Jan 2023 - CSIRO Alumni newsletter
Welcome to the January 2023 CSIRO Alumni network newsletter.
In this month’s newsletter you can read about our latest news, learn about AI reality, register for upcoming events and courses, celebrate alumni achievements, and check out our publishing sale.
CSIRO researchers help deliver food security with major international grant
A $34 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One) fund has been awarded to an international consortium of scientists to improve crop productivity and food security in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Everyday AI: A CSIRO podcast
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not science fiction, it’s shaping our everyday lives. We go beyond sensational headlines and Hollywood representations to bring AI back to reality. Hosted by AI expert Jon Whittle, Everyday AI shows this technology is not science fiction but very much a reality shaping our everyday lives. Join Jon as he explores how AI is used in creative industries, health, conservation, sports and space.
Help grow our alumni network
We now have over 4,600 members but we know that there are many more former colleagues out there. Help us build the alumni network and forward this newsletter on or share the link to alumni registration
Many presentations and seminars are now being held online – so you can attend from the comfort of your own home. Our alumni calendar lists both CSIRO and external events, so you can find out about a wide range of events.
Promote your own events
To help connect alumni with one another, we encourage you to list your own events on our website. Let us know if you are organising, presenting or attending events and we can help promote it to the alumni network – please email alumni@csiro.au
We feature a range of alumni stories on our website celebrating the achievements of our members. We encourage members to get in touch and send in their stories of trials and tribulations – all in the name of scientific research!
So, if you have received an award, written a book or have any stories that you’d like to share with the alumni network, please email alumni@csiro.au
Dr Steve Morton wins Whitley Medal for 2022
Australian Deserts: Ecology and Landscapes, has been awarded the Whitley Medal for 2022.
Dr Morton reflects, “The book distils my decades of participation in ecological research in arid Australia, together with consideration of an extensive body of wider scientific research. It aims to explain how arid Australia works ecologically, why the place looks and feels like it does. I particularly wanted to celebrate the dry country, a vast region not always at the forefront of thinking in our society, and to honour its toughness and beauty, both through accounts of my own experience and through Mike Gillam’s stunning photographs that are placed liberally throughout the book.”
Read more
On a sadder note, if you would like to let the alumni network know about the passing of one of our members, please email us and we can post a notice to the news page and also feature an obituary within our stories section.
Vale Dr Ian Tapley
Ian’s 35-year career in CSIRO was only broken by his two significant years’ service in the Army, which was a feature at his funeral service, following his passing on Remembrance Day. A large crowd of family, friends, colleagues, and former service personnel attended the funeral at Pinnaroo where his life and internationally recognised contribution to science was celebrated.
Vale Dr John Hunter
Dr John David Hunter worked for the CSIRO at the National Measurement Laboratory initially at Redfern until it moved to Lindfield, NSW. He was a key scientist and project leader in the area of radio frequency and microwaves. During this time he represented the CSIRO as a member of CISPA and as a NATA assessor.
Vale Prof Robert Buchanan
Professor Robert Buchanan (Alex) was a food scientist whose professional achievements were focussed on service to humanity. He joined CSIRO dairy research in 1963 and went on to develop the Australian Milk Biscuit and later the High Energy Biscuit which was produced by the Arnott’s Biscuit Company for more than 25 years.