes the alignment of small particles in the film, to give a darker or lighter appearance depending on orientation of the particles. The SPD-Smart film is a high-voltage system, but other types of smart materials exist that are low-voltage, low-power systems more suitable for camouflage applications. “Applied voltages of less than 5V will generally initiate colour changes in electrochromic materials, where the change is a result of the chemical species switching between oxidation states,” Ms Wheaton says. “Most current implementations of electrochromics use materials like glass or shiny films that are not well suited to a camouflage application on military vehicles.” So DSTO is progressing a related PhD collaboration with the University of South Australia to investigate the science behind the panels, with the view to developing the concept into something that can go into the field. “The collaboration is examining the challenge of developing electrochromics that can be packaged in a more robust, field-ready way,” Ms Wheaton says. “If we can resolve these field issues for electrochromic materials, in the future we may be able to assist the ADF with adaptive improvements to their camouflage systems.” october 12 Focus 38 book reviews www.atse.org.au

Is technology always interdisciplinary?

Organic Bionics, Gordon G. Wallace, Simon E. Moulton, Michael J. Higgins and Robert M.I. Kapsa (Wiley-VCH, 2012, xii + 226 pp. $160.00).

By Ian Rae [email protected]

s technology always interdisciplinary? their contributions), Guillaume-Benjamin- I think the answer is ‘yes’, and it’s Amand Duchenne (muscle stimulation in certainly what came to mind when the 19th century) and Alan MacDiarmid I read Graeme Clark’s introductory (organic conducting polymers, for which Icomment on this newly defined field he shared a Nobel Prize in 2000). that takes us “from the cold hard Following this Pantheon, the world of electronics to the warm but opening chapter covers experiments dynamic world of biology … to bridge and devices, including prospects for the electrode-cellular interface”. bionic vision, and outlines the key peeled from graphite) and ionsdaleite The authors ofOrganic Bionics, elements of any medical bionic device. (a typo for lonsdaleite) are introduced researchers in Wollongong and Melbourne, Then comes a chapter on the nature, in subsequent pages. The last of these led by ATSE Fellow Professor Gordon properties and production of carbon as it is ‘hexagonal graphite’ discovered in Wallace*, take their inspiration from Clark, exists in four allotropic forms - diamond, a meteorite in 1967 and named after along with Luigi Galvani and Alessandro graphite, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. crystallographer Kathleen Lonsdale. The Volta (I hardly need to remind readers of Amorphous carbon, grapheme (sheets chapter has a whopping 241 references,

Derek Tribe – working on a broad canvas

erek Tribe (1926–2003), as he from (British) friends considering appearances, his apparent Englishness, emerges from this biography migration to Australia, which was sometimes perceived as patrician, did not by Professor Lindsay Falvey taken up by the Australian Department go down too well, causing Falvey to reject FTSE, was a man who never of Immigration as a handbook. this characterisation of his hero but to Dstood still for very long, in either the Shortly after returning he was offer the rather backhanded compliment physical or the metaphorical sense. promoted to Professor and later appointed that “Tribe fitted into Australia In the 1940s, while he was an as Dean in the faculty he used as a home because he was like an Australian”. undergraduate at Reading, then PhD base for 24 years before retirement Tribe’s post-university career was student at Aberdeen while he worked on and accession to Emeritus status. displayed on an even broader canvas. animal nutrition at its Rowett Institute, In 1965 Tribe made a visit to East In the mid-1970s he was active in the Tribe found time for student and national Africa as a consultant for the UN Food Australian Industry Research Group and politics, music, sport (badminton, and Agriculture Organization and this was one of the founders of the Academy athletics, hockey) and courting Elizabeth. began his move away from conventional of Technological Sciences (ATSE’s At Aberdeen, the travel bug began to academic life into consultancy in Africa predecessor) and contributed significantly bite but it was only Europe until, as and South-East Asia. Although his to international work over the next decade. a young staff member at Bristol, he international work brought advantages to For four years he lived in Canberra went on a two-month tour of Australia the university in terms of prestige, graduate while he headed the Australian–Asian courtesy of the Nuffield Foundation. students and his salary (foregone while he Universities’ Cooperation Program (later The upshot was that in 1955, at travelled), his absences rankled with his IDP). However, as at Melbourne, he age 29, he was appointed Reader in the colleagues “who felt that they were left to was seldom home, travelling incessantly, agriculture school of the University clean up after his lightning visits home”. managing in his last year, 1985, 35 trips of Melbourne. Returning to Australia Tribe tried to deflect much of this to a dozen countries. His book Doing after a first sabbatical leave, Derek and criticism with skilful self-deprecation, Well by Doing Good had its genesis in this Elizabeth published Postmark Australia, sometimes referring to himself as ‘the period, although it was published later. a collection of fictional replies to letters tarmac professor’. As well as his peripatetic In the mid-1980s, the CGIAR Focus october 12 www.atse.org.au book reviews / Letters 39

all but a handful post-2000 and none if there is to be progress in this field. before 1997 as befits a truly new field. I found the index (six pages) a good way LETTER TO THE EDITOR Succeeding chapters cover organic to see ‘where we have been’ and enjoyed conducting polymers such as polypyrrole, reading about a research forefront where polythiophenes and polyanilines with Australian scientists are leaders and the Theory and more-or-less established structures but work receives generous support from the better-known electrical properties; Australian Research Council. Practice of biological applications of organic polymers including the need to sterilise * Professor Gordon Wallace FAA FTSE is Innovation them by irradiation or chemical an Australian Research Council Laureate I would like to make some methods before they can be implanted Fellow, Executive Research Director comments on the realities of into living systems; and fabrication of the ARC Centre of Excellence for innovation. It would appear that it is of devices from such materials. Electromaterials Science and Director of easier to achieve results for people The book concludes with a the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, working within organisations ‘Where are we? Where are we going?’ University of Wollongong. He is Director than for lone originators. To many chapter and stresses the need for true of the Australian National Fabrication people innovation appears to interdisciplinarity “with parallel, Facility, Materials Node. He is a Fellow mean securing a tested patent for integrated, and synergistic advances” in of the Institute of Physics and the Royal some new device or process, a step material design, synthesis and processing; Australian Chemical Institute and has which – in itself – is a marketable device fabrication; and characterisation. won several awards from RACI. commodity – but nothing more As is the case with a multi-author book, than that. Professor Ian Rae FTSE, an Honorary Professorial there are very few single-author papers Here is an example: I have Fellow at the University of Melbourne, is a former among the 800-odd references. It is clear secured a tested patent a year Technical Director of ATSE. He was President of the that skills and qualifications in chemistry, ago without the help of patent Royal Australian Chemical Institute (2006–08) and biology, and the cellular-materials attorneys. It concerns a device has served for more than a decade as a technical interface – not to mention the will to which could be either a gym adviser to the United Nations Environment Program. collaborate – are necessary constituents instrument or, in a more complex form, a means of travelling above the surface of the ground and be a basis for a new competitive sport. (Consultative Group on International émigré, was important in Tribe’s early I am, by the way, not one of those Agricultural Research), with whom Tribe years at Melbourne; later, politicians ‘mad professor’ types of inventor had a close relationship, sought to develop such as Doug Anthony (former Deputy and many of my patentable ideas national support organisations. Tribe Prime Minister) and public servants were incorporated in guided seized the chance to involve the Academy like Sir John Crawford were strong weapons and drones (Jindivik, in what was to become the Crawford supporters he enlisted in the cause. Malkara, Ikara and Turana). Fund, but he struggled to gain support for As well as covering dates, appointments Since, after the 2007-08 financial his proposal and this section of Falvey’s and organisations, Lindsay Falvey provides crash, I am not in a position to book makes interesting reading for those a rich stream of anecdotes: Victorian develop a prototype by my own of us to whom it might seem that the Premier Henry Bolte, a farmer through and means, I have tried to obtain either Crawford Fund was always there. The through, organised support for a pig centre; Government help in same, or to find initial focus on raising awareness of the leaving a meeting, Tribe got a lift from a partner which would acquire equal need for research support was augmented another attendee, Governor-General Sir rights to the patent by founding the by the development Master Classes for Paul Hasluck; on a flight to the US he hob- development of same. Government scientists, for which Bruce Holloway FTSE nobbed with Sir MacFarlane Burnet; and help is granted to companies only gets generous credit. Jan Jones, who had after retirement he gave gratuitous advice and, as far as the apparently suitable started as the Dean’s super-secretary, is to Melbourne’s Vice-Chancellor which was individuals approached were deservedly praised as the Executive Officer. “roundly rejected in the style reserved for concerned – the only outcomes No small part of Tribe’s success was meddling retirees”. his ability to attract influential supporters were wishes for success. – “cultivating the elite”, Falvey calls it – – Ian Rae I hope that there might be a counting among them the grazier who Fellow of ATSE, with access to an opened his farm as a research venue for Derek Tribe: International Agricultural MC machine shop, who would want Tribe and his students, and another whose Scientist, Founder of the Crawford Fund to know more about the idea and son became Prime Minister. Tribe could by Lindsay Falvey, 2012. Published contact me at bbaron333@yahoo. always get a crowd by engaging a prominent by The Crawford Fund, in association com.au. speaker for any event he organised. with the Institute for International – Stanley S Schaetzel FTSE FRAeS Samuel Wadham, another agricultural Development. october 12 Focus 40 Environment www.atse.org.au

commercialisation company, UniQuest, and a private partner in 2010. The commercial release is a step closer with new support from a $451,775 Commercialisation Australia grant awarded to BHA, which will assist with registration, manufacturing and marketing activities. Registration of Australia’s first bioherbicide Di-Bak Parkinsonia and the production of pilot batches are expected in 2013. Beer drinkers help reduce methane Australian beer drinkers are inadvertently helping cattle producers Capsule being inserted into a Parkinsonia trunk. reduce methane produced by cows. Scientists have shown a byproduct of the beer-making process, brewers’ grain, can reduce methane emissions in cattle by 15 to 20 per cent. Pill-popping may end Associate Professor Richard Eckard, Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre at the University of Melbourne, says the research woody weeds project aimed to develop practical feeding strategies that dairy farmers A simple one-dose capsule could could implement to curb methane emissions and maintain profitability. help end the scourge of woody The project had investigated several waste products that are high in weeds that are choking Australia’s oil, including whole cottonseed meal, cold-pressed canola meal, brewers’ waterways, smothering native grains and hominy meal, as feed additives for dairy herds. vegetation and encroaching on “One per cent of oil added to a ruminant’s diet translates to a 3.5 per agricultural land. cent reduction in methane emissions,” Associate Professor Eckard says. “In Australia’s first ‘home-grown’ the case of whole cottonseed, it not only significantly reduced methane Associate Professor Victor Galea commercial bioherbicide, being emissions but also increased milk production by 16 per cent, milk fat by developed by Dr Victor Galea, 19 per cent and milk protein by 12 per cent.” Associate Professor in plant pathology at the University of Queensland, The most effective time for the oil to be added was when pasture involves inserting a single gelatine capsule containing pathogenic fungi into was limited in quantity and low in nutritional value: in summer, adding the weed‘s trunk, then letting the fungi do the rest. five per cent oil could reduce emissions by 15 to 20 per cent and This new biological agent, using native Australian fungi, promises to increase milk production due to the slow-release energy provided by oil. be a sustainable and long-term solution for invasive woody weeds such The project is part of the Reducing Emissions from Livestock as Parkinsonia, Prickly Acacia, Mimosa and Athel Pine. Research program – a joint initiative of Meat & Livestock Australia and The first biohebicide to be developed will be for Parkinsonia, which the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries has spread across Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern and Forestry – is supported by the Victorian Department of Primary Western Australia, with annual control costs of $60 million. Weeds cost the Industries, the University of Melbourne and Dairy Australia. Australian economy $4 billion every year in lost agricultural production. In an another project, researchers have found that adding lime to soil or The fungi used in the bioherbicide being developed for Parkinsonia planting lupins can significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) were isolated by Dr Galea in 2004 from Parkinsonia plants in the NT that from grain production. This is just one of the findings from the Nitrous Oxide were experiencing natural dieback. Research Program (NORP) that is investigating ways to decrease carbon

“We isolated 200 local fungi and have further distilled this down to dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from cropping systems. three strains that are most effective at causing Parkinsonia dieback,” he says. Associate Professor Louise Barton from UWA‘s Institute of Agriculture

Dr Galea and his team from UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food said N2O gas was emitted naturally from the microbial processes in the soil Sciences have developed a novel method to introduce the fungi into the and nitrogen fertilisers, manure and burning crop stubble could all increase

plant in a mega-dose that causes the tree to die within six to 24 months. mineral nitrogen in the soil, in turn increasing the rate of N2O emitted.

“We have tested and refined a simple system with capsules “Given that N2O is around 300 times more potent than CO2, we need to containing millet that has been colonised by the fungus and is all identify practical and affordable strategies that farmers can use to decrease packaged up and ready to go,” Dr Galea says. “We simply drill a hole in the the impact of nitrogen fertiliser use on GHG emissions” tree trunk, insert the capsule and then seal the hole with silicone. Grain production is considered a net producer of GHG via fertiliser, “Parkinsonia creates a very large seed bank, which makes its control with herbicide and farm machinery use and production. Applying urea chemical herbicides or manual removal ineffective because new plants pop fertiliser can contribute up to 80 per cent of up for years afterwards. But our fungal bioherbicide, once it is established in total on-farm emissions. the trees, has the potential to remain in the soil and kill geminating seeds. This project is a collaboration between “We have also found evidence of lateral spread of the fungus to the Australian Government, UWA, the adjacent untreated trees via the plants’ roots, which means that for thick Department of Agriculture and Food, WA, clumps of Parkinsonia we may only need to inoculate one in five trees.” and the Grains Research and Development The technology has been licensed to BioHerbicides Australia Pty Corporation. Ltd (BHA), a start-up company established by UQ’s main research Brewers’ grain can reduce methane. focus october 12 www.atse.org.au Australian academy of Technological sciences and engineering 41

numbernumber 174 173 OctoberAugust 2012 2012

Research centre named for Peter Cook

Eminent geologist and founder of the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) At the launch (from left): Victorian Professor Peter Cook CBE FTSE has been Energy and Resources Minister Michael O’Brien, Dr Richard Aldous, Mr Doug acclaimed by having a new carbon capture Ritchie () and Professor Jim and storage (CCS) research centre named McCluskey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Melbourne. in his honour. The Peter Cook Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage Research at the University of Melbourne was launched by the on CCS, including a recently funded Professor commercialisation licences, coordination of Victorian Minister for Resources and Energy, of Carbon Storage supported by the Victorian multi-sector initiatives and placements for Michael O’Brien. Government. The Centre will link researchers undergraduate and research students. CO2CRC will direct research at the new with the CO2CRC Otway Project Subsurface SA Science and Information Economy Centre, which has been sponsored by Rio Storage Laboratory, which has been safely Minister Tom Kenyon said the award

Tinto with $3 million in funding over three storing CO2 deep underground since 2008. recognised Professor Reynold’s outstanding years. A further $3 million in Rio Tinto funding research work, both locally and internationally. over three years will support the CO2CRC Karen Reynolds SA “Professor Reynold’s research aims to Otway Project, Australia’s first demonstration Scientist of the Year improve the understanding, diagnosis, of geological carbon dioxide storage, as a One of South Australia’s leading scientists, treatment and monitoring of medical field site for carbon storage research. Professor Karen Reynolds FTSE – a pioneer in conditions with projects ranging from “The Peter Cook Centre for CCS Research the development of biomedical engineering – designing orthopaedic implants to virtual will integrate CO2CRC research capabilities at has been named SA’s Scientist of the Year. reality simulators for improved surgical training. the University of Melbourne, forming a world- Professor Reynolds is Professor of “Her development of the ground- class hub for research into this important Biomedical Engineering at Flinders University. breaking Medical Device Partnering Program technology,” said Dr Richard Aldous, CO2CRC She became a Fellow of the Academy in 2011 has brought together industry, clinical and Chief Executive. and is Deputy Chair of ATSE’s Health Technology research partners across the country to “The Centre brings together professors forum. Her achievement in bridging the gulf in bring innovative bioengineering solutions to and researchers from a wide variety of the medical devices field between academia the market and for the benefit of patients,” disciplines, including the chemical and and industry was recognised by her award of Mr Kenyon said. “Biomedical engineering process engineering associated with Professional Engineer of the Year in the 2010 is one of the key strategic sectors of our

capturing CO2 from power plants, and the Australian Excellence Awards. economy and one contributing to economic geology and geomechanics required for Her achievements include the growth all over the world.

storage of CO2 in deep rock formations. establishment of spin-out companies and “These awards highlight the “The complementary work at the Otway contributions our scientists make to science Project is helping develop the tools and and research and the ultimate impact on

methods to ensure CO2 is safely stored and industry and community of this outstanding monitored. work. All the winners and finalists have made “Building this kind of critical mass in an a significant contribution to their fields and Australian research centre is vital to the national are to be commended for their commitment development and deployment of large-scale to excellence.” CCS, which will be a major part of Australia’s and The awards saw 10 of the SA’s top the world’s drive to manage climate change.” scientists share in $100,000, with Professor Incorporating extensive research already Reynolds taking home $20,000. underway at the University of Melbourne, (From left) SA Division Chair David Klingberg, the Peter Cook Centre for CCS Research will Karen Reynolds and Vice Chancellor of Flinders initially host more than 30 scientists working University Michael Barber. october 12 Focus 42 ATSE IN FOCUS www.atse.org.au

well as the first asynchronous logic VLSI chip. He was a computer designer at Digital Equipment in Boston and founded and led microchip research at CSIRO. He co-authored Computer Engineering, has published more than 60 papers and holds six patents. He has held faculty positions in Computer Science at Caltech, Carnegie Mellon University, Flinders University, and, currently, at the University of Adelaide. He chaired an ATSE committee on Cloud Computing and was principal author of its 2010 report Cloud Computing: Opportunities and Challenges for Australia. He is currently working with the CSIRO ICT Centre and, from Adelaide and Silicon Valley, operates Pacific At the presentation (from left) Nicholas de Dear, Paula Mills and Mike Miller. Challenge, a strategy consultancy working with both start-ups and established firms. Dr Clark is perhaps best known for his 14 Prince Alfred teacher years at IBM (1980–94) where he published more 130 papers in archived journals and was wins STEM award granted 18 patents. This was preceded by stints at UK Atomic Energy in Harwell (1969– Dr Paula Mills of Prince Alfred expanded to Port Lincoln and an additional day 72), US Atomic Energy at Oakridge National College has been acknowledged by ATSE in Adelaide to help meet school demand. Lab (1976–77) and then back to Australia at for excellence in the teaching of science, CSIRO’s Mineral Physics (1973–80). technology, engineering and mathematics Hall of Fame He balanced his scientific interest with (STEM) in South Australian secondary schools. for two Fellows an outstanding business record including Professor Mike Miller AO FTSE, an ATSE Professor Craig Mudge FTSE and Dr Gregory presidency of News Corp’s Technology Director, presented the award to Dr Mills Clark FTSE have been inducted into the Pearcey Group and membership of News Executive at the SA Science and Engineering Super Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to Committee (1993–99). After his departure Challenge held at the Adelaide Super-Drome the ICT industry. from News Corp he spent seven years in September. He also presented a $2000 Professor Mudge has worked extensively in senior executive roles at Loral Space cheque for Prince Alfred College to Mr in the US and Australia since completing his & Communications (1999–2001) and Nicholas de Dear, Head of the Senior School. undergraduate degree at ANU and his PhD in Knowledge Universe Corp (a private The ATSE SA Division award – its seventh computer science at the University of North investment vehicle focused on technology, annual award for excellence – recognises Carolina. health and education verticals) before he Dr Mills’ outstanding performance as STEM He led the Xerox PARC computer science returned to Australia in 2006. Project Lead K-12 and Lead Physics teacher for lab, the source of many technologies that are Since then he has started KaComms, a the Senior School over the past five years. commonplace today. He was founding CEO of small communications company focused During this time, the number of students a semiconductor start-up, Austek Microsystems, on high-speed broadband communications continuing with physics and chemistry and his company developed the world’s first services to rural and remote communities in has increased to more than 50 per cent. single-chip cache controller and other complex Australia. In addition, his firm Clark Capital Through her personal drive, the school has logic chips used by global PC manufacturers, as Partners advises on technology and the trialled ATSE’s STELR program (Science and technology market space. Technology Education Leveraging Relevance) Craig Mudge Greg Clark Since 2006 he has also been and the Academy of Science’s Science by a visiting professor at ANU Doing program. She has also introduced and has initiated a number of activities to illustrate important aspects of major computing projects and engineering and biological, environmental developed many collaborative and geological sciences. efforts between US and Australian ATSE SA Division was a joint sponsor of researchers. this year’s SA Challenge and Super Challenge competitions, which saw 71 teams of 2000 Dr Trevor Pearcey was a CSIRO Year 9 and 10 students competing over research scientist who designed nine days in Adelaide, Port Pirie and Mount CSIRAC, Australia’s first digital Gambier. Next year the competition will be computer. focus october 12 www.atse.org.au ATSE IN FOCUS 43

his leadership roles, which include travel- Alison Ord chairs intensive international liaison, that have been a crucial aspect of his success and IUGS commission the success of the CUDOS collaboration. It will provide him with the profile and WA Division applications, from scientific, environmental and resources to lead a major research program, Secretary social issues to educational and developmental in particular a research program that “will Professor problems. deliver transformational new technologies for Alison Ord Australia and the world,” he said. FTSE has been Australia hosted the 34th International After receiving a PhD in physics from appointed chair of Geological congress ‘Unearthing our Past and the University of Sydney in 1997, Professor the International Future – Resourcing Tomorrow’ in Brisbane in Eggleton went to Bell Laboratories in the Union of Geological August. Among the 5000 delegates from more US, where he was head of Photonic Devices Alison Ord Sciences (IUGS) than 100 countries were Australian delegates Research and Research Director of the Commission on Professor Ord, Dr Hobbs and former Geoscience Specialty Division. Tectonics and Structural Geology (TecTask). Australia CEO Dr Neil Williams PSM FTSE. The ARC Federation Fellowship scheme Professor Ord, based at UWA, is a enticed him back to Australia in 2003, joining researcher and consultant and was Chief the University of Sydney to establish a new Research Scientist, CSIRO Exploration and wins 2012 Laureate research group in the School of Physics. In Mining. Fellowship 2003 he also began leading CUDOS. Dr Ord is an internationally acclaimed Professor Benjamin Eggleton FTSE has been “It is very exciting and great time in structural geologist responsible for named a 2012 Australian Laureate Fellow. Australia now, in terms of the scientific frontier, introducing computer modelling Professor Eggleton is Director of the ARC the scale and excellence of our science, the technologies emphasising hydrothermal Centre of Excellence for Ultrahigh Bandwidth calibre of our students and postdocs and systems into the Australian and international Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS), an ARC vibrant collaborations,” he said after his award. economic geology community. Federation Fellow and Director of the University As well as being an ATSE Fellow, Professor IUGS works through its Commissions, of Sydney’s Institute of Photonics and Optical Eggleton is a Fellow of the IEEE Photonics Subcommissions, Task Groups and Joint Science (IPOS). Society, the Australian Institute of Physics Programs and with the support of its His Australian Laureate Fellowship will allow (AIP) and of America. international affiliated bodies to address him to open a new field of physics by building His awards include the 2011 Eureka Prize earth science issues of relevance to society. the first integration platform in which light and for Leadership in Science, 2011 AIP Walter It recently upgraded the status of TecTask sound interact in non-linear nanoscale circuits. Boas Medal, 2008 NSW Science Prize, 2007 from a Task Force to a full Commission, This interaction will be harnessed for new signal from the Australian Academy in recognition of its continued growth in processing applications, leading to dramatic of Science and the 2004 Prime Minister’s membership and activities. improvements in microwave technologies Malcolm McIntosh Prize for research in Former WA Chief Scientist Professor Bruce for radar, communications and sensing at the Photonics. He was President of the Australian Hobbs AO FAA FTSE is an Officer of TecTask. nanoscale. Optical Society and is Editor-in-Chief of Optics IUGS is one of the largest and most active The Fellowship will help him continue Communications. non-governmental scientific organisations in the world. Founded in 1961, IUGS is a member of the International Council of Ben Eggleton Science and has a global membership of one million earth scientists through some 120 member countries and almost 50 affiliated organisations. IUGS promotes and encourages the study of geological problems, especially those of world-wide significance, and supports and facilitates international and interdisciplinary cooperation in the earth sciences. IUGS fosters dialogue and communication among the various specialists in earth sciences around the world. It achieves this by organising international projects and meetings, sponsoring symposia and scientific field trips, and producing publications. Topics addressed span the gamut from fundamental research to its economic and industrial october 12 Focus 44 ATSE IN FOCUS www.atse.org.au

interest in CRCs and other organisations in Ralph Slatyer “fathered” the retirement, chairing several and reviewing many. nation’s CRC system The CRC Association named its annual oration The Ralph Slatyer Address on Science Australia’s first Chief Scientist, took him to and Society in his honour. Professor Alan Professor Ralph Slatyer AC FRS FAA FTSE, who for four years. On Robson AM FTSE, the former Vice Chancellor died in Canberra in July at the age of 83, will his return home of the University of WA, delivered the first be remembered as the author of Australia’s in 1982, the Fraser lecture in 2011. Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) system. Government Professor Slatyer was highly awarded He contributed a great deal to Australian appointed him – numerous honorary doctorates, foreign science and left behind a lasting legacy. He Chairman of the membership of the American Academy delivered the Academy’s 1986 Oration. Australian Science of Arts and Sciences, gold medal of the An agricultural science graduate, he and Technology Ralph Slatyer Ecological Society of Australia, ANZAAS worked in the CSIRO Division of Land Council (ASTEC), Medal, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal, Research, as Professor of Biology at ANU, which was a Government ‘think tank’ set up Australian Medal of Agricultural Science, Australia’s Ambassador to UNESCO and by then Prime Minister in the Edgeworth David Medal (Royal Society of Chairman of the Australian Science and 1970s. NSW), David Evans Memorial Prize (UWA) and Technology Council (ASTEC) and Chief During Professor Slatyer’s five-year tenure honorary membership of many organisations. Scientist. as Chair, ASTEC was instrumental in lobbying for Born in Melbourne and educated in tax concessions for research and development “I had the pleasure of Ralph Slayter’s support Perth, Professor Slatyer – a Fellow since 1992 in Australia. In 1989 Professor Slatyer made when I took on the role he had pioneered, Chief – graduated for the University of Western Australian history when he was appointed as Scientist of Australia. He made himself available Australia with Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral the first Chief Scientist for Australia. and his wise counsel helped me settle in to the degrees in agricultural science. As Chief Scientist, Professor Slatyer directly task of a major review of Australia’s science. Beginning his career as an agricultural advised the Prime Minister on important issues Ralph remained interested and enthusiastic to science graduate, he joined CSIRO in 1951, relating to science and technology both in see change, especially to see better connection working in the Division of Land Research, Australia and abroad for the next three years. between our researchers and those in end-user of which he became Associate Chief in During this period Professor Slatyer was largely land. He leaves a brilliant legacy in terms of the 1966. Professor Slatyer left CSIRO in 1967 responsible for the establishment of the CRCs Cooperative Research Centre scheme, which to become a Professor of Biology at the in Australia – a system that still flourishes today, still continues to deliver outstanding results in Australian National University and was facilitating collaboration between business and terms of connection and collaboration between elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1975. researchers. researchers and end-users.” He was a Visiting Professor at The role of Australia’s Chief Scientist – ATSE President Professor Robin Batterham and the . In the US, he continues today and while the job description was appointed a Senior Fellow of both the and office has broadened somewhat, the original “Professor Slatyer was a remarkable man and National Science Foundation and the Ford purpose of advising Government at its highest an excellent ambassador for science. He has left Foundation. level still remains the primary focus due to the behind a lasting legacy and I’m honoured to be In 1978 Professor Slatyer became successful foundations laid by Professor Slatyer. working in a role that was originated by him.” Australia’s Ambassador to UNESCO, which Professor Slatyer continued to take a strong – Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb

“I am a great admirer of the enormous From AutoCRC to RMIT contribution made by Ralph Slatyer to both Professor Matthew Cuthbertson FTSE has become RMIT University’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, science and science policy. In my view, the Research & Innovation, within the College of Science, Engineering and Health. establishment of the Cooperative Research Professor Cuthbertson has a PhD in chemistry and a wealth of experience in research Centres was a masterstroke way ahead of leadership, technology commercialisation, strategy and organisational development. He has held its time. These Centres have enabled the senior positions in the medical devices, defence, mining services development of great science with great and manufacturing sectors and has led successful CRC submissions. application to industry, for the wider benefit of He was previously CEO of the CRC for Advanced Automotive all. His genius was his ability to bring people Technology (AutoCRC) and prior to that was Chief Executive of together for the greater good.” the CRC for Sensor Signal and Information Processing, and Vice – Professor Alan Robson President Research and Technology at SOLA International. Professor Cuthbertson has an extensive national and "I know I speak for the whole CRC community international network of industry and government research in passing on our condolences to June Slatyer linkages, and is experienced in managing researchers, and her family. Ralph was intensely proud of his family and we wish them all the best at this very Matthew Cuthbertson difficult time." – CRCA CEO Tony Peacock focus october 12 www.atse.org.au ATSE IN FOCUS 45

Douglas Hilton is Shi Xue Dou Member of the Space Eureka mentor Industry Business Advisory Committee, Professor Douglas Hilton FAA FTSE, Chair of the Northeast Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Australian Satellite and Research Professor of Medical Biology Imagery System, served and Head of the Department of Medical on and headed various Biology at the University of Melbourne, was JCU committees, named the winner of the Outstanding Mentor Doug Hilton was a member and of Young Researchers category in the 2012 Chair of the North Eureka Prizes. Queensland Electricity Professor Hilton took up this role in 2009, magnetic resonance imaging and electric Board, Deputy Chair of the Council of the when he became the sixth director of the power systems. Townsville College of TAFE and a Director of institute in its 94-year history. He became an He was awarded three consecutive JCU Technologies Pty Ltd. ATSE Fellow in 2010. Australian Professorial Fellowships by the Professor Arlett was a Chartered Engineer, Professor Hilton has been actively Australian Research Council in 1993, 2002 a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia, mentoring young researchers for almost and 2007 and the Centenary Medal for a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers two decades, many of whom have become his achievements in materials science and and a Member of the Institute of Mechanical leading researchers in their own right. engineering in 2003. He received the Vice- Engineers. Professor Hilton has received many Chancellor’s Excellent Senior Researcher Award Professor Arlett’s nomination citation prizes and awards for his contribution to in 2008. for Fellowship noted his department’s medical research, including the Amgen close contact with industry, his leadership Medical Researcher Award, the inaugural Peter Arlett: from in remote sensing, the number of research Commonwealth Health Minister’s Award for apprentice to Pro VC contracts his department held with overseas Excellence in Health and Medical Research Emeritus Professor Peter Arlett FTSE, who died organisations and its success in developing and the GSK Australia Award for Research in Townsville in July, aged 79, took a 40-year equipment licensed to industry for Excellence. In 2008, he was recognised as one journey from Welsh apprentice to Queensland manufacture and export. of the NHMRC’s ‘Ten great minds in health Pro Vice Chancellor – via Baghdad and Brazil. and medical research’. Welsh-born, in Ogmore Vale, Professor ANSTO CEO awarded Throughout his career, Professor Hilton Arlett started his career in 1950 as an apprentice engineering honour has been actively involved in the application with the Welsh Central Electricity Generating Dr Adi Paterson FTSE, the Chief Executive of research through collaboration with Board and worked in increasingly senior of the Australian Nuclear Science and industry. He is an inventor on more than 20 positions until he won a scholarship to study Technology Organisation (ANSTO), has been patent families, most of which have been engineering. named Professional Engineer of the Year in licensed. He co-founded the biotechnology He graduated with a BSc and PhD from the Engineers Australia 2012 Sydney Division company Murigen and actively collaborates the University of Wales before becoming an Engineering Excellence Awards. with CSL on a number of projects. academic, working from 1963 to 1972 as a As Chief Executive since 2009, Dr Paterson Together with Warren Alexander and lecturer then senior lecturer in the Department has overseen a major revitalisation of ANSTO, Benjamin Kile (son of Victorian division chair of Electrical and with several new projects across the site Dr Glen Kile AM FTSE), Professor Hilton has Electronic Engineering such as the construction of the Centre for established a new program using large-scale at the University Accelerator Science and major extensions mouse genetics and genomics to identify College of Swansea. to the Minerals Division and OPAL reactor which of the 30,000 genes in the genome He was Reader building. regulate blood cell formation. and acting department Most recently, a $168 million plan was Professor Shi Xue Dou, Director of the head at the University announced to build a nuclear medicine Institute for Superconducting & Electronic of Wales from 1972 to manufacturing plant at Lucas Heights that Materials at the University of Wollongong, 1976, also serving as a will help meet global health needs, along was one of the three finalists in the category, Peter Arlett Visiting Professor at the with a collocated waste treatment plant to sponsored by the University of Technology, University of Baghdad showcase the Australian developed Synroc Sydney. and the University of Brazil. technology. This project alone will create Professor Dou, a Fellow since 1994, He came to Australia to join James Cook around 250 new jobs. specialises in energy and superconductor University in 1976 as Professor of Electrical and “Engineering is the basis of all of our materials including high performance Electronic Engineering and was appointed work here, from nuclear medicine production lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) in 1991. He was to radiocarbon dating. It is crucial for our and patented magnesium diboride elected to the Academy in 1988. infrastructure to be up to date and this is superconductor wires for applications in During his 35 years in Townsville, he was a driving growth at ANSTO,” he said. october 12 Focus 46 ATSE IN FOCUS www.atse.org.au

Stephen Hopper – back to field the Botanical Society of America in 2007 and work and research. received the Nancy T. Burbidge Memorial Medal from the Australian Systematic Botany organisation were in a better place Society in 2008. He was elected an ATSE by the time I left. Like all such aims, Fellow in 2011. my time is marked by achievement He is an active field biologist, widely in some quarters and much more travelled and published, interested in left to do in others. Biodiversity has evolution, ecology, conservation and an enormous role to play in helping landscapes. He has specialist expertise in moderate the worst aspects of eucalypts, orchids, the kangaroo paw family global warming and in enabling (Haemodoraceae), plants of granite rock people to live healthy, sustainable outcrops and old landscapes, botanic gardens, lives,” Professor Hopper said, and exploring links between biodiversity and discussing his move. sustainable human livelihoods. He told ATSE Focus his new The WA Division will welcome Professor Hopper’s role is primarily a terrestrial return to WA at its Christmas event on 26 biodiversity research post, with a November, where he will address Fellows on bit of teaching (mostly in the field Science, sabbaticals and songlines – lifelong Stephen Hopper and for postgraduates, plus one learning by a Western Australian botanist. undergraduate unit). back to Australia “After six years at the helm at ATSE involved in Kew, I decided it was time to hand ACSRF meeting the reins to someone else so that I More than 130 leading Australian and Chinese Internationally renowned plant could focus on research, writing and teaching scientists, researchers and government conservation biologist Professor Stephen where I can be most effective – working in the representatives – including ATSE Fellows – Hopper AC FTSE has stepped down as rich temperate flora of the Southwest Australian met in Melbourne recently to foster greater Director (CEO and Chief Scientist) of the World Floristic Region, using it as a model for the collaboration and Heritage-listed Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, world’s oldest climatically buffered infertile further strengthen UK, to take up a new Chair in Biodiversity at landscapes (OCBILs) where patterns of ecology, research and the University of Western Australia. evolution, conservation and sustainable living industry links Professor Hopper’s return from London appear different to those emphasised in the between the two to UWA, starting 8 October, is to enable him mainstream literature. countries. to devote more time to research, writing and “I published a new body of theory on this They met at teaching in biodiversity conservation, plant topic in 2009, and I’m keen to test hypotheses the Australia– taxonomy and evolutionary biology. He will through an active program of field research. China Science and be based in Albany, on the south coast of WA, “Kew is travelling relatively well at the Research Fund 400 kilometres from Perth. moment, despite the financial challenges in the (ACSRF) Knowledge Thomas Maschmeyer Professor Hopper will explore UK, and I’ve had a dream run, full of opportunity Exchange opportunities at UWA to further develop a to make a contribution to global science-based Symposium, supported by the Department significant international research program, plant conservation aimed at enhancing the of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and including ongoing collaborative links with Kew. quality of life. Tertiary Education (DIISRTE). Professor Hopper has collaborated in “I now look forward to shifting emphasis Professor Thomas Maschmeyer FAA FTSE, the discovery, classification and description from a post that was 80 per cent administration Federation Fellow and Future Fellow from of 300 new plant taxa and, since 2006, has to one that is 80 per cent research, and I’m the University of Sydney, chaired a session led the development of a 10-year Breathing grateful to both RBG Kew and to UWA for on case studies in early-stage collaboration Planet program at Kew Gardens, which aims enabling this to happen.” and Professor Neil Furlong FTSE, Research to improve the quality of all life on Earth. Professor Hopper graduated from UWA Manager, Australian Technology Network, Professor Hopper has led new and worked as a plant conservation biologist presented on the ATN. developments in Kew’s science, including in the WA Government until appointed This year marks the 40th anniversary a concerted focus on restoration ecology Director of Kings Park and Botanic Garden from of diplomatic relations between Australia aimed at restoring natural biodiversity. His 1992 to 2004. Following two years at UWA as and China. The ACSRF has already funded publication in Plant and Soil in 2009 of OCBIL Foundation Professor of Plant Conservation 34 group missions to China covering fields Theory dealing with biodiversity on old, Biology, he was the 14th Director of the Royal ranging from green photonics, and childhood climatically buffered, infertile landscapes is a Botanic Gardens, Kew in London from 2006–12. language disorders to quantum science. It recent career highlight. He was awarded a Commonwealth is jointly managed by the Australian and “I came to Kew from the University of Centenary Medal for service to the community Chinese governments and was established Western Australia with a simple aim – to in 2003, became a Fellow of the Linnean Society following the Prime Minister’s visit to China ensure the world, biodiversity and the of London and a Corresponding Member of in 2011. focus october 12 www.atse.org.au ATSE IN FOCUS 47

Commonwealth successful marriage of science and industry. Alan Hamer Bank and the He is a visionary leader who has made Wheat Export not only an outstanding contribution to was an industry Authority. science in Australia and internationally, but Mr Besley has to industry-partnered science that has been giant been a Fellow of enormous benefit to agriculture and Mr Alan Hamer FTSE, former Chair and since 1985 and agribusiness around the globe,“ Mr Gieskes Managing Director of ICI Australia Ltd and was President said. scientific adviser to the Federal Government, from 1998 to 2002. Tim Besley These achievements include: has died in Melbourne, aged 94. Announcing ¢developing gene technology research Mr Hamer, a the appointment, programs to benefit Australia’s important Rhodes Scholar who the NSW Minister for Transport, Gladys crop and pasture species, championing achieved first-class Berejiklian, and the Minister for Roads and Ports, new approaches to wheat, barley and honours in chemistry Duncan Gay, said the Board would be part of cotton breeding; at Oxford, was a the NSW Government’s commitment to drive ¢facilitating the first commercial brother of the former change and deliver better transport outcomes introduction of a transgenic crop – insect- Victorian Premier for customers across the state. resistant cotton – in Australia, which has (1972–81) Sir Rupert Ms Berejiklian said the Transport Advisory been critical for the sustainability of the (Dick) Hamer and Board would play an important role in local cotton industry; Alan Hamer former Liberal MHR providing high-level advice on transport ¢initiating the development of a low-GI, and Senator for Victoria issues to the Government and the state’s new high-fibre CSIRO barley variety, BARLEYmax, (1977–90) David Hamer. Alan Hamer joined the integrated transport agency, Transport for NSW. now available on supermarket shelves; Academy in 1983. Mr Gay said the NSW Government was ¢founding the Gene Shears biotechnology Mr Hamer had a long career with ICI. delivering a huge transport agenda, from major company to Joining the company in England, he worked infrastructure projects such as the North West commercialise on the neutralisation of carbon monoxide Rail Link, the Pacific Highway duplication and ribozymes, a to save RAAF bomber crews from poisoning the widening of the M5 West, to crucial plans technology before working for ICI Australia in peacetime for transport in the next 20 years. with potential on the design and management of plants “The Transport Advisory Board will provide in agricultural manufacturing explosives, sulfuric acid and high-level advice on strategic transport products ammonia to meet post-war demand. planning, delivery of transport projects and and medical He held the posts of chemical engineer, initiatives to ensure customers are being applications; chemical group development manager and considered at the centre of transport planning ¢establishing technical controller, becoming Executive and service delivery,” Mr Gay said. Grain Gene, an Director (1959–68), Chairman and MD of the alliance to work Group’s Indian companies (1968–71) and MD is 2012 on projects of and Deputy Chairman of ICIANZ (1971–79). Rabobank awardee importance to the He was chairman and director of several Internationally renowned scientist Dr Jim wheat industry; listed companies, as well as Chairman of the Peacock AC FAA FTSE has been named 2012 and Jim Peacock Australian Industry Development Association recipient of the Rabobank Leadership Award in ¢involvement in and a member of the Australian Science recognition of his outstanding contribution to development and Technology Council and the Federal the food and agricultural industries. of the High Rainfall Zone Wheat Alliance Government’s Science Committee. Dr Peacock is Australia’s former Chief between New Zealand and Australian Scientist and currently Fellow and Chair of research groups and wheat-breeding Tim Besley heads CSIRO’s Office of the Chief Executive Science companies to develop new high-rainfall Transport Board Team and Distinguished Professor at the wheat varieties. Former ATSE President – and former University of Technology, Sydney. In their most recent research, Dr Peacock Chancellor of Macquarie University and In addition to serving as Chief Scientist to and his colleagues have made fundamental current Chairman of the Science and Australia from 2006–08, Dr Peacock headed advances in the molecular basis of plant Engineering Challenge Council with the CSIRO’s Plant Industry division for 26 years, hybrid vigour. With hybrids providing much University of Newcastle – Tim Besley AC pioneering research that led to numerous greater yield to farmers than the parent FTSE has been appointed chair of the NSW advances benefiting global agriculture. varieties, this is an area of great potential for Transport Advisory Board. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group the challenge of providing food security for Mr Besley has had an extensive and Chief Executive Thos Gieskes said the work the world’s growing population. successful career over the past 40 years as an undertaken by Dr Peacock over more than 40 Dr Peacock is a recipient of the Prime Executive, Director and Chairman of public years had “resulted in a broad and deep impact Minister’s Prize for Science and a CSIRO Medal and private organisations and has previously on agribusiness in Australia and well beyond”. for Lifetime Achievement, in addition to held roles as Chairman of Leighton Holdings, “Jim Peacock’s career is exemplary of a numerous international honours. october 12 Focus 48 ATSE IN FOCUS www.atse.org.au

Dr Pond is also a Director of the Australian He first visited China in 1989 and has spent Susan Pond Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation one month a year for the past five years at the and a Board member of the Centenary Institute Key Laboratory for Grassland and Arid Ecology chairs Clean and Biotron Ltd. at LZU, helping staff and postgraduates with Previously, Dr Pond was a senior executive their research and publications. Technology with Johnson & Johnson, serving for 12 years as UWA and LZU are developing a joint Director and Managing Director of its Sydney- Centre for Dryland Agricultural Ecosystems to committee based biotechnology company, Johnson & further develop collaborative research, giving Academy Vice President Dr Susan Johnson Research Pty Ltd. Australian researchers access to new facilities Pond AM FTSE will chair an expert on root growth at LZU and giving LZU committee of seven leading business figures Neil Turner gets researchers access to specialist facilities and appointed to assist Innovation Australia China honour expertise for drought research at UWA. deliver the $200 million Clean Technology Winthrop Professor Neil Turner, from the Innovation Program University of WA’s Institute of Agriculture, has Stephen Powles – and has joined the been presented with the People’s Republic of is a finalist in WA Board of Innovation China’s highest award for “foreign experts who Scientist of the Year Australia. have made outstanding contributions to the Winthrop Professor Stephen Powles FAA The committee country’s economic and social progress”. FTSE, Director of the Australian Herbicide will assess A dryland agriculture expert, Professor Resistance Initiative at the University of applications by Turner has been Western Australia, has been named businesses for selected by China’s a finalist in the WA Scientist of funding through the State Administration the Year category of the 2012 WA Susan Pond Clean Technology of Foreign Experts Science Awards. Innovation Program. Affairs (SAFEA) Professor Powles is as an Announcing the committee, Industry as one of only 50 international expert on herbicide and Innovation Minister Greg Combet said foreign experts to resistance in crops and weeds there had been strong interest in the Program receive the national and he has made significant since it was launched last month and it would Friendship Award in contributions to Australian help businesses to find innovative ways of 2012. agriculture. He has strongly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2011 Professor influenced Australian and global “I am pleased we have been able to attract Turner received thinking on sustainable herbicide a committee of this calibre to help deliver the the prestigious usage by reducing herbicide Clean Technology Innovation Program. They Dunhuang Award reliance and increasing diversity in will play a vital role in assessing applications to from the Gansu Neil Turner agro-ecosystems. this merit-based program,” he said. People’s Provincial The Awards citation notes that Professor The $200 million in Clean Technology Government as part of the 62nd anniversary of Powles has made several ground-breaking Innovation funding enables firms to access the foundation of the People‘s Republic of China. discoveries. “He was the first to reveal the matched grants ranging from $50,000 to A provincial award is a prerequisite for being biochemical basis of multiple herbicide $5 million to improve Australian industry considered for the national Friendship Award, resistance in plants and the first to report competitiveness. which is conferred as part of the celebrations glyphosate resistance evolution. At all Dr Pond is Adjunct Professor in of the National Day of the People’s Republic of stages (he) has ensured that his research Sustainability, United States Study Centre, China on 1 October. outcomes have been University of Sydney, and a Member of the The awards recognise Professor Turner‘s communicated to Commercialisation Australia Board. outstanding service and contribution to the joint end-users, resulting In 2010, Dr Pond was appointed to the UWA and Lanzhou University (LZU) economic, in practice change. Dow Sustainability Program of the United scientific, academic development and education Owning a farm himself, States Study Centre. The Program brings program in Gansu. The program includes the he has demonstrated together academic and policy experts from introduction of improved cultivars of wheat and what is possible at the Australia and the US to develop action- barley and grain and forage legumes to increase applied level.” oriented solutions to a range of sustainability cereal and legume production, while maintaining Professor Powles’ challenges concerning energy, water, food and soil health to withstand wind and water erosion in industry leadership biodiversity that are technologically innovative, the semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau of China. has been recognised Stephen Powles commercially scalable and politically viable. Professor Turner is a former CSIRO scientist by the Grains Research Dr Pond’s area of interest is the and Director of the Centre for Legumes in and Development Council with a Seed of development of the advanced transportation Mediterranean Agriculture at UWA. For the past Light Award (2010) for his contribution to WA biofuels industry, including the critical success 28 years he has worked with dryland farmers agriculture, and he is the only Australian ever factors required for commercially viable in WA, which has similar rainfall to the Loess elected as an International Honorary Fellow of production at scale. Plateau. the WSSA, USA. Thoughts

Contributor / Innovation / Seeing is believing Ben Cooper-Woolley 1 October 2012 / 1 / Ben Cooper-Woolley Graduate Research Training.

I am based in Arup’s Sydney office and have a background in geographical information systems ©Arup (GIS). I work with teams from around the world to Do you digest data more effectively if it’s presented graphically? Would you trust data pre- use spatial technology to www.unimelb.edu.au/research/ sented outside of traditional tables and graphs to make important decisions on subjects such facilitate the communication as your building maintenance, the cost of public transport or whether or not you object to a and better understanding road being built? of complex data. I believe innovative visualisation of data can help us to engage with data and improve our I’m passionate about decision making process. Quite simply, informative, engaging, graphical representations making information of data make for effective communication. Data visualisation can take many forms: from meaningful and relevant infographics that provide a concise visual representation of cumbersome pages of data or text to the intended audience. to detailed interactive time series visualisations that enable users to navigate through spans of On a daily basis I do this time at the click of a mouse, or explore virtual 3D digital environments. by creating interactive, data-driven experiences that We’ve used the latter successfully for several public consultations on major projects. Using range from web-based data innovative visual tools, users can explore existing and proposed locations in digital virtual visualisations to mobile environments and gain an understanding of the invisible infrastructure and information flows applications and 3D real that keep them functioning. time digital environments. I’ve been involved in a number of large-scale infrastructure projects for Arup where we’ve used data visualisation to help local residents and communities understand the impact the Join Australia’s Best Minds project will have on them. It is my experience that the greatest levels of engagement are Thoughts / achieved when people can use tools that they’re already familiar with to discover and explore e University of Melbourne is seeking high calibre PhD students to contribute to projects at why we’re doing something and how it will benefit them. For example, using widely used The best solutions can only the forefront of international research. online, interactive maps (like Google Maps) or exploring virtual environments using an Xbox come about by continually controller to see how a place or area will be affected. At the University of Melbourne, one of Australia’s leading research universities, you will listening, learning and chal- become part of a dynamic research community, working alongside the best and brightest lenging. That’s why we’ve For one project, we enabled people affected by a highway project (the A465 in South Wales) created Thoughts - researchers in the country. to interact with a 3D visual representation of our latest thinking on the project design. This a place for experts, gave them a much greater understanding of how it might impact the landscape familiar to Our generous scholarship programs provide students with  nancial support and practitioners and them. opportunities for international  eldwork and travel. enthusiasts to talk about the issues affecting the built To  nd out more about undertaking a graduate research degree at Melbourne, Live building information can also be displayed graphically to give people a simple summary environment now and in visit: www.unimelb.edu.au/research/ of the building’s current performance and environmental impact. Graphical visualisations can the future. help people relate building metrics to real world equivalents – comparing current and historic Please join us. electricity usage to the number of computers currently on, for example. www.arup.com/ Would you rely on graphical data visualisations as part of your decision-making process, or do you think they’re too far removed from the safety of the numbers they represent? thoughts

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