The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is the national government body for scientific research in Australia. It was founded in 1926 originally as the Advisory Council of Science and Industry. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Research highlights include the invention of atomic absorption spectroscopy, development of the first polymer banknote, invention of the insect repellent in Aerogard, gene splicing technology and the introduction of a series of biological controls into Australia, such as the introduction of Myxomatosis and Rabbit calicivirus for the control of rabbit populations. CSIRO's research into ICT technologies has resulted in advances such as the Panoptic Search Engine^[1] (now known as Funnelback) and Annodex^[2]. Atomic absorption spectroscopy In analytical chemistry, Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a technique for determining the concentration of a particular metal element in a sample. ... The first Guardian polymer banknote in circulation. ... Genetic engineering, genetic modification (GM), and gene splicing (once in widespread use but now deprecated) are terms for the process of manipulating genes in an organism, usually outside of the organisms normal reproductive process. ... Myxomatosis (from the Greek μύξα (mucus), and ματώνω (to bleed)) is a disease which infects rabbits. ... Rabbit calicivirus (RCD) or Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a disease which infects only rabbits. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Annodex logo Annodex is a digital media format developed by CSIRO to provide annotation and indexing of continuous media, such as audio and video. ...

Recently, the CSIRO has been actively defending its patent^[3] for the use of wireless technologies which are a standard for many modern day laptops. A class action has been filed by US corporations Microsoft, Apple and Dell to renege on paying royalties on the wireless patent filed by the CSIRO in 1996. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... Apple Inc. ... Dell Inc. ...

In October 2005 Nature magazine announced that CSIRO scientists had developed near-perfect rubber from resilin, the elastic protein which gives fleas their jumping ability and helps insects fly. ^[4] Nature is one of the most prominent scientific journals, first published on 4 November 1869. ... Yep References and External Links Harnessing flea power to create near-perfect rubber, Media Release from the CSIRO Article published in Nature Shorter news item from Nature Summary from University of South Australia Insect Rubber article from Future Materials Categories: Biochemistry stubs | Proteins | Biochemistry ...

Research groups and initiatives

Employing over 6600 staff, the CSIRO maintains more than 50 sites across Australia and biological control research stations in France and Mexico. The primary roles of the CSIRO include contributing to meeting the objectives and responsibilities of the Australian Federal Government and providing new ways to benefit the Australian community and the economic and social performance of a number of industry sectors through research and development.

Research undertaken by the CSIRO is divided into 17 operational 'Divisions'. These are:

• Australia Telescope National Facility
• Energy Technology
• Entomology
• Exploration & Mining
• ICT Centre
• Industrial Physics
• Land and Water
• Livestock Industries
• Manufacturing and Materials Technology
• Marine and Atmospheric Research
• Mathematics and Information Sciences
• Minerals
• Molecular and Health Technologies
• Petroleum Resources
• Plant Industry
• Sustainable Ecosystems
• Textiles and Fibre Technologies

In addition, CSIRO is a participant in two joint ventures: CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) is one of the currently c. ...

• Ensis - forestry and forest products, with New Zealand's Forestry research organisation named Scion
• Food Science Australia - with the Victorian government

"Flagship" initiative

The CSIRO "Flagship" initiative was designed to integrate, focus and direct national scientific resources. In May 2005, the government announced the launch of CSIRO's $97 million Flagship Collaboration Fund, which is intended to encourage cooperative research between universities, CSIRO and other research agencies.

As of May 2005, the CSIRO supported the following 6 "Flagships": 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Energy Transformed
• Food Futures
• Light Metals
• Preventative Health
• Water for a Healthy Country
• Wealth from Oceans

In April 2007, funding for a new Flagship was announced by the Federal government^[5]. It will be investigating the effects of Climate Change.

The Air Quality Modelling and Dispersion Team

CSIRO's Air Quality Modelling and Dispersion Team^[6] is a part of the Marine and Atmospheric Research division.

Some of the widely used air quality dispersion models^[7] developed by CSIRO are: Atmospheric dispersion modeling is performed with computer programs that use mathematical equations and algorithms to simulate how pollutants in the ambient atmosphere disperse in the atmosphere. ...

• TAPM ^[8] (see description in Compilation of atmospheric dispersion models)
• LADM ^[9] (see description in Compilation of atmospheric dispersion models)
• AUSPLUME ^[10]
• AUSPUFF ^[11] (see description in Compilation of atmospheric dispersion models)
• DISPMOD ^[12] (see description in Compilation of atmospheric dispersion models)

The "Australian Air Quality Forecasting System" is provided jointly by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO. The Bureau of Meteorology generates the high resolution weather forecasts and CSIRO has created computer models to calculate pollution levels. Atmospheric dispersion models are computer programs that use mathematical algorithms to simulate how pollutants in the ambient atmosphere disperse and, in some cases, how they react in the atmosphere. ... Atmospheric dispersion models are computer programs that use mathematical algorithms to simulate how pollutants in the ambient atmosphere disperse and, in some cases, how they react in the atmosphere. ... Atmospheric dispersion models are computer programs that use mathematical algorithms to simulate how pollutants in the ambient atmosphere disperse and, in some cases, how they react in the atmosphere. ... Atmospheric dispersion models are computer programs that use mathematical algorithms to simulate how pollutants in the ambient atmosphere disperse and, in some cases, how they react in the atmosphere. ...

History

A precursor to the CSIRO, the Advisory Council of Science and Industry, was established in 1916 at the intitiative of Prime Minister Billy Hughes. However, the Advisory Council struggled with insufficient funding during the First World War. In 1920 the Council was renamed the "Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry", and was led by George Handley Knibbs (1921-26), but continued to struggle financially. William Morris Billy Hughes, (September 25, 1862–October 28, 1952), Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia, the longest-serving member of the Australian Parliament, and one of the most colourful figures in Australian political history. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Sir George Handley The Knibb Knibbs CMG (June 13, 1858 - 30 March 1929) was an Australian scientist, the first Commonwealth Statistician and the first director of the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry, predecessor to the CSIRO. Knibbs, son of John Handley Knibbs, was born at Sydney. ...

In 1926 The Science and Industry Research Act replaced the Institute with the 'Council for Scientific and Industrial Research' (CSIR). The CSIR was structured to represent the federal structure of Australian government, and had state-level committees and a central council. As well as this improved structure, the CSIR benefited from strong bureaucratic management under George Julius, David Rivett, and Arnold Richardson. CSIR research focussed on primary and secondary industries. Early in its existence, it established divisions studying animal health and animal nutrition. After the depression, the CSIR extended into secondary industries such as manufacturing. George Alfred Julius was the founder of Julius Poole & Gibson Pty Ltd and Automatic Totalisators Ltd, and invented the worlds first automatic totalisator. ... Sir (Albert Cherbury) David Rivett, KCMG (4 December 1885 – 1 April 1961) was an Australian chemist and science administrator. ...

Notable inventions and breakthroughs by the CSIRO include:

• Use of myxomatosis and calicivirus to control rabbit numbers
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy
• Construction of 'The Dish' - Parkes Radio Telescope
• Aerogard, insect repellent
• Softly, fabric softner
• Microwave landing system, a microwave approach and landing system for aircraft
• Gene shears
• Biological control of Salvinia
• Polymer banknote
• Relenza flu drug
• X-ray phase contrast imaging
• Wireless LAN

The CSIRO today has expanded into a wider range of scientific inquiry. This expansion began with the establishment of the CSIRO in 1949 which, as well as a name change, reconstituted the organisation and its administrative structure. Under Ian Clunies Ross as chairman, the CSIRO pursued new areas such as radioastronomy and industrial chemistry. Atomic absorption spectroscopy In analytical chemistry, Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a technique for determining the concentration of a particular metal element in a sample. ... The big dish The Parkes Observatory is a radio telescope observatory, 20 kilometres north of the town of Parkes, New South Wales, Australia. ... Aerogard is a high-profile Australian brand of outdoor insect repellent, that is applied directly to the skin. ... The NASA 737 research aircraft on the Wallops runway in 1987 with the Microwave Landing System equipment in the foreground. ... The first Guardian polymer banknote in circulation. ... Zanamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment of and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B. Zanamivir was the first neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. ... The notebook is connected to the wireless access point using a PC card wireless card. ... Sir Ian Clunies Ross (1899-1959) is described as the architect of Australias scientific boom, for his stewardship of Australias scientific organisation the CSIRO. // Clunies Ross was born William Ian Clunies Ross in Bathurst, New South Wales on February 22, 1899. ...

Historic research

CSIR owned the first computer in Australia, CSIRAC, built as part of a project began in the Sydney Radiophysics Laboratory in 1947. The CSIR Mk 1 ran its first program in 1949, the fifth electronic computer in the world. It was over 1000 times faster than the mechanical calculators available at the time. It was decommissioned in 1955 and recommissioned in Melbourne as CSIRAC in 1956 as a general purpose computing machine used by over 700 projects until 1964.^[13] The NASA Columbia Supercomputer. ... CSIRAC (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Automatic Computer), originally known as CSIR Mk I, was Australias first digital computer, and the fifth stored program computer in the world and presently the oldest intact (albeit inoperable) digital computer in the world. ...

Domain name

The CSIRO was the first Australian organisation to start using the internet, and as such was free to register the second level domain csiro.au (as opposed to csiro.org.au or csiro.com.au). Guidelines were introduced in 1996 to regulate the use of the .au domain. This article covers the top-level domain name. ...

Previous Chief Executives

Sir (Albert Cherbury) David Rivett, KCMG (4 December 1885 – 1 April 1961) was an Australian chemist and science administrator. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 108th day of the year (109th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Frederick Edward White (January 19, 1844 - January 14, 1920) was a U.S. Representative from Iowa. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 4th redirects here. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the day. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the day. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the day. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

Recent controversies

In 2005 the organisation also gained worldwide attention (and criticism) for publishing and promoting the Total Wellbeing Diet book ^[14] which features a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. The book has sold over half a million copies in Australia and over 100,000 overseas ^[15] but was criticised in an editorial by Nature for giving scientific credence to a "fashionable" diet book sponsored by meat and dairy industries ^[16]. A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... Lactose is a disaccharide found in milk. ... Measuring body weight on a scale Dieting is the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve a particular objective. ... Nature is one of the most prominent scientific journals, first published on 4 November 1869. ...

In 2006 CSIRO was again in the news, this time with reports that they were struggling with reduced funding and job cuts ^[17]. It was reported that the organisation was increasingly affected by political processes as claims of gags on scientists on the topic of global warming emerged ^[18]. The Labor Party attempted to open a Senate enquiry into the matter but it was rejected by the Government. ^[19] Global mean surface temperatures 1850 to 2006 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and the projected... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ...

See Also

• Australia Telescope National Facility
• Australian Animal Health Laboratory
• Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme
• CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
• Funnelback

The Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) is a division of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia, and is a government-operated research facility dedicated to radio astronomy. ... The Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, Victoria, Australia is a high security laboratory for exotic animal disease diagnosis and research. ... The Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme (ABBBS), a combination of the former Australian bird banding and bat banding schemes, is managed by the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia. ... CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) is one of the currently c. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

References

1. ^ Funnelback Home Page
2. ^ CeNTIE Home Page
3. ^ U.S. Patent 5,487,069 
4. ^ Elvin CM, Carr AG, Huson MG, Maxwell JM, Pearson RD, Vuocolo T, Liyou NE, Wong DC, Merritt DJ, Dixon NE (2005-10-13). "Synthesis and properties of crosslinked recombinant pro-resilin". Nature 437 (7061): 999-1002. Retrieved on 2006-04-24. 
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ Air Quality Modelling and Dispersion Team
7. ^ *Beychok, M.R. (2005). Fundamentals Of Stack Gas Dispersion, 4th Edition, self-published. ISBN 0-9644588-0-2.  www.air-dispersion.com
8. ^ TAPM documentation
9. ^ LADM documentation
10. ^ AUSPLUME brief summary (scroll down beneath slide)
11. ^ AUSPUFF brief summary (scroll down beneath slide)
12. ^ DISPMOD brief summary (scroll down beneath slide)
13. ^ Steven Pass, David Hornsby. CSIRAC publisher=University of Melbourne. Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Retrieved on 2006-05-08.
14. ^ http://www.csiro.au/csiro/channel/pchaj,,.html Total Wellbeing Diet
15. ^ "The town taking the CSIRO challenge", A Current Affair (Australian TV series), 2005-12-06. Retrieved on 2006-04-24. 
16. ^ A recipe for trouble. Ergogenics (2006-01-08). Retrieved on 2006-04-24.
17. ^ Larry Schwartz. "No CSIRO place for top biologist", The Age, John Fairfax Holdings, 2003-07-27. Retrieved on 2006-04-24. 
18. ^ Janine Cohen. "The Greenhouse Mafia", Four Corners, ABC, 2006-02-13. Retrieved on 2006-04-24. 
19. ^ David Mark. "Labor to pursue CSIRO censorship allegations", The World Today, ABC, 2006-02-13. Retrieved on 2006-04-24. 

Nature is one of the most prominent scientific journals, first published on 4 November 1869. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Fundamentals Of Stack Gas Dispersion is a book devoted to the basic fundamentals of air pollution dispersion modeling of continuous, buoyant pollution plumes from stationary point sources. ... The University of Melbourne, is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 128th day of the year (129th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A Current Affair host:Tracy Grimshaw A Current Affair (or ACA) is an Australian television current affairs programme, broadcast on the Nine Network. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Fairfax Holdings Limited (ABN 15 008 663 161) is an Australian Public Company operating in the media industry, working predominantly with newspapers. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Four Corners is Australias longest-running and most respected investigative journalism/current affairs television program. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 114th day of the year (115th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External Sources

Currie, George; Graham, John, The Origins of CSIRO: Science and the Commonwealth Government, 1901-1926, CSIRO, Melbourne, 1966

External links

• CSIRO Webpage
• History of CSIRO
• Patent Suit
• CSIRO Publishing