CONTENTS

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Part one:
Overview
 Letter of transmittal
 Highlights of 2010–11
 Foreword by the Chairman
 Chief Executive’s report
 Organisational structure
 CSIRO locations

Part two:
Enterprise performance
 Measuring our performance
 Strategy implementation
 Financial performance
 Intellectual property and equity portfolio
 Research capability and scientific excellence
 Collaboration and partnering
 Awards and honours

Part three:
Outcome and program performance
 Program 1: National Research Flagships
 Program 2: Core research and services
 Program 3: Science outreach: education and scientific publishing
 Program 4: National research infrastructure: national facilities and  collections

Part four:
Our organisation
 Management and accountability
 CSIRO Board
 CSIRO Executive Management
 Health and safety
 Environmental performance
 Our people

Part five:
Financial Statements
Independent auditor’s report (This section is not available in RTF format)

Part six:
Appendices
 Flagship collaboration clusters
 Service charter
 Administrative law
 Consultancy services
 Science and Industry Endowment Fund Annual Report 2010–11
  Research Group structure

Part seven:
Indexes
 Image details (This section is not available in RTF format)
 Acronyms
 Glossary
 Index
 Compliance index
 Contacts

Part eight:
Case Studies
 Boeing names CSIRO ‘Supplier of the Year’
 RAFT: World-class technology commercialised
 Scientists in Schools
 Tracking the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
 The Atlas of Living Australia
 CSIRO’s research being used to make Australian water policy decisions
 Canola plants: a new source of omega-3
 CSIRO’s rainwater harvesting system
 Facebook fans take on titanium challenge
 Letter of transmittal

Senator the Hon Kim Karr

Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

We have pleasure in submitting to you, for presentation to Parliament, the sixty-third Annual Report of the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). This report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Science and
Industry Research Act 1949 and in accordance with section 9 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act).

Under section 9 of the CAC Act, CSIRO Board members are responsible for producing an Annual Report in accordance with the rules
laid down in Schedule 1 of this Act, including a ‘Report of Operations’ prepared in accordance with the Finance Minister’s Orders.

This report presents fairly the information required by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation as set out in the Commonwealth
Authorities and Companies (Report of Operations) Orders 2008.

The report has been approved for presentation to you, signed this 24th day of August 2011 in accordance with a resolution of the Board
members.

The report includes an appendix comprising a report from the Chief Executive of CSIRO, as trustee of the Science and Industry
Endowment Fund (the Fund), established under the Science and Industry Endowment Act 1926, on the operations of the Fund together
with a report by the Auditor-General on the accounts of the Fund.

Since 30 June 2011, no developments have arisen that have significantly affected or may significantly affect CSIRO’s operations or
state of affairs.

We commend the Organisation’s achievements to you.

Simon McKeon Megan Clark

Chairman of the Board Chief Executive

19 September 2011

PART 1
OVERVIEW
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 Letter of transmittal
 Highlights of 2010–11
 Foreword by the Chairman
 Chief Executive’s report
 Organisational structure
 CSIRO locations

Our history
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was established in 1926 with its primary research devoted
towards agriculture. In the late 1930s this was extended to include industrial research.
In 1949, the CSIR was reconstituted as CSIRO, and gradually expanded its activities so that its research was related to
almost every field of primary, secondary and tertiary industry in Australia.
Today, CSIRO is a trusted source of creative ideas and practical technologies to deliver impact for the nation.

Highlights of 2010–11

CSIRO is Australia’s national science organisation. We are one of the largest and most diverse scientific organisations in the world.
This report highlights a wide array of our science and its applications. Here are just a few examples of the impact science has on our
lives, our industries and our environment.

Climate
Climate Change: Science and Solutions for Australia highlights the importance of climate change as a matter of significant economic,
environmental and social concern in Australia. CSIRO’s new book draws on the latest peer-reviewed literature contributed by
thousands of researchers in Australia and internationally (more on page 54).

Health
Researchers at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) have shown that a new experimental vaccine will help protect
horses against the deadly Hendra virus. AAHL is continuing to provide critical support to the Queensland and New South Wales
Governments’ response to the Hendra outbreaks (more on page 56).

Energy
A $4.2 million international hub for developing and commercialising solar thermal technologies was opened on
18 June 2011 at CSIRO’s National Solar Energy Centre in Newcastle, New South Wales (more on page 32).

Information technology
The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder project saw the first six (of 36) dishes successfully installed on site at the Murchison
Radio-astronomy Observatory in Western Australia (more on page 69).

Manufacturing
CSIRO’s breakthrough polymer technology known as RAFT (Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer) has revolutionised
polymer synthesis and spawned a new generation of polymeric materials (more on page 29).

Financial performance 2010–11

CSIRO’s financial result for 2010–11 was a deficit of $10.5 million which included net losses of $23.1 million attributable to the
impairment of equity investments and assets, net of small gains from the sale of assets. Total revenue for the year was $1,220 million
and total expenses were $1,231 million. CSIRO’s financial performance for 2010–11 is summarised in Table 2.2 on page 6.

Foreword by the Chairman

Challenges create opportunities. The great thing about CSIRO science is the way it informs our choices and provides new
choices as individuals and as a nation.
The scientific technologies and know-how highlighted in this report will enable us to better understand, adapt and respond to challenges
associated with climate change, energy, food security and sustainable land and water management. They represent new opportunities
for Australian industry to diversify and secure its international competiveness, operate sustainably and generate employment.
For the community, CSIRO science is helping to prevent chronic diseases by enhancing the food we eat and providing healthier dietary
choices. Our science education and outreach programs are bringing a sense of excitement and inspiration to Australia’s youth.
Importantly, at this time, CSIRO science and our capacity to apply knowledge from around the world is enabling us to give
authoritative scientific advice to Governments, industry and the community so they can make informed choices about the future.
This report demonstrates the value and importance of CSIRO’s continued contribution to science, nationally and globally, and to
Australia’s social, economic and environmental development.
With this contribution in mind, a major focus for the Board and management of CSIRO over the past year has been the development of
our strategy for 2011–15 and beyond. The new strategy reflects our distinct role as the nation’s leading large-scale, multidisciplinary,
mission-directed science and technology organisation.
Over the next four years, we will increase our investment in response to national challenges and opportunities through the National
Research Flagships Program. We will also invest in people and infrastructure to support the delivery of impact and scientific
preparedness and form deep connections with the best partners in Australia and the world. We want to see CSIRO play a leading role in
the trusted delivery of scientific evidence and advice.
Central to the strategy is our people. Their creativity, integrity and commitment reflect CSIRO values essential to success. During the
Organisation’s response to the natural disasters in Queensland earlier this year, we saw first hand the compassion and resourcefulness of
the people who make up CSIRO. They demonstrated CSIRO values in a very real way. We will build on their commitment and enhance
our culture of innovation.
On behalf of the Board of CSIRO, I would like to acknowledge with appreciation the continued support of the Australian Government
and of our many research and commercial partners, as well as the members of our advisory committees.
I would also like to congratulate the management and staff of CSIRO for the many scientific outcomes achieved in 2010–11. Ms
Deborah O’Toole and Mr Doug Rathbone completed their terms and Mr Mark Paterson resigned, as members of the CSIRO Board. I
would like to thank them for their valuable contributions to the governance of the Organisation.
I am pleased to say CSIRO is well placed to continue to conduct great science and deliver innovative solutions for Australia.
Simon McKeon
Chairman of the CSIRO Board
Chief Executive’s report 2010–11 in summary and looking ahead

Year in review
Over the past year the efforts of our people have seen our science make a positive impact on the competiveness of
Australian industry and the wellbeing of all Australians and have contributed to a sustainable future for the nation.
The relevance of our science was demonstrated with another record number of active licenses of our innovations and a record $495
million in external revenue from our intellectual property and partnerships with industry, government and research partners.
The Hendra outbreak in Queensland and New South Wales has seen us respond with the successful development of a horse vaccine
now under trials for commercial release in 2012. We were named Boeing R&D global supplier of the year following our work with
them on polymers and new materials.
We have provided scientific advice to the community to assist with understanding complex national and global issues like climate
change and have advised our decision-makers on scientific observation, evidence and uncertainties.
Importantly, through our scientific research we are identifying innovative solutions to those challenges and with our partners turning
them into genuine opportunities for Australia.
This year we undertook the most extensive consultation in our history with leaders from industry, the community, environmental sector
and from all sides of government as we worked with the Board to develop the CSIRO 2011–15 Strategic Plan.
Our strategy will see CSIRO fully embrace its distinct role as the nation’s leading large-scale, multidisciplinary, mission-directed
science and technology organisation. It also builds roles that will increase our differentiation over time. Our role as a trusted scientific
advisor and our vision of creating national global precincts, and our role in providing deep connections across the innovation system to
lift Australia’s science and innovation position globally.
This year we worked with our stakeholders and staff to better secure CSIRO’s future, with the successful completion of a new
enterprise agreement with our staff, a record $3 billion, four-year funding from the Australian Government and a solid pipeline of
external research partnership for the next three years.

Our performance
We have made considerable progress in our efforts to achieve ‘Zero Harm’ to our people and the environment. However, we had 34 lost
time injuries this year, an increase on the previous year. I ask all our leaders and staff to continue our efforts and take the time to assess
the risks of our work and take steps to eliminate or manage those risks to ensure our colleagues go home safely.
Our impact is about how well we apply our knowledge and research capabilities to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits
to Australia.
CSIRO is continuing to expand the National Research Flagships Program as the focal point for CSIRO’s strategy of responding to
national challenges and opportunities and building large-scale research and commercial partnerships.
This year, CSIRO’s $20 million, five-year agreement with General Electric (GE) is one example of how we are delivering our Flagship
goals by fostering collaborations with world-leading research partners. Under that agreement our scientists will work together with
some of GE’s 36,000 researchers with the aim of delivering breakthroughs in clean coal technology, urban water conservation,
healthcare and the development of ‘smart grid’ technologies.
Our Energy portfolio is working towards a clean energy future and sustainable management of oceans and coasts. Working with our
partners, we are delivering results in new low-emissions energy technologies that address unique Australian needs.
We are creating cleaner synthetic transport fuels through our synthetic fuels research facility, SynCat. We are helping local exploration
companies find oil in the Perth Basin and our scientists are developing new technology that can capture and burn fugitive methane
emissions from underground mines. The Prime Minister launched our new solar thermal research hub at the CSIRO Energy Centre in
Newcastle, where we are already working with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) and Abengoa Solar (Spain).
Our whole world is being re-shaped by climate change and our Environment Group aims to deliver the highest quality scientific
research to address this issue.
CSIRO’s new book Climate Change: Science and Solutions for Australia highlights the importance of climate change as a matter of
significant economic, environmental and social concern. Drawn from the latest peer-reviewed literature, it provides the depth of science
that this complex issue demands.
As custodians of Australia’s National Insect Collection, we have developed The Atlas of Living Australia, a national initiative focused
on making biodiversity information about Australian species more discoverable and useable online.
We are safeguarding our borders by investigating the threat posed by Asian honeybees and
varroa mites, while at home we have developed new technologies to identify damaging exotic pests and diseases.
Our Food, Health and Life Science Industries Group is helping improve the health and wellbeing of Australians through prevention,
early detection and intervention. In collaboration with the Baker IDI, CSIRO’s Diabetes Diet and Lifestyle Plan is helping Australians
living with diabetes. A CSIRO-led International Sheep Genomics Consortium has revealed the reference genome for sheep.
The Information Sciences Group is the core of CSIRO’s research focus in the data-intensive sciences and services, and space
research. Our teams completed a successful demonstration of our Ngara wireless broadband technology for people living in rural and
regional Australia.
Due to our capabilities in information technology, our Australian Animal Health Laboratory has been equipped with high-definition
video conferencing and a shared workspace that offers secure access to critical technology that will allow disease experts to work in
real-time with veterinary officers across Australia.
The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) project saw six antennas successfully installed at the Murchison Radio-
astronomy Observatory by the end of June 2011. By early 2012, all 36 antennas should be built with the telescope operational in 2013.
ASKAP antennas have already been linked with other existing telescopes to make images ten times more detailed than those of the
Hubble Space Telescope and have been used to peer into the heart of neighbouring galaxies.
Our scientists and collaborators have also tracked down 25 ultrafast ‘millisecond’ pulsars in just two years; the same number discovered
in the previous 20 years, using facilities at Parkes in New South Wales and the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. This combination
of land and space-based pulsar detection may one day help us in the search for gravitational waves predicted by the general theory of
relativity.
In Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals we are assisting industry become more sustainable. Our LANDTEM™ technology, which
enables the minerals industry to detect ores underground, has been deployed on four continents helping to unearth around $6 billion of new
mines worldwide.
In response to the floods across eastern Australia, we developed extensive documents and interactive tools to help the Australian public
deal with flood damaged buildings.
Our performance is also about how well we govern the Organisation to ensure we operate efficiently and deliver on our commitments.
This year we have improved how we support our research, maintain research infrastructure and train and mentor our future leaders. We
have also revised our Code of Conduct which sets out the standard of behaviour expected of our staff members in the context of the
standard we expect of the Organisation.

Our people
At the heart of our achievements and goals are our people. Every day I am humbled by the talent and creative spirit of everyone at
CSIRO. CSIRO’s people bring something special and share a desire to ensure our science is used to make a profound and positive
impact for the future of Australia and humanity.
I sincerely thank all of our people for their extraordinary effort and commitment and thank everyone for their valuable contribution to
our successes and discoveries that have added to our proud track record.
To our staff, I reinforce the responsibility of every person in CSIRO to ensure the integrity of our excellent science, to build trust and
respect each day, ignite our creative spirit, do what we say we will do and strive towards ‘Zero Harm’ to our people and the
environment.

The year ahead

In the year ahead we will focus on implementing the 2011–15 strategy and in particular increasing our investment through the National
Research Flagships, building our capacity to deliver excellent science, forming deep national and international connections with
research and commercial partners, and being an innovation organisation and trusted scientific advisor.
We will support our people to be their best. Our shared commitment to CSIRO values will provide confidence to our investors, our
research partners and importantly to the Australian community.
I would like to thank everyone in CSIRO for their dedication and hard work this year as well as the members of the CSIRO Board and
Executive Team for their insights, enthusiasm and encouragement.
I am confident CSIRO will continue to deliver great science and look forward to the opportunities and challenges in the year ahead.
Megan Clark
Chief Executive
September 2011
CSIRO Organisational Chart as at July 2011
This section is not available in RTF format.

CSIRO locations
As at June 2011
Adelaide
 Waite Campus
 Kintore Avenue
Alice Springs
Armidale
 Chiswick
 Arding
Atherton
Bakers Hill
Brisbane
 Coopers Plains
 Pullenvale
 St Lucia
 Cleveland
 Herston
 Dutton Park
Cairns
Canberra
 Black Mountain
 Campbell
 Crace
 Yarralumla
 Acton
 Ginninderra
 Tidbinbilla
Darwin
Gatton
Geelong
 AAHL
 Belmont
Griffith
Hobart
 Hobart
 Sandy Bay
Irymple (Koorlong Field Station)
Melbourne
 Aspendale
 Clayton
 Highett
 Parkville
 Collingwood
Merbein
Mopra
Murchison
Myall Vale
Narrabri
Newcastle
Parkes
Perth
 Floreat
 Waterford
 Kensington
Rockhampton
 Belmont
 Rendel
Sydney
 North Ryde
 Lindfield
 Marsfield
 Macquarie Uni
 Lucas Heights
Toowoomba
Townsville
 Woodstock
 Townsville
Wodonga
Werribee
 Sneydes Rd
 South Rd

 BACK TO CONTENTS
PART 2
ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE
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 Measuring our performance

 Strategy implementation
 Financial performance
 Intellectual property and equity portfolio
 Research capability and scientific excellence
 Collaboration and partnering
 Awards and honours

PART TWO: ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE

Measuring our performance

CSIRO occupies an important place in Australia’s National Innovation System, offering a unique combination of size, breadth and
depth of capability, active research portfolio management and expertise in conducting large-scale, multidisciplinary, mission-directed
research.
As the nation’s largest research agency, our research addresses many of the complex interactions of human activity with natural and
built environments, with a particular focus on tackling major challenges that matter to Australia’s future. Over 90 per cent of CSIRO’s
resources are directed to the Government’s National Research Priorities and our activities are strongly aligned with the National
Innovation Priorities. CSIRO’s activities and achievements are outlined in Parts Two and Three of this Annual Report, collectively
providing evidence of our performance in four dimensions that are critical to CSIRO’s success. 1 These dimensions are:
 Impact: Delivering results with relevance and impact in areas of importance for Australia
 Science: Performing high-quality science
 Relationships: Building and maintaining strong relationships with customers, partners, staff and other stakeholders
 Resources: Effective resourcing of CSIRO’s activities.

Strategy implementation
In the 2010–11 Operational Plan, CSIRO’s Executive Team identified five high priority areas of focus for executive action in this final
year of the 2007–11 Strategy period.2 Table 2.1 provides a summary of actions taken and progress achieved.

Table 2.1: Strategy implementation 2010–11

Strategic
Assessment of
element and key Summary of progress
progress1
focus area

Delivering on national challenges

Further refine  A new Flagship Oversight Committee (FOC) is fully

CSIRO’s functional and strengthening the oversight of the
portfolio of National Research Flagships Program.
research
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO)

1CSIRO Strategic Plan 2007–2011, (page 84): www.csiro.au/resources/StratPlan07-11.html

2 CSIRO Operational Plan 2010–11, (page 7): www.csiro.au/operational-plan
addressing completed an audit of the National Research Flagships
national Program and made two recommendations. The first
challenges and was to improve financial reporting for Flagships and
opportunities the second was to make better use of information
and contribute collected from reviews. These recommendations were
to the accepted and will be implemented through the
development of enhanced FOC process.
national
Collaborative demonstration projects in low-emission
research
energy technologies are on track. The post-combustion
capacity.
capture pilot plant at Tarong Power Station and the
solar tower research hub at Newcastle were launched
this year.
Development of new national research infrastructure
facilities is progressing well. For example, the
broadband network fibre has been laid between the
Pawsey High-Performance Computing Centre in Perth
and the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
in Murchison, Western Australia; the first online tools
for The Atlas of Living Australia were released in late
2010; and the contract for the replacement Marine
National Facility research vessel has been signed.

1
The strength of overall progress compared with the Operational Plan is rated on a scale from one to five in each focus area.

Strategic element Assessment of

Summary of progress
and key focus area progress

Exploring new horizons

Invest in building  An assessment of our current scientific capability

the capability and was completed. The results indicate the need to
infrastructure maintain the current level of capability investments.
required to deliver
CSIRO submitted a four-year Capital Asset Plan to
world-class
the Department of Finance and Deregulation and
responses to meet
continues to participate in Departmental discussions
future needs.
on the review of depreciation funding. A Capital
Assets Management Plan is still in development.
Most of CSIRO’s ‘national footprint’ initiatives,
including site consolidations, are on schedule,
although bad weather has delayed construction at
some sites.2 To ensure the optimum location of
corporate groups on the Black Mountain site in
Canberra, their relocation from Campbell has been
postponed for two years.

Conducting science with impact

Build internal  Significant progress has been achieved but ongoing
management attention is required to ensure improved practices
practices and and relationships are maintained over the long-term.
external
A wide range of engagement initiatives with
partnerships that
industry and government partners are progressing
enhance the well, including Boeing; Abengoa Solar (Spain);
prospects of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan); the National
effective Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; AusAID;
translation of The University of Queensland; General Electric;
research into Bayer and Australia Pacific LNG.
impact.
Internal management practices have been
strengthened, with the introduction of new
commercial standards to provide a basis for sound
commercial relationships and to inform commercial
decision-making processes. New methodologies to
improve our capacity to deliver and demonstrate
triple bottom line3 impact are being developed. A
new organisational structure has been introduced for
our Communication function. New strategies for
enabling the use of information technology in
research are being introduced including testing of an
electronic laboratory notebook.

Harnessing One-CSIRO

Develop a clear  A new Strategic Plan4 has been approved by the
and compelling CSIRO Board; some further work is required to
strategy for 2011– fully align our operating and funding models to
15 and align support the new strategy.
CSIRO’s
The strategy embraces the Organisation’s distinct
operating and
role as a large-scale, mission-directed,
funding models to
multidisciplinary science and technology
support strategy
organisation, a connector of the National Innovation
implementation at
System, and a trusted science advisor on the big
all levels.
issues facing the nation.
The strategy has been supported with a record
$3 billion of appropriation funding for 2011–15.
However, depreciation funding is still inadequate to
support future capital needs and is under negotiation
with the Department of Finance and Deregulation.
A number of difficulties have been encountered in
the process for translating identified science
investment priorities for implementation through
2011–12 internal budget allocations and the process
will be subjected to a thorough internal review.

Building our people, capability and scientific excellence

Invest in  The majority of actions planned have been

developing completed or are in the final stages.
engaged, focused
A new Enterprise Agreement was approved by Fair
and productive
Work Australia and came into operation on 7 July
people working in
2011.
a safe, sustainable
and innovative An enterprise wide induction, training and
environment. leadership development framework was developed.
Around 3,300 training days were provided by our
internal learning and development teams.
Significant progress was made on embedding a
culture of active safety and sustainability leadership
in CSIRO. A new Health, Safety and Environment
 strategy, operating model and policies were
introduced in the reporting period.
An innovation maturity model was developed to
benchmark CSIRO’s capacity to innovate. The
model will be launched in August and a baseline
established in December 2011.

Financial performance
In 2010–11, CSIRO delivered a surplus from ongoing operations of $12.5 million. However, our overall position was a deficit of $10.5
million due to a write down of $23.1 million in the value of our equity investments and assets 3, net of small gains from the sale of
assets. Total revenue of $1,220 million included appropriation from government of $720 million and $500 million in revenue generated
from other sources (representing an 8.9 per cent increase over prior year). Compared with 2009–10, the value of CSIRO’s non-financial
assets increased by $283 million including $227 million attributable to the revaluation of land and buildings and further increase
relating to assets under construction.
CSIRO’s financial performance in 2010–11 is summarised in Table 2.2, (by source of revenue) and Table 2.3 (by Program).

Table 2.2: CSIRO financial performance 2010–11, $m

Financial performance

Revenue source 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

Co-investment, consulting and services

Australian private sector 58 68.2 76.3 71.8 81.6

Australian Governments 116 119.5 148.3 169.8 188.6

Rural industry R&D corporations 43.2 30.2 36.5 31.8 34.4

Cooperative Research Centres 39.8 38.2 40.3 42.3 34.8

Overseas entities 37.2 35.3 61 78.3 72.8

and international

Work in progress / -8.5 -1.4 -14.5 -13.6 5.9

deferred revenue

Total co-investment,
285.7 290 347.9 380.4 418.1
consulting and services

IP – royalty and licence 30.6 81.7 229.6 46.7 29.2

revenues

Total research and

316.3 371.7 577.5 427.1 447.3
services revenue

3 Land and building were revalued as at 30 June 2011 by a panel of independent valuers. The primary valuer was CB Richard Ellis.
Other external revenue 44.5 41.3 40.1 32.1 47.9

Gain / (loss) on sale of assets 2.7 4.8 17.2 4.9

Other fair value gains 0.1 10.8 - - 0.1

and reversals

Total external revenue 363.6 428.6 634.8 459.2 500.2

Revenue from Government 610.1 663.2 668.1 704.9 720.4

Total revenue 973.7 1,091.8 1,302.9 1,164.1 1,220.6

Less: expenses 972.7 1,044.1 1,180.9 1,333.1 1,231.1

Operating result 1.0 47.7 122.0 (169) (10.5)

Table 2.3: CSIRO – financial summary by PBS Program4, 2010–11, $m

Original PBS
Actual Variance
budget

Government revenue 720.4 720.9 0.5

External revenue 495.3 462.3 (33.0)

Other revenue 4.9 - (4.9)

Total revenue 1,220.6 1,183.2 (37.4)

Program 1 – National Research Flagships 536.5 552.4 15.9

Program 2 – Core Research and Services 542.5 466.3 (76.2)

Program 3 – Science Outreach: Education 35.3 31.8 (3.5)

and Scientific Publishing

Program 4 – National Research 116.8 132.7 15.9

Infrastructure: Facilities and Collections

Total expenses 1,231.1 1,183.2 (47.9)

Intellectual property and equity portfolio

Intellectual property management and licensing
CSIRO manages intellectual property (IP) in a manner consistent with the Statement of IP Principles for Australian Government
Agencies. This provides a robust framework for the effective identification, protection, ongoing management and exploitation of
intellectual property. Recent highlights include:

4 Portfolio Budget Statement Programs. For information on these programs see Part 3 of this report.
CSIRO’s fibre optic catheter technology is set to be adopted worldwide following the signing of two licences with international medical
device companies. The fibre optic catheters will be used to diagnose and monitor gastrointestinal disorders once regulatory approval has
been gained.
CSIRO’s Reversible Addition and Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) technology has opened up huge licensing opportunities with multi-
national organisations keen to use RAFT in the development of smart materials (see case study on page 29).
Through CSIRO’s Australian Growth Partnership (AGP) program, Biofiba Ltd received up to $2 million to fund the company’s process
for manufacturing shipping pallets made from CSIRO’s revolutionary bio-composite timber (see page 36 for more details).
New management processes implemented during 2010–11 have resulted in more strategic decision-making – including the
abandonment of aged, costly intellectual property and an increase in strategic, outcome oriented filings. Table 2.4 outlines registrable
forms of intellectual property rights pursued by CSIRO. CSIRO also generates and transfers non-registrable forms of intellectual
property rights, such as software, that are not reflected
in Table 2.4.

Table 2.4: CSIRO intellectual property by type

IP category(a) Sub category 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

Patents Current PCT(b) 91 111 97 90 101

applications

Granted 2,067 1,933 1,625 1,630 1,631

Live cases 3,922 3,787 3,710 3,379 3,370

Inventions Patent families 734 741 743 712 709

New 84 67 80 99 92

Trade marks Australian 287 291 265 263 259

Foreign 104 113 130 114 109

Plant Australian 119 122 122 122 122

breeder’s
rights 
Foreign 25 25 25 21 21

Registered Australian 3 2 2 2 2
designs 

Foreign 12 11 10 10 10

(a)
IP categories are defined in the glossary on page 205.
(b)
Patent Cooperation Treaty

Equity portfolio
The total value of CSIRO’s equity portfolio at 30 June 2011 was $32.0 million compared to $32.6 million at 30 June 2010, a decrease
of $0.6 million or 1.9 per cent in value. The major contributing factor was the decrease in value through an impairment of the
shareholding in the unlisted company Arista Cereal Technologies Pty Ltd.
The portfolio transaction activity for 2010–11 is listed in Table 2.5. 2010–11 was a quiet year for the creation of companies. Seven
companies managed to raise $44.3 million of new capital and CSIRO exited or partially exited five companies to realise $3.8 million
cash to be reinvested into research.
In 2010–11, four companies were added to CSIRO’s portfolio; one via a technology licensing agreement and three from
AGP investments.

Table 2.5: Portfolio transaction activity, 2010–11

Number of
Activity Value ($m)
companies

Companies created 0 0

Change in structure (e.g. private to public) 1 1.4

Capital raisings 7 44.3

New CSIRO contributions 9 6.2

New companies 4 4.2

Exited (full or partial) 5 3.8

Wound-up 1 0

Research capability and scientific excellence

CSIRO invests in the development of high-quality scientific capabilities (including world-class researchers, research infrastructure and
collaborative relationships) and assesses its performance through a program of independent science reviews and examination of five
key performance indicators.

Science assessment reviews

The science assessment review program is a robust, rigorous and independent assessment process involving a review of each Division’s
research capabilities by independent experts from Australia and overseas. Divisional responses to the recommendations made by review
panels are monitored by the CSIRO Executive and Board.
The first cycle of reviews, comprising 17 Divisions, was undertaken between 2005 and 2007. The second cycle of reviews began in late
2008. At the end of June 2011, 14 Divisions had been reviewed, including two during 2010–11. The remaining two Divisions will be
reviewed in the second half of 2011. Panels usually consist of five scientific experts, three from overseas and two from Australia. The
reviews help to establish the level of our research performance. With an international review comprised of world leading scientists in
the appropriate areas, we gain a realistic appraisal of the performance of a Division as well as suggestions as to how the performance of
research teams can be increased. In general the Review Panels found the Divisions to be of high-quality in their research, while noting
that only some programs in any Division reach international leadership status.
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) was reviewed in August 2010. Panel members were unanimous in their view that
CMAR has a team of high-quality scientists producing excellent science focused on achieving their mission. They were impressed by
the enthusiasm and commitment of all personnel. The Panel commented favourably on the formation of The Centre for Australian
Weather and Climate Research in partnership with the Bureau of Meteorology, regarding this to be a highly significant achievement that
has already delivered major research benefits. The Panel noted that a Division as large and diverse as CMAR can be good at many
things but it can only lead the world in a small number of these. It recommended that the Division should articulate the four or five
research areas in which it would set out to lead the world.
CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics (CMIS) was reviewed in October 2010. The Panel commented that the Division has
made good progress since the first round review in 2006. It noted that scientific productivity and recognition had improved but that
there is still further scope to lift recognition as a significant contributor to the mathematical sciences research community. The Panel
made specific recommendations in regard to the Division’s role in the leadership of CSIRO’s bioinformatics capability, and in regard
to the development of scientific capability in support of the services sector of the economy. The Panel further recommended that CMIS
should build more strategic national and international collaborations to promote cutting-edge advancement in methods and techniques.

Key performance indicators

Table 2.6 provides a summary of progress against the five performance indicators relating to research capabilities identified in CSIRO’s
2010–11 Operational Plan5. More detailed analyses and trend data follow.

Table 2.6: Performance indicators for research capability – summary

Indicator Target Result summary

Proportion of research Maintain or There was a slight increase in the proportion

capabilities rated as increase of capabilities rated ‘benchmark’ or ‘strong’
benchmark or strong. in Round Two assessments compared with
Round One.

Journal articles per 1.5 articles The number of articles is trending upwards
research scientist. per year and reached 1.27 per researcher in 2010.

Journal publications in 40 per cent Data not available.1

top quartile journals.

CSIRO citations per paper Greater than CSIRO is at least ten per cent above the
compared to world rate ten per cent world average citation rate in 13 of the 14
in each research field. above world research fields in which it is in the top one
rate per cent of global institutions.

Total citations per paper Greater than The average citation rate for CSIRO journal
compared to world rate. 40 per cent articles is 29 per cent above the world rate.
above the
world rate

Proportion of research capabilities rated as benchmark or strong

As part of the science assessment review process (noted previously), the review panels provide a formal assessment of each Division’s
capabilities in two dimensions: industry/community and international research.
Interim results show some improvement in overall ratings compared with round one results (see Figures 2.1 and 2.2). The proportion of
capabilities rated as strong or better increased from 65 to 67 per cent on the industry/community dimension and from 62 to 68 per cent
on the international research dimension.

Figure 2.1: Ratings of Divisional capability groups – industry/community dimension

Source: CSIRO Divisional reviews

Figure 2.2: Ratings of Divisional capability groups – international research dimension

Source: CSIRO Divisional reviews

Journal articles per researcher

The number of journal articles per researcher has been trending upwards over the last ten years. Data for the most recent five years are
shown in Figure 2.3.

Figure 2.3: Journal articles per researcher

Source: CSIRO

Citations per paper in each research field

A metric commonly used to assess the contribution of research institutions in a particular field of research is the total number of
citations received by its publications in the field. On this basis, as at May 2011, CSIRO ranks in the top one per cent of scientific

5www.csiro.au/operational-plan.
institutions in 14 out of 22 research fields. These 14 fields account for approximately 94 per cent of all CSIRO’s publications. The
citation rate for CSIRO’s publications is higher than the world average citation rate in all 14 fields – and at least ten per cent above the
world average in all but one of these fields (see Figure 2.4)6.

Figure 2.4: CSIRO citation rates compared with world average citation
rates by field
Source: Thomson Reuters/ISI Essential Science Indicators

Total citations per paper compared to world rate

CSIRO’s overall citation rate of 13.09 citations per paper is 29 per cent above the world rate of 10.18 (as at May 2011). This compares
with a margin of 38 per cent in 2010 and a margin of 19 per cent recorded in 2004. CSIRO citations per paper decreased by five per
cent, whereas the Australian average increased by three per cent and the world average increased by two per cent (see Figure 2.5).
The decrease in CSIRO’s citation rate is partly due to a 12 per cent increase in the number of CSIRO publications recorded in the
Essential Science Indicators database as at May 2011, compared with May 2010. Papers typically receive few citations in the year of
publication, so a sudden influx of papers could reduce the citations per paper rate. Another possibility is that some highly cited CSIRO
papers from ten years ago have dropped out of the calculation.
While a single data point does not indicate a downward trend, we will monitor the situation closely. Understanding and improving our
science health is a key focus for the 2011–15 strategy.

Figure 2.5: Average citations per paper

Source: Thomson Reuters/ISI Essential Science Indicators

Collaboration and partnering
University collaboration
CSIRO has extensive collaborative relationships with universities in Australia and internationally. CSIRO is a key player in the training
of future researchers (see Table 3.5, page 62) and provides a high-quality, applied-research environment for building Australia’s
scientific capability and capacity.
Approximately 40 per cent of CSIRO’s staff are located on, or directly adjacent to, university campuses. In collaboration with
university and industry partners, CSIRO is developing a number of innovation precincts of global scale. These precincts will attract
overseas partners and investment, will ensure efficient use of science infrastructure, and will provide the environment to tackle some of
the world’s most complex challenges.
Through the Flagship Collaboration Fund, CSIRO committed to the investment of $17.2 million in research conducted by more than 26
universities.
Some examples of collaborations during 2010–11 include:
 An array of technical equipment has been commissioned to observe the physical properties of the nation’s surrounding
deepwater oceans. The array, funded by the Integrated Marine Observing System, will be shared by CSIRO, the University of
Western Australia, University of Tasmania, James Cook University and Curtin University and other research institutes.
 CSIRO and the University of Western Australia opened a joint laboratory to develop legume crops with improved resistance
to disease.
 CSIRO and the Chinese Academy of Sciences reached an agreement to increase collaboration through projects on sustainable
water, agriculture and crop breeding; climate science and remote sensing; and nanotechnology and new materials for energy.

Cooperative Research Centres

CSIRO remains the largest single participant in the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program. Throughout the life of the program,
CSIRO has been a participant in 134 of the 190 CRCs that have existed, (rounds 1–13 inclusive). In 2010–11 CSIRO’s direct
contribution to CRCs was $34.8 million.
CSIRO is a participant in three of the four Round 13 CRCs that were announced to receive funding in December 2010: the High
Integrity Australian Pork CRC, the Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment CRC and the CRC for Mental
Health.
The opening of Round 14 was announced in December 2010, with proposals to the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and

6 Source: Thomson Reuters/ISI Essential Science Indicators. Data updated as at 1 May 2011 to cover
a ten-year and two month period, 1 January 2001 to 28 February 2011.
Research submitted on 2 July 2011. CSIRO has participated in 11 CRC bid submissions, of which nine are extensions to existing CRCs
and two are new.
CSIRO engages in CRCs to build critical mass in research ventures which tackle clearly articulated major challenges for end users and
Australia.

Customer engagement
CSIRO has reaffirmed its commitment to its customers and partners with the introduction of a strategic pillar ‘Deep Collaboration and
Connection’ in CSIRO’s new 2011–15 Strategy.
Specific strategies were developed for each of CSIRO’s key customer segments. A four-year forecast was produced for these segments
and major clients through the introduction of a new commercial planning component into CSIRO’s existing annual Science Investment
Process. In terms of Section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, no advertising campaigns were undertaken in 2010–11.
CSIRO has continued to establish large research alliances with key partners. CSIRO secured a landmark $20 million, five-year research
alliance with General Electric in September 2010, solidifying a growing portfolio of long-term alliances with clients including Orica
Ltd, AusAID, Centrelink, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Queensland Government, Boeing and Bayer.
CSIRO also continued to engage with other major clients including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, as well as major
multinational organisations. During the financial year, the total value of projects each worth more than $7 million increased from
$316.5 million to $539.5 million, evidencing growing maturity of our business development and commercial activities and
relationships with clients.

Flagship Collaboration Fund

The Flagship Collaboration Fund (FCF) has engaged with over 70 different external institutions since 2005, with international partners
increasing steadily. The engagement spans 27 Clusters, over 100 Projects, 30 visiting fellowships and more than 140 postgraduate
scholarships.
Recommendations from the first external review of the FCF in 2010 were implemented during 2010–11 as operational improvements,
including development of the first formal performance measures for the Fund. See page 27 for information on investment of the Fund.

Government engagement
A critical part of CSIRO’s broader relationship with Government is its role as a trusted advisor, providing relevant scientific and
technical input and advice to decision-makers. Key activities during 2010–11 included:
 Membership on seven of the Australian Government’s eight Industry Innovation Councils and membership on a range of other
government boards and advisory bodies, for organisations including Commercialisation Australia and the Office of the Chief
Scientist.
 Regular meetings with Ministers and parliamentarians and with senior staff from relevant government departments to provide
scientific information and advice to inform policy development and program implementation and evaluation. Examples
include ongoing engagement on issues of sustainability and carbon management, as well as on development of the National
Plan for environmental information.
 CSIRO made eight submissions to Federal parliamentary inquiries and CSIRO officers attended six hearings to provide
further evidence to these inquiries.
 CSIRO held three Science for Breakfast briefings at Parliament House and in parallel with these also provided targeted
briefings for departments and individual parliamentarians.
 CSIRO hosted a number of visits by Ministers and other Parliamentarians to our sites.

International engagement
CSIRO continues to strengthen existing research relationships and forge new links globally. During the reporting year, the Organisation
participated in over 800 international activities, ranging from collaborative research to consulting and the supervision of scientists from
as many as 60 countries. The value of CSIRO’s international transactions exceeded $72 million.
CSIRO’s single most important international partner country continues to be the USA. CSIRO’s involvement with China continues to
strengthen, with a significant increase in the number of joint publications during 2010–11. Ongoing development of strategic
relationships with emerging nations (Brazil, Chile and South Korea) is of significant importance as is CSIRO’s work in ‘Innovation for
Development’ through its partnership with the Global Research Alliance, AusAID and the Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Highlights during 2010–11 include:
 CSIRO and AusAID signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement that sets out the framework for ongoing strategic cooperation
 between the organisations.
 The CSIRO–AusAID Africa Food Security Initiative was established. The focus of this $50 million, three-to-four year
initiative is to foster integrated agricultural research for development in East, West and Central Africa, and to develop capacity
building and research activities to improve animal health and the nutritional quality of foods.
 CSIRO hosted 42 PhD students from China under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Ministry of
Education/China Scholarship Council.
 Orders for CSIRO’s air cargo equipment scanning technology developed under a joint venture between CSIRO and Chinese
equipment manufacturer Nuctec were placed.
 CSIRO’s engagement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) continued to grow with the commencement of five
workshops and three joint projects in the four CAS-CSIRO priority areas for collaboration: health, materials, climate change
and remote sensing, and agriculture.
 An MoU with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was signed in February 2010. The inaugural
joint CSIRO-NOAA meetings followed in June 2010.
 The 11th Australia – European Union Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) meetings were held
from 7–9 June 2010. CSIRO hosted one of the six JSTCC thematic workshops in Canberra on Biotechnology, Agriculture and
Food as part of the current ‘Knowledge Based Bioeconomy’.
 Continuation of CSIRO’s work within the Global Research Alliance (GRA). CSIRO and its fellow GRA members are
currently collaborating with the World Bank in Vietnam to develop an ‘Inclusive Innovation’ framework for the country.

Indigenous Engagement Strategy

2010–11 marked the commencement of Phase 2 implementation of CSIRO’s Indigenous Engagement Strategy. The four pillars of the
strategy are Indigenous Employment; Cultural Learning and Development; Science and Research Opportunities; and Outreach
Education. The Office of Indigenous Engagement (OIE) is developing a sharper focus on two key pillars by identifying more
Indigenous employment opportunities and building on CSIRO’s ability to engage more effectively with Indigenous communities. The
aim is to deliver science through more targeted cultural learning and development activities.
Indigenous employment: A 2.7 per cent Indigenous employment benchmark has been set for all Australian Public Service Agencies.
CSIRO aims to achieve this target by 2015. During 2010–11, six Indigenous cadets successfully progressed through their undergraduate
science studies, making a valuable contribution during their 12-week work placements. A number of cadets completed their
undergraduate science degrees and are now undertaking an Honours or Masters. Two cadets commenced PhD programs. One cadet
completed a PhD and is now CSIRO’s first Indigenous participant in a postdoctorate research program. Towards the end of 2010,
CSIRO initiated an Indigenous Student Internship Program, recruiting three Indigenous interns as part of a new Indigenous
employment initiative. All three candidates completed their internships and gained valuable experience in the business development of
a large science organisation.
Cultural learning and development: Three events were held to promote a better understanding of how to engage more effectively
with Indigenous Australians in relation to the science we deliver.
An inaugural ‘Indigenous Science Speakers Forum’ was held at the CSIRO Discovery Centre in Canberra during the National
Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week. Mr Bradley Moggridge, an Indigenous CSIRO water researcher,
provided the keynote address.
The Chief Executive launched CSIRO’s protocols for conducting a ‘Welcome to Country’ and ‘Acknowledgement of Country’. This
was coupled with a Welcome to Country ceremony provided by Ms Matilda House, an elder of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri Nations.
Several other ceremonies have since been conducted by science leaders.
The Indigenous naming of CSIRO’s Ngara Wireless Technology was conducted in recognition of the Dharuk people, the traditional
custodians of the land in which the technology was developed. The name ‘Ngara’, which means to ‘listen’ to ‘hear’ to ‘think’,
symbolises the true intent of an effective information network.
During 2010–11, the OIE developed a multi-tiered Cultural Learning and Development Plan to assist CSIRO engage with Indigenous
Australians in a culturally sensitive and efficient way.
Science and research opportunities: Science and research that has a strong Indigenous focus is emphasised in the Ecosystem Sciences
Division, which is addressing issues associated with Indigenous water access and allocation, climate change impacts, carbon
sequestration and market opportunities.
A unique partnership has been forged between CSIRO and the Wajarri Yamatji people of Western Australia through a negotiated
Indigenous Land Use Agreement. The agreement will make astronomy available to all Australians and will provide benefits through
education, enterprise and employment opportunities to the Wajarri Yamatji people.
Outreach education opportunities: During 2010–11, CSIRO continued its development with the Nudgee Beach Environmental
Education Centre of an Indigenous Science Education Pathway pilot project aimed at increasing the participation of Indigenous
students taking up science. It is anticipated that 14 high school students will graduate later in 2011. CSIRO’s Darwin Laboratory
continues to deliver Indigenous Education activities through the Jack Cusack Memorial Science Scholarship, which provides
opportunities for Indigenous students from Kormilda College to work side-by-side with scientists on research projects. The Darwin
Laboratory also has a strategic partnership with the Tiwi College to raise awareness of science as an attractive career path, and to assist
with science education. In 2010, the ‘Literacy through Science’ program was established, focusing on ecology and environmental
monitoring. In 2011, CSIRO will play a key role in helping deliver formal vocational and educational training in conservation and land
management to Tiwi College students.

Awards and honours

Outstanding performance in research is recognised by various international and national award schemes. Here are just a few examples
of awards and honours granted in 2010–11 that demonstrate our effectiveness in research and its application in industry and the
community.

2011 Australian of the Year

Mr Simon McKeon (CSIRO Board Chairman) was named 2011 Australian of the Year. This award celebrates eminent Australians by
profiling leading citizens who are role models for all Australians. Winners are those who inspire through their achievements, and who
challenge others to make their own contribution to creating a better Australia.

Order of Australia
Member (AM)
Dr Penny Olsen (formerly, Ecosystem Sciences) for service to the conservation sciences as an author and researcher, and through the
study and documentation of Australian bird species and their history.
Dr Anthony Smith (Marine and Atmospheric Research) for service to marine science through research and development of ecosystem
based fisheries management, particularly the implementation of harvest strategies and policy governing sustainable practices.

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes 2010

Dr Amanda Barnard (Materials Science and Engineering) was awarded the Research and Innovation Eureka Prize for predicting
properties of nanoparticles in sunscreens.
Dr Drewe Ferguson (Livestock Industries) and Dr Robyn Warner (Food and Nutritional Sciences) as part of the interdisciplinary
Meat Standards Australia Team won the Research for an Interdisciplinary Team Eureka Prize for
co-developing the world’s first ‘paddock-
to-plate meat grading system’.

CSIRO Chairman’s Medal

The Chairman’s Medal honours the most exceptional research in CSIRO and is awarded to the scientist or team whose research is of
national or international importance in advancing scientific knowledge, technology application or commercialisation.
The winners of the 2010 Chairman’s Medal were Dr Bill Barendse, Dr Brian Dalrymple, Dr James Kijas and Dr Ross Tellam (team
leaders) and the Livestock Genomics Team. The team played key roles in developing and leading two international consortia that
managed the cattle and sheep genome projects. They identified the urgent need to decode these livestock genomes to progress animal
sciences and improve industry productivity.
Further information on CSIRO Awards can be found at: www.csiro.au/science/CSIRO-Chairmans-Medal-Recipients.html

The CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement

The CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement is awarded to individuals who have a record of sustained and meritorious achievement
over a prolonged period of CSIRO service.
The 2010 winner was Dr Ta-Yan Leong (International) for contributions to CSIRO’s international group for 25 years, supporting the
full range of CSIRO’s international activities, building deep, trusting and long-term productive relationships with overseas partners
which have benefitted CSIRO and Australia.

Sir Ian McLennan Achievement for Industry Award

This award was established by the former CSIRO Advisory Council in 1985 to recognise outstanding contributions by CSIRO scientists
to Australian industry.
The 2010 winner was Dr Wojciech ‘Voytek’ Gutowski (Materials Science and Engineering) for his contribution to industry through
breakthrough eco-sustainable technologies that have delivered worldwide industrial, economic and environmental impact.
Fellows of Societies
Dr Jenny Bennett (CSIRO PUBLISHING) was appointed a Fellow of The Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
Dr John Church (Marine and Atmospheric Research), Dr Mike McLaughlin (Land and Water) and Dr Michael Raupach (Marine
and Atmospheric Research) were appointed as CSIRO Fellows.
Dr Rob Fitzpatrick (Land and Water) was appointed a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America.
Dr Matthew Morell (Plant Industry), Dr San Thang (Materials Science and Engineering) and Dr Linfa Wang (Livestock Industries)
were elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
Dr Colin Ward (retired, Molecular and Health Technologies) was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

 BACK TO CONTENTS
PART 3
OUTCOME AND PROGRAM PERFORMANCE
Hold the CTRL key while clicking your left mouse button to visit each section.

 Program 1: National Research Flagships

 Program 2: Core research and services
 Program 3: Science outreach: education and scientific publishing
 Program 4: National research infrastructure: national facilities and  collections

PART THREE: OUTCOME AND PROGRAM PERFORMANCE

CSIRO’s outcome and program structure

CSIRO receives approximately 60 per cent of its operating revenue in appropriation funding through the Federal Budget. Our
commitment to the parliament and people of Australia, set out in the 2010–11 Portfolio Budget Statements, is to contribute to the
following outcome:
Innovative scientific and technological solutions to national challenges and opportunities to benefit industry, the environment
and the community, through scientific research and capability development, services and advice.
In pursuit of this outcome in 2010–11, CSIRO allocated funds across four Programs listed below and as outlined in Table 2.3, page 7:
 Program 1 – National Research Flagships
 Program 2 – Core Research and Services
 Program 3 – Science Outreach: Education and Scientific Publishing
 Program 4 – National Research Infrastructure: National Facilities and Collections
These Programs reflect the Organisation’s focus on delivering scientific solutions to Australian industry and communities, while
simultaneously helping to build Australia’s science base to meet ongoing challenges and opportunities.
The following sections provide a report against the deliverables and key performance indicators specified for each Program in the
Portfolio Budget Statements.

Program 1 – National Research Flagships

National Research Flagships – objectives and deliverables

Since the launch of the first three National Research Flagships in 2003, CSIRO has committed an increasing proportion of its resources
to addressing major national challenges and opportunities through the National Research Flagships Program. In 2010–11, CSIRO
devoted 44 per cent of its resources to ten Flagships: Climate Adaptation; Energy Transformed; Food Futures; Future
Manufacturing; Light Metals; Minerals Down Under; Preventative Health; Sustainable Agriculture; Water for a Healthy
Country; and Wealth from Oceans.
The Flagships address complex challenges by forming large-scale multidisciplinary research partnerships with Australian Universities
and publicly funded research institutions, the private sector and selected international organisations. They target clearly defined goals,
framed from a careful analysis of the needs of people and enterprises, and have a strong focus on adoption and impact.

National Research Flagships – Program performance

The performance of the Program is assessed through five key performance indicators and a series of Flagship reviews. Table 3.1
provides a summary of progress. More detailed analysis and trend data follow the Table.

Table 3.1: Performance indicators for Program 1 – National Research Flagships

The relevant section of the Portfolio Budget Statements can be viewed at www.innovation.gov.au.
The Outcome is the formal legal statement of the purpose for which funds are appropriated to CSIRO.
Key performance indicator Target Performance

Demonstrated adoption Growing economic, Independent assessments provide

and impact of Flagship social, positive feedback on the impact and
outputs. environmental and value of the two Flagships that were
intangible benefits subject to external review in 2010–11
(see page 28). Recent achievements
from each of the ten Flagships are
reported on pages 30–49.

The number of refereed Maintain or The Flagships published 584 journal

Flagship publications. increase articles and 1,204 publications in total
in 2010 (the first year for which these
data are separately available
for Flagships).

Financial support by Maintain or Flagship partners increased their

Flagship partners. increase financial support to the Flagships by
$29.9 million or 17 per cent in 2010–
11.

Customer satisfaction. Maintain Implementation of a formal customer

satisfaction measurement program was
planned for 2010–11 but has been re-
prioritised and deferred to 2011–12.

Investment of the Flagship On Plan The FCF disbursed $17.2 million

Collaboration Fund (FCF). in 2010–11, in line with the
agreed budget.

Economic, social, environmental and intangible benefits

As an input to an external review of the Wealth from Oceans Flagship, the consultancy firm RMDSTEM was commissioned to conduct
an economic analysis on 14 research areas representing around 50 per cent of the research funded by the Flagship. Taking a
conservative approach (impacts were quantified only where reliable and logical evidence was provided), the 14 areas were calculated to
have an expected value, taking into account risk factors on the path to adoption, in excess of $4 billion. The present value of benefits
from technical results already achieved at the time of the assessment was calculated to be in excess of $2.6 billion.
Similarly, the consultancy firm ACIL Tasman was engaged to assess the likely impact and value of the Climate Adaptation Flagship.
ACIL Tasman concluded that ‘subject to continued careful management and focus on the issues of good science and good institutional
arrangements for planning and adoption of options, the Flagship offers value that is well in excess of likely costs. Modelling of the
Flagship as a whole suggests a present value across the period to 2030, as a result of Flagship activities in developing new options, and
encouraging earlier and sounder use of existing cost-effective options, of the order of $16 billion’.

Flagship publications
In 2010, CSIRO’s new electronic publications repository, ‘ePublish’, became operational, allowing us, for the first time, to identify
Flagship publications as a subset of CSIRO’s total publications. However, the repository is still in development and the numbers are
subject to review.
Table 3.2 shows the number of Flagship publications, by type. Total CSIRO publications are shown in Table 3.4, page 51.

Table 3.2: Number of Flagship publications by type, 2010

Publication type1 Number

Conference papers 420

Journal articles 584

Books / book chapters 61

Technical reports 139

Total 1,204

1
See glossary page 205 for definition of publication types.

Financial support by Flagship partners

In 2010–11, the National Research Flagships Program earned revenue of $201.7 million from external partners. This accounts for 38
per cent of the Program’s total investment, up from seven per cent in 2003–04 and 32 per cent in 2009–10.
Figure 3.1 shows the growth in financial support from external partners in the last five years. The average amount of support received
per Flagship also increased from $6 million to $20.2 million over the same time period.

Figure 3.1: Financial support for Flagships from external partners

Customer satisfaction
Implementation of a formal customer satisfaction measurement program planned for 2010–11 was delayed by other priorities. CSIRO
will now establish a baseline rating of customers’ ‘willingness to recommend CSIRO’ in 2011–12.
The continuing commitment of major customers to strategic levels of engagement with CSIRO – such as multi-year research alliances –
is evidence that these customers see CSIRO as an essential partner in the success of their organisations. As recognition for more than
22 years of productive engagement, CSIRO was named ‘Supplier of the Year’ by Boeing in May 2011 (see case study page xix).

Investment of the Flagship Collaboration Fund

Investment in the Flagship Collaboration Fund7 continued as planned with $17.2 million disbursed to research in 2010–11. Overall
$108 million of the initial $114.25 million has been committed (see Figure 3.2). The remaining $6.25 million will be allocated to
projects, visiting fellowships, or postgraduate scholarships to fully expend the $114.25 million by 2013–14.
In 2010–11, three new clusters involving 14 national and international universities and industry partners were approved for funding.
See Appendix 1 for a full list of Flagship Collaboration Clusters.

Figure 3.2: Flagship Collaboration Fund disbursements and commitments

Flagship reviews
To maximise the likelihood of achieving Flagship goals, CSIRO conducts a three-to-four year cycle of independent reviews of each
Flagship by a panel of experts from Australia and overseas. Two Flagships, Climate Adaptation and Wealth from Oceans, were
reviewed in 2010–11.
The panel reviewing the Climate Adaptation Flagship commented on the excellent progress made in its first two-and-a-half years,
including a number of significant impacts on the Australian understanding and uptake of climate adaptation programs and projects.
They noted that a ‘strong and talented’ team were leading a highly appropriate research program for CSIRO, and that the Flagship has
the necessary research capabilities to deliver a very creditable program, but with some emerging capacity constraints. The panel

7 For more information, see page 172 and www.csiro.au/org/FlagshipCollaborationFundOverview.html

recognised the uncertainty of many key external factors in planning and implementing the Flagship’s research program and was
impressed at the progress the Flagship has made in engaging with its clients and delivering results.
The panel for the Wealth from Oceans Flagship review were impressed with the talent, enthusiasm and commitment of the staff and the
international standard of research leadership. They found that the inaugural (2003) Flagship goal – to position Australia by 2020 as an
international benchmark in the delivery of economic, social and environmental wealth based on leadership in understanding ocean
systems and processes – had been largely met by September 2010. The panel commented that innovative work was evident in all three
research themes and that ‘Flagship scientists have been very successful in applying and adapting new technology… that could
revolutionise management of the coastal zone in Australia and internationally’. The panel further commented that the Flagship should
seriously consider how it markets or promotes its innovative research and science to potential stakeholders to ensure greater adoption.

Climate Adaptation Flagship

Flagship goal: Equip Australia with practical and effective adaptation options to climate change and variability and in doing so
create $3 billion per annum in net benefits by 2030.

Overview
CSIRO’s Climate Adaptation Flagship ensures Australia can effectively adapt to the impacts of climate change and variability. CSIRO’s
scientists are working in partnership with governments, industries and communities to address this urgent national challenge.
There is now wide scientific agreement that the world is heading for at least two degrees Celsius warming and quite possibly four
degrees Celsius by 2070 as a result of human activities. Climate change is likely to exacerbate climate variability and extremes across
Australia causing changes to wind, precipitation and weather extremes and exposing our coastline to rising sea levels.
The Flagship is supporting Australia to address the challenges of climate change through improving knowledge of climate change
projections and pathways to adaptation which provide both an underpinning research base to our endeavours, and strong engagement
into three priority sectors: cities and coasts, natural ecosystems, and primary industries with their associated enterprises and
communities. Our research has a strong emphasis on applicability and on large-scale, integrated projects made possible by diverse
partnerships.

Achievements 2010–11

Climate change effects on concrete

Concrete is the basic building block of Australian buildings and infrastructure. Understanding how climate change could impact on
the deterioriation of concrete is crucial to ensuring major assets such as roads, ports and buildings continue to perform up to
expectations. A recent CSIRO report outlines major findings for the benefit of policy-makers, engineering designers, asset managers
and other professionals and decision-makers in both public and private sectors. The report makes a number of recommendations on the
design of new, and maintenance of existing concrete structures. It is hoped that the impact of corrosion in new structures can be
countered at the design stage through new technologies and materials.

Conservation management under climate change

From 2008–11, CSIRO has authored a series of studies commissioned by the Australian Government to address the effects of climate
change on Australia’s biodiversity and how best to respond. Building on a previous report on the National Reserve System, this year the
Flagship coordinated a national report on four major regional biomes across the continent. The report outlined how to plan conservation
in an integrated way for these different exemplar regions and highlighted the need for a major revision of objectives for conservation
and the role of protected areas. These results are being integrated into policy at the national and state level.

Attitudes to climate change: results of an online survey

Research into Australians’ views of climate change – through 22 recent surveys conducted in Australia by groups including universities,
media organisations and CSIRO – is informing policy recommendations through the 2011 Garnaut Review. While the studies asked a
diverse range of questions about climate-related issues, they are clear in showing that most Australians believe the climate is changing
– about 75 per cent. The surveys indicated that people are confused about the science of climate change and what are effective policies
or actions for adaptation. The results have important implications for those trying to communicate the science of climate change or
develop policy for responding to climate change.
Ocean warming detrimental to south-east Australia fish species
Researchers have identified forty-three species, representing about 30 per cent of the inshore fish families occurring in south-east
Australia, exhibiting shifts in their territories thought to be climate-related. In another study, Australian scientists have published the
first known detrimental impact of southern hemisphere ocean warming on a fish species – the banded morwong. In response to requests
by Tasmania’s four major salmon companies, Flagship scientists will provide ocean temperature forecasts to assist marine farmers to
plan for warmer water, which can have adverse effects on farmed fish.

Climate Adaptation Flagship Roadmap

Medium term 4– Long term 10+
Theme Short term 1–3 years 9 years years

Biophysical social
Adaptive capacity of
Identify social and and institutional
Define new approaches communities and industries
Pathways to economic adaptation dimensions of
to vulnerability and assessed; innovative
adaptation outcome within different adaptive capacity
adaptation assessments. approaches to climate
sectors and regions. more effective for
projections.
Australia.

Planning, design
infrastructure,
Flexible models of utilities, management and
Sustainable Develop methods to assess climate risk and social sciences and governance
cities and vulnerability in cities and coasts and community governance for climate solutions for
coasts adaptive capacity and governance. adapted urban planning Australia’s cities
and management. and coasts
responding to
climate change.

Deliver adaptation
options to protect
Complex studies of
Maintaining Studies of regions, Greater model realism. Australia’s marine
biotic interactions and
species and single species and and terrestrial
Focus on threats and tools to community ecology.
natural simple species species,
assist natural resource Refine tools for
ecosystems interactions. ecosystems from
managers. ecosystems managers.
the impacts of
climate change.

Adaptation
strategies provide
Adaptive Improve analysis of Shifts in vulnerability to
economic benefits
primary interaction between Develop technologies and climate change
and improve
industries, climate drivers and practices for local industry understood. Identify
livelihoods from
enterprises and managers’ responses on adaptation. when transformational
primary industries,
communities farms. options may be needed.
enterprises and
communities.

Energy Transformed Flagship

Flagship goal: To develop, demonstrate and ensure deployment by 2020 of integrated low carbon pathways for Australia and
alternative stationary and transport energy solutions that realise a reduction of Australia’s CO 2e emissions greater than 20 million
tonnes per annum by 2030 and greater than 50 million tonnes per annum by 2050.

Overview
CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship is focused on developing renewable and alternative energy solutions to provide Australians with
affordable, secure and sustainable electricity and transport fuels.
Electricity and transport contribute 69 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, Australia’s net petroleum imports
could increase from $14 billion today to $70 billion by 2030. It is therefore vital to identify pathways and solutions that will help
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, secure Australia’s environmental, economic and social wellbeing.
This objective can only be achieved in close collaboration with industry, research organisations and government. The Energy Transformed
Flagship, since its inception, has been a catalyst for this broad collaboration.

Achievements 2010–11
New solar tower and research facility opened
A $4.2 million international hub for developing and commercialising solar thermal technologies was opened on 18 June 2011 at
CSIRO’s National Solar Energy Centre in Newcastle, New South Wales. With a new 30-metre tower and 450 mirrors (heliostats), the
facility will generate temperatures of up to 1,500º Celsius and will be used to develop new low-cost solar technologies that produce
power when people need it. The project has secured the interest of local and international energy organisations all eager to make solar
power cheaper and more efficient (see: www.csiro.au/science/Solar-Brayton-Cycle.html).

Volunteers use ‘Energymark’ to reduce power bills

CSIRO led an initiative to help people across New South Wales and the Brisbane and Redlands City Council areas in Queensland to
reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy usage. Around 3,000 volunteers are taking part in ‘Energymark’, a program
designed to help participants lower their power bills by providing tips and resources. On average, Energymark participants saved up to
20 per cent on their energy bills and reduced their carbon footprint by around 25 per cent. Gathering in small groups, family, friends,
neighbours and workmates got together to discuss energy, climate change, water and waste issues over eight sessions using CSIRO
material (see: www.csiro.au/energymark).

Sustainable aviation fuels

CSIRO, working with Australia’s major aviation players, produced a joint report, Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation, which outlines a
range of possible future scenarios for the use of sustainable aviation fuels in Australia and New Zealand. The report supported the
possibility of a local bio-derived jet fuel industry that, over the next 20 years, could generate more than 12,000 jobs, reduce Australia’s
reliance on fuel imports by $2 billion per annum and decrease greenhouse gas emissions of the aviation sector by 17 per cent. The
report also identified the market, infrastructure and governance changes that will be required for success (see:
www.csiro.au/science/Sustainable-Aviation-Fuels-Road-Map.html).

UltraBattery technology licensed to China

CSIRO has licensed its UltraBattery technology to one of the world’s largest battery manufacturing companies to enable manufacturing
in China for the automotive market. The rechargeable lead-acid battery, combined with a supercapacitor, delivers low-cost, long life,
high-performance power. The licence will enable the CSIRO invention to be mass produced for conventional and hybrid-electric
vehicles, making hybrid electric vehicles cheaper, more powerful and quicker to recharge. The UltraBattery has already been licensed
to enable manufacture in North America, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Thailand (see: www.csiro.au/science/Ultra-Battery.html).

Energy Transformed Flagship Roadmap8

Theme Short term 1–3 years Medium term 4–9 years Long term 10+ years

Deploy an integrated energy,

Hold transport sector stakeholder
Develop models and reports to water, food and carbon
forums. Undertake longitudinal and
inform policy, industry and assessment service to help
Carbon larger population social analysis
research. Undertake social attitude Australia identify the least cost
futures studies; commercialise software.
mapping. Hold stakeholder energy and risk transition pathways to
Initiate integrated carbon assessment
forum. a prosperous and secure low
service.
carbon future.

Drive the cost-effective take-

Develop technologies for low-cost
Sustainable up of renewable electricity and
solar power production and energy Demonstrate significant technologies
stationary transport fuels in Australia to
storage. Prioritise potential fuel at pilot scale, with industry and
energy and 2020 and beyond and
crops for large-scale, sustainable government support.
transport maximise the long-term
biofuels production.
renewables uptake to 2050.

Reduce greenhouse gas

Develop distributed generation and emissions by driving the
Local Develop low-emission distributed
efficient options model to inform uptake of distributed energy
energy energy technologies. Identify and
government and industry. solutions, demand reduction
systems begin engagement with partners.
Commercialise technologies. and energy efficiency
measures to 2020.

8 In 2011, the Flagship refined the long-term goal for Carbon futures.
Food Futures Flagship

Flagship goal: To transform the international competitiveness of the Australian Agrifood sector, adding $3 billion in annual
value, by applying frontier technologies to high potential industries.

Overview
The Food Futures Flagship is a collaboration involving CSIRO, industry and research partners which will transform the Australian
agrifood sector.
The Flagship’s research programs cover the entire food supply chain linking our science projects with farmers, governments, the food
industry and consumers. Our research teams are developing healthier ingredients, delivering higher quality food products and
improving sustainability and food security for farmers, manufacturers and consumers both here in Australia and around the world.
The Flagship’s research is adding value to primary products through innovative food design, providing new opportunities in domestic
and foreign export markets, improving farm profitability and producing healthier and safer foods for consumers.
The Food Futures Flagship’s work focuses on:
 future grains, grain based foods and feed
 breeding better Australian seafood and beef
 biosensor technology.

Achievements 2010–11

New source of omega-3

The Flagship has initiated a $50 million dollar research collaboration which will use leading-edge gene technology to develop and
commercialise canola oil rich in the same high quality long-chain omega-3 oil that traditionally comes from marine plants and fish.
CSIRO and partners have developed canola plants that produce long-chain omega-3 oils containing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Until
now, this oil has only been available in beneficial quantities from ocean-based algae and the fish that eat it (see case study page 99).

BARLEYmax™ cereals available in supermarkets

The success of CSIRO’s new BARLEYmax™ grain continues with a growing range of breakfast cereals and porridges now available
on supermarket shelves. These new products can be found in most major Australian supermarkets and are securing a growing share of
the Australian breakfast cereal market. A key factor in their success has been CSIRO’s ten year multidisciplinary research and
development program designed to understand and substantiate the grain’s health benefits. BARLEYmax™ can have a significant
impact on preventing disease by delivering high levels of resistant starch and other dietary fibres and is a leading example of scientific
and commercial success stemming from collaboration within CSIRO and with a range of external partners.

Using sensory evaluation to improve shellfish quality

The Flagship is working with the oyster industry to measure and map the regional differences in oysters grown in South Australia, New
South Wales and Tasmania. By developing a sensory ‘language’ to describe the appearance, aroma, taste and texture of oysters,
researchers can measure and analyse how oysters stimulate the senses. This sensory information can be used to guide growing,
harvesting and processing to improve product quality and deliver the right product to the right consumers.

Breeding fish to boost sustainability

Researchers based in Tasmania are adopting selective breeding techniques traditionally used in land-based livestock animals to boost
the sustainability of farmed seafood. Much of the aquaculture industry still relies on wild fish for its breeding stock, but the Food
Futures Flagship is working to introduce domesticated fish stocks into the aquaculture production system. Enabling breeding
technology that uses genetic markers to identify specific desirable characteristics is an approach much the same as that used by sheep
and cattle farmers for centuries. Their goal is to help the industry become more sustainable by reducing or removing the need to rely on
catching wild fish every year for breeding purposes.

Food Futures Flagship Roadmap

Theme Short term 1–3 years Medium term 4–9 years Long term 10+ years
 Combine beneficial traits for farmers Increase returns to Australia
Optimise carbohydrate in grains,
and consumers, breed and by $550 million per annum
Future optimise omega-3 oils in plants
commercialise long chain omega-3 through enhanced grain
grains and investigate genetic traits for
oils in plants and commercialise quality attributes and human
improved quality and nutrition.
quality and nutrition traits. health benefits.

Boost the value of

Industry adoption of testes cell
Animal management systems Australia’s animal-based
transfer techniques, success of
Breed adopted and breeding technology food industries by $350
aquatic breeds and novel feeds and
engineering developed with commercial million per annum for beef
optimal genetics in livestock and
partners. and $550 million for
aquaculture.
seafood.

Develop biosensors and

Biosensor developed and adoption
improve current technology
Development of test technology, commenced in defence domain.
Quality to optimise flavour in food
odours predicting grape and wine Applications for food safety and
biosensors and beverage value chain,
quality identified. quality in development. Flavour
adding $750 million per
potential of wine grapes optimised.
annum.

The Food Futures Flagship research portfolio was reduced from four themes to three due to the transfer of the Designed Food and Biomaterials theme
to CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences in March 2010.

Future Manufacturing Flagship

Flagship goal: To create $2 billion of additional annual value for Australia’s manufacturing industry by 2025 through the
development and application of resource efficient, clean and disruptive technologies.

Overview
Australian manufacturing faces significant challenges surrounding resource efficiency, increased international competition and the need
to move to clean sustainable products and processes. Innovative science and technology are essential to address these issues and
support our ongoing economic sustainability in an increasingly resource and emissions constrained world. 
The Flagship is helping to address these challenges and secure Australia’s global competitiveness by creating the advanced materials
and manufacturing technologies needed to transform existing industries and build future manufacturing opportunities.
These technologies will support employment and deliver economic and social benefits by contributing to technical solutions across a
number of industry sectors including aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, defence, textiles, building infrastructure and packaging. 

Achievements 2010–11

Biodegradable shipping pallets

CSIRO scientists have been working with Australian company Biofiba Ltd to develop a sustainable alternative to timber shipping
pallets targeted at the US$90 billion global export pallet market.
Traditional timber export pallets are environmentally unsustainable as they are generally discarded after one use due to contamination
risks and the high cost to treat and recycle them. The revolutionary new bio-composite timber is derived from renewable resources
that will break down at the end of the pallets’ life to form mulch. The technology offers a sustainable alternative for pallet manufacture,
freeing timber resources for high value-added uses.

Repainting aircraft with Paintbond SM-1

In collaboration with Boeing, CSIRO scientists have developed Paintbond SM-1; an innovative and effective solution to the complex
ergonomic, safety and environmental challenge associated with both original equipment manufacturers painting and after-market
repainting of aircraft. Traditional aerospace polyurethane topcoats become inert once they are cured and cannot form strong adhesive
bonds to subsequent coating layers without reactivation. The Paintbond SM-1 spray-on treatment reactivates the existing coating’s
surface chemistry to provide strong and durable bonds with fresh paint layers, eliminating the need for time consuming and hazardous
manual sanding. The technology is being used on all Boeing’s current generation single and twin aisle aircraft and has seen widespread
deployment on 737 and 777 aircraft.
 New Automotive Australia 2020 Roadmap
CSIRO, working with the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Automotive Technology, has developed the new Automotive
Australia 2020 Roadmap – a program to drive and guide the future development of Australia’s automotive industry. The team analysed
and considered input from 160 organisations across industries, universities and government to chart the automotive industry’s
capabilities, needs and commercial potential. The Roadmap identifies four key directions for long-term opportunities: vehicle
electrification, gaseous fuels, light-weighting and advanced data and communication systems. CSIRO’s world-leading expertise in the
field of green car technologies will be vital in achieving the Roadmap’s objective of growing Australia’s automotive industry and
lowering its carbon footprint.

Olex fire resistant cables

CSIRO and Olex have partnered to develop an innovative ceramifiable insulation technology which has helped Olex secure a $10
million contract to supply electric cables to the Brisbane Airport Link project. Olex’s Alsecure fire resistant cables, which will be used
in the project’s road tunnels, contain ceramifiable polymers that form a solid protective and insulating ceramic layer at high
temperature. In the event of a fire, this unique technology will significantly improve safety as the cable’s ceramic shield maintains the
integrity and continuity of circuits for essential tunnel services such as alarms, pumps and fans that are vital for safe evacuation and fire
fighting.

Future Manufacturing Flagship Roadmap

Theme Short term 1–3 years Medium term 4–9 years Long term 10+ years

Advanced Materials and process Growth in the Australian

Commercialise emerging
engineered development for sustainable advanced engineered
technologies.
components transport solutions. components sector.

Establish relationship clusters

Advanced Growth in the Australian
in filtration and defence, personal Commercialise first and second
fibrous advanced textiles
protection and environment generation products.
materials manufacturing sector.
sectors.

Creation and growth of

New materials discovery, device Translate discoveries to create
Flexible world-leading Australian
prototype optimisation and vibrant manufacturing industries
electronics companies in flexible
ruggedisation and scale-up. based on flexible electronics.
electronics.

Develop technologies for

economically and Sustainable
Sustainable Deploy new platform technologies in
environmentally sustainable environmentally conscious
materials partnership with industry.
construction materials and manufacturing in Australia.
processes.

The Future Manufacturing research portfolio underwent major expansion in 2010–11. Advanced engineered components, Advanced fibrous materials,
and Sustainable materials themes were transferred from CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE), Biomedical manufacturing moved to
CMSE and Cleantech manufacturing merged with the incoming Sustainable materials theme.

Light Metals Flagship

Flagship goal: To lead a global revolution in light metals, doubling export income and generating significant new industries for
Australia by the 2020s while reducing environmental impact.

Overview
The Light Metals Flagship commenced in 2003, one of the original National Research Flagships set up by CSIRO to focus on National
Research Priorities. The Flagship was established to further the goals of the Government’s Light Metals Agenda. Its focus was
the stimulation of new industries to add value to developments of Australian reserves of titanium and magnesium ores, and the growth
of existing alumina and aluminium industries with efficient low-carbon footprint technologies.
In 2011, it was decided to merge the Light Metals Flagship research into two larger Flagships which serve the mining and
manufacturing sectors. During its eight year lifetime, the Light Metals Flagship had many achievements. The Flagship engaged
successfully in technology transfer to a wide range of businesses, from Australian small-to-medium size enterprises such as T-Mag
Casting Pty Ltd and o.d.t Engineering, to initiating and growing the international relationship with GE, which last year culminated in
the announcement of the CSIRO-GE alliance.
The Flagship successfully attracted funding from commercial partners for both its novel processes for titanium metal powder and
carbothermic magnesium production. The Flagship initiated and led projects in residue remediation and high-silica bauxite processing,
through the Aluminium Taskforce of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
The Flagship has partnered with many of the major aluminium producers – Rio Tinto Alcan, Alcoa, Tomago and Hydro Aluminium – in
contract projects and collaborative initiatives. The Breakthrough Technologies in the Aluminium Smelting Collaboration Cluster has
brought together Australasian researchers to develop low energy solutions for the aluminium smelting industry. The Flagship also
hosted ground-breaking research in the measurement and mechanisms of atmospheric emissions, both in the aluminium industry and in
alumina refining.
Some of the Flagship’s most notable successes have been in support of the Australian car industry. Flagship technologies for
lightweight die casting have been used in the manufacture of steering wheel armatures for Australian cars and recently Flagship die
casting expertise was critical in determining the award of a global manufacturing contract by Nissan Motors (Japan) to Nissan Casting
Australia.
The Flagship has received recognition within CSIRO, winning two CSIRO Medals for Business Excellence – for the commercialisation
of T-Mag™ magnesium die-casting in 2007, and the novel titanium production technology, TiRO™, in 2009.
The Light Metals Flagship will be integrated into two other Flagships, Minerals Down Under and Future Manufacturing, from 1 July
2011.

Achievements 2010–11

CSIRO helps clinch global car component deal

In 2011, Nissan Casting Australia was successful in their bid to manufacture components for the Nissan Motor Company’s new LEAF
electric car. The success of the bid, which provides job security for 146 Victorian workers, was due in part to CSIRO’s advanced
casting technologies. Nissan Motors’ Japanese engineers were impressed with CSIRO’s die casting expertise and the potential for future
access to a suite of CSIRO process-efficient technologies, helping to influence the Nissan Motor’s decision to award the casting
contract to Nissan Casting Australia.

Keeping pedestrians safe in industrial environments

A CSIRO system that alerts vehicle operators to oncoming pedestrians around blind corners has the potential to reduce fatal collisions
between pedestrians and vehicles and make work in mining, materials handling and construction industries much safer. The technology
uses software which tracks moving objects, identifies them as pedestrians or vehicles, and predicts the likelihood of a collision. A
flashing light alerts vehicle operators, preventing accidents at dangerous ‘black spots’.

CSIRO’s Titanium Challenge

CSIRO’s inaugural Titanium Challenge produced innovative design submissions from Australian undergraduates, developed during the
competition’s one week timeframe. Students were challenged to create and submit a design to be made in titanium using additive
manufacturing, which capitalised on the superior material properties of titanium. The winner, a design for a novel radiator, was created
by a Swinburne University industrial design student (see case study page 107).

Refiners can cut costs by recovering soda 

CSIRO researchers have developed technology to recover and re-use caustic soda from Bayer process residues (red mud). The
technology has the potential to provide significant cost savings for alumina refiners, as well as environmental benefits by enabling
simpler storage options for the residues. This work evolved from high silica bauxite processing research for the Asia-Pacific Partnership
on Clean Development and Climate (see: www.asiapacificpartnership.org/pdf/Projects/Aluminium/ATF-06-04.pdf).

Minerals Down Under Flagship

Flagship goal: To assist the Australian minerals industry exploit new resources with an in-situ value of $1 trillion by the year
2030 and to more than double the size of the associated services and technology sector to $10 billion a year by 2015.

Overview
The Minerals Down Under Flagship focuses on technical, social and environmental challenges facing Australia’s minerals industry.
This industry is central to the Australian economy, supplying raw materials, mining technologies and services around the world.
However, Australia is facing mounting global competition while new deposits are not being found fast enough to replace those being
extracted. Many of Australia’s deposits are experiencing declining grades resulting in increased production costs, increased handling of
ores with higher levels of impurities and increasing environmental pressure.
Working with numerous industry, government and research collaborators, the Flagship is helping to strengthen the economic and
environmental performance of the Australian minerals industry and maximise the longer-term discovery and use of our national
resource endowment. This research infrastructure positions Australia as a global leader of science and technology for this important
industry.

Achievements 2010–11

New data network provides a multitude of geological information

A new data network of geoscientific information and its supporting infrastructure – the Spatial Information Services Stack – will enable
users to explore Australia’s geology on a national scale. Developed by CSIRO and AuScope in collaboration with research organisations
around the country, the new online network will allow users to gain a greater understanding of climate change, sustainable energy, water
and mineral resources and extreme geological activity such as earthquakes. They can view and filter data on user specific queries from
multiple organisations, share information and incorporate it into their workflow.

Using saline water at mine sites

Using saline water in mining and mineral processing could lead to significant financial savings and an environmentally sustainable
future for the industry. CSIRO researchers examined the use of saline water in physical processes such as crushing and flotation. While
saline water can cause corrosion to pumps, pipes and other components at mine and mill sites, the advantages outweigh the
disadvantages where fresh water is unavailable. Potential savings due to recycling and reduced consumption of water would accumulate
over the lifetime of the mine.

Processing nickel without sulfuric acid

A new process that will improve the economic viability of nickel laterite processing has been successfully demonstrated on a laboratory
scale by CSIRO and industry partner Direct Nickel. The reagent recycle process that uses nitric acid instead of sulfuric acid provides
the opportunity for lower grade ores to be profitably treated, potentially converting millions of tonnes of Australian nickel laterite ores
into economically attractive material. This new approach promises to secure major economic and environmental benefits for the
Australian and global minerals industry. Direct Nickel and CSIRO are working together on several R&D projects aimed at enhancing
the technology and Direct Nickel leads its commercialisation.

Using groundwater to find mineral resources

CSIRO scientists have developed a new cost-effective exploration technique that uses groundwater to map underground geology and
target new regions of mineral deposits. It can also be used to locate gold, nickel, copper/zinc, uranium and other high-value resources.
Known as hydrogeochemical exploration, the composition of groundwater is used to detect mineral deposits in the area − ground water
displays a chemical halo when mineral deposits are present. The technique is ideally suited to the Australian landscape and will provide
the minerals industry with an effective exploration tool that is quick and easy to use.

Minerals Down Under Flagship Roadmap

Theme Short term 1–3 years Medium term 4–9 years Long term 10+ years

Driving Demonstration of whole

Develop concepts to reduce Proof of concept for new
sustainability system approach.
greenhouse gas and water use. eco-efficient technologies.
through
Assess the implications Social negotiation tools
systems New planning tools to support social
of plausible futures. embedded in technology
innovation licence to operate.
and project development.

Discovering Identify new exploration tools. 3D visualisation, modelling

New 3D exploration tools developed
Australia’s Enable data interoperability. and targeting embedded as
and applied to buried deposits and
mineral Build multi-party an industry standard leading
new Greenfield sites.
resources collaborations. to new discoveries.

Engagement with industry to Field trials of novel automated Adoption of new drilling, rock
Transforming extraction and sorting
develop innovative continuous selective mining systems
the future systems.
mining concepts and and integrated light weight drill
mine
establish investment. systems. A vibrant mining technology
services sector.
Securing the
Develop infrastructure for
future of Beneficiation and agglomeration
precision iron ore and coke Low grade iron ores gaining
Australia’s process improvements being
characterisation. traction in the Australian
carbon steel commissioned with resulting
Build relationships export market.
materials efficiency gains.
with industry.
industry

Creating New ore reserves on-stream.

Laboratory testing of new ore Continuous improvements of existing
wealth through
characterisation, ore plant. In-situ leaching viable.
advanced
concentration and mineral/metal
processing Pilot plant and field trials of Australian mineral processing
extraction techniques.
technologies new techniques. technology preferred.

Transforming
Collaborative projects for On-line analysis embedded in
productivity Industry partnerships for
concept development. Australian operations with
through platform development. significant efficiency gains
on-line Technology trials with industry. Spin-offs and commercialisation. and reduced cut-off grades.
analysis

Growing Australia’s light metal industry will be a new theme for the Minerals Down Under Flagship effective from 1 July 2011. The theme will
incorporate some of the research from the former Light Metals Flagship.

Preventative Health Flagship

Flagship goal: To improve the health and wellbeing of Australians and save $2 billion in annual direct health costs by 2020
through the prevention and early detection of chronic diseases.

Overview
The Preventative Health Flagship’s research addresses our national health challenges in areas such as colorectal cancer, gut health,
neurodegenerative diseases, mental disorders and brain health.
In addressing these health challenges, the Flagship’s research teams are focusing on the development of better screening methods and
new techniques for the earlier detection of disease. They are also investigating the contribution of diet and lifestyle to disease and
examining new approaches to disease prevention through the use of protective foods and personalised nutritional and lifestyle
measures. Another area of research involves advanced methods for collecting and utilising health data to improve the way we monitor
and measure our health.

Achievements 2010–11

Solving the structure of Alzheimer’s protein

Alzheimer’s disease is associated with the development of a toxic protein in the brain known as amyloid beta. In the brains of
Alzheimer’s sufferers, the amyloid beta protein rapidly ‘self-assembles’ and clumps together, producing toxicity and harmful plaques.
CSIRO and collaborators have solved the first structure of amyloid beta providing a vital step towards understanding why the protein
accumulates and creates these toxic plaques. It is thought that these plaques disrupt connections within the brain, causing reduced
neuron function and memory loss. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but this knowledge could result in the development of new
treatments.

Improving early detection of colorectal cancer

The Preventative Health Flagship and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have used a sophisticated mathematical algorithm to
identify a combination of proteins in blood, which shows promise as a screening test for the early detection of colorectal cancer. The
team are working to validate the test with groups of colorectal cancer patients and healthy volunteers. If successful, a simple blood test
will provide an alternative to existing faecal tests, which suffer from poor compliance.

Biobank to aid disease prediction and diagnosis

CSIRO and collaborators are building a biobank of blood samples in an effort to predict diseases such as colorectal cancer and
Alzheimer’s disease in ageing Australians. Over a three year period, the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) Healthy
Ageing Biobank will collect, process and store blood samples from 10,000 participants in the clinical trail. When coupled with the
matched clinical and lifestyle data being collected under the ASPREE trial, the biobank will enable researchers to conduct a broad
range of biomedical research including biomarker discovery and validation for specific diseases.
 Novel strategies for stroke prevention
Launched in September 2010, the STroke, imAging, pRevention and Treatment (START) cohort study will integrate imaging and
analysis of biomarkers (biological early warning signs) to more quickly and accurately identify patients at risk of stroke. The study will
collect information derived from brain images and blood samples from 200 Australian victims of acute ischaemic stroke, caused by an
interruption of blood flow to the brain. The aim is to discover and validate new diagnostic biomarkers to enable the early identification
of patients at risk of recurrent stroke and post-stroke depression and use these strategies in the development of new measures to prevent
stroke.

Preventative Health Flagship Roadmap

Theme Short term 1–3 years Medium term 4–9 years Long term 10+ years

Reduced morbidity and

New knowledge, early
mortality from colon and
Colorectal cancer detection and prevention of Translation into marketable
rectal cancer and
and gut health colon and rectal cancer and diagnostics and protective foods.
inflammatory bowel disease
inflammatory bowel disease.
in Australia.

New knowledge about Develop and commercialise Delay the onset of

Neurodegenerative the aetiology and early neuro protective agents and Alzheimer’s and other
diseases detection of neurodegenerative biomarkers for early detection and neurodegenerative diseases in
disease. prevention. Australia by five years.

The Preventative Health Flagship research portfolio was reduced from three themes to two due to the transfer of the Obesity and Health theme to
CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences in July 2010.

Sustainable Agriculture Flagship

Flagship goal: To secure Australian agricultural and forest industries by increasing productivity by 50 per cent and reducing net
carbon emissions intensity by at least 50 per cent by 2030.

Overview
A number of important challenges and opportunities face Australia’s agriculture and forestry industries. The opportunities include the
production of more food for a growing Australian and world population, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the storage of
carbon in rural soils and forests. Some of the challenges we face are increasing competition for Australia’s water resources, the limited
supply and rising cost of production inputs (such as water, fuels, fertilisers and chemicals) and competition from other land uses (such
as mining and urban development) for agricultural land.
In partnership with industry, communities and government, the Sustainable Agriculture Flagship is addressing these opportunities and
challenges by developing and implementing new and enhanced technologies and practices, delivering innovation in knowledge-based
services, informing policy options, building capacity and supporting key institutions. Maintaining and enhancing soil health and agro-
ecosystem function is fundamental to achieving the Flagship’s goals.
Although research is primarily focused on national productivity and carbon, the Flagship is partnering with many countries across
south-east Asia, Africa and the Pacific to contribute its science expertise as part of Australia’s contribution to the global food and
climate security challenges.

Achievements 2010–11

Using water efficiently increases crop yield

CSIRO and the Grains Research and Development Corporation are working to improve the water use efficiency of grain-based farming
systems. As part of the National Water Use Efficiency Initiative, CSIRO’s research in southern Australia highlights the importance of
pre-cropping factors including management of weeds, stubble and livestock as well as in-crop decisions about selecting the right
variety, sowing time and fertiliser use (see: www.csiro.au/science/Water-Use-Efficiency.html).

Increasing yields and reducing emissions from farming

 CSIRO is working with research partners, industry and government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in
rural lands. Using a combination of improved land use, better management practices and technology, the Flagship is leading research to
measure, model and mitigate emissions. A range of projects funded under Australian Government programs explore soil carbon and
biochar, as well as methane emissions from livestock, savanna fire management and carbon forestry (see:
www.csiro.au/science/Carbon-Australian-agriculture.html).

CSIRO leads Global Soil Map in Oceania

CSIRO is leading the Oceania Node of a global partnership to produce the first detailed, three-dimensional digital map of the world’s
soils. So far involving agencies from Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands in Oceania, the GlobalSoilMap.net
project will provide users around the world with vital information on key soil attributes critical to supporting agriculture, land use
planning, biodiversity management and greenhouse gas abatement
(see: www.csiro.au/partnerships/Global-Soil-Map.html).

Community-based forestry assists rural Vietnamese livelihoods

CSIRO has co-managed and created a community-based forest management system that provides sustainable livelihoods through agro-
forestry while protecting the remaining native forests in remote regions of northern Vietnam. As a result of this research, four rural
communities now own, manage and have responsibility for forest land. The outcome has been improved forest protection and
elimination of illegal tree cutting. Farmers have also developed tree nurseries to diversify incomes (see:
www.csiro.au/science/Indonesia-Vietnam-Sustainable-Plantations.html).

Sustainable Agriculture Flagship Roadmap

Theme Short term 1–3 years Medium term 4–9 years Long term 10+ years

Profitable agricultural practices

Assess mitigation practices and Develop ‘breakthrough’
that contribute to greenhouse
technologies in key industries, mitigation practices and
gas abatement are adopted by
regions and systems. technologies.
land managers.

Reducing net Total system greenhouse gas

New carbon sinks created
greenhouse gas Develop greenhouse gas outcomes for different
giving net increase in carbon
emissions while measurement, accounting and management, history, climate
sequestration with
increasing bio-sequestration support and soil combinations quantified
environmental and production
storage of new packages. with defined uncertainty and
benefits.
carbon in our co-benefit assessment.
lands.

Support national policy decisions

and international frameworks on Conduit for science and National dialogue, policy and
land use management for carbon integration for industry and action are informed by robust
storage and greenhouse gas government. science.
mitigation.

Direct links between genetics, Step-change in productivity

Identify challenges and
breeding and farming systems achieved via industry adoption
prospects for food and fibre
research underpin accelerated of agro-ecological innovations
productivity increases in key
improvements in food and fibre for ‘smart’ food and fibre
industries, regions and systems.
productivity. production systems.

Advancing More sustainable production

Characterise resource and Integrated whole-farm analyses
agricultural practices adopted with gap
labour-use, soil and water support diverse sustainable
productivity and between farm and benchmark
constraints to sustained enterprise options for efficient
environmental resources-use efficiency
productivity. resource management.
health. significantly narrowed.

Evaluate agro-ecological
Assess environmental impacts New markets developed and in
tradeoffs in farming systems for
of emerging productivity and use for effective on-farm
potential to improve productivity
mitigation practices, environmental and biodiversity
and natural resource management
technologies and policies. stewardship schemes.
outcomes.

Observation of current status and Develop life-cycle based

Multi-scale temporal
Informing land historic change in key land sustainability assessments for
use planning, assessment of land use change.
management drivers. agri-food value chains.
policy and
natural resource
management. Enhance national soil and terrain Triple bottom line modelling International system for forest
data systems. framework for land use systems. and carbon tracking.

Addressing Deliver enhanced science and Deepen partnerships with Monitoring and evaluation
global food and impact via an integrated international R&D institutions confirm realised sustainable
fibre security approach to international project leading to enhanced capacity livelihood benefits in target
challenges portfolio. building. regions.
through partners
at home and
abroad.

Water for a Healthy Country Flagship

Flagship goal: To provide Australia with solutions for water resource management, creating economic gains of $3 billion per
annum by 2030, while protecting or restoring our major water ecosystems.

Overview
The Water for a Healthy Country Flagship is addressing one of Australia’s most pressing natural resource issues, the sustainable
management of our water resources. The Flagship is Australia’s largest research partnership focused on water in Australia. As demand
for water increases, climate changes, and as economically and environmentally viable storage sites dwindle, Australia is looking to new
strategies that manage demand, increase efficiency, re-use wastewater and allow water to be traded. Our science is informing the
decisions on where and how to best invest in these options and is providing enabling technologies.
CSIRO’s research is informing some of the major water policies and strategies at national and regional scales including the National
Water Initiative, the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, the Living Murray Initiative, the Water for the Future Program and the
Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Achievements 2010–11

Seasonal streamflow forecasts help manage water

Using CSIRO research, the Bureau of Meteorology has launched an online seasonal streamflow forecasting service. It will give water
managers and planners a better idea of how much water is expected to flow into selected rivers and catchments up to three months
ahead, allowing them to plan for irrigation or potentially mitigate floods. The forecasting service has been developed for 13 river sites
and eight storages in the south-east Murray-Darling Basin and will gradually expand to other locations in Australia over the next 12 to
24 months.

Changing climate in south-eastern Australia

Despite recent rainfalls on the east coast of Australia due to one of the strongest La Niña events on record, the findings of the South
Eastern Australian Climate Initiative (SEACI) indicate long-term, below-average rainfall and runoff into streams, and drier conditions
into the future in south-eastern Australia. Results from the SEACI are being used by water managers to make decisions about future
water use and planning and the research is being used in Victoria’s approach to regional water planning including the Northern
Victorian Sustainable Water Strategy.

Reducing the cost of desalination

In desalination, membranes are used as a barrier to separate unwanted particles including salt, organisms and other substances from the
water. However, pollutants can foul membranes by attaching themselves to the membrane surface, blocking membrane pores and
decreasing water flow. This reduces the life of the membrane and increases treatment costs. Coagulants are commonly used to prevent
this occurring. CSIRO has developed a new coagulant that is more effective than conventional coagulants in ensuring residual
pollutants do not attach to membranes, thereby reducing fouling. As membrane replacement, cleaning and use account for up to 70 per
cent of operation and maintenance costs. The coagulant designed by CSIRO will deliver significant cost savings to desalination
treatment plants.

Assessing water availability in major water systems

CSIRO has undertaken a comprehensive scientific assessment of current and future water availability in four major water regions
across Australia: the Murray-Darling Basin, northern Australia, south-west Western Australia and Tasmania. The results are being used
by governments and water managers to make decisions about future developments for these regions, including decisions on new
irrigation schemes. The updated modelling for the Murray-Darling project has been used in developing the Basin Plan. In late 2010,
CSIRO began assessing the water resources of the Great Artesian Basin, which underlies about one-fifth of the Australian continent.

Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Roadmap

 Medium term
Theme Short term 1–3 years 4–9 years Long term 10+ years

Decision support
Develop new tools and
systems, system
technologies for To provide socially
Inform state and national performance
sustainable integrated acceptable, affordable
urban water policy knowledge, and new
Urban management of water environmentally
through applied research water management
water systems and beneficial management
of integrated urban water technologies to plan and
infrastructure from solutions for Australia’s
systems technologies. deliver sustainable
city/regional to urban water systems.
integrated urban
household level.
water services.

Widely accessible
In partnership with the Enable water information
national water Establish the platform for
Integrated Bureau of Meteorology, interoperability through
information network an Australia-wide network
water develop water reporting research investments in
based on open of integrated water
informatio and forecasting tools. standards development,
standards. Reporting information systems that
n Develop sensor web service integration,
and forecasting tools deliver water accounts,
systems networks to improve semantic web and model
used in water demand assessments and forecasts.
real-time monitoring. interoperability.
regions.

Establish a network of
To provide the
integrated models and Inland and coastal water Significantly reduced
knowledge to protect or
Healthy evaluation tools and ecosystems managed long-term impacts of
restore Australia’s major
water embed these in the through the use of pollutants and changed
water ecosystems while
ecosystems adaptive management integrated knowledge flow regimes in priority
enabling sustainable use
of high priority water platforms. water ecosystems.
of water resources.
ecosystems.

Enable water savings in Achieve greater water

Develop options for
irrigation systems, and supply certainty, To provide systems
improved institutional
establish improved enhanced substitution knowledge and analysis
water use arrangements
Regional water efficiency and options, and improved tools for river basins
and evaluation of their
water sustainability through productivity through and aquifers to ensure
economic, social and
improved surface and integrated management water security for all
environmental
ground water of river basins and users.
consequences.
management options. aquifers.

Wealth from Oceans Flagship

Flagship goal: To provide Australia with the knowledge and tools to protect coastal and ocean environments, increase their
value to society and create a net economic benefit of $3 billion per annum by 2020.

Overview
CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans Flagship focuses on understanding Australia’s oceans and their biodiversity, resources and relationships
with the climate system. The Flagship delivers practical science that enables governments, industries and communities to make
informed decisions about the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources. It provides CSIRO’s contribution towards
national challenges where oceans play a central role.
The Flagship’s core partners are government – federal, state and local – where our science informs policy development and assists
policy implementation across various sectors, such as oceans, environment, energy, fisheries and tourism. The Flagship also partners
with industry and national and international universities, and participates in global collaborations such as the Census of Marine Life and
the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative.
During 2010–11, the Flagship has been working to refocus its science strategy, resulting in new goals for each of the Flagship’s themes.
This new direction will see CSIRO lead a transformation in ocean information management, which will enhance Australia’s capacity
to address national ocean-related information challenges and opportunities. Implementation of this ambitious initiative will commence
in 2011–12.

Achievements 2010–11

One year on from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill

In May 2010, CSIRO scientists were deployed to the Gulf of Mexico to help monitor a massive oil spill. Using our prototype
hydrocarbon sensor array to map the location and movement of the oil, CSIRO provided United States authorities with information
about the quality of surface waters, which is helping them make important decisions about fisheries. Engaged by BP, the CSIRO team
surveyed more than 8,000 nautical miles (see case study page 73).
First broad-scale maps of life on the sea-shelf
Marine scientists from five research agencies have compiled a directory of life on Australia’s continental shelf. The new maps of
biodiversity are guiding marine bioregional planning and the design and monitoring of marine reserves. The Commonwealth
Environment Research Facilities Marine Biodiversity Hub mapped 1,868 square kilometres of seabed with multibeam sonar, recorded
171 km of underwater video, and collected nearly 1,000 samples. New statistical modelling approaches predicted and mapped
biodiversity across two million square kilometres from survey records dating back to the 1960s. The maps highlight complex patterns
of biodiversity and emphasise how much remains unknown.

The Census of Marine Life

For the past decade a network of 2,700 scientists in more than 80 nations has been involved in the world’s first comprehensive
stocktake of marine life in the global ocean. The Census of Marine Life was officially released on 4 October 2010. CSIRO contributed
to the Australian section of the census along with the Australian Institute of Marine Science, museums, government agencies and
universities. CSIRO played a significant role in the Australian section by developing approaches to predict life on the seabed and
pioneering the genetic barcoding technique. Results of the census are already being used by government agencies to improve marine
biodiversity management in Australia (see: www.coml.org).

Iceberg movements reveal new species of marine life

A CSIRO-led team of 40 Australian and international scientists visited east Antarctica after a 78-kilometre piece of Mertz Glacier
tongue broke off, exposing a section of the Southern Ocean previously covered in hundred of metres of ice. Scientists deployed
underwater cameras where the glacier tongue used to be. In addition to discovering new species of marine life, they found the salinity
of the ocean around the glacier has decreased. Over time they hope to learn how this natural event will affect ocean currents and use
that information to make predictions about climate change.

Robotic glider maps flood plume in Queensland

Research agencies joined together at short notice to track the massive flood plume that flowed from the Brisbane River in January 2011.
Measurements from a robotic glider deployed by CSIRO were used to generate three-dimensional maps illustrating the impacts of the
flooding. Initial results showed that flood waters travelled mostly northwards with a layer of freshwater evident to a depth of more than
ten metres in surface waters off Caloundra. The exercise led to an improved capacity to predict the impacts of flood events.

Wealth from Oceans Flagship Roadmap9

Theme Short term 1–3 years Medium term 4–9 years Long term 10+ years

Synoptic forecasting system for Deliver littoral zone forecasting National, seamless near-real
The
major marine industries system for defence and industry ocean prediction and forecasting
dynamic ocean
delivered (BLUElink 3). applications. system operationalised.

Integrated observation National shelf-scale

Coastal management strategy
Our modelling and visualisation hydrodynamic model
evaluation system implemented
resilient system (eReefs) guiding (BROWNlink) nationally
and operational in three regions
coastal Australia management of the Great implemented and used for
nationally.
Barrier Reef Marine Park. oceanographic services.

Operationalisation of a
Sustainable CSIRO R&D underpinning National Ocean and
Adoption of CSIRO marine
ocean ecosystems marine bioregional plans and Coastal Information System,
incident emergency
and living National Representative System as part of Australia’s
response system.
resources of Marine Protected Areas. National Environmental
Information System.

Program 2 – Core Research and Services

9 As a result of the Flagship’s impact review in 2010 – which found that the existing goal had been largely achieved – the Flagship has been working
to refocus its science strategy, resulting in new goals for each of the Flagship’s themes. Direct comparison of theme progress against last year’s
roadmap is therefore not possible.
Core Research and Services – objectives and deliverables
CSIRO’s Core Research and Services Program covers a range of non-Flagship research portfolios which target improvements in
industry, the environment and community wellbeing through the provision of advice, information and solutions.
In 2010–11, CSIRO’s five Research Groups managed twelve such portfolios that delivered new and improved technologies,
management systems, intermediate and final products, catalyst services for business, advice relevant to policy development, and new
knowledge and skills. These twelve portfolios accounted for 44 per cent of total resources. The Research Groups are also responsible
for the development and nurturing of research capability, ensuring the excellence of CSIRO’s science and its relevance to current and
emerging needs.
The work and achievements of each Research Group is showcased on pages 52–61.

Core Research and Services – Program performance

The performance of CSIRO’s Core Research and Services Program is assessed through four performance indicators. Table 3.3 provides
a summary of progress. More detailed analysis and trend data are provided where indicated.

Table 3.3: Performance indicators for Program 2 – Core Research and Services

Key performance Target Performance

indicator

Demonstrated Growing Recent achievements from each of the five

adoption and impact economic, Research Groups are reported on pages 52–61.
of Research Group social,
outputs. environmental
and intangible
benefits

The number of Maintain or The number of journal articles produced by

refereed increase CSIRO increased by five per cent from 2,542 in
publications. 2009 to 2,679 in 2010. However, the total number
of publications fell by 11 per cent from 4,659 to
4,140. See page 51 for details.

Customer Maintain Implementation of a formal customer satisfaction

satisfaction. measurement program that had been planned for
2010–11 has been re-prioritised and deferred to
2011–12. See page 27 for details.

Proportion of Maintain or There was a small increase in the proportion of

research capabilities increase capabilities rated ‘benchmark’ or ‘strong’ in
rated as benchmark Round Two assessments compared with Round
or strong. One. See page 11 for details.

Number of refereed publications

The nature of the Organisation’s matrix structure means all publications by CSIRO Divisions are accounted for in Program 2 – Core
Research and Services, and a subset is attributed to the National Research Flagships Program (see page 26). Table 3.4 shows the
number of publications, by type, produced by CSIRO, for the past five years.

Table 3.4: CSIRO publications by type

Publication type1 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Journal articles 2,198 2,239 2,542 2,542 2,679

Books/chapters 227 234 363 237 184

Conference papers 1,830 1,525 1,911 1,664 1,034

Technical reports 676 613 145 216 243

Total 4,931 4,611 4,961 4,659 4,140

1
See glossary page 205 for definition of publication types.
The total number of publications produced by CSIRO fell by 11 per cent in 2010, due to a fall in the number of conference papers and
books/book chapters. Preliminary investigations suggest the decrease in conference papers is associated with the introduction of the
new publication repository, ePublish and with an increased emphasis on producing journal articles rather than other types of
publications (in line with recommendations from Divisional reviews). The number of journal articles increased by five per cent in 2010.
The figures for 2010 are subject to revision.
The Thomson Reuters/ISI Essential Science Indicators database provides another view of CSIRO’s publication performance. It shows a
12 per cent increase in the number of CSIRO-authored journal articles (based on a ten-year rolling total for journals indexed in the
database). CSIRO is the eighth ranked Australian institution in terms of journal articles and its world ranking is 185 of 4,381
institutions as at May 2011 (compared with 218 of 4,122 as at May 2010).
The new CSIRO strategy reaffirms the ongoing importance of scientific publications to the Organisation’s future and we are committed
to improving our performance in terms of quantity and quality across all publication types.

Energy10

Research group aim: To develop and apply leading-edge energy research that reduces greenhouse gas emissions; ensures
energy supply; maximises Australia’s wealth from its energy resources; and derives increased, sustainable benefits from
Australia’s marine resources while ensuring conservation of our marine biodiversity and coastal habitats and settlements.

Overview
Australia is endowed with rich energy resources and a massive ocean territory. To help tackle Australia’s energy and ocean
opportunities and challenges, CSIRO is building nationally integrated carbon-pathways and ocean-management models. We are also
working with industry, governments, the community and our research partners to demonstrate new low-emissions energy technologies
that address unique Australian needs and advantages.
Our energy research portfolio aims to accelerate large-scale emission cuts while ensuring a smooth transition to a prosperous, low-
carbon future. It covers emerging stationary and transport energy technology options including solar, geothermal, smart grids, energy
storage and biofuels.
Our research also emphasises the importance of cleaner fossil energy – coal, gas and oil – in providing energy security and wealth, as
well as supporting and enabling the path towards a clean energy future.
CSIRO’s ocean research seeks to understand ocean systems, processes, biodiversity, resources and technologies, and the ocean’s role in
driving the climate system. We take a whole-of-system approach to marine science, focusing on national challenges where oceans play
a central role. We deliver data, knowledge, tools and approaches that directly support sustainable ocean and coastal management.

Achievements 2010–11

Extinguishing the danger of coal mine fires

Gas and fire in underground coal mines are significant safety hazards for the mining industry. To prevent coal from heating, gas must be
drained from the mine and inert (non-reactive) gas strategically injected. This lowers oxygen concentrations (shown in red) limiting the
possibility of heating and fire. CSIRO, in collaboration with the Australian coal industry, has improved gas drainage by 50 to 100 per
cent in different coal mines. By implementing optimum strategies to make the atmosphere inert, miners’ safety has been greatly

10 See Appendix 6, page 198 for the structure of each Research Group.
increased.

First carbon capture in Queensland

Low-emissions coal research has reached an important milestone in Queensland with the first capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) using
post-combustion capture (PCC) technology. In partnership with Tarong Power Station, the CSIRO pilot plant has successfully
demonstrated the technology and shown it can capture more than 85 per cent of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power stations. The
research has reduced the energy required for the PCC process by ten per cent, an important step towards making the technology more
efficient and affordable.

Cleaner, synthetic transport fuels

Industry, in collaboration with CSIRO, is creating cleaner synthetic transport fuels through Australia’s first fully automated, around-the-
clock, synthetic fuels research facility, SynCat. The new facility is developing less costly, more efficient processes with lower
environmental impact, to convert natural gas, biomass and coal into liquid fuels. Reducing the costs and carbon footprint of these
processes will provide Australia with an alternative to importing oil, increasing our energy security. These processes add value to our
conventional and unconventional gas resources, while producing cleaner fuels.

Repairing subsea pipelines with PIPEASSURE™

CSIRO and PETRONAS, Malaysia’s international oil and gas company, have developed and completed comprehensive laboratory
testing on a new composite material that will rejuvenate damaged risers (vertical pipelines), reduce production downtime and enable
industry to perform safer maintenance and repairs. The lightweight and flexible product that functions like a bandage, named
PIPEASSURETM, can be applied to complex shapes and has been trialled in Malaysia to restore damaged risers on a remote petroleum
platform.

Detecting oil in the Perth Basin

CSIRO has helped local exploration companies find evidence of former oil accumulations in the underexplored offshore northern Perth
Basin. Using CSIRO’s fluid inclusion and quantitative fluorescence techniques, researchers examined tiny droplets of oil trapped within
mineral grains of rocks, giving clues for oil exploration and drilling targets. This will greatly assist companies in their bids for recently
released acreage and improve future success rates for oil discoveries in the Perth Basin.

Turning methane emissions into energy

CSIRO’s Ventilation Air Methane Catalytic Turbine (VAMCAT) technology can capture and burn fugitive methane emissions from
underground mining operations and harness them as an energy source. A 25 kilowatt prototype unit has been tested successfully in
CSIRO laboratories and is being installed at a coal mine in China for a series of field trials. CSIRO is leading research into increasing
the accuracy of measuring fugitive methane emissions and their contribution to Australia’s greenhouse footprint.

Environment11

Research group aim: To develop and apply leading-edge environmental research that will underpin the economic,
environmental and social future of Australia.

Overview
Australians have stewardship of a beautiful, diverse and unique environment. The cumulative consequences of the last 200 years of
development of natural resources leave us with a legacy of environmental challenges. The future of Australia, the Asia-Pacific region,
and indeed the whole world, is also being re-shaped by the forces of climate change and variability, natural resource quality and
security, technological revolution, trade reform, poverty alleviation and national security concerns.
CSIRO’s response to these challenges and opportunities involves the application of enhanced systems understanding as well as the
development and deployment of new technologies, processes and services. CSIRO’s Environment Group is doing this by boosting our
understanding of the operation and interaction of entire ecosystems, regional economies, and societies. We aim to deliver the highest
quality scientific research that will result in a more internationally competitive and sustainable Australia.

11See Appendix 6, page 198 for the structure of each Research Group.
Achievements 2010–11

Latest climate change information captured in new CSIRO book

Climate Change: Science and Solutions for Australia highlights the importance of climate change as a matter of significant economic,
environmental and social concern in Australia. The new book from CSIRO draws on the latest peer-reviewed literature contributed by
thousands of researchers in Australia and internationally. It provides a bridge from the peer-reviewed scientific literature to a broader
audience of society, while providing the depth of science that this complex issue demands. It provides the latest information on climate
change science and potential adaptation and mitigation responses in non-technical language. Climate Change: Science and Solutions
for Australia can be downloaded for free at:
www.csiro.au/Climate-Change-Book.

Testing air quality in Australian homes

A CSIRO study of the quality of air inside the typical Australian home is the most comprehensive examination to date of air pollutants
in Australian houses. Fine particles, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, fungi and
mould were measured inside and outside 40 Melbourne households.
There were no surprise results in the study, which reflects the way Australians live – how we cook and warm the home, the cleaning
agents, building materials and finishes in the home, and the proximity to roadways and parklands. The project establishes a benchmark
against which future changes in the mix of chemicals and pollutants can be measured, and can improve house design and air flow-
through.

Old diving tank air extends greenhouse gas record

CSIRO maintains an archive at its Melbourne laboratory of air collected at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s site at Cape Grim in
Tasmania. The Cape Grim Air Archive, from which CSIRO has produced the longest direct record of greenhouse gases in the Southern
Hemisphere, dates from 1978 to the present. This record has been extended back to 1968 using a recent find of a very old air sample
contained in a long-disused SCUBA compressed air tank. Analysis of the air sample has generated new trace gas data on aerosol
propellants, refrigerants and aluminium smelter emissions present in the global background atmosphere of 1968, but not widely used in
Melbourne at that time. Following publicity about the new air source several people contacted CSIRO offering old containers sealed
with air.

Investigating Asian bee threat

CSIRO-led research is investigating the scale of the threat posed by Asian honeybees and associated varroa mites. Scientists are
studying whether a new deadly strain of varroa mite that has jumped from Asian to European honeybees in Papua New Guinea could
also enter Australia on new incursions of Asian Bees. So far Asian honeybee outbreaks in Australia have been free of varroa mites. If
bees carrying this new mite break into Australia they will decimate wild and managed populations of European honeybees and
significantly affect growers of crops such as almonds, stone fruit, avocadoes, pumpkins and melons which rely on managed-honeybee
pollination.

Identifying exotic pests through new technologies

New digital technologies have been developed by CSIRO and partners to enable the easy, rapid identification of damaging exotic pests
and diseases such as mealy bugs or myrtle rust. Users are able to access our network of experts by utilising existing hand-held
microscopes and new mobile devices to make identifications. The technology is a leap forward for Australia’s efforts to rapidly identify
and respond to exotic pests and diseases, potentially reducing the need to implement expensive eradication and control programs.

The Atlas of Living Australia engages citizen scientists

The Atlas of Living Australia is a national initiative focused on making biodiversity information about Australian species more
discoverable and useable online. The Atlas has developed its core tools in support of research, policy and management and will
continue to develop more tools and datasets, improve the existing tools and complete key projects. By June 2012, the Atlas will deliver
the most comprehensive, current and authoritative checklist of Australian species ever produced. It is collaborating with 60 biological
collections around Australia to digitise and mobilise their information. In addition, the Atlas has developed software to enable citizen
scientists to record, share and analyse sightings of species.
Food, Health and Life Science Industries12

Research group aim: To achieve outcomes for Australia along the value chain of food and fibre production, from ‘paddock to
plate’, for economic, social and environmental benefits. The Group strives for excellence in animal, plant and microbial sciences
to deliver profound impact in agriculture, food, health and the environment.

Overview
The problems and issues facing Australia and the world are directing our research focus towards science-based solutions for major
global challenges such as food security, increased agricultural productivity and sustainability, human disease prevention, biosecurity
and the development of sustainable sources of energy and bio-materials.
Through the application of our life sciences research capability across CSIRO, the Group is delivering key outcomes in four important
areas for Australia and the world.
We are significantly and sustainably enhancing food and agricultural yield and productivity in the face of increasing constraints on
natural resources and carbon. Our research is helping improve the health and wellbeing of Australians throughout life via the
prevention, early detection and treatment of serious diseases, combined with comprehensive modelling of the health system. We are
also creating an inclusive and integrated national biosecurity system to respond to new challenges from increasing global
interconnectivity, open access trade and climate change.
In the course of achieving these outcomes, our fourth goal is to enhance Australia’s economy by building new industries based on the
life sciences and increasing the competitiveness of existing industries in this domain.

Achievements 2010–11

The low methane Tammar wallaby

CSIRO scientists have discovered gut microbes unique to Australia’s Tammar wallaby that may be responsible for its remarkable ‘low
methane’ digestion of plant material. Compared with cattle and sheep, Australian kangaroos and wallabies produce very little of the
greenhouse gas methane when digesting plants because they have fewer methane-producing microbes in their digestive system. One of
the ultimate aims of this research is to help develop novel technologies that will enable agriculture to reduce its environmental
footprint, while maintaining animal health and productivity.

Experimental vaccine stops Hendra virus in horses

Researchers at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory have shown that a new experimental vaccine will help protect horses against
the deadly Hendra virus. Trials have found the vaccine prevents horses developing the disease, thereby reducing the likelihood of
transmission to humans. A horse vaccine is crucial to breaking the cycle of Hendra virus transmission from flying foxes to horses to
humans.

Reducing production costs for the prune industry

The Australian prune industry is the first industry to benefit from CSIRO research that leads to a 60 per cent reduction in the energy
required for prune processing. Using power sourced from solar and other alternative energy sources, combined with sophisticated
computational modelling techniques, major environmental benefits and cost savings for food companies have been achieved. The
techniques greatly reduce energy, money and greenhouse gas emissions while, at the same time, increase production rates. This work
can be applied across a wide range of food and other processing industries.

Breeding the horns out of cattle

CSIRO scientists discovered a genetic marker that has been developed into a new DNA test to help the cattle industry end the painful
practice of dehorning beef cattle. Australian beef cattle are routinely dehorned to prevent major injuries caused by horns. However, this
procedure is labour intensive and has implications for animal welfare. Under the leadership of the Beef Cooperative Research Centre, a
DNA marker for the absence of horns, identified by CSIRO researchers, has been developed into a commercial test that has proved to
be accurate in trials involving several Australian cattle breeds.

12 See Appendix 6, page 198 for the structure of each Research Group.
Genetic archetype of sheep revealed
An International Sheep Genomics Consortium, co-led by CSIRO, has revealed the genetic archetype, or reference genome for sheep.
This will help scientists develop tools for breeding sheep with more efficient production of meat, milk and wool. The results will allow
researchers to start answering the question ‘What makes a sheep a sheep and not a cow?’ The answer, from a genetic viewpoint, is not
as obvious as it might first appear because sheep and cattle have very similar genomes.

Diabetes Diet and Lifestyle Plan

To assist Australians living with diabetes, CSIRO, the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and Penguin Publishing have released a
book covering every aspect of type 2 diabetes prevention and control. The CSIRO and Baker IDI Diabetes Diet and Lifestyle Plan
explains what diabetes is, how people develop it and how its severity can be reduced. It also includes comprehensive plans to support a
healthy lifestyle, expert advice on optimal diets and ideas for increased physical activity.

Controlling when grapes ripen

CSIRO has discovered a way to control when grapes ripen without affecting wine style. Grapes are ripening earlier and the harvest
season is becoming shorter, possibly due to climate change. This causes wineries considerable difficulty in accurately scheduling
harvest time to maximise the wine-making potential of some grape varieties. By applying particular plant-growth regulators, berry
ripening can be delayed to enable more timely and cost-efficient harvesting.

Information Sciences13

Research group aim: To work with partners to solve national challenges, drive the productivity of Australian industries, and
deliver public good outcomes through the innovative application of mathematical, statistical, information and communication
sciences and technologies, and to build Australia’s role in developing the next generation of space sciences.

Overview
The Information Sciences Group contains the core of CSIRO’s research focus in the data-intensive sciences and services. It provides
Australia with world-class capabilities in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), mathematical sciences, and astronomy
and spacecraft tracking that are deployed through a collaborative partnering approach. The Group plays a key role in enabling CSIRO’s
multidisciplinary science across Flagship programs and other portfolios.
The Group is the national leader for e-enabling scientific research endeavours through a data-intensive approach. Through
implementation of the eResearch Strategy, the way we conduct research at CSIRO is changing, enabling researchers to actively
collaborate and share resources globally, and engage in cross-disciplinary research. The eResearch strategy supports research tackling
‘big science’ challenges and associated data management requirements.
The Group operates world-class national facilities in astronomy and spacecraft tracking on behalf of the Australian Government.

Achievements 2010–11

Wireless broadband for rural Australia

CSIRO is developing wireless broadband technology for people living in rural and regional Australia. CSIRO’s Ngara technology aims
to bring wireless broadband access to people living beyond Australia’s planned fibre network using existing broadcasting infrastructure,
such as that left behind after the switch-over to digital TV. The technology uses devices attached to existing broadcasting towers and
slightly modified ordinary TV antennas to ‘beam’ broadband to and from homes, offering people in the bush the benefits of 21st
century services. It can operate using barely a quarter of the number of transmission towers required by current systems.

Astronomers unravel how pulsars work

CSIRO and international colleagues are close to solving a 30-year-old puzzle as to why ‘cosmic clocks’ called pulsars are not perfect.
Pulsars are small spinning stars that emit a beam of radio waves and are often used as clocks given their highly regular rotation. When
the beam sweeps over the Earth we detect a ‘pulse’ of radio waves. Scientists observed 366 pulsars over several decades and found that

13See Appendix 6, page 198 for the structure of each Research group.
a pulsar’s magnetosphere (its ‘cocoon’ of magnetic fields) switches back and forth between two different states, subtly affecting the
pulsar spin.
Armed with this understanding, astronomers will find it easier to compensate for errors in their pulsar ‘clocks’ when used as tools – for
instance, in trying to detect gravitational waves.

Improving communication for animal disease experts

Responding to outbreaks of deadly animal-borne diseases is now quicker and easier with new CSIRO-developed technology. Installed
at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, Victoria, the interactive system provides high-definition video conferencing
and a shared workspace that offers secure, real-time access to critical technology such as microscopy, pathology and software
applications. The technology allows disease experts both inside and outside a high security biocontainment area to work in real-time
with chief veterinary officers across Australia.
This will greatly improve the management of emergency animal disease outbreaks in Australia.

Exercising while playing computer games

CSIRO has developed software that aims to encourage children to be more active when playing computer games. It works by exploiting
the children’s desire to win. Using the game ‘Neverball’, that is usually played sitting down, players must guide a ball through a maze
within a time limit. Researchers modified the game by shortening the time allowed and making players get up and jump around before
being able to proceed to the next level. Every jump earns a second of game time.
Modified and unmodified versions of the game were tested on 270 primary school children, and found that children playing modified
games spent 25 per cent of their gaming time being active, whereas those playing unmodified games were active for just three per cent
of the time. Physical activity is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, and CSIRO is now investigating if programs such as this can
improve children’s health.

Helping Centrelink respond to customer needs

CSIRO is developing sophisticated technologies to help Australia’s largest human services provider Centrelink understand and respond
to trends in demand for social worker services. Figuring out how and where to invest social worker resources is difficult. Not only are
there huge demands, but as customers’ needs change over time, resource allocation must also change in response to where services are
needed most. The project will allow early detection of unexpected increases or decreases in demand for social worker services, identify
where current services are not meeting needs, and help Centrelink respond to changing issues and demographics of customers.

Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals14

Research group aim: To help grow Australia’s wealth by fostering increased efficiency and supporting business and job
creation in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Overview
The focus of the Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals Group is to assist industry become more sustainable. We innovate in
partnership with local and multinational organisations to deliver technologies, products and processes for their sustainable competitive
advantage. We work with companies in aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, defence, textiles, building infrastructure, health,
chemicals, plastics, packaging, mineral exploration, mining, mineral processing, and metals production market segments.
The Group delivers major initiatives in: sustainable and fibrous materials; flexible electronics and advanced engineered components;
innovative technologies for advanced mineral processing; mineral exploration; improvements to mining productivity; systems
innovation; and works across the entire light metals value chain from aluminium, titanium and magnesium production to manufactured
products and components.
The Group’s research will deliver economic benefits including the development of new and improved products processes and services,
new companies and employment opportunities; environmental benefits as we create new products and services which have a lighter
environmental footprint; and social benefits through increased employment and wealth creation for Australia.

Achievements 2010–11

14 See Appendix 6, page 198 for the structure of each Research Group.
LANDTEM™ finding difficult-to-detect ores across the globe
LANDTEM™, is a portable exploration tool that uses highly sensitive magnetic sensors known as SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum
Interference Devices). Licensed to Australian start-up company Outer-Rim Exploration Services, the LANDTEM™ system enables the
minerals industry to ‘see through the ground’ in search of the next generation of resources to underpin the future of our minerals
industry. It represents a major innovation in our ability to unearth mineral deposits worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In the past
eight years, ten LANDTEM™ systems have been built and deployed successfully on four continents helping to unearth around $6
billion of new mines worldwide. The underpinning SQUIDS technology has been applied to oceanography, security and defence
applications, and is a great example of science teams working across boundaries to deliver impact to multiple industry sectors.

Repairing flood damaged buildings

In response to the 2011 floods in Australia, CSIRO developed extensive documents and interactive tools to provide information and
advice to the Australian public dealing with flood damaged buildings. Information on the effects on different building materials and
how they should be repaired was widely referenced and republished throughout the national media. Details about extreme weather
events and the causes and impacts of floods and tropical cyclones formed part of the rich package of information.

GE-CSIRO Research Alliance

GE and CSIRO have signed a $20 million strategic Research Alliance that will allow the organisations to benefit from complementary
capabilities and achieve mutual long-term objectives. The alliance, which is a five-year commitment to collaborative research and
development, will include projects around the key themes of energy, healthcare, materials and water. The partnership with GE will link
CSIRO to the global innovation system, position Australia as a development market for new innovations with global potential and will
enable CSIRO to create impact both within Australia and on a global scale.  

International Centre of Excellence to open in Chile

CSIRO has been selected by the Chilean Government to develop the International Centre of Excellence in Mining and Minerals
Processing. The world-class centre will address current and future challenges common to both the Australian and Chilean mineral
industries, including processing lower grade and complex ores, improving mining safety and efficiency and reducing energy and water
use. It will also tackle the chronic global skills shortage by opening up postgraduate training opportunities and it will support greater
linkages between the vital mining equipment, technology and services sectors.

Program 3 – Science Outreach: Education and Scientific

Publishing

Science Outreach – objectives and deliverables

Communicating scientific research helps raise the profile of science and CSIRO within the community. CSIRO conducts a range of
science education programs for primary and secondary school students and their teachers and the public, and hosts the CSIRO
Discovery Centre in Canberra.
CSIRO operates CSIRO PUBLISHING as an independent science and technology publisher with a global reputation for quality
products and services covering a wide range of scientific disciplines, including agriculture, chemistry, the plant and animal sciences,
and environmental management. CSIRO PUBLISHING operates within CSIRO on a commercial basis on behalf of authors and
customers in Australia and overseas.
CSIRO also runs an honours and postgraduate scholarship program which provides opportunities in science and engineering for
outstanding graduates who enrol at Australian tertiary institutions as full-time postgraduate students for research leading to the award of
a PhD. PhD students at CSIRO are co-supervised by a university, allowing students to maintain and develop their university
connections while being exposed to research in a working environment. The number of students fluctuates due to uneven intakes each
year and a reduction in student numbers is often seen when a cohort moves through the program (see Table 3.5).
Some CSIRO Divisions have collaborative arrangements with universities to foster PhD studies in particular areas – for example,
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and the University of Tasmania run a joint PhD Program.

Table 3.5: Science outreach – CSIRO’s postgraduate students

2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

Sponsored postgraduates(a)

PhD 256 241 338 375 333

Masters 4 18 9 13 24

Honours 16 13 17 25 19

Total 276 272 364 413 376(b)

Supervised postgraduates(a)

PhD 582 523 629 733 655

Masters 31 48 56 47 59

Honours 61 63 58 60 77

Total 674 634 743 840 791

Postdoctoral Fellows 294 301 304 330 333

(a)
As at 31 May each year. A student may be either sponsored, supervised or both. The total number of individual students sponsored and/or supervised
as at 31 May 2011 was 815, including more than 53 supervised in collaboration with CRCs and 57 through the Flagship Collaboration Fund.  See
glossary page 205 for definition of sponsorship and supervision. 
(b)
Includes 121 students fully sponsored and 255 students partially sponsored by CSIRO.

Science Outreach – Program performance

The performance of CSIRO’s Science Outreach Program is assessed through six performance indicators. Table 3.6 provides a summary
of progress. More detailed analysis and trend data follow the Table.

Table 3.6: Performance indicators for Program 3 – Science Outreach

Key performance Target Performance

indicator

Utilisation of Increasing Overall participation in CSIRO Education

science outreach Programs increased.
programs. The Canberra Deep Space Communication
Complex and the CSIRO Parkes radio telescope
continue to attract large numbers of visitors.

Awareness of Increasing Data not available.1

science by CSIRO
stakeholders.

Success of Evidence of Independent evaluations and surveys confirm the

participants in the success success of CSIRO’s Science Outreach Programs
Science Outreach and visitor centres.
Programs.

International reach Increase International submissions increased by

and impact of 15 per cent and global readers downloaded
published journals. over 2.6 million papers.
Journal impact factors as measured by the
Institute for Scientific Information are generally
increasing.

New book titles. 50 48 new book titles were published during the year.

Net profit from Positive A net profit of $624,000 was delivered.

CSIRO
PUBLISHING.

Utilisation of science outreach programs

CSIRO Education continues to offer a range of valued programs to teachers and students. Table 3.7 shows there was a small increase in
the number of visitors to CSIRO’s Science Education Centres and Science by Email continued to increase its readership. In 2010, the
Maths by Email program was launched, with the number of subscribers reaching 9,255 by December 2010. The Scientists in Schools
program reached 1,850 teacher-scientist partnerships and the number of Mathematicians in Schools partnerships reached 163. SCOPE,
the national weekly science TV program broadcast on Saturday mornings, continues to reach an increasing number of viewers.
However, participation in the Double Helix Science Club dropped by 20 per cent. A new program of promotion is being undertaken to
address decline in membership. After the success of the pilot program reported last year, CarbonKids gained funding to expand
its reach.
CSIRO’s Discovery Centre had great success with their National Science Week event, ‘The Canberra Family Science Spectacular’,
which drew 11,000 guests in three days. The national science film festival SCINEMA, run by CSIRO Discovery, played to an audience
of 30,000 at 300 venues across Australia. The SCINEMA Jury awarded the Festival’s Directors Award to Honeybee Blues, a film which
highlighted the work of CSIRO’s Denis Anderson.
The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) has attracted significant public and education interest in a year
highlighted by significant space exploration activities and the expansion of the Complex which has new antennas under construction.
The complex welcomed over 70,000 visitors, including a record 12,000 school students and the CDSCC Space Open Day was well
attended by the public.
The CSIRO Parkes radio telescope remains extremely popular with visitors. Visitor experience has been improved through the
installation of a new astronomy and space science exhibition and increase in summer vacation student presentations. The
Pulse@Parkes program allowed 200 high school students to observe pulsars using the Parkes telescope remotely. The program
increased its international reach with twenty students in the Netherlands participating.

Table 3.7: Science outreach

Program 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

CSIRO Education Programs

CSIRO Science Education 369,919 383,499 390,947 386,500 389,287

Centres (visitors)

CSIRO Discovery 60,581 73,772 80,555 94,365 100,920

Centre (visitors)

Double Helix Science 18,945 19,545 20,253 19,656 15,821

Club (members)

Science by Email (subscribers) 20,689 28,516 29,560 34,933 38,156

Maths by Email* (subscribers) 9,255

Creativity in Science and 6,509 5,999 8,355 8,801 9,668

Technology (CREST)
(participants)

BHP Billiton Science 2,677 4,103 2,568 3,114 3,658

Awards (participants)

Other Visitor Centres

Parkes radio telescope (visitors) 94,305 104,783 92,369 112,342 95,104

Canberra Deep Space 65,467 62,162 67,538 67,582 70,044

Communication Complex
(visitors)

* Launched in 2010

Awareness of science by CSIRO stakeholders

No formal survey of community awareness was undertaken in the reporting year. However, CSIRO continues to reach a wider audience
through its expanding online presence.
Podcast downloads increased by over 40 per cent with CSIROpod holding the number one spot in the iTunes Natural Science category
on more than one occasion. Downloads of CSIRO’s video podcasts ‘CSIROvod’ also increased by 63 per cent and for the first time,
captured the number one position on iTunes in the Natural Sciences video podcast category in June.
CSIRO expanded its social media portfolio to include a Twitter account, @csironews, which attracted 3,028 followers by June 2011.
Fans of CSIRO’s Facebook Fan page increased by 136 per cent. During the year, CSIRO launched the inaugural Titanium Challenge,
which aimed to engage fans in understanding titanium, additive manufacturing and CSIRO’s titanium research (see case study on page
107).
CSIRO added 20 videos to its YouTube channel and views of its channel increased by 58 per cent.

Evidence of success in the Science Outreach Programs

CSIRO uses a variety of methods to demonstrate the success of its Science Outreach Programs, including independent evaluations and
surveys. An external evaluation of Maths by Email was highly complimentary of the difference it was making to students in its target
9–12 age group. An evaluation of Science by Email is underway. Reader surveys are regularly undertaken of The Helix and Scientriffic
magazines with content and style being modified in response. Two student finalists from the BHP Billiton Science Awards attended the
Intel Science and Engineering Fair in the USA with one student receiving an award from the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Society.
CSIRO’s Discovery Centre supports science communication and education activities by promoting an understanding and appreciation
of research. School children from every state and territory in Australia visit the centre – the number is growing annually, as many
schools make multiple repeat visits. Discovery’s unique and very popular 90 minute minds-on, hands-on program gives students an
insight into CSIRO’s work and the value of research to Australian society. During 2010–11, a major new exhibition was completed to
showcase our research into functional foods.
Feedback from visitors to the CDSCC’s Visitor Outreach Centre was positive regarding the exhibition, narrative and level of
information provided. Schools were extremely eager to ensure they rebooked for future years.
Visitor experience at the CSIRO Parkes radio telescope improved through 2010. Visitor feedback collected in exit surveys highlighted
the quality of the astronomy and space science exhibition, the science garden and the enthusiastic staff as the contributing factors.
Visitors’ comments included:
‘Inspirational – leading edge information.’
‘One of Australia’s best kept secrets – truly inspiring.’
‘Makes me proud to be Australian. Keep up the good work CSIRO.’

International reach and impact of published journals

The reach and impact for the 25 Journals published by CSIRO PUBLISHING in partnership with the Australian Academy of Science
and other societies continues to grow. International submissions increased by 15 per cent and global readers downloaded over 2.6
million papers (see Table 3.8). The drive for quality was generally rewarded with positive impact factor trends, as measured by the
Institute for Scientific Information. The market expectation that we should open our print archives was met with AJ Biological Sciences
and AJ Physics archives dating from 1948 digitised and published under an open access model.
ECOS, CSIRO’s ‘science for a sustainable future’ magazine shifted to a digital only magazine, enabling it to reach a wider audience in
a more timely fashion and to open more quality content to a mainly Australian readership by digitising archives back to 1974.

Table 3.8: CSIRO PUBLISHING

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

CSIRO 1,143,573 1,432,024 1,686,320 2,092,283 2,633,703

PUBLISHING
journal (downloads)

ECOS story 101,267 168,262 204,225 200,740 241,525

(downloads)

New book titles

Forty-eight new book titles were published, highlighted by Climate Change: Science and Solutions for Australia released in hard copy and as
an open access eBook. Other key titles included Capturing the Essence, a book for artists, Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words and the
critically acclaimed Living Architecture: Living Roofs and Walls. While eBook versions of new books are now standard practice, CSIRO
PUBLISHING continued to digitise backlist, out-of-print titles with over 300 eBooks now available on a variety of platforms.

Net Profit from CSIRO PUBLISHING

The business was able to withstand market challenges including economic pressures faced by international research libraries and a
strong Australian dollar that reduced export income. While revenue was down at $10.3 million, the bottom line profit target of $624,000
was achieved.

Program 4 – National Research Infrastructure: National Facilities

and Collections

National Research Infrastructure – objectives and deliverables

CSIRO manages two types of national research infrastructure on behalf of the nation; National Research Facilities and National
Biological Collections. In addition, CSIRO hosts 30 other research facilities, such as the Australian Resources Research Centre (Perth)
and the High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre (Canberra) and over thirty national reference collections, including the National Tree
Seed Collection, the National Soil Archive and the Cape Grim Air Archive.

National Research Facilities

CSIRO operates a range of specialised laboratories, scientific and testing equipment, and other research facilities which are available
for use by both Australian and international researchers. The three major National Research Facilities, classified as landmark facilities,
are:
 The Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) – located in Geelong, Victoria, is a national centre of excellence in
disease diagnosis, research and policy advice in animal health and human diseases of animal origin (zoonoses). It is
Australia’s front line defence, helping to protect Australia from the threat of these exotic and emerging animal diseases. In
recent years, CSIRO has been managing engineering upgrades, the provision of expanded facilities to support the work
in zoonotic diseases and expansion of new microscopy capability.
 The Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) – operated and managed by CSIRO’s Division of Astronomy and Space
Science, is made up of radio telescopes at three observatories, near the towns of Parkes, Coonabarabran and Narrabri in New
South Wales. A fourth telescope, the next generation Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) is currently
being built at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Western Australia and will consist of 36 antennas. Once fully
 complete, the ASKAP will also be operated by CSIRO as part of the Australia Telescope National Facility.
 The Marine National Facility (MNF) – is made up of a 66 metre blue-water research vessel, Southern Surveyor, a package
of unique scientific equipment and instrumentation, and a collection of 26 years of marine data. It has the scientific, technical
and administrative expertise required to safely and effectively manage an ocean-going research platform. The Southern
Surveyor is particularly suited to multidisciplinary research projects in the deep oceans surrounding Australia. CSIRO is
managing a major project to design and build a new state-of-the-art research vessel, Investigator, to replace the Southern
Surveyor and is scheduled to be operational in 2013.

National Biological Collections

CSIRO is the custodian of several collections of animal, plant, fungal and microbial specimens that contribute to the discovery,
inventory, understanding and conservation of Australia’s plant and animal biological diversity. These include the:
 Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC), specialising in Australian terrestrial invertebrates. The ANIC also supports a
remote microscopy service to enable virtual identification of species for the Australian Quarantine Service.
 Australian National Wildlife Collection (ANWC), specialising in land vertebrates
 Australian National Fish Collection (ANFC), specialising in marine fishes
 Australian National Herbarium (ANH), specialising in native plants and weeds.
Together, these collections support an important part of the country’s taxonomic, genetic, agricultural and ecological research. These
vital resources provide correct identification of species for biosecurity, conservation and the development of sustainable land and
marine management systems.

National Research Infrastructure – Program performance

The performance of CSIRO’s National Research Infrastructure Program is assessed through seven key performance indicators. Table
3.9 provides a summary of progress. More detailed analysis and trend data follow the Table.

Table 3.9: Performance indicators for Program 4 –

National Research Infrastructure

Key performance Target Performance

indicator

Utilisation of the Variable Availability and use of the National Research

National Infrastructure by Australia and the international
Research scientific community has been maintained at the
Infrastructure. target levels for National Research Facilities and
increased for National Biological Collections.

Maintenance and International Management arrangements are progressively being

operation of standard strengthened to ensure they continue to
National be maintained and operated to relevant international
Research standards.
Infrastructure.

Key performance Target Performance

indicator

Proportion of Increase The proportion of specimen level material digitised

National in the four collections is highly variable across
Biological collections and little changed from last year.
Collections
Public availability has been enhanced with the
digitised and
launch of The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) (see:
available to
www.ala.org.au), which provides open and free
the public.
access to biodiversity data held by the collections.
Coverage of Increase The coverage of Australian species increased
National marginally in the year, with coverage of fish species
Biological increasing by five per cent.
Collections.

Response to Timely AAHL continues to respond to national events in a

national events. response timely manner. All 39,000 tests on 25,000 samples
sent for diagnostic testing for exotic diseases were
completed in 24 hours or less.

The AAHL Facility built The collaborative Biosecurity Research Facility was
Collaborative and completed this year. However, hand over was
Biosecurity operated in delayed until June 2011, due to refinements and
Research Facility. accordance with modifications to one of the main laboratories (the
the PC4 laboratory for microbiological containment).
NCRIS*/CSIR
O agreement.

Scientific Demonstrated CSIRO’s National Research Infrastructure

contributions in high-quality continues to provide significant support to
support contributions. Australian and international scientific communities.
of research. Achievements this year are described on pages 78–
81.

* NCRIS is the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.

Utilisation of National Research Infrastructure

Statistics relating to the use of the National Research Facilities are provided in Table 3.10. Use of the facilities has been relatively
steady in recent years but is expected to increase as each expands its operation with the introduction of new laboratories for AAHL,
new telescopes for ATNF and a new research vessel for MNF.

Table 3.10: Utilisation of National Research Facilities

Access to National Research Infrastructure 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

Australian Animal Health Laboratory

Hours operating per day 24 24 24

Days operating per week 7 7 7

Australia Telescope National Facility1

Time allocated to observations (%) 76 75.3 72.4

Time lost to equipment failure (%) 3 2.9 3.1

Time allocated to CSIRO staff (%) 20 24 24

Time allocated to other Australian researchers (%) 30 23 25

Time allocated to international researchers (%) 50 53 51

Marine National Facility

Ship time grants (days) 99 177 158

1
More information can be found in the ATNF’s Annual Report (see: www.atnf.csiro.au/AR2010).
During the financial year, the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) installed a new PC4 laboratory, which provides the
highest level of microbiological containment. This additional laboratory will enable AAHL to undertake research on serious diseases
that affect both animals and humans and for which there is no current vaccines or treatment, such as the Hendra virus, which can be
fatal for both horses and humans.
Another new laboratory, the PC3 insectary, which is for use with animal or human pathogens that pose a medium risk to the
environment, is expected to be operational in October 2011. This additional facility within AAHL will enable both diagnosis of and
research into those emerging diseases transmitted by insects and that affect both animals and humans. For example, this year saw a
significant increase in Murray Valley Encephalitis and Ross River Fever associated with heavy rains throughout eastern Australia. The
facility will enhance our ability to both understand and respond to such outbreaks. Work also continued on the development of a horse
vaccine for the Hendra virus.
The Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) continues to be the most productive and powerful radio astronomy facility in the
Southern hemisphere. Demand for its use from internationally prominent astronomers within and outside Australia remains high. The
ATNF exceeded its target of 70 per cent of time allocated for astronomical observations on the Australia Telescope Compact Array and
Parkes Telescope. Time lost during scheduled observations due to equipment failure was below five per cent. Performance targets were
also met on the Mopra Telescope and Long Baseline Array.
The Marine National Facility (MNF) provided 158 days of ship time out of 240 days requested by scientists, and a further 11 research
charter days. Participants included scientists from 29 Australian institutions including CSIRO, the University of Western Australia, the
South Australian Research and Development Institute, the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem Cooperative Research Centre, the
University of New South Wales, the Australian National University, the University of Sydney and the Bureau of Meteorology and
collaborating scientists from institutions in Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. The MNF fostered the
development of next generation marine researchers by enabling 17 students to experience scientific work at sea.
Use of the National Biological Collections has increased over the last three years (see Table 3.11).

Table 3.11: Combined utilisation of National Biological Collections

Use of National Biological Collections 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

Number of specimens dispatched 7,800 29,300 25,925

Outward going loans 138 147 193

Tissue samples sent 3,300 3,800 4,447

Tissue sample grants 79 44 40

Number of visitors hosted 155 186 336

Total visitor research days 403 713 551

Number of tours hosted 47 57 70

Total number of visitors on tours 535 597 1,266

Maintenance and operation of National Research Infrastructure
During 2010–11, AAHL completed a four year engineering upgrade with a refocus on routine maintenance and preventative activities.
AAHL continues to operate at the highest level of biosecurity and biosafety, ensuring the physical containment of highly pathogenic
organisms. The safety of staff is paramount at all times. The laboratory has retained full national accreditation for laboratory services
(ISO 17025), and environmental management (ISO 140001). In keeping with the previous year, compliance with the Australian
Quarantine Inspection Services, the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and those regulations concerning Security Sensitive
Biological Agents has been achieved. Many of these regulations have been enhanced and expanded in response to maximising effective
risk management in these areas. Auditing of the new facilities (the PC4 laboratory and the insectary) by the various regulators has been
successful with only minor modifications required to ensure full compliance.
The ATNF is installing new instrumentation to maintain performance at the standard of comparable international facilities. A high rate
of availability for astronomy was maintained despite undertaking several significant performance and reliability upgrades of the Parkes
Telescope and the Australia Telescope Compact Array during the year, demonstrating the excellent maintenance and operation of the
facility. Over one hundred papers using ATNF data were published in refereed journals in the last year. In 2008, (the latest year for
which the analysis has been made) the ATNF ranked second internationally for radio astronomy papers in major journals.
CSIRO is overseeing the building of a new state-of-the-art research vessel, Investigator, to replace the current MNF research vessel,
Southern Surveyor. The new vessel will be 89 metres in length, and represents a step-change in blue-water research capability available
to the Australian marine research community. With accommodation for up to 40 scientists, RV Investigator will undertake
multidisciplinary voyages up to 60 days duration to the further reaches of Australia’s marine estate, from the Antarctic sea ice to the
equator. The added capability will allow marine scientists to address national research challenges in ways not possible previously.
Activities will include deploying and servicing deep water moorings systems to monitor ocean-atmosphere interactions, mapping and
characterising the ocean floor out to deep waters, geological sampling, oceanic water sampling for physical, chemical and biological
characteristics and deploying meteorological sampling systems. Work has also commenced to facilitate the transition of support
systems in readiness for commissioning of RV Investigator in 2013. Until then, the 40-year-old Southern Surveyor is being maintained
to international standards with $1.8 million allocated in 2010–11 for enhanced maintenance work. More information can be found at:
www.csiro.au/science/Future-Research-Vessel
All National Biological Collections are housed in purpose-built facilities and are stored, curated and managed according to
international standards. CSIRO’s Information Management and Technology Group is building a data management system to support the
storage, discovery and access of research data, including the natural history collections. As part of this, the ANIC is trialling in 2011 a
new open-source product especially designed for natural history collections. The ANIC began a program to expedite curation through
high-quality images of specimen drawers.

Proportion of collections digitised and available to the public

The proportion of specimen level material digitised in the four collections ranges from five to 100 per cent, (see Table 3.12).

Table 3.12: Digitisation of the National Biological Collections

Collection Proportion of collection digitised (%)

2009–10 2010–11

Australian National Herbarium 76 76

Australian National Fish Collection 100 100

Australian National Insect Collection 2.9 5

Australian National Wildlife Collection 86 91

(excluding sound collection)

Overall, the majority of specimens are available through a range of internal or externally run databases. A concerted effort is focused on
making all the collections available online through a single portal, The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA).
Efforts to increase availability in the past year have focused on adjunct material such as images, sounds and genetic information. The
sound library of Australian birds is being transferred to digital recordings and images of collection drawers in the ANIC are being
provided as digital meta-data records. DNA barcodes and images for most Australian moths have been released on-line this year.
The majority of Australian specimen records in the ANH are digitised, other than a small proportion of recent acquisitions. All digitised
material is available through Australia’s Virtual Herbarium (www.ersa.edu.au/avh/) and soon through the ALA (www.ala.org.au ).
Images of Australian plants are also available via the Australian Plant Image Index (www.cpbr.gov.au/photo/), a comprehensive
collection of over 65,000 images. Undatabased collections are predominantly of non-Australian origin.
The ANFC specimen data (48,669 records) is 100 per cent digitised and approximately 60 per cent is available publicly through the
Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums (www.ozcam.org.au/) and is searchable through the Australian National Data
Service (ANDS) (www.ands.org.au/), the ALA and the Ocean Biogeographic
Information System (www.obis.org.au) part of the Census of Marine Life. The Photographic Index of Australian Fishes is the largest
collection of images of Australasian fishes, and more than 2,000 images covering about 1,600 species or 33 per cent of the described
Australian species, are available to the public via Scienceimage (www.scienceimage.csiro.au/) and through ANDS.
Approximately five per cent of the ANIC invertebrate collection is digitised (about 500,000 records out of a possible 12 million). Of
these, around two per cent are currently available for use and download through the ALA. However, all are still publicly available
through the ANIC specimen database, OZCAM , the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (www.gbif.org) and Zipcode Zoo

(www.zipcodezoo.com).
Ninety-one per cent of the ANWC vertebrate collections have been digitised, although this falls to 60 per cent when the sound
collection is included. All specimens can be accessed through OZCAM on a manual provision basis, while around seven per cent have
become available through the ALA.

Coverage of National Biological Collections

The National Biological Collections provide a moderately high-level of coverage of Australian Species (see Table 3.13).

Table 3.13: Coverage of the National Biological Collections

Collection Proportion of diversity covered (%)

Australian National Herbarium 70

Australian National Fish Collection 54

Australian National Insect Collection 70

Australian National Wildlife Collection Vertebrate – 55

Birds – 100

Two projects, based on material held by the ANIC, have increased the list of known Australian moths: a recent book by a Finnish author
has identified and named 137 new species of Australian leaf-mining moths. A new DNA study of all Australian moth species as part of
the Barcode of Life Initiative (www.bolinfonet.org) has revealed the possibility
of other new, as yet unnamed, species.

Demonstrated response to national events

During 2010–11, AAHL responded to a major outbreak of equine encephalitis in horses in a number of eastern states that resulted in an
increase in the number of samples from horses being tested for Hendra virus. Whilst all cases were negative for Hendra virus, many
tested positive to the mosquito born virus infections (Murray Valley virus, Kunjun virus and Ross River Fever virus). Most of this was
associated with an increase in vector populations due to heavy rains. Following this, major outbreaks of Hendra have occurred in
Queensland and New South Wales. AAHL has been involved in confirmatory diagnosis activities, in causative agent isolation and
identification and in undertaking further research to assist decision-making in the face of this significant outbreak.
Research continued on a range of viral infections of animals and humans. Work on a horse vaccine against Hendra virus infection
progressed well and it is hoped that a vaccine will be available within two years. Studies on viral infection in bats had focused on a
deeper understanding of the bat immune system and how this may have adapted to allow virus infection without any clinical
manifestations in the bat. Early indications are that the bat’s innate immune system may have some unique characteristics that allow for
this non clinical co-existence.
Work commenced overseas on studies with live foot and mouth disease virus to better understand the infection in cattle, sheep and pigs
that is specifically relevant to Australia.
The AAHL Collaborative Biosecurity Research Facility
Further refinements and modifications to the new Biosecurity Research facility delayed hand over of this capability to scientists at
AAHL until June 2011. Whilst this has postponed the occupation of this facility under the National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy/CSIRO agreement, it has ensured that maximum use can be made of the space once operational.
A particularly challenging component of the refinement and modification to the PC4 laboratory for microbiological containment is the
remote management of the live-cell imaging capabilities that will be established at PC4. This is a world first that requires some
innovative technical solutions. Arrangements for training, for priority setting and for access arrangements and fees have all been
completed. All the above have provided a timely capability to respond to the national call for additional work on the Hendra virus, most
of which must be done at PC4 level.

Scientific contributions in support of research

This section highlights some of the high-quality scientific contributions made by the National Facilities and Collections in
2010–11, in support of the National Research Flagships, CSIRO’s core research portfolios and external users.

Achievements 2010–11

Australian Animal Health Laboratory

Recent investments in AAHL by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy are ensuring that cutting-edge
technologies linked to effective bio-containment attract scientists worldwide to partner with AAHL. Further investments in data
management and communications are ensuring that research conducted within the secure area of AAHL can be effectively shared with
collaborators worldwide. The development of the Biosecurity Collaborative Platform is now being routinely used to conduct meetings
across the secure barrier at AAHL. As an example, new research partnerships with scientists at Deakin University and the new Medical
School in Geelong have utilised the new live cell imaging capabilities at AAHL to visualise the processes of viral entry into cells. In the
case of the recent outbreaks of Hendra in Australia, these capabilities have been used to confirm outbreaks of the disease, further
characterise the causative agent, harmonise testing across various States and territories, undertake targeted studies in close contact
colonies of bats and estimate risks from affected species (horses and dogs). These activities have been crucial in providing science
based decision-making in the face of an unprecedented level of disease, and the occurrence in a new species.

Australia Telescope National Facility

During 2010–11, pulsar astronomy research data from the Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) was made public in
conjunction with the Australian National Data Service (ANDS). A key outcome of the project is to make large research datasets easily
accessible. This will enable researchers to easily discover, download and reuse research data from anywhere in the world. Among the
many benefits are the opportunities for collaboration and the potential for increased citation of associated publications.
Original data from 4,500 observations of pulsars (small stars that produce a regular train of radio pulses) observed with the ATNF’s
Parkes radio telescope is now available to researchers worldwide as a part of this initiative. This substantial new archive enhances over
twenty years’ of observations with ATNF telescopes already available through the Australia Telescope Online Archive
(http://atoa.atnf.csiro.au/).
Notably, more than half of all currently known pulsars, including the only binary pulsar system, have been discovered via the Parkes
Telescope, which continues to be a front-rank instrument in the field of radio astronomy.

Marine National Facility

During 2010–11, the Marine National Facility (MNF) supported a diverse range of science. The MNF was used to research the
sustainability of a significant but declining rock lobster fishery and to improve the understanding of the Leeuwin Current off Western
Australia which impacts marine productivity and the climate experienced in Australia. Researchers investigated the diversity of animal
communities on the Park’s ocean floor to inform the management of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park. Deep water moorings in
the Southern Ocean were serviced to ensure robust empirical data are available to improve the understanding of climate change and
evaluate model projections. Ocean productivity in eastern Australian waters and the Tasman Sea was also investigated. More
information can be found at www.marine.csiro.au/nationalfacility.

Australian National Insect Collection

A major revision of the ecologically dominant Australian meat ants (Iridomyrmex) was released. This was based on over 30,000
examined specimens of 79 recognised species. A collaborative DNA-sequence based study of relationships of the world’s Dipterans
(flies) has clarified the evolutionary history of this economically important group. As part of its digitisation efforts, ANIC has imaged
more than 250 drawers of specimens and made them available for web-based viewing. The Remote Microscope Diagnostic Network
has continued to grow and was recently recognised in 2011 with an Excellence in Innovation Award presented by the Australian
Research Council. The Network aids speed and accuracy of biosecurity decision-making and on-the-spot quarantine decisions are
possible in 80 per cent of cases.

Australian National Wildlife Collection

The ANWC has continued to provide innovative linkages between present-day ecology and longer-term evolution of the Australian
biota. This enhances our understanding of conservation significance and management needs. An example is in our improved
understanding of the complexity of the evolutionary history of the iconic Australian and New Guinean parrots. We better appreciate
now that the birds we so often simply call ‘Australian parrots’ are several distinct lines of evolution that all need conservation planning.
Acquisition of a Micro CT scanner has contributed to a revolution in our understanding of native Australian mammal diversity and the
names we need to apply to those mammals. This in turn helps the fundamental planning or conservation of this newly appreciated
mammal diversity.

Australian National Fish Collection

The ANFC has provided major contributions to the worldwide knowledge of the marine fishes of our region through the Wealth from
Oceans Flagship and international initiatives including the recently completed ten-year international Census of Marine Life by
providing information, taxonomic identification of new specimens and analytical information to the marine research conducted in
Australia as part of the Census (www.coml.org/).
ANFC data contributed to research in the Wealth from Oceans Flagship developing a new hierarchical framework to classify seabed
biodiversity. The framework used in Australia’s Regional Marine Planning is a significant step towards the ecosystem based
management of marine systems. Its use in Australia and application in a global context is reported in a paper published in Biological
Conservation (2010, 143, 1675-1686).
The ANFC’s historical data were essential in the Climate Adaptation Flagship’s research assessing the impact of climate change on the
marine biodiversity of south-eastern Australia – a known climate change hot spot. A paper in Global Ecology and Biogeography (2011,
20, 58-72) demonstrated major distributional shifts in 45 species of fishes thought to be climate related.

Australian National Herbarium

The ANH coordinates and manages the Australian Plant Census (www.anbg.gov.au/chah/apc/about-APC.html), a national,
collaborative census of Australia’s flora, aimed at providing a unified, agreed list of scientific names for all native and naturalised
Australian flowering plants. Over 50,000 plant names have been considered and treated for the project, with another 13,000 to be
treated before completion of the first stage of the project in late 2011. Along with the Australian Plant Name Index and the Australian
Faunal Directory, the APC forms the ‘taxonomic backbone’ of another important, authoritative biodiversity information resource, The
Atlas of Living Australia (www.ala.org.au).
 BACK TO CONTENTS
PART 4
OUR ORGANISATION
Hold the CTRL key while clicking your left mouse button to visit each section.

 Management and accountability

 CSIRO Board
 CSIRO Executive Management
 Health and safety
 Environmental performance
 Our people

PART FOUR: OUR ORGANISATION

Management and accountability

Operating Model
CSIRO’s Operating Model is designed to support the successful execution of our strategy and delivery of our goals. The Model
underpins the governance of the Organisation by defining the roles, relationships and accountabilities of leaders and operating units. It
includes our processes for planning, investment, review and reporting, and outlines CSIRO’s Policy Framework. The Model is
documented in CSIRO – the way we work and is available to everyone who works in CSIRO and to the general public at
www.csiro.au/resources/CSIRO-the-way-we-work.html.
Further information on CSIRO’s governance arrangements can be found at: www.csiro.au/governanceoverview.

Code of Conduct
In 2010, CSIRO revised and simplified its Code of Conduct. The revised Code now sets the standard for behaviour expected of CSIRO
and of everyone working in CSIRO.
The Code complements the Operating Model and forms a key component of our induction programs. All staff members and CSIRO
affiliates must comply with the Code of Conduct, which can be viewed at: www.csiro.au/resources/Code-of-Conduct.html.
It is aligned with our Values Compass, which guides our interactions with colleagues and external partners and stakeholders. More
information on CSIRO’s Values Compass can be found on page i.

Legislation and government policy

CSIRO is an Australian Government statutory authority constituted and operating under the provisions of the Science and Industry
Research Act 1949 (SIR Act).
CSIRO’s primary functions are to:
 carry out scientific research to:
 assist Australian industry and to further the interests of the Australian community
 contribute to national and international objectives and responsibilities of the Commonwealth
 to encourage or facilitate the application and use of the results of CSIRO scientific research.
Our secondary functions include international scientific liaison, training of research workers, publication of research results,
technology transfer of other research, provision of scientific services and dissemination of information about science and technology.
Reporting, accountability and other rules for CSIRO’s operations are set out in the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997
(CAC Act).
Pursuant to a service agreement, CSIRO provides administrative support services to the Trustee of the Science and Industry
Endowment Fund consistent with the Science and Industry Endowment Fund Act 1926. The Fund has its own governance structure.
In October 2010, CSIRO submitted an annual Compliance Report to the Australian Government regarding the Organisation’s
compliance with the CAC Act and its financial sustainability.
General policies of the Australian Government that applied to CSIRO in 2010–11 under Section 28 of the CAC Act are:
Commonwealth Fraud Control Policy; Australian Government Foreign Exchange Risk Management Guidelines; and Outsourcing of IT
Infrastructure Services. In addition, CSIRO has complied with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines as they apply to CSIRO.
In the May 2011 Federal Budget the Government announced a new 2011–12 to 2014–15 Quadrennium Funding Agreement with
CSIRO. The Agreement will include the principles of quadrennium funding, resourcing of outputs, performance reporting and other
matters agreed by the parties.

Responsible Minister
In 2010–11, the Minister responsible for CSIRO was Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science
and Research.
Under the SIR and CAC Acts, the Minister has power to:
 add to the purposes for which CSIRO may carry out scientific research (SIR Act, section 9)
 provide to the CSIRO Board in writing, directions and guidelines with respect to the performance of the functions, or the
exercise of the powers, of the Board or of the Organisation (SIR Act, section 13).
The Minister’s Statement of Expectations and the Board’s Statement of Intent can be found at: www.csiro.au/resources/Statement-of-
Expectations.html.
The Public Research Agency Charter, signed by the Minister and the Board, provides guidance to CSIRO and its researchers on
providing scientific advice and engaging in public debate. The Charter can be found at: www.csiro.au/resources/pf1lc.html.

Ministerial directions and notifications

No new directions were received in 2010–11. The CSIRO 2011–14 Enterprise Agreement was developed in accordance with the
Minister’s direction regarding compliance with the Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework.
Eleven notifications of significant events under Section 15 and 16 of the CAC Act were made to the Minister during 2010–11. These
related to participation in research centres and alliances, licence agreements, equity transactions and major research and infrastructure
projects.

CSIRO Board
CSIRO is governed by a Board which is responsible to the Australian Government for the overall strategy, governance and performance
of the Organisation.
The CSIRO Board comprises nine part-time, non-executive members including the Chairman and a full-time Chief Executive. All non-
executive members are appointed by the Governor-General. The Chief Executive is appointed by the CSIRO Board, in consultation
with the Minister.
The CSIRO Board operates partly through four standing committees:
 Board Audit Committee
 Board Commercial Committee
 Board Nominations and Remuneration Committee
 Board Endowment Committee.
Newly appointed Board members are informed of their responsibilities and rights through a formal induction process. In the pursuit of
their duties, Board members may take such independent professional advice as is considered necessary, and have complete access to
senior management. A performance review of the Board and its Committees was conducted in early 2011 by an independent consultant
commissioned by the Board.
Disclosure of interests by Board members and the Chief Executive are made in accordance with the SIR Act and CAC Act, as
appropriate.
Details of the 2010–11 Board members, including qualifications and terms of appointment are on page 90–91. Details of remuneration,
membership of Board Committees and attendance at meetings are shown on pages 155–159 in the Financial Statements. The Board
Charter and membership profiles are available at: www.csiro.au/boardoverview.

CSIRO Executive Management

The Chief Executive conducts the affairs of the Organisation in accordance with the strategy, plans and policies approved by the Board
and the Board Directions to the Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive is supported by the Executive Team. As a team and through their individual roles, the members lead, direct,
coordinate and control CSIRO’s operations and performance. Details of the members are on page 91–92.
The Executive Team is assisted by the Science Sub-committee, Flagship Oversight Committee and Commercial Executive Committee.
The CSIRO Health, Safety and Environment Committee is accountable to the Chief Executive.
The Executive Management Council of senior managers provides a forum for sharing and discussing issues relating to the management
and future strategy for CSIRO.

Policies, standards and procedures

CSIRO conducted an extensive review of its policy material as part of the implementation of a new Policy Framework, which
comprises:
Policies: Define CSIRO’s commitment and responsibilities in an area.
Standards: Define minimum mandatory performance requirements for all CSIRO staff, sites and operations.
Procedures: Define the minimum mandatory actions or processes that must be followed by CSIRO staff in performing a particular
task or activity.
The aim is to improve compliance by clarifying performance requirements, roles and accountabilities. Documents will be easier to
follow and access from a user perspective.
Access to policy material has also been enhanced through the implementation of a Policy Portal on the MyCSIRO intranet site launched
in May 2011. When fully developed, the Policy Portal will be a one-stop shop for staff to access information on CSIRO’s practices and
minimum requirements.
The Policy Framework is supported by the CSIRO Delegations and Authorities Framework. The Commercial Delegations were
amended in August 2010 to include a threshold based on an assessment of enterprise risk. Further changes are being implemented to
improve the flexibility of the Framework, support the CSIRO Operating Model and reduce administration.

Policies
The CSIRO Board has five major policy statements on the Organisation’s commitment in relation to:
 Science and Delivery
 People
 Governance
 Risk
 Health, Safety, Environmental Sustainability and the Community.
The policy statements are available at: www.csiro.au/org/Key-policy-statements.html.

Standards and procedures

CSIRO’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) group has completed a comprehensive review of CSIRO’s HSE procedures and
guidelines, as part of the CSIRO’s commitment to the goal of Striving for Zero Harm and the
implementation of CSIRO’s new Policy Framework.
In December 2010, HSE released a new HSE Management standard, 11 new procedures and 22 revised procedures, many with revised
guidelines.
The HSE Management standard sets down for the first time a consolidated and approved list of the minimum mandatory HSE
management performance requirements for all CSIRO staff, sites and operations.
The new HSE procedures cover:
 Biological Safety
 Confined Space Safety
 Diving Safety
 HSE Induction for New Starters
 Isolation of Plant
 Laboratory Safety
 Nanotechnology Safety
 Occupational Health and Hygiene Management
 Permit to Work
 Safe Work on Seagoing Vessels
  Vehicle Use Safety
Further information on CSIRO’s health and safety can be found on pages 94–97.
The other standards and procedures introduced or amended this year include:

Standard
 CSIRO Code of Conduct
 Commercial engagement
 Project management

Procedure
 Adjunct appointments
 Anti-bribery and facilitation payments
 Travel (revised)

Planning and monitoring performance

2010–11 was the final year of CSIRO’s 2007–11 strategic planning period and of the associated four-year funding agreement with the
Australian Government. Consequently, an important focus of activity during the reporting year was a major review of CSIRO’s
performance and the development of a new Strategic Plan for the period 2011–15.
The Program Review of CSIRO was established to demonstrate accountability for past investment in CSIRO, inform the development
of CSIRO’s future strategy and operations, and inform the decision to enter into a new multi-year funding agreement. The Review was
conducted between June and September 201015.
Development of the new Strategic Plan was led by the CSIRO Board and Executive Team with extensive input from CSIRO’s broad
range of stakeholders in industry, government and the research community.
The Strategic Plan (see: www.csiro.au/org/Our-Strategy-Overview.html) conveys broad objectives for the Organisation, and sets out the
broad policies and strategies to be pursued to achieve those objectives. In brief, the strategy emphasises CSIRO’s intent to maintain its
focus on addressing national challenges and opportunities through an enhanced program of National Research Flagships, and to
continue developing Australia’s scientific capability and preparedness by investing in the people and infrastructure required to meet
current and future challenges. Priority actions required for successful implementation of the strategy are described in the annual CSIRO
Operational Plan (see: www.csiro.au/operational-plan).
Within the context provided by the Strategic Plan, CSIRO’s portfolio of research is decided through a rigorous science investment
process that is guided by the twin imperatives of seeking relevance and impact for Australia. Our Divisions and Flagships are subject to
regular review by panels chaired by independent experts who assess the strength of our capability as well as the relevance and impact
of our research. In addition, the quality of our research is subject to the normal scientific peer review mechanisms and the Chief
Executive conducts an annual review of all research portfolios, Divisions and functional areas.

Advisory mechanisms
CSIRO’s primary advisory mechanisms are Sector Advisory Councils and Flagship Advisory Committees, which comprise
representatives from industry and other stakeholders.
Sector Advisory Councils provide strategic advice on the national challenges and opportunities of a broad sector of the Australian
economy, society or environment. There are Councils for the energy and transport; environment and natural resource management;
health; information, communication and services; manufacturing; and mineral resources sectors.
The Flagship Advisory Committees, established for each Flagship, provide advice on how to maximise the effectiveness of the Flagship
portfolio to achieve its goals.
CSIRO’s advisory mechanisms were reviewed in early 2011. In 2011–12, the Sector Advisory Councils will be replaced by Strategic
Advisory Committees, which will provide advice on CSIRO’s longer-term strategic directions and research and development priorities
and on how CSIRO can meet the research, technical and business needs of customers or communities.
Details of the Sector Advisory Councils and Flagship Advisory Committees can be found at: www.csiro.au/SAC and
www.csiro.au/FAC.

15The review was conducted by an interdepartmental committee with representatives from: Treasury; Finance and Deregulation; Prime Minister and
Cabinet; Innovation, Industry, Science and Research; and CSIRO. The terms of reference addressed the six ‘expenditure review principles’
(appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency, strategic alignment, integration and performance measurement) as well as two special issues, namely
matters related to CSIRO’s funding model and revenue mix, and the case for a multi-year funding agreement.
Risk management
CSIRO is committed to the effective management of risks. The CSIRO Risk Policy recognises that the identification and management
of risk is central to delivering the functions of CSIRO and delivering benefits to Australia.
CSIRO’s risk management framework sets out the responsibilities of all individuals across CSIRO, including the Board and
management for identifying and managing risk. This includes understanding scientific, financial, commercial and legal, health and
safety, environmental, and reputational risks. It also provides the methodology by which CSIRO’s risk profile is articulated and
regularly updated.
Risks are managed on an enterprise basis through mitigation strategies that include, in appropriate circumstances, insurance to transfer
the financial impact of risk.
General insurance including General Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance and Directors and Officers Liability insurance is
through Comcover. CSIRO’s workers compensation liability is covered by a premium paid to Comcare.

External audit and internal controls

Assurances about the Organisation’s financial state of affairs, compliance issues and control environment are provided through a
comprehensive range of processes including the internal Risk Assessment, Audit, Fraud Control and Security functions. External audit
is provided by the Australian National Audit Office.
CSIRO maintains a Whistleblower Scheme and uses mechanisms such as Control Self-Assessment Questionnaires signed by senior
managers to provide additional assurance.
CSIRO complies with Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines (revised 2011). The Fraud Risk Assessment was completed in
February 2010 and an updated Fraud Control Plan incorporating guideline amendments is planned for release in August 2011.
The CSIRO Strategic Protective Security Risk Assessment was updated in February 2009 and reviewed in February 2011. As a result of
the release of the Commonwealth Protective Security Policy Framework in June 2010, a review of current security standards and
procedures is underway and expected to be completed by March 2012.

Administrative law
CSIRO is bound by a range of administrative laws including the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988
(see Appendix 3, p 176).
In May 2011, CSIRO implemented initiatives to comply with the FOI provisions relating to the Information Publication Scheme (IPS).
The IPS is designed to promote open and transparent communication of government information. For information on how to access
information under the FOI Act, and CSIRO’s plan to implement and administer the IPS, see: www.csiro.au/org/FOI.html.

Board membership 2010–11

Chairman
Mr Simon McKeon
BCom LLB FAICD F FIN
Company Director
28 June 2010 –
27 June 2015

Deputy Chairman
Dr Terry Cutler
BA(Hons) PhD Hon DUniv FAHA FIPA
Principal
Cutler and Company Pty Ltd
25 July 2002 –
24 July 2012

Chief Executive
Dr Megan Clark
BSc(Hons) PhD HonDSc (UWA) Hon DApSc (RMIT) FTSE GAICD
1 January 2009 – 31 December 2013

Members
Ms Mary Boydell
BCom FCA
Company Director
26 June 2009 –
25 June 2014

Professor Ian Chubb AC

MSc DPhil Oxon, Hon DSc (Flinders)
Chief Scientist of Australia
7 August 2008 –
6 August 2012

Dr Eileen Doyle
BMath(Hons) MMath PhD FAICD
Company Director
15 February 2006 – 14 February 2016

The Hon John Kerin AM

BA BEc Hon DScAgr (UNE) Hon DSc (UWA) Hon DLitt (UTas) FTSE FAIAST
Company Director
3 October 2008 – 2 October 2011

Ms Deborah O’Toole
LLB
Company Director
16 April 2003 –
15 April 2008
1 May 2008 –
30 April 2011

Mr Mark Paterson AO
BBus, FAICD, FAIM, FRMIA
Secretary
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
9 February 2011 –
31 May 2011

Mr Hutch Ranck
BSc, Economics
Company Director
1 May 2011 –
30 April 2016

Mr Douglas Rathbone AM
DipChemEng BCom
Managing Director and Chief Executive
Nufarm Ltd
26 September 2007 – 25 September 2010

Professor Tom Spurling AM

BSc(Hons) PhD FRACI FTSE
Research Professor
Swinburne University of Technology
1 May 2008 –
30 April 2012

Executive Team membership 2010–11

Dr Megan Clark
BSc(Hons) PhD HonDSc (UWA) Hon DApSc (RMIT) FTSE GAICD
Chief Executive

Mr Craig Roy
BSc MSc MBA GAICD
Deputy Chief Executive, Science Strategy and People

Mr Mike Whelan
BEc
Deputy Chief Executive, Operations

Ms Hazel Bennett
BSc(Hons) ACA FAIM
Chief Finance Officer (from November 2010)

Dr Calum Drummond
BSc(Ed) BSc(Hons) PhD
Group Executive, Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals (from January 2011)

Dr Andrew Johnson
BAgrSc(Hons) PhD MPA (Harvard)
Group Executive, Environment

Dr James Bradfield Moody

BInfoTech(Hons) BEng (Elec) PhD
Executive Director, Development

Dr Steve Morton
BSc(Hons) PhD
Group Executive, Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals (to December 2010)

Mr Nigel Poole
LLB BCom FAICD
Executive Director, Commercial (to December 2010)

Dr Alastair Robertson
BSc(Hons) PhD FRSC CChem FIFST
Group Executive, Food, Health and Life Science Industries

Dr Beverley Ronalds
BE(Civil)(Hons) MSc PhD FIEAust FICE FTSE FAICD
Group Executive, Energy

Mr David Toll
BA, MAccounting, MBA, CPA
Acting Chief Finance Officer (to November 2010)

Dr Alex Zelinsky
BMaths(Hons) PhD FTSE FIEEE FAICD FIEAust
Group Executive, Information Sciences

Executive Team profiles are available at: www.csiro.au/executiveteam

Health and safety

CSIRO is committed to the health and safety of its staff and recognises the importance of positive interventions aimed at improving
staff health and safety. CSIRO acknowledges its responsibilities under Section 74 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991.

Health, Safety, Environmental Sustainability and Community Policy

CSIRO’s Health, Safety, Environmental Sustainability and Community Policy reflects our commitment to ensuring the safety and
wellbeing of our staff, visitors and the communities in which we work. It reinforces our Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE)
strategic goal of ‘Striving for Zero Harm’ to our people, the environment and the communities in which we operate.
A summary of CSIRO’s performance and its compliance with Section 74 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 is provided
below.

Health and safety management arrangements

Health and safety management arrangements are documents concerning the management
of health and safety in CSIRO. They are one of the mechanisms by which CSIRO
demonstrates commitment to meeting its duty of care under the Act.
In recognition of this duty, CSIRO has developed these health and safety management
arrangements in consultation with our staff and their representatives. The Act emphasises
consultation and cooperation between employers and employees in regard to occupational
health and safety issues by requiring the establishment of a framework incorporating:
 health and safety management arrangements (HSMAs)
 designated work groups
  health and safety representatives
 health and safety committees
 dispute resolution processes.
These structures and arrangements are in place and effective within CSIRO. A review of
the HSMAs in line with the expected changes to Workplace Health and Safety laws and the
new CSIRO Enterprise Agreement commenced in June 2011, with a planned delivery of
updated and approved arrangements in September 2011.

Initiatives undertaken during the year to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of
staff members and affiliates

 A new HSE Policy Framework has been implemented that simplifies and
streamlines organisational HSE requirements to ensure that requirements are
easier for staff to access, understand and comply with. The new HSE Policy
Framework comprises a new policy, management standard, procedures and
guidelines providing improved safe systems of work and risk tools. An additional
level has been established for Business Units and sites to create specific operating
instructions and local teams to establish safe work instructions.
 A restructure of the HSE function to improve efficiency and effectiveness of our
HSE service delivery across the Organisation has been implemented. This has
provided an improvement in local site coverage.
 Implementation of CSIRO’s health, safety and environment leadership training
continued. This will equip the next level of leaders to take a higher profile in
growing the Organisation’s Zero Harm culture.
 The Contractor HSE Management Training program for scientific managers who
manage or engage contractors continued. The program highlights the specific
HSE requirements necessary for safe completion of contracted works within
CSIRO. HSE staff also attended specific training on supporting scientific
managers in their responsibilities relating to contractor management.
 Upgrades were undertaken to our HSE Management System to improve hazard
and incident reporting.
 Increased emphasis was placed on the reporting of incidents, near misses and any
incident involving lost time and medical treatment.
 Following feedback from regular international travellers, several system upgrades
have been implemented in our Staff International Travel System.

Health and safety outcomes

 An increased awareness of requirements and responsibilities for safe systems of

work and risk management processes was achieved through enterprise-wide
implementation of the new HSE Policy Framework.
 An improvement in the visible interest and demonstration of HSE leadership
behaviours and staff engagement was made through the ongoing HSE leadership
training course and the conduct of site observations in the Safety Contacts Program
and the HSE Review Program.
 An increased awareness of serious HSE incidents by senior managers was
achieved following the implementation of serious HSE incident procedures.
 An overall improvement in health and safety performance is recognised in
reduced injuries, illnesses and the workers’ compensation premium.
 An increased awareness and better understanding of how HSE staff can better support
managers who manage contractors to ensure positive HSE outcomes in contracts was
achieved.
  Accuracy in the reporting of incident information was improved.
 Following two emergency situations in Queensland, Site Emergency
Management Plans were centrally located on an HSE Share Point to increase staff
accessibility.
 Continued counselling support for staff and their immediate families.

Statistics of any accidents or dangerous occurrences during the year that arose out of the
conduct of undertakings by CSIRO that required the giving of notice under section 68 (see
Figure 4.1)

 The number of workers’ compensation claims with injury dates in the reporting
period shows a continued reduction from 63 in 2009–10 to 50 in 2010–11.
Improved incident prevention and an early injury intervention program
contributed to the reduction.
 A focused initiative to improve the reporting and correct internal classification of
injury has seen an increase in the lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) that
now accurately reflects the actual performance of the Organisation. The LTIFR
for 2010–11 was 3.0 compared to 1.9 for 2009–10.
 Historically, the reported medical treatment frequency rate (MTFR) was based on
the rate of claims accepted by Comcare. With our ability to now report MTFR
based on our own data, the previously reported data has been re-characterised as a
claims frequency rate (Claims FR). CSIRO’s Claims FR has decreased from 5.3
in 2009–10 to 4.5 in 2010–11.
 Commencing with the 2010–11 reporting period, any injury requiring defined
medical treatment is classified as a medical treatment injury (MTI) and captured
in the medical treatment frequency rate (MTFR). In this first MTFR reporting
period, CSIRO’s MTFR was 8.1.
 The reporting of near misses has decreased from 464 in 2009–10 to 337 in 2010–
11, but hazard reporting has increased with the introduction of an improved
reporting system reflecting a growing awareness among supervisors and staff of
the value of reporting and rectifying risks before injuries occur.
 The number of Comcare Notifiable Incidents has decreased from 50 in 2009–10
to 31 in 2010–11.
 CSIRO reported one environmental incident to regulatory authorities during
2010–11. This related to a release of water from a glasshouse at the Black
Mountain site (ACT). This was certified with the Australian Quarantine and
Inspection Service and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator. The release
occurred because of flooding in the facility from watering operations.
 CSIRO reported one event to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear
Safety Agency during 2010–11 relating to a radiation source incident during
transportation for disposal.
 CSIRO’s premium for 2010–11 was 0.33 per cent of payroll compared to the rate
for all premium-paying agencies of 1.20 per cent.

Details of any investigations conducted during the year that relate to undertakings carried
on by the employer, including details of all notices given to the employee under sections
29, 46 or 47 during the year

 In November 2010, Comcare issued a letter of warning as an alternative to civil

proceedings following the investigation of Incident Number 4221 – Serious
Personal Injury – superficial burns to face, neck and arms resulting from a
 reaction following the mixing of hazardous substances on 17 July 2009.
 Comcare conducted a series of Dangerous Goods Audits on sites in the ACT and
on the Dutton Park site in Queensland.
 Two Forklift Safety Audits were conducted by Comcare. One at a site in
Queensland and one in the ACT, as part of a national campaign on forklift safety.
Both audits were completed to the satisfaction of Comcare.
 Comcare requested a compliance monitoring program be implemented at one of
our sites in Western Australia following a Notifiable Incident on the use of a
mobile hoist.
 No Provisional Improvement Notices were served on CSIRO by Health and
Safety Representatives.
 No Prohibition Notices were served on CSIRO.
 No Improvement Notices were served on CSIRO.

Figure 4.1: CSIRO’s injury frequency rates

1
Definitions:
• Claims FR is the number of compensation claims per million hours worked (may include medical treatment and or lost time injuries).
Previously reported as MTFR.
• LTIFR is the number of incidents involving lost time from work greater than or equal to one full day or shift per million hours
worked. (A major focused effort in ensuring reporting of serious incidents and correct internal classification of these has resulted in
the apparent increase in the LTIFR).
• MTFR is the number of incidents requiring medical treatment (beyond first aid) per million hours worked.
CSIRO’s health and safety performance compares favourably with other Australian Government agencies. This is reflected in our
workers’ compensation premium. CSIRO’s premium rate, determined on four year injury and claims performance, is ranked by
Comcare in the first quartile (good performance) compared against other agencies. This is also reflected by the reduction in the actual
rate charged.

Environmental performance
Contribution to Ecologically Sustainable Development
CSIRO upholds the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) outlined in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) through both its operations and research activities.
To meet its research goals, CSIRO operates offices, laboratories, pilot bays, machinery, glasshouses and significant information
communication and technologies infrastructure, as well as managing plants and livestock. These activities require significant quantities
of energy and water and produce waste.
CSIRO Business Units manage most of the environmental impacts of CSIRO’s research activities, with support from centralised
property, information technology and other groups.

Table 4.1: Examples of CSIRO’s contribution to ESD principles

Principle CSIRO’s activities

Decision-making CSIRO’s Values Compass identifies safety and sustainability as key

processes should values that guide the way CSIRO undertakes its business activities.
effectively integrate
In 2010–11 CSIRO reviewed its Health, Safety, Environmental
both long-term and
Sustainability and Community (HSESC) Policy, Standards and
short-term economic,
Procedure Framework and conducted staff training on HSESC aspects
environmental, social
of contractor management.
and equitable
considerations.
If there are threats of As an example of our commitment to preventing environmental
serious or irreversible damage, CSIRO and Australia Pacific LNG launched the Gas
environmental Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance in July
damage, lack of full 2011. With its breadth and depth including social, economic
scientific certainty and ecological sciences, CSIRO is able to provide impartial and
should not be used as integrated research to the gas industry, regulators and the wider
a reason for Australian community.
postponing measures
to prevent
environmental
degradation.

Principle CSIRO’s activities

The principle of As an example, through our Sustainable Agriculture Flagship,

inter-generational CSIRO conducts research to improve agricultural
equity – that the productivity while maintaining environmental health.
present generation
CSIRO has an on-going program of building improvements that
should ensure that the
target building management and energy and water efficiency. During
health, diversity and
2010–11, CSIRO replaced inefficient chillers, installed variable
productivity of the
speed drives on various plant and equipment and funded upgrades of
environment is
building management systems at six major sites that will reduce
maintained or
costs and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and enhance staff
enhanced for the
comfort. In addition, CSIRO has increased its utilisation of desktop
benefit of future
videoconferencing, with the progressive deployment of web cameras
generations.
to staff that undertake significant travel.
CSIRO also ran a national e-waste collection and zero office waste
trials in two states.

The conservation of In divesting CSIRO’s Yalanbee site in Western Australia (WA),

biological diversity 320 hectares were preserved as a Bushland Conservation
and ecological Park under the control of the WA Government.
integrity should be a
fundamental
consideration
in decision-making.

Improved valuation, CSIRO contributed to the Garnaut Climate Change Review

pricing and incentive through its Energy Transformed and Climate Adaptation Flagships
mechanisms should and the Division of Marine and Atmospheric Research. CSIRO
be promoted. contributed through climate change and emissions modelling in
areas such as climate model uncertainties, carbon cycle dynamics,
economic modelling, carbon trading, climate scenarios,
agricultural and other impacts, and the costs of electricity
generation technologies. CSIRO also made submissions to issue
papers on topics such as land use for agriculture and forestry;
climate change science; low-emissions technologies; emissions
trading, and transport, planning and the built environment
(see www.garnautreview.org.au/CA25734E0016A131/pages/all-
reports--resources.html).

Effects of CSIRO’s activities on the environment

The Environmental Sustainability Strategy (ESS) outlines CSIRO’s key organisational goals of: carbon neutrality; halving mains water
use; and halving waste to landfill by 2015. A comprehensive report of our performance against the ESS can be found in the Health,
Safety and Environment Annual Report which is available at www.csiro.au/resources/HSEReport.html. A summary of our
environmental performance in 2010–11 follows.
Over the last five years, total electricity and gas consumption have remained relatively constant, despite the transfer of operational
management of the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (ACT) to CSIRO in early 2010. During 2010–11, CSIRO
consumed an estimated 682 Terajoules (TJ) of electricity and gas (see Table 4.2).
A number of sites recorded decreased energy use, including the Australian Animal Health Laboratories (AAHL, Vic) and Newcastle
(NSW). Energy consumption at AAHL has decreased by six per cent, attributed to the gradual implementation of new plant and energy
efficiency measures over several years.

Table 4.2: Purchases of electricity and gas

Indicator 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–101 2010–112

Electricity (TJ) 445 431 438 438 439

Natural gas (TJ) 227 234 245 229 243

Accredited GreenPower (TJ) 40 43 56 74 77

1
Electricity consumption reported last year has been revised following the resolution of metering issues at the Black Mountain site (ACT).
2
Data are best available at time of publication.
CSIRO’s 2010–11 electricity and gas consumption generated an estimated 131 kilotonnes of GHG emissions16 (see Table 4.3). This
figure does not take into account that CSIRO procures 18 per cent GreenPower equivalent to an emissions reduction of approximately
22 kt CO2-e this year.

Table 4.3: Greenhouse gas emissions from electricity and gas consumption

Indicator 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

Greenhouse gases produced (kt) 140 134 132 130 131

Greenhouse gases produced, Not available 116 109 109

adjusted for GreenPower (kt)

CSIRO’s emissions and energy intensity increased slightly in 2010–11 (see Figure 4.2). With energy consumption comparable to last
year, a slight fall in the number of full-time equivalent employees resulted in the increased intensity in greenhouse gas emissions and
energy consumption.

Figure 4.2: Greenhouse gas emissions and energy use per employee

Water consumption has been reduced through activities such as the implementation of water-efficient fixtures and improved operation
and maintenance of plant such as cooling towers. During 2010–11, CSIRO sites consumed approximately 392 megalitres (ML) of
mains water (see Table 4.4).
In alignment with the Environmental Sustainability Strategy, CSIRO currently reports on its mains water consumption only. CSIRO is
actively improving its data on non-mains water usage and intends to report on total water consumption next year. CSIRO is increasing
its use of non-mains water by harvesting rainwater, reverse osmosis reject water and other alternative water sources for reuse in
flushing toilets and irrigation of heritage-listed trees and other landscaping
(see case study on page 103).

Table 4.4: CSIRO mains water consumption

16 Expressed as kt CO2-e – carbon dioxide equivalent.

Indicator 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–101 2010–11

Purchased mains water Not 427 406 426 392

(ML) available

1
Revised from 415 ML to 426 ML because of missing invoice data that was later found.
CSIRO commenced waste trials at its sites in South Australia and Western Australia with a focus on significantly reducing waste to
landfill. Waste and recycling stations were installed at strategic locations across the sites that allow staff to sort waste at source into
recyclable materials, compostable wastes and wastes that can be used for alternative fuel production.
In further efforts to reduce waste to landfill, an e-waste recycling program was undertaken in early 2011 that resulted in the collection
and recycling of around 70 tonnes of obsolete computers, televisions, fridges and other electronic waste.

Heritage protection
The CSIRO Heritage Strategy is used as the basis for the management of actions and activities associated with CSIRO’s heritage
places. The heritage program provides for recording and reporting of management, maintenance and expenditure on CSIRO’s
heritage assets. Heritage values are assessed and incorporated into the development proposal prior to any development activity
occurring on CSIRO owned or controlled property.
During 2010–11, heritage assessments were undertaken at a number of CSIRO sites, including Hobart and Sandy Bay sites in Tasmania
and four New South Wales sites that are used for radio astronomy purposes (Marsfield, Parkes, Narrabri and Mopra). Heritage values
were identified at Parkes and Narrabri. The radio telescope at Parkes has Commonwealth significance and Narrabri has both
Commonwealth and Indigenous cultural values. In 2011–12, heritage assessments and further work will occur at Floreat (WA),
Parkville (Vic), Pullenvale (Qld), and Black Mountain (ACT).
Westridge House in Canberra, a Commonwealth listed heritage property, was sold during the year. A heritage management plan and
covenants were established for the ongoing protection of the property’s heritage values.

Our people
CSIRO looks to its staff to support its values and to work in a collaborative and positive way to achieve the Organisation’s mission and
purpose. CSIRO seeks to attract the best minds and to be a place where creativity and innovation can flourish. We provide the
environment, facilities and opportunities people need to respond to national challenges.
CSIRO’s People Policy confirms our commitment to developing and supporting our staff, and CSIRO’s Human Resources function provides
support and leadership on people issues to leaders and staff across CSIRO. The goal is to develop high-performing teams working across the
Organisation’s boundaries. Two key themes are:
 nurturing CSIRO’s innovative culture by fostering a safe environment where innovation, collaboration, flexibility and
performance flourish
 working effectively and efficiently by using common systems, structures and improved processes to support
CSIRO’s operations.

Enterprise agreement
Enterprise Agreements set the terms and conditions of employment for CSIRO staff. The CSIRO Enterprise Agreement 2011–14 was
negotiated with relevant unions and staff bargaining agents. It came into operation on 7 July 2011 following formal approval processes
and a staff vote. This new Agreement will reach its nominal expiry date in August 2014.
Throughout 2010–11, CSIRO has used focus groups, reference groups and other qualitative methodologies to engage with staff in a
focused, topic specific way. These activities provided valuable insights to support the development of CSIRO’s
2011–15 Strategy and the finalisation of the new Enterprise Agreement.

Learning and development

CSIRO believes that all officers should have the opportunity to participate in relevant learning, development and training activities aimed at
improving individual and team performance, skills and knowledge, and the effectiveness of CSIRO. Under our new Enterprise Agreement, all
staff will have the opportunity to participate in at least five days learning, development and/or training each year.
A new national orientation and induction program was introduced this year, providing significant improvements in supporting new
employees transitioning into CSIRO. An introductory project management program was also introduced and an advanced module is in
production.
Twenty-three high potential leaders participated in CSIRO’s senior leadership program, ‘Leading the Research Enterprise’. The
leadership credentials of the program have been recognised by the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM). Successful
participants are now awarded an AGSM Certificate in Executive and Management Development. Fifty emerging leaders participated in
the CSIRO ‘New People Leader Program’ to support their transition into leadership roles.
The first program in the new Impact from Science stream, Publishing with Impact, was delivered in partnership with CSIRO
PUBLISHING. There have been 41 participants to date. A further series of programs addressing communication and statistical analysis
has been developed and will commence in 2011–12.

Equal employment opportunity

CSIRO is developing a new Workplace Diversity Plan to build on the 2009–11 Workplace Plan. The new Plan will seek to capture
the full benefits of a broadly diverse workforce and will include awareness raising on diversity issues, and promotion of the suite of
family friendly work arrangements. 
CSIRO’s Indigenous Engagement Strategy, which aims to increase Indigenous participation in CSIRO’s research and development agenda and
activities, continues to be progressed (see page 17). The Indigenous Employment Strategy aims to increase the employment of
Indigenous peoples through the implementation of several new employment programs and targeted approaches. CSIRO’s commitment is
reflected in the CSIRO Enterprise Agreement.

Commonwealth Disability Strategy

Since 1994, Commonwealth departments and agencies have reported on their performance as policy adviser, purchaser, employer, regulator
and provider under the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. In 2007–08, reporting on the employer role was transferred to the Australian Public
Service Commission’s State of the Service Report and the APS Statistical Bulletin. These reports are available at
www.apsc.gov.au. From 2010–11, departments and agencies are no longer required to report on these functions.

Staff demographics
CSIRO staff are employed under section 32 of the Science and Industry Research Act 1949. At 30 June 2011, CSIRO had a total of
6,514 staff, which has an equivalent full-time (EFT) of 5,780.
Table 4.5 shows the number of staff employed in different functional areas and Table 4.6 shows staff by state. Overall, as planned, the total
number of staff decreased by 2.5 per cent (166) over the last 12 months. The largest decline (13 per cent) was in the number of
Communication and Information Services staff. Voluntary staff turnover remains low with a three year average of 4.35 per cent. The
proportion of female staff in CSIRO remained stable at 39 per cent but the proportion of female research staff increased from 23 to 24 per
cent (up from 19 per cent in 2005–06).

Table 4.5: Staff numbers (headcount) as at 30 June

Principal enterprise 2006– 2007– % Female

functions 07 08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 for 2010–11

Research Scientists 1,688 1,727 1,837 1,907 1,865 24

Research Project Staff 2,199 2,246 2,215 2,241 2,166 41

Senior Specialists 25 13 13 15 12 25

Research Management 188 194 176 161 165 8

Research Consulting 28 29 26 34 40 18

Technical Services 581 542 545 630 643 12

Communication and
Information Services 384 402 407 429 375 63

General Services 75 66 51 48 56 46
 Administrative
Support* 1,046 1,082 1,112 1,075 1,048 75

General Management 117 122 128 140 144 28

Total headcount 6,331 6,423 6,510 6,680 6,514 39

EFT 5,695 5,768 5,866 5,956 5,780 36

* Administrative Support includes: Staff who provide science-based administrative and management services and systems.

Table 4.6: Staff numbers by state as at 30 June

State Metropolitan Regional Total

ACT 1,407 0 1,407

NSW 794 327 1,121

NT 26 10 36

QLD 724 131 855

SA 387 0 387

TAS 382 0 382

VIC 1,348 456 1,804

WA 516 6 522

Grand total 5,576 938 6,514

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PART 5
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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APPENDICES
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 Flagship collaboration clusters

 Service charter
 Administrative law
 Consultancy services
 Science and Industry Endowment Fund Annual Report 2010–11
 Research Group structure

Appendix 1: Flagship Collaboration Fund Clusters

During 2010–11, approximately $17.2 million was disbursed from the Flagship Collaboration Fund. Overall 94 per cent of the initial
$114.25 million had been committed to scholarships, fellowships, projects and clusters. Three new clusters involving 14 national and
international universities and industry partners were approved for funding. Active clusters are listed below. Completed clusters are
listed in previous annual reports.

Year 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11

Disbursement ($m) 8 15.5 14 16.7 17.2

Committed ($m) 50 56 88 96 108

Round 2 clusters

Flagship Cluster name Cluster leader(s) Other partners

Wealth from Subsea pipelines for Professor Mark Curtin University of

Oceans reliable and Cassidy, University Technology (CUT),
environmentally safe of Western Australia Flinders University,
development (UWA) Monash University,
University of Sydney,
University of
Queensland (UQ)

Round 3 clusters

Flagship Cluster name Cluster leader(s) Other partners

Energy The ‘intelligent grid’ Professor Stuart University of South

Transformed – modelling White, University of Australia, UQ, CUT,
distributed generation Technology, Sydney Queensland
and interruptible load University of
Technology
Light Metals Breakthrough Professor Geoff University of New
technology for Brooks, Swinburne South Wales
primary aluminium University (UNSW), UQ

Preventative The ASPREE healthy Professor John University of

Health ageing cohort McNeil, Monash Melbourne,
biobank University University of
Tasmania, Australian
National University
(ANU), Ludwig
Institute for Cancer
Research

Round 4 clusters

Flagship Cluster name Cluster leader(s) Other partners

Climate Human health and Professor Anthony University of Western

Adaptation climate change Capon, ANU Sydney, Curtin
adaptation University, UQ,
University of
Melbourne, James
Cook University,
Queensland Institute
of Medical Research,
Ove Arup Pty Ltd

Climate Regional adaptation Professor Jan UQ, University of

Adaptation to climate change – McDonald, Griffith Sunshine Coast
a case study in south- University
east Queensland

Minerals Down Future sustainability Professor David University of

Under of Australia’s mineral Brereton, UQ Technology Sydney,
industry CUT, Central
Queensland
University, ANU

Minerals Down Preconcentration and Professor John UQ, University of

Under agglomeration to Ralston, University Melbourne,
enhance heap leaching of South Australia University of British
of nickel laterite Columbia

Future Sensor systems for Professor Justin Griffith University,

Manufacturing analysis of aquatic Gooding, UNSW CUT, Monash
environments University, Flinders
University, La Trobe
University

Preventative STroke imAging Professor Geoffrey National Stroke

Health pRevention and Donnan, University Institute, Brain
Treatment (START) of Melbourne Research Institute,
Neurosciences
Victoria, Melbourne
 Health

Wealth from Institutional and Professor David University of

Oceans social barriers to Wood, CUT Adelaide, Deakin
science impact University, Flinders
(Coastal Cluster) University,
University of
Sunshine Coast,
University of
Tasmania, University
of Wollongong

Round 5 clusters

Flagship Cluster name Cluster leader(s) Other partners

Water for a Ecological Response Professor Stuart UNSW, Charles Sturt

Healthy Country to Altered Flow Bunn, Griffith University, Monash
Regimes Cluster University University, Latrobe
University, Australian
Rivers Institute
(Griffith University)

Food Futures Healthy complex Professor Geoff University of

cereal carbohydrates Fincher, University of Melbourne, UQ
Adelaide

Food Futures Sex ratio and sterility Professor Michael University of

for commercial Holland, UQ Newcastle, Murdoch
animal production Children’s Research
Institute, Monash
University, Flinders
University, Simon
Fraser University
(Canada), Central
Michigan University

Energy Biological solutions Professor Chris University of

Transformed for energy and Easton, ANU Manchester, UQ,
greenhouse Royal Melbourne
challenges Institute of
Technology

Appendix 2: Service Charter

CSIRO’s Service Charter describes the standards of service we aim to deliver to our customers and our commitment to ensuring that
these standards are maintained.
In summary:
 we believe our customers and partners are essential to our success
 we maintain relevance in our work through input from the public, government, industry and the research community
  we communicate with our customers in a courteous, helpful and professional manner
 we respect our customers’ confidentiality
 we evaluate our services to ensure the highest standards.
Our full Service Charter is available on our website: www.csiro.au/servicecharter
CSIRO welcomes your feedback on our performance. Please contact the CSIRO officer with whom you have been dealing or CSIRO
Enquiries who can direct your feedback to the relevant person.
CSIRO Enquiries:
Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC 3169
Phone: 1300 363 400
Fax: +61 3 9545 2175
Email: enquiries@csiro.au

Appendix 3: Administrative law

Freedom of information
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) provides the public with a general right of access to documents held by Australian
Government agencies including CSIRO. The general right is limited by exceptions to protect essential public interests or the privacy or
business affairs of those who give information to the agency.
In the year to 30 June 2011, CSIRO received 44 requests for information under the FOI Act.
The following information is provided in compliance with section 8 of the FOI Act:
 the functions and powers of CSIRO are set out on page 84
 information about CSIRO’s procedures for external consultation can be found at www.csiro.au/SAC and
www.csiro.au/FAC
 CSIRO holds the following categories of documents:
 corporate records including documents relating to government, policy, finance, personnel, business development,
commercialisation, communication, real property, intellectual property and education
 business unit records including documents relating to scientific research and technology transfer
 members of the public may obtain access to scientific and technical publications from CSIRO PUBLISHING
(www.publish.csiro.au). CSIRO administrative manuals are available from the Freedom of Information Officer.
Part V of the FOI Act confers a right to request CSIRO to amend a document to which lawful access has been granted, where the
applicant claims that information in the document:
 relates to his or her personal affairs
 is incomplete, incorrect, out-of-date or misleading
 has been used, is being used, or is available for use by the agency or Minister for an administrative purpose.
In the year to 30 June 2011, CSIRO received no requests for amendments of personal information under the FOI Act.
Information on CSIRO’s implementation of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS) can be found on page 89.

Archives, privacy, administrative decisions

CSIRO maintains an archives collection which includes records dating from the establishment in 1926 of the Council for Science and
Industrial Research, the predecessor of CSIRO. Certain CSIRO records are held by Australian Archives. Disposal arrangements for
CSIRO records are made in accordance with the provisions of the Archives Act 1983. Access to records over 20 years old is provided in
accordance with that Act.
The Privacy Act 1988 provides for Information Privacy Principles and National Privacy Principles. During 2010–11, the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner did not undertake any investigations under section 36 of the Privacy Act 1988 in relation to
CSIRO.
The Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (ADJR Act) enables a person aggrieved by certain classes of administrative
decisions made by Australian Government agencies, including CSIRO, to obtain reasons for or to challenge those decisions. During
2010–11, CSIRO received no challenges or requests for statements of reasons under the ADJR Act.
Judicial Decisions
During 2010–11, there were no judicial decisions or decisions of administrative tribunals that have had, or may have, a significant
impact on the operations of CSIRO.

Reviews by outside bodies

During 2010–11, there were no reports on the operations of CSIRO by the
Auditor-General (other than the report on the Financial Statements), a Parliamentary committee or the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Contact
All enquiries under the above legislation (including FOI requests) should be directed to:
Freedom of Information Officer and Privacy Officer
CSIRO, PO Box 225, Campbell ACT 2602
Phone: 02 6276 6123
Fax: 02 6276 6437
Email: rosemary.caldwell@csiro.au

Appendix 4: Consultancy services

CSIRO’s policy on selection and engagement of consultants is based on the principles of:
 value for money
 open and effective competition
 ethics and fair dealing
 accountability and reporting
 national competitiveness and industry development
 support for other Australian Government policies.
These principles are included within CSIRO’s Procurement Policy and Procedures.
CSIRO engages individuals and companies to provide professional services, taking account of the skills and resources required for the
task, the skills available internally and the cost-effectiveness of these options.
CSIRO spent $1,845,670 (including goods and services tax (GST)) on consultancies during 2010–11 ($1,249,355 in 2009–10). There
were 25 consultancies let during the year with the total whole-of-life value of $1,917,497 (including GST) ($2,282,903 in 2009–10).
Table 6.1 provides details of consultancy services let by CSIRO during 2010–11 with a contract value, GST inclusive, of $10,000 or
more.

Notes to table:

Reason code Reason for consultancy

IS Need for independent study/evaluation.

PA Need for professional assistance to manage and facilitate change

and its consequence.

SS Specialist skills were not otherwise available.

Procurement code Procurement method

PM An existing panel member – this category includes standing

offers, common use arrangements and approved supplier panels.
OT Tenders sought from the market place (Request for Proposal,
Request for Tender, Expressions of Interest).

ST Tenders being sought from suppliers who have pre-qualified

through some form of previous competitive process.

RQ Purchasing thresholds consistent with CSIRO’s minimal

standards.

EX Exemption arrangement such as sole supplier, pre-eminent

expertise or urgency and/or practicality.

Registration
Consultant Purpose Cost1 Reason Method
number

2010/08/01 TPI Consultants The consultant will provide 11,440 SS PM

advice to the CSIRO
Software Services team in
relation to ICT benchmarking
services.

2010/09/01 Wohlers The consultant will create an 60,000 IS EX

Associates, Inc. industry-aligned Technology
Roadmap for Additive
Fabrication in Australia, with
a particular focus on metals,
especially Titanium.

2010/09/02 Katrina Spencer CSIRO has patented a 19,999 IS RQ

genetic method for producing
high-levels of fructans in
grains. The purpose of this
consultancy is to scope out
the options and directions for
CSIRO to commercialise
this technology.

2010/09/03 Paul Hogie and The consultant will advise 191,400 SS ST

Paul McFadden on eResearch enterprise
data and information
management, business
transformation and strategy
formulation, planning and
implementation
implications.

2010/09/04 Richard The consultant will work 65,000 IS EX

Sauerman with CSIRO
Communications to
progress development and
implementation of CSIRO
brand strategy.
2010/10/01 Pacific Strategy The consultant will develop a 210,000 SS OT
Partners detailed strategy identifying
priorities in building an e-
enabled organisation that
impacts nationally and
internationally through
collaborative support for
science-based integrated
support tools, technologies
and infrastructure.

2010/12/01 Willem Bouma The consultant will review 13,800 SS RQ

and edit the First Order
Draft of Climate Change
in the Pacific Technical
Report.

2010/12/02 Nice Idea The consultant will design 68,000 IS EX

Creative Pty and produce a range of
Ltd communication materials,
templates, a visual identity
style guide, and a logo,
presenting up to six finished
logos to presentation
standard.

2011/01/01 Mantrax The consultant will assist 21,000 SS EX

Ventures Pty CSIRO to promote the
Ltd RAFT technology within
TCG Life Sciences Pty Ltd
client base, to identify and
facilitate R&D
collaboration/licenses with
appropriate clients.

2011/01/02 451 Consulting The consultant will provide 11,000 PA EX

expert advice on using the
performance measurement
process (PuMP) for the
2011–15 CSIRO Strategy.

2011/02/01 Martin Grabert The consultant will 16,500 SS RQ

undertake evaluation of
selected aspects of CSIRO’s
International Strategy
2007–11, as well as provide
advice on relevant
developments in European
science, as input to
CSIRO’s next international
strategy.

2011/02/03 Dr David The consultant will prepare 61,500 SS RQ

Cousins an evaluation framework
and assist CSIRO staff in
conducting an initial
evaluation within the
 Department of Primary
Industries (Victoria) and
CSIRO collaborative
research relationship.

2011/02/04 Rhodes Shapter The consultant will provide 196,600 SS EX

a strategy for the
development of brand
campaigns including
strategy development and
creative concept
development.

2011/02/05 Josh Tai The consultant will provide 61,490 SS EX

Desktop external review and
analysis of market size, case
studies, and forecasts for
target markets and arenas, to
assist the Business
Development group explore
step change growth options
for CSIRO.

2011/04/01 OTM The consultant will work 25,000 IS EX

Consulting Ltd with CSIRO to develop and
commercialise the Near
Wellbore Characterisation
Tool to ensure that a
commercially and
technically strong Joint
Industry Project
collaboration can be
established within a rapid
time frame.

2011/05/01 Centre for The consultant will refine 88,000 IS OT

International and validate a Strategic
Economics Framework for CSIRO
(CIE) impact planning, monitoring
and characterisation.
External validation will
improve the robustness of
CSIRO’s impact evaluation
framework.

2011/05/02 Deloitte Touche The consultant will 85,000 IS OT

Tohmatsu undertake economic
evaluation, investment
planning and business model
development designed to
prepare material to invite
third party investment in the
Australian Biosecurity
Intelligence Network.

2011/05/03 Pricewater- The consultant will conduct 121,000 IS OT

houseCoopers an independent review to
 improve the efficiency,
effectiveness and service
delivery of finance
operations and
procurement.

2011/05/04 Pricewater- The consultant will develop 145,659 IS OT

houseCoopers concept options for five of
the major research precincts
under consideration.

2011/06/01 Deloitte The consultant will 55,000 SS OT

design, develop and
handover an Excel based
financial model to support
CSIRO’s 2011–15 strategy
process.

2011/06/02 Ernst & Young The consultant will develop 76,778 SS RQ

a strategic business case for
the establishment of a
South Australian based
Australian Institute for
Food and Nutrition
Research.

2011/06/03 Rockwater Pty The consultant will provide 222,349 SS EX

Ltd specialist hydrogeological
advice in relation to the
scoping of a geothermal
project at the Pawsey
Centre and the Australian
Resources Research Centre
(ARRC) site.

2011/06/05 Grosvenor The consultant will 73,082 IS RQ

Management undertake a Functional
Consulting Pty review of CSIRO
Ltd Property Services.

Total value of consultancies below $10,000 17,900

Total value of consultancies let during 2010–11 1,917,497

Appendix 5: Science and Industry Endowment Fund Annual

Report 2010–11

As Trustee of the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF), it is a pleasure to share with you the progress we have made this year
in supporting some very exciting and promising science being undertaken in a truly collaborative way. The Fund exists to support
research that assists Australian industry, furthers the interests of the Australian community or contributes to the achievement of
Australian national objectives.
SIEF funded research
SIEF’s unique placement in Australia’s science community, as an independent fund, has been recognised by the scientific community
through the submission of hundreds of project suggestions over the course of 2010-–11. The quality of the researchers seeking
involvement with SIEF has enabled the Fund to address issues of urgent national need using the best researchers in Australia to tackle
those issues collaboratively. SIEF’s involvement with selected projects has been effective in drawing additional investment into these
projects from other sources, thereby leveraging the value of the Funds’ investment in science and multiplying the potential for
addressing key national and global needs with science.
In the second year of its rejuvenation following the substantial gift of funds from CSIRO, SIEF’s strategy of funding projects which
exhibit a high level of collaboration in areas of national priority, has seen it fulfil a unique role in Australia’s science landscape. As the
outcomes of these elite projects emerge, they provide potential for extraordinary benefits to our whole community.
One of the urgent challenges being tackled by SIEF is the need to ensure local and global food security. The Fund is sponsoring two
projects that are investigating how to utilise more effectively the benefits of hybrid crops to increase yields. We have known for a long
time that hybrid plants often have higher yields than their parents, but how this happens has remained a mystery. One of these projects
looks to unlock this mystery and the other will look at asexual seed formation. These projects offer new methodologies in plant
breeding in response to the need for increased yields and adaptation to climate change. In isolation, each can provide dramatic advances
in crop breeding, but in combination they have the
potential to deliver a new paradigm in agricultural production.
Another urgent challenge, as our population ages, is to better understand the mechanisms of healthy ageing. SIEF is supporting four
leading research organisations from around Australia to enhance a major study investigating the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease,
early detection methods and healthy ageing. All these projects promise outcomes of real benefit to all Australians.

SIEF Governance
I would like to sincerely thank the Advisory Council, composed of some of the luminaries of Australian science, who have ensured the
projects funded are of the highest quality and potential benefit. The current members of the Advisory Council are:
 Professor Alan Robson (Chair), Vice-Chancellor, University of Western Australia
 Professor Margaret Sheil, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Research Council
 Professor Tom Spurling, Professor, Faculty of Life and Social Sciences Swinburne University of Technology; CSIRO Board
Member; Board Member, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research
 Dr Ezio Rizzardo, CSIRO Fellow and Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne
 Mr Nigel Poole, Strategic Adviser, CSIRO.
The Council provides invaluable advice and guidance in relation to the most effective deployment of SIEF funds.
The Advisory Council is supported by an Expert Panel which reviews hundreds of project suggestions that are submitted to SIEF. I
would like to thank the members of the Expert Panel, chaired by Professor Tom Spurling, and comprised of Dr Ezio Rizzardo,
Professor Oliver Mayo (former Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Adelaide and former Chief CSIRO Animal
Production) and Emeritus Professor John McKenzie (former Dean of Science and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) University of
Melbourne). The Expert Panel provides detailed assistance to the Advisory Council and to the Trustee in relation to technical matters.
Advice of specialist experts is sought as required.
The advice provided to the Trustee by all members of the Advisory Council and Expert Panel is pro bono, a tribute to the generosity of
these individuals and their shared commitment to SIEF’s purpose of advancing the community’s wellbeing through science.
Reinforcing the unique strengths of the Fund is the strong support provided by Australia’s premier science organisation, CSIRO.
CSIRO has provided a gift of $150 million to the SIEF, made in tranches between October 2009 and April 2011. In addition, CSIRO
provides support services to the Fund to enable the resources to be managed cost-effectively, maximising the funds available to science.
The SIEF team has welcomed the commencement of Dr Melissa Straffon in March 2011 as a full-time, dedicated SIEF Manager. I am
indebted to Dr Straffon for the excellent management of the Fund, and to Katrina O’Leary for governance support and to Rose
Lenaghan for legal support.

Gifts to SIEF
This financial year saw another generous gift imparted to SIEF from funds donated by the former CSIRO scientist, Dr John O’Sullivan.
Dr O’Sullivan led a multidisciplinary CSIRO team that developed and patented the technology at the heart of most modern high speed
wireless communications systems and which provided the source of funds for CSIRO’s own gift to SIEF. The Fund will apply Dr
O’Sullivan’s generous donation to two postgraduate scholarships, preferentially in the area of utilisation of scarce radio frequencies.
The gift originating from Dr O’Sullivan is a wonderful illustration of the positive contribution that can be made to society when people
have faith in the vast capacity of science to address community needs. SIEF is a small and nimble entity which has the ability to be
flexible in its strategy to address not only the needs of the Australian community, but to facilitate the vision of those who recognise the
value of investing in science.

Promotion of science
The inauguration this year of a program of postgraduate scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships addresses the critical need to
promote science through funding the training of Australia’s scientific elite. The recipients of these John Stocker Postgraduate
Scholarships and Postdoctoral Fellowships are of outstanding academic calibre and will be carrying out research with the highest
potential for important scientific achievement and benefits to Australia. During 2010–11, the Fund has awarded six postdoctoral
fellowships and three postgraduate scholarships in areas ranging from astronomy/astrophysics, exploration geosciences and
combinatorial material sciences to mathematics and network sciences, environmental informatics and genomics/epigenomics. This
successful program will continue for at least three further years.
The John Stocker program has already established a prestigious reputation in the scientific and academic community and is a fitting
echo of SIEF’s historical origins as an endowment made under an Act of Parliament in 1926 for the purpose of funding the training of
an emerging nation’s young scientists.

Future SIEF initiatives

In 2011–12, new initiatives for SIEF are anticipated, including the strategic investment in Australian research infrastructure projects of
international significance. Processes and protocols for making large strategic investments in infrastructure to support precinct
developments around Australia will be a focus for the Fund as well as SIEF’s ongoing commitment to Supporting Research, Emerging
Research, Strategic Research and the Promotion of Science.
It has been my privilege to observe the unfolding of SIEF into an entity unique in Australia’s science landscape which is truly
delivering on the vision of Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research from the launch of the
rejuvenated SIEF in October 2009. Senator Carr described the Fund as ‘a great national resource’, supported by ‘benefactors who share
our passion for science and our faith in its ability to make the world a better place’ and I look forward to its continued development in
2011–12.
Dr Megan Clark
Trustee SIEF

Appendix 6: Research Group structure

Energy
Divisions
Earth Science and Resource Engineering
Energy Technology
Portfolios
Advanced Coal Technology
Energy Transformed National Research Flagship
Petroleum and Geothermal
Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship

Environment
Divisions
Ecosystems Sciences
Land and Water
Marine and Atmospheric Research
Portfolios
Biodiversity
Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship
Marine and Atmospheric Research
Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship
Facilities and Collections
Australian National Fish Collection
Australian National Wildlife Collection
Marine National Facility

Food, Health and Life Science Industries

Divisions
Food and Nutritional Sciences
Livestock Industries
Plant Industry
Portfolios
Food Futures National Research Flagship
Food and Nutritional Sciences
Livestock Industries
Plant Industry
Preventative Health National Research Flagship
Sustainable Agriculture National Research Flagship
Transformational Capability Platforms
Transformational Biology
Facilities and Collections
Australian Animal Health Laboratory
Australian National Herbarium
Australian National Insect Collection

Information Sciences
Divisions
Astronomy and Space Science
ICT Centre
Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics
Portfolios
Astronomy and Space Sciences
Digital Technologies and Services
Transformational Capability Platforms
Computational and Simulations Sciences
Sensors and Sensor Networks
Facilities and Collections
Australia Telescope National Facility
Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals

Divisions
Materials Science and Engineering
Process Science and Engineering
Portfolios
Future Manufacturing National Research Flagship
Light Metals National Research Flagship (closed from 1 July 2011)
Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship
Materials Science and Engineering
Transformational Capability Platforms
Advanced Materials

 BACK TO CONTENTS
 PART 7
INDEXES
Hold the CTRL key while clicking your left mouse button to visit each section.

 Image details (This section is not available in RTF format)

 Acronyms
 Glossary
 Index
 Compliance index
 Contacts

Indexes

Acronyms
AAHL Australian Animal
HealthLaboratory

ADJR Act Administrative Decisions

(Judicial Review) Act 1977

AGP Australian Growth Partnership

AGSM Australian Graduate School

of Management

ALA Atlas of Living Australia

ANAO Australian National

Audit Office

ANDS Australian National Data

Service

ANIC Australian National

Insect Collection

ANFC Australian National

Fish Collection

ANH Australian National Herbarium

ANU Australian National University

ANWC Australian National

Wildlife Collection

ASKAP Australian Square Kilometre

Array Pathfinder

ASPREE ASPirin in Reducing Events

in the Elderly
ATNF Australia Telescope
National Facility

CAC Act Commonwealth Authorities

and Companies Act 1997

CAS Chinese Academy of Sciences

CDS Commonwealth
Disability Strategy

CDSCC Canberra Deep Space

Communication Complex

CRC Cooperative Research Centre

CREST Creativity in Science and

Technology

CSIR Council for Scientific and

Industrial Research

CSIROSEC CSIRO Science Education

Centre

CUT Curtin University of Technology

DHA Docosahexaenoic acid

EFT Equivalent Full-Time

EPBC Act Environmental Protection

and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999

ESD Ecologically Sustainable

Development

ESS Environmental Sustainability

Strategy

FCF Flagship Collaboration Fund

FOC Flagship Oversight Committee

FOI Act Freedom of Information

Act 1982

GE General Electric

GHG Greenhouse Gas Emissions

GRA Global Research Alliance

HSE Health, Safety and Environment

HSESC Health, Safety, Environmental

Sustainability and Community

HSMA Health and safety management

 arrangements

IES Indigenous Engagement

Strategy

JSTCC Joint Science and Technology

Cooperation Committee

LTIFR Lost Time Injury

Frequency Rate

ML Megalitres

MNF Marine National Facility

MTFR Medical Treatment

Frequency Rate

NAIDOC National Aboriginal Islander

Day Observance Committee

NIS National Innovation System

NRPs National Research Priorities

OIE Office of Indigenous

Engagement

PCC Post-combustion capture

QFA Quadrennium Funding

Agreement

RAFT Reversible Addition-

Fragmentation chain Transfer

SAC Sector Advisory Council

SEACI South Eastern Australian

Climate Initiative

SIEF Science and Industry

Endowment Fund

SIR Act Science and Industry Research 

Act 1949

SKA Square Kilometre Array

SQUIDs Superconducting Quantum

Interference Devices

START STroke imAging pRevention

and Treatment

TJ Terajoules

TCP Transformational Capability

Platforms
UAC Unified Area Command

UNSW University of New South Wales

UQ University of Queensland

UWA University of Western Australia

VAMCAT Ventilation Air Methane

Catalytic Turbine

WLAN Wireless Local Area Networks

Glossary
Intellectual Property
Inventions: This is the number of inventions where one or more patent/applications are current. Accordingly an invention might
include a granted patent that is near the end of its life (e.g. 20 years), or it might include a provisional patent application that has only
recently been filed. Furthermore, one invention might relate to a patent application in one country only, or it might relate to over 20
patents/applications in different countries covering the one invention.
New inventions: This is the number of new inventions where an application (normally an Australian provisional application) is filed
for the first time to protect that invention. A major implication of filing that provisional application is that it provides the applicant with
an internationally recognised priority date. A small percentage of CSIRO’s new inventions are filed as US provisional applications.
PCT applications: International PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) applications are a ‘temporary’ phase in any international patenting
process and these have a life span of 18 months. This type of application is very common in major international corporations and is
used by CSIRO when it considers its invention may have wide commercial application. In view of the 18-month time span, it is
reasonable to approximate that two-thirds of the reported number were filed in the previous 12 month period.
Granted patents: Once a patent application has been examined and satisfies various patentability criteria it becomes a granted patent.
It remains a granted patent until the end of the patent period (normally 20 years) provided renewal fees are paid.
Live patent cases: A live patent case is where either a patent application or a granted patent exists. It does not include cases that have
lapsed, expired or been withdrawn. Applications may include provisional applications, PCT applications, and applications pending in
Australia or foreign jurisdictions.

Publications
Journal articles: Includes journal articles and other items published as part of a journal (for example, an editorial or book review).
Conference papers: Includes published conference papers, abstracts or edited proceedings.
Technical reports: Includes individually authored chapters as well as whole reports that are subject to peer review and usually publicly
released.
Books and chapters: Includes monographs, complete or individual chapters, usually published by a commercial publisher.

Student supervision and sponsorship

Sponsored students: Students are deemed to be sponsored if they receive a full or partial scholarship paid from CSIRO funds to pursue
a research project leading to a PhD or Honours/Masters degree. This excludes CSIRO employees, whose study expenses are considered
to be ‘training and development’.
Supervised students: Students are deemed to be supervised if they have a CSIRO staff member appointed officially by
the University as the supervisor for their research project. Normally, CSIRO staff are joint supervisors in conjunction with
a university academic.

Index

A
accidents, staff, xii, 97
accountability and management, 84–89
achievements
Program 1, 30–31, 32–33, 34–35, 36–37, 39, 40–41, 42–43, 44–45, 46–47, 48–49
Program 2, 54–55, 56–57, 58–59, 60–61
Program 4, 78, 80–81
see also performance
ACIL Tasman, review of Climate Adaptation Flagship, 26
Acknowledgement of Country protocols, 17
acronyms, 204
Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977, 177
administrative law, 89, 176–177
advertising campaigns, 15
advisory committees, 88–89
aerospace industry, new technologies, 36, 60
Africa Food Security Initiative, 16
agricultural industries, sustainability of, 14, 34, 44–45, 56, 67
air cargo equipment scanning technology, 16
air quality research, 54, 55
alumina production process, 38, 39, 60
Aluminium Smelting Collaboration Cluster, 38
Alzheimer’s disease research, 42, 43
Animal Health Laboratory; see Australian Animal Health Laboratory
appendices, 172–198
aquaculture industry, 35
archives, 176
online, 66, 78
Archives Act 1983, 176
Arista Cereal Technologies Pty Ltd, shareholding in, 8
Asian honeybees, xiv, 55
Asia–Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, 38, 39
Asia–Pacific region, involvement in, 38, 44, 54
ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE), 43
assets management plan, 4
astronomy; see Australia Telescope Compact Array; Australia Telescope National Facility; Australian Square Kilometre Array
Pathfinder; Deep Space Communication Complex; Parkes radio telescope; radio astronomy
Atlas of Living Australia, xiv, 3, 55, 76, 81
case study, 79
Audit Committee (Board), 86
audits
Comcare, 97
external, 89
financial, 110–111, 187–188
AusAID, Strategic Partnership Agreement with, 16
Australia – European Union Joint Science and Technology Committee meeting, 16
Australia Telescope Compact Array, 72, 74–75
see also Australia Telescope National Facility; Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
Australia Telescope National Facility, 69, 71, 72, 74–75, 78
see also Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder; Parkes radio telescope
Australia Telescope Online Archive, 78
Australian Animal Health Laboratory, viii, xiv, 56, 59, 69, 71, 72, 74, 77, 78
Australian Biological Collections, 70, 75–76
Australian Growth Partnership program, 7, 8
Australian Institute of Marine Science, 49
Australian Journal of Biological Sciences, online archives, 66
Australian Journal of Physics, online archives, 66
Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, 19
Australian National Audit Office, 3, 89
independent audit report, 110–111, 187–188
Australian National Fish Collection, 70, 76, 81
see also National Biological Collections
Australian National Herbarium, 70, 76, 81
see also National Biological Collections
Australian National Insect Collection, xiv, 70, 75, 76, 77, 80
see also National Biological Collections
Australian National Wildlife Collection, 70, 76, 80
see also National Biological Collections
Australian of the Year award, 19
Australian Plant Census, 81
Australian Resources Research Centre, 69
Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, viii, xiv, 3, 69
see also Australia Telescope National Facility; radio astronomy
Automotive Australia Roadmap 2020, 37
automotive industry research, 37, 38, 39
aviation fuels, sustainable, 33
awards, medals and honours, xii, xix, 19–21, 27, 38, 65, 80

B
BARLEYmax™, 34
BHP Billiton Science Awards, 65
biobank, 43
bio-composite timber shipping pallets, 7, 36
biodiversity, xiv, 3, 55
impact of climate change on, 30, 31, 81
marine, 31, 48, 49, 80, 81
see also Atlas of Living Australia; National Biological Collections
biofuels, 33, 52
biological collections; see National Biological Collections
biosecurity, 56, 70, 71, 74, 77, 78, 79, 80
see also Australian Animal Health Laboratory; exotic pests and diseases
Biosecurity Research Facility, 71, 77
see also Australian Animal Health Laboratory
Board, 86
Committees, 86
members, 90–91
remuneration, 155
Boeing, Supplier of the Year award from, xii, xix, 27
broadband technologies, wireless, xiv, 17, 58
Building Our People and Science Excellence (strategic element), 5

C
canola, as source of omega-3, 34, 99
capability assessments; see Divisional reviews; Flagship reviews; science assessment reviews
Cape Grim Air Archive, 55, 69
Capital Assets Management Plan, 4
Capturing the Essence, 66
carbon dioxide capture, 52
see also environmental footprint, reduction; greenhouse gas emissions
carbon footprint, reduction, 4, 32, 37, 38, 53
see also environmental footprint, reduction; greenhouse gas emissions
CarbonKids, 64
case studies
 Atlas of Living Australia, 79
CSIRO’s rainwater harvesting system, 103
omega-3 sources, 99
RAFT technology, 29
Scientists in Schools, 67
Supplier of the Year award, xix
Titanium Challenge, 106
water resources management, 93
cattle industry, animal welfare initiatives, 57
Census of Marine Life, 48, 49, 76, 81
Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, 9–10
Chairman
certification of financial statements, 112
foreword, x–xi
Chairman’s Medal, 19
Chief Executive
report, xii–xv
role, 86
Chile, as international partner, 16, 61
China, as international partner, 16
Chinese Academy of Science, 14, 16
citation rate, 12–13
clean energy, xiii, 52
clients, feedback; see feedback
Climate Adaptation Flagship, 30–31, 81
external review of, 26, 28
climate change, xii, xiv, 80
adaptive capacity development, 54
attitudes towards, 31
impact on biodiversity, 30, 31, 81
see also Climate Adaptation Flagship
Climate Change Science and Solutions for Australia, viii, xiv, 54, 66
clusters, Flagship, 15, 27, 38, 172–174
coastal regions, sustainable management, xiv, 28, 48, 52
Code of Conduct, xv, 84, 87
collaborative activities, fostering, xiii, 4, 14–18
colorectal cancer research, 42, 43
Comcare, 89, 96
investigations, 97
Comcover, insurance, 89
see also workers’ compensation
Commercial Committee (Board), 86
Commercial Delegations, 87
Commercial Executive Committee, 86
commercialisation activities, xii, 4, 7, 29, 33, 41, 60
notification requirement, 85
see also equity portfolio; intellectual property; joint ventures
Commercialisation Australia, 15
committees, management, 3, 86, 88–89
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997, 85
Commonwealth Disability Strategy, 105
Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities Marine Biodiversity Hub, 48
Commonwealth Fraud Control Policy, 85, 89
Commonwealth Ombudsman, 177
Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines, 85
Commonwealth Protective Security Policy Framework, 89
competitive strength, x, xii, 34, 36, 54, 56, 60
Compliance Report, 85
computer games, modifications to, 59
concrete, impact of climate change on, 30
Conducting Science with Impact (strategic element), 4
consultancy services, 178–182
contact details
administrative law, 177
organisational, inside back cover
contractors, health and safety of, 95
contracts; see consultancy services
Cooperative Research Centre program, involvement in, 14
Core Research and Services (Program 2)
performance summary, 50–61
CSIRO – the way we work, 84
CSIRO Medal for Business Excellence, 38
CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement, 20
CSIRO medals and awards, 19–20, 38
see also awards, medals and honours
CSIRO PUBLISHING, 62, 66, 68
CSIRO Values Compass, ii, 84
CSIRO–AusAID Africa Food Security Initiative, 16
CSIROpod (podcast), 65
CSIROvod (video podcast), 65
Cultural Learning and Development Plan, 17
customer engagement strategy, 4, 15
see also collaborative activities, fostering
customer feedback; see feedback

D
Deep Collaboration and Connection (strategic pillar), 15
Deep Space Communication Complex, 64, 66
deficit, ix, 6–7
see also financial statements
Delegations and Authorities Framework, 87
deliverables; see performance indicators
Delivering on National Challenges (strategic element), 3
dementia; see Alzheimer’s disease research
desalination, water, 47
Diabetes Diet and Lifestyle Plan, xiv, 57
diabetes, healthcare, xiv, 57
die-casting technologies, 38, 39
digitisation of National Biological Collections, 75–76, 79, 80
see also Atlas of Living Australia
disability strategy, Commonwealth, 105
disclosure of interests, Board members, 86
Discovery Centre, 64, 65
disease resistance, legume crops, 14
Divisional reviews, 9–11, 88
Double Helix Science Club, 64

E
eBooks, release of, 66
ecological sustainability; see environmental sustainability
ECOS (magazine), 66, 68
ecosystems, research and conservation; see biodiversity; marine systems research; natural resource management
education and outreach programs, 18, 62, 63–66
case study, 67
electrical cables, fire resistant, 37
electronic publications repository, 26, 51
emerging nations, as international partners, 16
Employment Bargaining Framework and Supporting Guidance, Australian Government, 85
Endowment Committee (Board), 86
Energy Group, xiii–xiv, 52–53, 198
see also Energy Transformed Flagship; Wealth from Oceans Flagship
energy security, 52, 53
Energy Transformed Flagship, 32–33
energy use efficiency measures, 32
organisational, 100, 101
Energymark, 32
Enterprise Agreement, 5, 85, 104, 105
Enterprise performance, 2–21
Environment Group, xiv, 54–55, 198
see also Climate Adaptation Flagship; Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, 98
environmental footprint, reduction, 56, 60
see also carbon footprint, reduction; greenhouse gas emissions
environmental sustainability, 54–55
organisational, xii, 4, 98, 100–102
see also natural resource management; sustainability
ePublish, electronic publications repository, 26, 51
equal employment opportunities, 105
equine flu; see Hendra virus
equity portfolio, 6, 8–9
eResearch Strategy, 58
Eureka Prizes, 19
Excellence in Innovation award, 80
Executive Management Council, 86
Executive Team
remuneration, 156–158
roles and responsibilities, 86, 91–92
exotic pests and diseases, xiv, 55, 72
see also Australian Animal Health Laboratory; biosecurity
expenses, total, ix, 6–7
see also financial statements
Exploring New Horizons (strategic element), 4
external engagement. fostering, xiii, 14–18
see also customer engagement strategy
external revenue, ix, xii, 6–7, 66
see also financial statements
external reviews; see audits; Divisional reviews; reviews, independent; Science Assessment Reviews

F
Facebook Fan page, 65, 106
Federal Budget, 24, 85
feedback, 65
clients and customers, 27
visitors, 66
see also reviews, independent; surveys
Fellowships and Societies, 21
see also awards, medals and honours
Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, xiv
fibre optic catheter technology, 7
financial performance, summary, ix, 6–7
see also financial statements
financial statements, 110–169
Science and Industry Endowment Fund, 187–197
fire resistant electrical cables, 37
fish species, impact of climate change on, 31, 81
fisheries, sustainability, 35, 80
Flagship Advisory Committees, 88–89
see also Flagship Oversight Committee
Flagship Collaboration Fund, 14, 15, 27–28
Clusters, 15, 27, 38, 172–174
Flagship Oversight Committee, 3, 86
see also Flagship Advisory Committees
Flagship reviews, 26, 28, 88
Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation, 33
floods, impact of, xv, 49, 61
Food Futures Flagship, 34–35, 99
Food, Health and Life Science Industries Group, xiv, 56–57, 198
food security, x, 16, 34, 56
see also agricultural industries, sustainability of
Food Security Initiative, African, 16
foot and mouth disease research, 77
forecasts
ocean temperature, 31
streamflow, seasonal, 46
Foreign Exchange Risk Management Guidelines, Government, 85
forestry industries, sustainability, 44, 45
foreword, Chairman’s, x–xi
fraud control policy, 85, 89
Freedom of Information Act 1982, 89, 176
freedom of information report, 176
fruit industry research, 57
funding; see financial statements; Quadrennium Funding Agreement; revenue
future directions, organisational, xv
see also roadmaps, Flagship
Future Manufacturing Flagship, 36–37
Light Metals Flagship merger with, 38

G
Garnaut Review, 31
General Electric, new agreement with, xiii, 15, 38, 61
geothermal energy, 52
Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, 48
Global Research Alliance, 16
global warming; see climate change
GlobalSoilMap.net project, 45
glossary, 205
governance framework, 84–89
Science and Industry Endowment Fund, 85, 184
governing legislation, 84–85
government agencies, fostering partnerships with, 15
grains industry research, 34, 44, 99
grape industry research, 57
Great Artesian Basin, water resources assessment, 47, 93
Great Australian Bight Marine Park, management, 80
greenhouse gas emissions, 55, 56
efforts to reduce, 32, 33, 44, 52, 53, 57
organisational, 101–102
Gulf of Mexico oil spill, monitoring, 48
case study, 73

H
Harnessing One-CSIRO (strategic element), 5
health and safety, organisational, xii, xv, 5, 86, 87, 94–97
Health, Safety and Environment Committee, 86
Health, Safety and Environment strategy, 5, 87
Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability and Community Policy, 94–97
health-related research, xiii, 7, 42–43, 59
see also Preventative Health Flagship
Healthy Ageing Biobank, 43
Helix, The (magazine), 65
Hendra virus, viii, xii, 56, 72, 77, 78
Heritage Strategy, 104
High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre, 69
Highlights of 2010–11, viii–ix
see also achievements
Honeybee Blues (film), 64
honours, medals and awards, xii, xix, 19–21, 27, 38, 65, 80
human resources management, 104–106
hydrocarbon sensor, 48, 73
hydrogeochemical exploration, 41

I
image details, 202–203
Improvement Notices, Comcare, 97
independent reviews; see reviews, independent
Indigenous cadetships, 17
Indigenous Education Pathway pilot project, 18
Indigenous Employment Strategy, 105
Indigenous Engagement Strategy, 17–18, 105
Indigenous Land Use Agreement, with Wajarri Yamatji people, 17–18
Indigenous Science Speakers Forum, 17
Indigenous Student Internship Program, 17
induction program, employee, 105
industries, collaboration with; see collaborative activities, fostering
Industry Innovation Councils, 15
Information Management and Technology Group, 75
Information Publication Scheme, 89
Information Sciences Group, xiv, 58–59, 198
injury rates, staff, xii, 96, 97
Innovation for Development, 16
insurance cover, organisational, 89
Integrated Marine Observing System, 14
intellectual property, xii, 7–8
see also commercialisation activities
International Centre of Excellence in Mining and Minerals Processing (Chilean), 61
international collaboration, fostering, 14, 16
International Sheep Genomics Consortium, xiv, 57
inventions; see commercialisation activities; intellectual property
Investigator (research vessel), 69, 75
see also Marine National Facility
J
Jack Cusack Memorial Science Scholarship, 18
joint ventures, 16
see also commercialisation activities
journal publication rates, 12, 51, 66
judicial decisions, 177

K
key performance indicators; see performance indicators

L
LANDTEM™, xiv, 60
leadership development, 5, 105
Leading the Research Enterprise, 105
learning and development, staff, 17, 105
see also staff training
letter of transmittal, iii
licensing activity; see commercialisation activities; equity portfolio; intellectual property
Light Metals Flagship, 38–39
merger with other Flagships, 38
Living Architecture: Living Roofs and Walls, 66
Long Baseline Array, 72
lost time injury frequency rate, xii, 96, 97

M
management and accountability, 84–89
Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals Group, xiv–xv, 60–61, 198
see also Future Manufacturing Flagship; Light Metals Flagship; Minerals Down Under Flagship
manufacturing sector, innovations for; see Future Manufacturing Flagship; Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals Group
Marine and Atmospheric Research Division, 62
science assessment review, 9–10
Marine National Facility, 3, 69, 71, 72, 75, 80
marine systems research, 14, 48–49, 69, 75, 80
see also Marine National Facility
Mathematicians in Schools, 63
Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics Division
science assessment review, 10
Maths by Email, 63, 65
medals, honours and awards, xii, xix, 19–21, 27, 38, 65, 80
medical diagnostics, 7, 42–43
see also health-related research
medical treatment frequency rate, staff, 96
memoranda of understanding, 16
methane emissions
in agriculture, 44, 56
in mines, reduction, xiii, 52, 53
from Tammar wallaby, 56
mine safety, xiv, 52, 53
Minerals Down Under Flagship, 40–41
Light Metals Flagship merger with, 38
minerals exploration technologies, 40, 41, 60, 61
mining industry, xiv, 40, 41, 52, 53, 60, 61
Ministerial directions and notifications, 85
Minister’s powers, 85
Mopra Telescope, 72, 104
Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, viii, xiv, 69
Murray–Darling Basin, management, 46, 47
Murray–Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project, 93
MyCSIRO (intranet site), 87

N
NAIDOC week, 17
National Biological Collections, 70, 75–76
see also Australian National Fish Collection; Australian National Herbarium; Australian National Insect Collection; Australian
National Wildlife Collection
National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, 77, 78
National Fish Collection; see Australian National Fish Collection; National Biological Collections
National Herbarium; see Australian National Herbarium; National Biological Collections
National Innovation System, 2, 5
National Insect Collection; see Australian National Insect Collection; National Biological Collections
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, MoU with, 16
National Research Facilities, 69, 70, 71, 72
see also Australia Telescope National Facility; Australian Animal Health Laboratory; Marine National Facility; National Research
Infrastructure: National Facilities and Collections (Program 4)
National Research Flagships (Program 1), x, xiii, 3
ANAO audit, 3
external revenue, 27
performance summary, 24–49
reviews of, 26, 28
see also Climate Adaptation Flagship; Energy Transformed Flagship; Flagship Advisory Committees; Flagship Collaboration Fund;
Food Futures Flagship; Future Manufacturing Flagship; Light Metals Flagship; Minerals Down Under Flagship; Preventative
Health Flagship; Sustainable Agriculture Flagship; Water for a Healthy Country Flagship; Wealth from Oceans Flagship
National Research Infrastructure: National Facilities and Collections (Program 4)
performance summary, 69–81
see also Australia Telescope National Facility; Australian Animal Health Laboratory; Marine National Facility; National Biological
Collections
National Research Priorities, 2, 38
National Science Week, 64
National Soil Archive, 69
National Solar Energy Centre, viii, xiv, 32
National Tree Seed Collection, 69
National Water Initiative, 46, 93
National Water Use Efficiency Initiative, 44
National Wildlife Collection; See Australian National Wildlife Collection; National Biological Collections
natural resource management, 54, 56, 88
see also biodiversity; Murray–Darling Basin, management; sustainability; water resources
near miss reporting, 95, 96
New People Leader Program, 105
Ngara technology, xiv, 17, 58
nickel laterite processing, 41
Nominations and Remuneration Committee (Board), 86
Northern Australia Sustainable Yields project, 93
Northern Victorian Sustainable Water Strategy, 46
Notifiable Incidents, Comcare, 96, 97
notifications to Minister, 85

O
objectives, organisational; see organisational objectives
occupational health and safety; see health and safety, organisational
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991, 94
ocean warming, impact on fish species, 31
Oceania, global soil map, 45
office locations, xviii
consolidation of corporate offices, 4
Office of Indigenous Engagement, 17
Office of the Chief Scientist, 15
oil and gas industry, exploration technologies, xiv, 53
oil spills, monitoring, 48
case study, 72
omega-3, sources of, 34
case study, 99
online archives, 66, 78
open access model, publications, 66
see also CSIRO Publishing
Operating Model, 84
operating revenue, ix, 6–7, 24
see also financial statements
Operational Plan, 2, 88
Order of Australia honours, 19
ore deposits; see minerals exploration technologies
organisational objectives
Program 1, 24
Program 2, 50
Program 3, 62
Program 4, 69
see also performance indicators
organisational role, xii, 84–85
organisational structure, xvi–xvii
orientation program, staff, 105
Outcome and program performance, 24–81
see also performance
outreach and education programs, 18, 62, 63–66
case study, 67
Outsourcing of IT Infrastructure Services guidelines, 85
oysters, sensory evaluation of, 35

P
Paintbond SM-1, 36
Parkes radio telescope, xiv, 64, 66, 72, 74, 78, 104
see also Australia Telescope National Facility
Parliamentary inquiries, submissions to, 16
partners/partnerships, fostering; see collaborative activities, fostering
patents; see commercialisation activities; intellectual property
PC4 laboratory, 72, 74, 77
see also Australian Animal Health Laboratory
pedestrian safety, industrial sites, 39
people management, 104–106
People Policy, 104
performance, xii–xv
environmental, organisational, 98, 100–102
financial, ix, 6–7, 110–169
Science and Industry Endowment Fund, 187–197
health and safety, 94–97
Program 1, 24–49
Program 2, 50–61
Program 3, 62–68
Program 4, 69–81
see also achievements
performance indicators, 10
Program 1, 25
Program 2, 50
Program 3, 63
Program 4, 70–71
Perth Basin, petroleum exploration, xiii, 53
petroleum exploration technologies, xiii, 53
PhD students, 16, 17, 62
PIPEASSURE, 53
plans and planning; see Capital Assets Management Plan; Operational Plan; 2011–15 Strategic Plan
Policy Framework, 86–87
polymer technology, ix, xii, 7, 29, 37
Portfolio Budget Statements, 24
postgraduate scholarships, 15, 27, 62
postgraduate training and development, 62
see also PhD students; postgraduate scholarships
Preventative Health Flagship, 42–43
primary industries; see agricultural industries, sustainability of
Privacy Act 1988, 89, 176
procurement guidelines, Commonwealth, 85
program and outcome structure, 24
Program Review, 88
Prohibition Notices, Comcare, 97
project management procedures, 87, 105
Protective Security Risk Assessment, 89
Provisional Improvement Notices, Comcare, 97
prune industry, cost reductions in, 57
Public Research Agency Charter, 85
publication rates, 12, 51, 66
publications, Flagship, 26
see also CSIRO PUBLISHING
publishing services; see CSIRO PUBLISHING
Publishing with Impact development program, 105
pulsars, ultrafast, xiv, 58
Pulse@Parkes program, 64

Q
Quadrennium Funding Agreement, 85

R
radio astronomy, 64, 66, 69, 72, 78, 104
see also Australia Telescope Compact Array; Australia Telescope National Facility; Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder;
Parkes radio telescope
RAFT, ix, 7
case study, 29
rainwater harvesting system, case study, 103
relationships; see collaborative activities, fostering; customer engagement strategy
remuneration
Board, 155
Executive Team, 156–158
renewable energy, 32, 36, 60
see also biofuels; geothermal energy; solar power
Research Facilities, National; see Australia Telescope National Facility; Australian Animal Health Laboratory; Marine National
Facility; National Research Facilities
Research Group Structure, 198
responsible Minister, 85
revenue
external, ix, xii, 6–7, 66
operating, ix, 6–7, 24
see also financial statements
Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) technology, ix, 7
case study, 29
reviews, independent, 88
Divisional, 9–11
Flagship, 26, 28
science assessment reviews, 9–10
science outreach programs, 65
see also audits
risk management, organisational, 89
RMDSTEM, review of Wealth from Oceans Flagship, 26
roadmaps, Flagship, 31, 33, 35, 37, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49
role, organisational, ii, xii, 84–85

S
safety performance; see health and safety, organisational
scholarships, 15, 18, 27, 62
Science and Industry Endowment Act 1926, 85
Science and Industry Endowment Fund, 85
Annual Report 2010–11, 183–186
financial report, 187–197
Science and Industry Research Act 1949, 84
science assessment reviews, 9–10
Science by Email, 63, 65
science education and outreach programs, 18, 62, 63–66
case study, 67
Science Education Centres, 63
science film festival, 64
Science for Breakfast (Parliamentary briefings), 16
Science Investment Process, 15, 88
Science Outreach: Education and Scientific Publishing (Program 3)
performance summary, 62–68
Science Sub-committee, 86
Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words, 66
Scientists in Schools program, 63
case study, 67
Scientriffic (magazine), 65
SCINEMA (science film festival), 64
SCOPE (TV program), 63–64
Sector Advisory Councils, 88–89
security risk assessment, protective, 89
sensor network technologies, 67
sensory evaluation, of shellfish, 35
service agreement, with SIEF Trustee, 85
Service Charter, 175
shellfish, quality, 35
Sir Ian McLennan Achievement for Industry Award, 20
smart grid technologies, xiii, 52
social media, expansion of use, 65
social workers, predicting demands for, 59
soil mapping, global, 45
solar power, viii, xiv, 32, 52, 57
South Eastern Australian Climate Initiative, 46
Southern Surveyor (research vessel), 69, 75
see also Marine National Facility
Spatial Information Services Stack, 40
staff demographics, 105–106
staff training, 5, 95, 98, 105
see also learning and development, staff
standards and procedures, organisational, 86, 87
Statement of Expectations, Minister’s, 85
Statement of Intent, Board, 85
Statement of IP Principles for Australian Government Agencies, 7
states and territories, collaboration with; see collaborative activities, fostering
strategic alliances, fostering; see collaborative activities, fostering
strategic elements, 3–5
Strategic Partnership Agreement, with AusAID, 16
Strategic Plan 2007–11, 2, 88
implementation, 3–5
Strategic Plan 2011–15, x, xii, xv, 5, 15, 88
Strategic Protective Security Risk Assessment, 89
strategic roadmaps, Flagship, 31, 33, 35, 37, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49
streamflow, seasonal forecasting, 46
Striving for Zero Harm (health and safety strategy), 87, 94
see also Zero Harm strategy
STroke imAging pRevention and Treatment (START) study, 43
Supplier of the Year award, Boeing, xii, 27
case study, xix
surveys, 65, 66
attitudes to climate change, 31
customers, 27
see also feedback
sustainability
of agricultural industries, 14, 34, 44–45, 56, 67
of fisheries, 35, 80
of forestry industries, 44, 45
of manufacturing industries, 60–61
see also environmental sustainability
Sustainable Agriculture Flagship, 44–45
SynCat, xiii, 53
synthetic fuels research, xiii, 53

T
Tammar wallaby, methane production, 56
taxonomic research, 70, 81
technology transfer, 38, 84
see also commercialisation activities
The Helix (magazine), 65
TiRO™, 38
Titanium Challenge, 39, 65
case study, 106
T-Mag™, 38
trade marks; see intellectual property
transmittal letter, iii
trend data, 10–13
Program 1, 26–28
Program 2, 51
Program 3, 63–66
Program 4, 71–72, 74–77
2011 Australian of the Year award, 19
2007-–11 Strategic Plan, 2, 88
implementation, 3–5
2010–11 Operational Plan, 2, 88
2010–11 Portfolio Budget Statements, 24
2011–12 to 2014–15 Quadrennium Funding Agreement, 85
2011–14 Enterprise Agreement, 85, 104
see also Enterprise Agreement
2011–15 Strategic Plan, x, xii, xv, 5, 15, 88

U
UltraBattery commercialisation, 33
universities, fostering collaboration with, 14
USA, as international partner, 16

V
vaccines, development of, viii, xii, 56, 72, 77
Values Compass, ii, 84
varroa mites, xiv, 55
Ventilation Air Methane Catalytic Turbine (VAMCAT), 53
videoconferencing facilities for animal disease management, xiv, 59
Vietnam, 16, 45
visiting fellowships, 15, 27
visitor programs; see science education and outreach programs

W
Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, 46–47
water resources, xiii
asset assessment, 47
case study, 93
impact of climate change on, 46
sustainable management, 14, 44, 46
see also Murray–Darling Basin, management; Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
water use efficiency, organisational, 100, 102
case study, 103
Wealth from Oceans Flagship, 48–49, 73, 81
external review of, 26, 28
Welcome to Country protocols, 17
Whistleblower Scheme, 89
wireless broadband technologies, xiv, 17, 58
workers’ compensation
claims, 96
premium, 89, 95, 96, 97
Workplace Diversity Plan, 105

Y
year ahead, xv
year in review, xii–xv
YouTube channel, 65

Z
Zero Harm strategy, xii, xv, 87, 94, 95
see also health and safety, organisational

Compliance index – statutory reporting requirements

The index below shows compliance with information requirements contained in the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act
1997, in particular Part 2 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies (Report of Operations) Orders 2008 and the Science and
Industry Research Act 1949.

CAC Act 1997, Report of Operations 2008 CAC Act 1997, Report of Page
requirements Operations 2008 reference

Audited financial statements Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1d) 110–169

Auditor General’s Report Schedule 1, Clause 11 (b) 110–111

Board members – particulars Schedule 1, Clause 14 (1a) 90–91

(1b)

Chairman and Chief Executive’s letter Schedule 1, Clause 4 iii

of transmittal

Commonwealth Ombudsman, Auditor Schedule 1, Clause 11 (b) 176–177

General, Parliamentary Committees (judicial
decisions and reviews by outside bodies)

Corporate governance practices Schedule 1, Clause 15 (1) 84–106

Committees – Audit and Board Schedule 1, Clause 15 (2), (3) 86

Developments since end of financial year Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1f) iii

Disability strategy Schedule 1, Clause 18 105

Enabling legislation – objectives Schedule 1, Clause 8 (a) 84

and functions

Environmental performance and ecologically Schedule 1, Clause 17 (2) 98–104

sustainable development

Factors, events or trends influencing Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1b) xii–xv

performance

Financial summary Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1d) 6–7

Freedom of information Schedule 1, Clause 17 (1b) 176

Government policies notified by the Minister Schedule 1, Clause 12 (1b) 85

Indemnities and insurance premiums Schedule 1, Clause 16 89, 126

for officers

Judicial decisions and decisions of Schedule 1, Clause 11 (a) 176–177

administrative tribunals

Location of major activities and facilities Schedule 1, Clause 9 xviii

Ministerial directions/significant events Schedule 1, Clause 12 (1a) 85

Occupational health and safety Schedule 1, Clause 17 (1b) 94–97

Organisational structure Schedule 1, Clause 9 xvi–xvii

Outcomes (Portfolio Budget Statement) Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1), (2) 2–81

Outputs (Portfolio Budget Statement) Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1), (2) 2–81

Performance indicators Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1), (2) 2–81

Performance outcome Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1), (2) 2–81

Performance review Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1), (2) 2–81

Privacy legislation Schedule 1, Clause 17 (1b) 176–177

Responsible Minister Schedule 1, Clause 8 (b) ii, 85

Review of operations and future prospects Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1), (2) xii–xv

Risk management Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1b) 89

Schedule 1, Clause 15 (3d)

Significant changes in state of affairs and/or Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1e) xii–xv

principal activities

Significant events Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1c) 85

Statement on governance Schedule 1, Clause 15 84–92

Strategic plan Schedule 1, Clause 10 (1aii) xii, 2, 5, 88

Subsidiaries of the authority (details in Schedule 1, Clause 9 122

Financial Statements) Schedule 1, Clause 17 (2)

Science and Industry Research Act 1949 SIR Act 1949

Policies relating to scientific research Act No 84, Section 46, 51 (2a) 87

Development in policies during the year Act No 84, Section 46, 51 (2b) 87

Ministerial determinations in relation to the Act No 84, Section 46, 51 (2c) 85

functions of the Organisation

Ministerial directions or guidelines relating Act No 84, Section 46, 51 (2d) 85

to the functions and powers of the Board

Policies of Australian Government to apply Act No 84, Section 46, 51 (2e) 85

to CSIRO

Other reporting requirements

Fraud control 89

Intellectual property management 7, 8, 117,

124, 125,
 126, 133,
135, 149,
205

Service Charter 175

Other legislative requirements

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 15, 190,

195

Freedom of Information Act 1982 176

Equal Employment Opportunity 105

(Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1997

Environment Protection and Biodiversity 98

Conservation Act 1999

Occupational Health and Safety 94

(Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991

Privacy Act 1988 176

Contact Us
Phone: 1300 363 400
+61 3 9545 2176
Email: Enquiries@csiro.au
Web: www.csiro.au

 BACK TO CONTENTS
PART 8
CASE STUDIES
Hold the CTRL key while clicking your left mouse button to visit each section.

 Boeing names CSIRO ‘Supplier of the Year’

 RAFT: World-class technology commercialised
 Scientists in Schools
 Tracking the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
 The Atlas of Living Australia
 CSIRO’s research being used to make Australian water policy decisions
 Canola plants: a new source of omega-3
 CSIRO’s rainwater harvesting system
 Facebook fans take on titanium challenge

Boeing names CSIRO ‘Supplier of the Year’

For the past 22 years, CSIRO has partnered with aeronautical company Boeing to develop world-leading technological
innovations.
The success of the partnership was recognised in May 2011 when Boeing named CSIRO its Global Research and Development
‘Supplier of the Year’.
The award recognises a relationship that has seen CSIRO and Boeing jointly invest in a wide range of projects, including world-leading
technological innovations in aircraft repainting methods, sustainable aviation fuels, aircraft assembly processes, fire retardants and
aircraft maintenance management software.
One successful venture included the effective application of a ‘spray on and leave on’ paint. Repainting aircraft is frequently required
for decorative finishes, refurbishment and repair. The manual sanding of an aircraft and applying multiple paint layers is laborious and
time-consuming and has caused the highest rate of injury for Boeing.
The CSIRO-Boeing technology involves applying a metal alkoxide-based surface treatment that modifies and activates an ‘aged’ paint
surface. It forms a strong chemical bond with the fresh paint layer. Since June 2008, this simple but effective technology has been
applied to over 800 commercial aircraft including recent deliveries to both Qantas and Virgin Australia, resulting in multi-million dollar
cost savings.
The strong relationship with Boeing has also played a key role in the development of Boeing’s operations in Australia – most notably
the decision to establish research and development laboratories in Brisbane and Melbourne. There are now 37 scientists employed
within these facilities, many of whom collaborate with CSIRO on joint projects.
CSIRO was one of only 16 recipients to be recognised at the Supplier of the Year Awards and was judged the ‘the best of the best’ by
taking out the Global Research and Development category.

RAFT: World-class technology commercialised

The challenge to develop new polymer materials with new and improved performance to meet industry and consumer needs
has gone a long way to being solved by CSIRO’s breakthrough polymer technology known as RAFT (Reversible Addition-
Fragmentation chain Transfer).
Invented by CSIRO and developed in partnership with DuPont, the new technology provides control over the formation of polymer
structures and offers the ability to tailor these materials for different applications. This technology allows us to make polymers that
were impossible pre-RAFT.
Applications for the technology will include intelligent drug delivery; biocompatible materials; paints and coatings to meet stricter
environmental guidelines; targeted personal care and cosmetics; additives to promote fuel efficiency; better synthetic rubbers; and new
and improved agricultural delivery systems.
CSIRO has recently signed its fifteenth license agreement, the latest with a multi-national organisation that controls a share in the
healthcare products market worth billions of dollars.
Internationally, over 3,000 papers have been published on RAFT developments and there are over 450 patents that have been filed
by research and commercial institutions globally. CSIRO’s Dr Ezio Rizzardo, one of the key inventors of RAFT, was named as one of
the Top 100 Chemists in the world, ranked at eighteenth by the United States information and analysis company Thomson Reuters.
More details about RAFT can be found at: www.csiro.au/products/RAFT

Scientists in Schools

It’s not often that teachers and their students have the opportunity to use the latest technology when devising their
experiments. But thanks to CSIRO’s Scientists in Schools program, the staff and students at The Hutchins School in Hobart,
Tasmania are using a CSIRO-developed sensor network to conduct research into plant water usage.
With CSIRO’s assistance, Year 8 students set up a mini Sensor Web in a small plot of land at the school to measure soil water tension.
The students developed a mobile telephone sensor network to read the water meters.
With the plot established, Years 11 and 12 environmental science students used the Sensor Web to monitor water usage. They measured
how plants reacted to different soil moisture conditions and irrigation treatments in near real-time. They gained valuable insight into
plant physiology, soil properties, the influence of weather/climate on evaporation-transpiration, and how sensor networks can help
conserve water.
The environmental science teacher saw this as an invaluable opportunity to engage students in real-world science and capture their
imagination by using emerging technology.
The Scientists in Schools program creates and supports long-term partnerships between scientists and teachers. It makes science
appealing to students, especially those who are considering their career options. CSIRO also benefits from this deployment as it serves
as another test bed for trialling its ideas.
Scientists interested in becoming involved can register at www.scientistsinschools.edu.au

Tracking the Gulf of Mexico oil spill

CSIRO scientists have been playing an important role in monitoring the extent of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In May
2010, researchers from CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans Flagship were engaged by BP Exploration and Production Inc on
behalf of the Unified Area Command (UAC), to help map the oil’s location and movement.
A team of scientists worked around the clock using CSIRO’s new hydrocarbon sensor array system to build a picture of the surface
water’s hydrocarbon composition. Researchers onboard the vessel Ryan Chouest surveyed over 8,000 nautical miles of surface waters
in the Gulf, gathering data about the water conditions just below the slick.
The hydrocarbon sensor system detects and analyses different types of hydrocarbons, including oil and gas. The original application of
the hydrocarbon sensor was for petroleum exploration. The deployment of the sensors to the Gulf is a new, innovative application that
enables real-time environmental monitoring.
The data obtained helped BP and the UAC to better understand the movement of the oil and assisted them to make important decisions,
such as when fisheries should be closed. It also provided the CSIRO team with the opportunity to trial their technology and systems in a
real life scenario, while making a valuable contribution to understanding the surface water’s hydrocarbon content and composition.
Preliminary results showed that the condition of the Gulf water was better than anticipated. Contamination was not as severe as first
thought, and did not exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency limits. The team is currently in the final stages of
verifying the results.

The Atlas of Living Australia

The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is a national initiative between the CSIRO, over sixty museums, herbaria and other
biological collections, the Australian Government, and the community. The ALA project brings together a huge array of 
information on Australia’s biodiversity, accessible through a single website.
The ALA launched its website in November 2010. During 2010–11, it has developed new software for recording and managing
biodiversity data and photos in the field. The software is being used in research projects, urban biodiversity surveys, museum outreach
activities, science education, biosecurity monitoring, natural resource management and reporting.
The ALA and its partners have made significant progress on digitising the information held in biological collections and delivered a
suite of powerful mapping tools with national data for more than 350 environmental measures. The ALA has established national
databases for identification keys, images and biodiversity literature, and has made substantial progress on a national species names list.
Through these capabilities, the ALA is helping to make Australia a world leader in biodiversity informatics.

CSIRO’s research being used to make Australian water policy

decisions

CSIRO has undertaken a comprehensive scientific assessment of current and future water availability in several regions of
Australia and the results of these assessments are being used by water managers and governments to make water policy
decisions.
The first project conducted was in the Murray-Darling Basin in 2008, and which has been used to inform decisions about future
management of the Murray-Darling Basin, including using updated Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields models in the
development of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The Northern Australia Sustainable Yields project, completed in late 2009, provided a major component of the Northern Australia
Taskforce report on the Sustainable Development of Northern Australia and has been used by the West Australian Government to make
decisions on water management in northern Western Australia.
In Tasmania, the sustainable yields assessment, completed in early 2010, has been used by the commonwealth and state governments to
inform decisions on new irrigation schemes (including approval of four new schemes).
In south-west Western Australia, project results released in early 2010 have been used to calibrate new groundwater models for the
region. The project modelled current water yield and future water yields with respect to climate change, water resource development
and other risks.
In late 2010, CSIRO began assessing the water resources of the Great Artesian Basin, which underlies about one-fifth of the Australian
continent. The assessment will improve understanding of available groundwater resources in the Basin’s aquifers, at a time of
increasing water demand and heightened concerns about the potential impact of coal seam gas development. It will also help water
managers meet National Water Initiative commitments, providing greater certainty for investment and for the environment.

Canola plants: a new source of omega-3

CSIRO scientists have discovered a way to produce beneficial long-chain omega-3 oils in canola plants, providing a new
high-value crop for Australian farmers.
Traditionally sourced from ocean-based algae and the fish that eat it, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for human health,
playing an important role in heart and brain function, as well as child and infant development. These oils have also been found to
reduce the risk of heart disease and may also play a role in mental health, depression and various inflammatory diseases.
CSIRO scientists, based in the Food Futures Flagship, have proved it is possible to produce commercially viable quantities of long-
chain omega-3 oils in canola plants. Because the body can only make very small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, they need to be
obtained mostly from the foods we eat. Some land-based plants, such as flaxseed, can produce short-chain omega-3 oils, but are unable
to produce the more beneficial long-chain omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Fish obtain their long-chain omega-3 oils from the
microalgae they eat in the ocean. CSIRO scientists are taking the components of marine microalgae that produce long-chain omega-3
oils and adding them to land-based canola plants.
As demand for omega-3 DHA oils continues to increase to meet the needs of our growing world population, the race is on to find
sustainable and reliable new sources that can satisfy this burgeoning consumer demand.
CSIRO is playing a leading role in a $50 million dollar research collaboration with Nuseed and the Australian Grains Research and
Development Corporation. This partnership aims to trial these new canola crops as early as 2013 and have seeds commercially
available by 2016.
CSIRO’s rainwater harvesting system

As part of CSIRO’s goal to reduce its reliance on mains water, significant rainwater tank systems were installed at its sites
in Werribee (Victoria) and the Waite campus (South Australia) by the CSIRO Property Services team.
At Werribee, rainwater will be captured from approximately 2,000 square metres of the roof area, which totals 5,500 square metres. The
tanks are capable of holding 160,000 litres of water, which will be used to supply the toilet cistern on site.
Initially three buildings, the main office/laboratory complex, the Process Engineering Centre and the Conference Centre, were
connected to the tanks. It is estimated that nearly 900,000 litres of drinking water will be saved each year (assumptions: 36 cisterns; ten
flushes/day; five days/week; 50 weeks/year; ten litres/flush).
In addition, the toilets were upgraded with slimline cisterns and fittings and the tanks were switched from the mains supply to the
rainwater from the tanks. As required by the local water authority, the tank waterlines were setup with a mains supply cut-over system.
Another significant rainwater capture system was installed at CSIRO’s Waite campus in Adelaide. The total tank capacity is
approximately 128,000 litres which collects rainwater from a number of buildings and from a reverse osmosis purifying unit.
The tank system is important for the irrigation of heritage trees on the nature strip at the front of the CSIRO buildings at the Waite
campus. In addition, the tanks will serve the toilet facilities in selected buildings.

Facebook fans take on titanium challenge

Social media provided an effective means of driving interest in the inaugural CSIRO Titanium Challenge.
The Titanium Challenge aimed to stimulate awareness in Australian university undergraduates about titanium, the potential for additive
manufacturing, and CSIRO’s work in this area.
A series of posts on the CSIRO Facebook Fan page engaged with fans and encouraged them to visit the CSIRO Challenge webpage.
Cross posting on CSIRO’s Twitter account @csironews as well on the Facebook Fan Page of Engineers Australia helped spread the
word.
Social media proved effective in directing traffic to the Challenge webpage – two thirds of the 800-odd hits on the page came via
Facebook, and about 150 via Twitter.
The Challenge attracted entries from students of industrial design and mechanical and materials engineering in three Australian states.
A multidisciplinary judging panel from government, industry, and academia assessed the entries for appropriate use of titanium and of
additive manufacturing, innovativeness and a supporting business case. The judges applauded the creativity and sophistication of the
entries.
Callaghan Forsyth, from Swinburne University, won the challenge (and an Apple MacBook Pro) with his design for an
advanced radiator. A prototype of his design will be produced by Formero Pty Ltd, an Australian product development and
manufacturing service provider.
The runner-up, a design for a Prandtl-attack tube, was developed by Michael Bowen, a mechanical engineering student from The
University of Adelaide.
CSIRO will run the Titanium Challenge again in 2012.

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