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Issue 4: June 2022

From the Director

A woman with silver hair and red lipstick, smiling at the camera and wearing a black buttoned up top.

Welcome to the latest from CSIRO’s Responsible Innovation Future Science Platform (RI FSP).

There has never been a more exciting time to be a responsible innovation researcher in Australia. That's because CSIRO is currently recruiting the next generation of science and engineering researchers for fully funded three-year roles.

This is a rare opportunity for early to mid-career researchers to join #TeamCSIRO and help solve impossible problems across our diverse future science and technology portfolio.

Our team is seeking to recruit creative and innovative candidates keen to apply their talent and skills to work at the RI FSP. Please visit CSIRO's website to find out more and share this opportunity with your networks. The current call for applications closes 17 July.

One priority area that has emerged across the world is Responsible AI. In this issue, we introduce you to one of our researchers, Qinghua Lu, who is leading a project on operationalising guidelines for responsible AI. Qinghua is just one of CSIRO’s multidisciplinary Responsible AI researchers committed to ensuring Australia’s adoption of AI is inclusive, safe, secure and viable.

It's fascinating to see the field of responsible innovation in Australia continually evolve. I'm pleased to share Cathy Robinson's insights on how the framework of co-design provides a blueprint for best practice for RI when it comes to incorporating the best of human ideas and technological solutions for sustainable outcomes.

And collaboration continues to be a hallmark of responsible innovation as Simon Fielke and Emma Jakku reflect on their work across two areas of future science - Digiscape and Responsible Innovation – showing how six years of cross disciplinary research and integration seeded a unique international collaboration.

Meanwhile, as the world grapples with the transition to renewable energy, hydrogen is gaining momentum as the fuel of the future. While it's still early days for the hydrogen industry in Australia it’s important to ensure Australians are on board from the beginning. I hope you enjoy this recent article from Resourceful featuring Mitch Scovell with his insights into the human drivers that might shape public acceptance of the industry.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dr Justine Lacey

RI FSP Director

Latest news

Future science teamwork yields unique international collaboration

The modern researcher tends to need to be good at some form of cross discipline integration of research and development practice. But what of the integration of future science agendas as they are emerging? Does this require new ways of collaborating with researchers and research stakeholders? SIMON FIELKE and EMMA JAKKU report.

What can responsible science learn from co-design?

Both fields are working toward a shared goal that incorporates the best of human ideas and technological solutions for sustainable outcomes, explains CATHY ROBINSON, who was recently invited to speak at Liquid Interactive’s Future Led event in Brisbane on co-design.

Unlocking hydrogen’s human element

The latest issue of CSIRO's Resourceful magazine profiles the latest in responsible innovation research and hydrogen technology speaking to MITCH SCOVELL.

AI you can trust, thanks to new reusable guidelines

Over the last few years the tech community has seen a flux of regulations and principles for the creation of responsible artificial intelligence come online. A new project led by QINGHUA LU and colleagues has set out to transition these principles from theory to practice.