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Welcome to the Oct 2022 CSIRO Alumni network newsletter

In this month’s newsletter you can read about our latest news, events, courses and hear from Nancy Schellhorn, one of our alumni who co-founded RapidAIM. Find out about opportunities to mentor our CERC Fellows or speak to our summer interns at Data61. Read our publishing advice for researchers and learn about the achievements of RV Investigator.

News highlights

The global megatrends impacting the way we live over the coming decades
A once-in-a-decade report, Our Future World identifies seven global megatrends that hold the key to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

CSIRO on a mission to chart Australia's low emissions future
We have launched a $90 million mission designed to help Australia’s regions and hard-to-abate industries transform and accelerate towards a low emissions economy.

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.

Mentor one of our CERC Fellows

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Fellows work alongside leading researchers on projects of national and global significance. Read the profiles of our CERC Fellows who are looking for external mentors and volunteer to share your expertise with young scientists.

Events

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

AgCatalyst 2022 - Facing the Future

22-23 Nov: AgCatalyst showcases cutting edge science and technology to prepare Australia’s agriculture and food sectors for a challenging future.

CSIRO Alumni Scholarship in Physics

Applications are now open for our $6,000 scholarship for postgraduate students to fund their travel costs to conduct research in an overseas or interstate institution

The Secrets of Healthy Ageing

Professor Cassandra Szoeke is one of our CSIRO Alumni members and director of the Healthy Ageing Program at the University of Melbourne. We are running a series of events to explore this topic.

Asia-Pacific Solar Research Conference

Hosted by CSIRO, there will be the opportunity to take a walking tour of our CSIRO Energy Centre as part of the extra-curricular events.

Innovate to Grow: Cyber Security course

Applications are open for a free 10 week online program for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) working in cyber security to explore their research and development (R&D) opportunities.

Hear from alumni

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

Nancy Schellhorn and RapidAIM

We recently caught up with Nancy Schellhorn, CSIRO Alumni and CEO and co-founder of RapidAIM

Nancy explained that RapidAIM is on a mission to reduce the chemical intensity of agriculture. “We’re creating the future of sustainable pest management for our food and fibre systems, ” Dr Schellhorn said.

Read Nancy’s story

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 section.

Vale Cheryl Harris
Cheryl was a much-respected colleague and friend of many years for those of us who worked in the minerals and other divisions at Floreat and Kensington.

Vale Mick Poole
Mick’s career in CSIRO followed a successful career with the Department of Agriculture in Western Australia. After retirement from CSIRO he held positions at the University of Western Australia, the WA Biodiversity Science Institute and Swan River Trust.

Vale Bill Blevin
Bill was Chief of the Division of Applied Physics at Lindfield back in the early ‘90’s. He remained involved with the NMI far after his retirement, and many will remember him.

Inspire our summer students

Data61 is hosting over 40 students for their Summer Vacation Program 2022-23. We invite alumni to come and speak at our virtual events to inspire and engage our future brains trustees!

Publishing Advice 101

For research students, the first scientific paper is a rite of passage, marking the transition from being consumers of knowledge to generating new understanding. The rules, though, are tricky, and in this new virtual issue, we share overviews of the whole journey to assist beginning authors on their journey.

Research from the RV Investigator

Research vessel (RV) Investigator is an advanced research platform with flexible capabilities to support oceanographic, geoscience, biological and atmospheric research. The vessel also delivers important education and training opportunities to develop Australia's future generations of marine researchers and experts.

Inspiring the next generation

Programs like this engage students with STEM on a whole new level. They create opportunities that may otherwise be absent and have the potential to light a spark of curiosity that will lead students through to their future career.

Science is a gift from CSIRO Publishing!

CSIRO Publishing have a fabulous selection of books that will make the perfect gift for your friends and family. Because science is a gift!

For some extra holiday cheer, they have added free standard shipping on all orders over $80 within Australia and New Zealand. This will be applied automatically once you enter a valid address.

PLUS every order will receive a free CSIRO Publishing tote bag!*

Browse the 2022 Gift Ideas catalogue now  and place your order.

Career Opportunities

Stay in touch

We'd like to invite ON program participants and any former CSIRO staff to join our alumni network. Stay in touch with colleagues and friends, hear about the latest news and receive invitations to exclusive events.