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The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation ('''CSIRO''') is the national government body for scientific research in Australia . It was founded in 1916 originally as the Advisory Council of Science and Industry. Research highlights include the invention of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy , development of the first Polymer Banknote , invention of the insect repellant in Aerogard, Gene Shear technology and the introduction of a series of biological controls into Australia, such as the introduction of Myxomatosis and Rabbit Calicivirus for the control of Rabbit populations. Recently, the CSIRO has been actively defending its patent for the use of Wireless technologies which are a standard for many modern day laptops. A class action has been filed by US corporations Microsoft , Apple Computer and Dell to renege on paying royalties on the wireless patent filed by the CSIRO in 1996. RESEARCH GROUPS AND INITIATIVES Employing over 6600 staff, the CSIRO maintains 55 sites accross Australia and biological control research stations in , Energy and Transport , Environment And Natural Resources , Information, Communication And Services , Manufacturing , Mineral Resources and Health . "Flagship" initiative The CSIRO "Flagship" initiative was designed to integrate, focus and direct national scientific resources. In May 2005, the government announced the launch of CSIRO's $97 million Flagship Collaboration Fund, which is intended to encourage cooperative research between universities, CSIRO and other research agencies. As Of May 2005 , the CSIRO supported the following 6 "Flagships":
HISTORY A precurser to the CSIRO, the Advisory Council of Science and Industry, was established in 1916 at the intitiative of Prime Minister Billy Hughes . However, the Advisory Council struggled with insufficient funding during the First World War . In 1920 the Council was rebranded the "Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry", and was led by George Handley Knibbss (1921-26), but continued to struggle financially. In 1926 ''The Science and Industry Research Act'' replaced the Institute with the 'Council for Scientific and Industrial Research' (CSIR). The CSIR was structured to recogonise the federal structure of Australian government, and had state-level committees and a central council. As well as this improved structure the CSIR benefited from strong bureaucratic management under George Julius , Albert Rivett , and Arnold Richardson . CSIR research focussed on primary and secondary industries. Early in its existence it established divisions studying animal health and animal nutrition. After the depression, the CSIR extended into secondary industries, such as manufacturing. The CSIRO today has expanded into a wider range of scientific inquiry. This expansion began with the establishment of the CSIRO in 1949, which, as well as a name change, reconstituted the organisation and its administrative structure. Under Ian Clunies Ross as chair the CSIRO pursued new areas such as radioastronomy and industrial chemistry. Previous Chief Executives
RECENT CONTROVERSIES In 2005 the organisation also gained worldwide attention (and criticism) for publishing and promoting the http://www.csiro.au/csiro/channel/pchaj,,.html Total Wellbeing Diet'' Total Wellbeing Diet '' book which features a high- Protein , low- Carbohydrate Diet . The book has sold over half a million copies in Australia and over 100,000 overseas 2 but was criticised in an editorial by '' Nature '' for giving scientific credence to a "fashionable" diet book sponsored by meat and dairy industries 3. In 2006 CSIRO was again in the news, this time with reports that they were struggling with reduced funding and job cuts 4. It was reported that the organisation was increasingly affected by political processes as claims of gags on scientists on the topic of Global Warming emerged 5. Labor attempted to open a Senate enquiry into the matter but it was rejected by the Government. 6 REFERENCES EXTERNAL SOURCES Currie, George; Graham, John, ''The Origins of CSIRO: Science and the Commonwealth Government, 1901-1926'', CSIRO, Melbourne, 1966 EXTERNAL LINKS |
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