Key points
- Our people are pushing the boundaries of science, from sustainable energy solutions to cutting-edge astronomy.
- Indigenous Knowledge and leadership are integral to CSIRO's vision for the future, fostering innovation and collaboration.
- By leveraging advanced technologies and interdisciplinary approaches, CSIRO is driving scientific discovery and addressing global challenges.
From the depths of Earth to the far reaches of the cosmos, our people are optimistic about the future and CSIRO’s potential for groundbreaking research.
Empowering energy efficiency: Dr Pippa Soccio
Pippa Soccio, a Senior Research Scientist in energy systems, is particularly excited about leading the newly formed Social Impact and Living Labs teams. Pippa said this interdisciplinary group focuses on the real-world energy performance of homes, including apartments and residents’ lived experiences of comfort.
“With a focus on sustainability, health, comfort and climate change, and behavioural science our team aims to leverage technology including machine learning and the media to encourage more sustainable living,” Pippa said.
But it’s not without its challenges. Pippa said one of their current issues is recruiting participants for the Apartment Energy Behaviour Study (AEBS). It will be Australia’s largest investigation into how people use energy at home, leveraging new technology such as Internet of Things devices.
“Recruitment is hard, and I’m leaving no stone unturned to attract participants,” she said.
Despite this, Pippa sees the project as a significant opportunity.
“This project is both a challenge and an opportunity. Much like a health diagnosis, the data we gather on building health can point to actionable improvements. With 430 apartments participating in AEBS, this could mark the beginning of an Australia-wide ‘Living Lab’ – a groundbreaking initiative that transforms these residents (and others) into an empowered group of Citizen Scientists!” she said.
Leading with Indigenous Knowledge: Torres Webb
Torres Webb, Indigenous Research Project Advisor here at CSIRO, is most excited about a new venture in partnership with Oxitec Australia to tackle deadly virus-carrying mosquitoes in the Torres Strait.
“I’m very excited about this work, particularly the relationships that we have built so strongly,” Torres said.
“We will be entering into a memorandum of understanding with Gur A Baradharaw Kod (the Torres Strait Sea and Land Council) to get this work going with this new technology.
“It’s the first time this technology will be used here, and we’re prioritising Indigenous leadership in this project,” he said.
This project offers a unique opportunity to create jobs and training for the Torres Strait community.
“We’re working to understand and embed mutual benefits in this project, including jobs, training, and education,” Torres explained.
The project also has the potential to serve as a model for scientific diplomacy, with opportunities for Torres Strait Islanders to train other First Nations peoples in the Oceania region. Torres sees a growing role for CSIRO to value and integrate Indigenous Knowledge into our work across the scientific landscape.
“I’m optimistic that we can value and include Indigenous science knowledge in the way we design our future. By building a global network of First Nations people and learning from each other, we can build solidarity around Indigenous Knowledges to be at the forefront for the future as outlined in the National Science Research Priorities,” he said.
“The potential of what we can achieve together is endless.”
Unlocking Earth’s secrets with hyperspectral data: Dr Becki Montsion
Rebecca (Becki) Montsion, a Research Scientist in targeted data fusion, is excited about the growing potential of hyperspectral data. This technology, which analyses the spectrum of light reflected from a surface, offers a wealth of information about the make-up and properties of materials.
“Hyperspectral data is becoming more commonplace and available,” Becki said.
“By analysing the reflected light, we can identify minerals and understand their interactions, which is crucial for mineral processing and understanding the geological history of a region.”
One of the most promising applications of hyperspectral data is in the exploration of critical minerals.
“We can use hyperspectral data to identify potential mineral deposits, especially those containing rare earth elements or lithium, which are essential for clean energy technologies,” she explained.
By combining hyperspectral data with other data sources, such as geochemistry, geophysics, and structural geology, researchers can develop a more comprehensive understanding of Earth systems.
“We can use data fusion to build a more complete picture of the Earth, from the nanoscale to the planetary scale,” she said.
However, the full potential of hyperspectral data is yet to be realised.
“We’re still learning how to best use this technology. One of the biggest challenges is developing automated methods to extract meaningful information from hyperspectral data. By automating these processes, we can accelerate scientific discovery and make better decisions about resource management and environmental protection,” she said.
Pushing astronomical boundaries with BIGCAT upgrade: Dr Elizabeth Mahony
Elizabeth Mahony, astronomer and BIGCAT project scientist, is optimistic about the advancements ahead in astronomy. BIGCAT is an ambitious upgrade to our world-class Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), located on Gomeroi Country in NSW.
With the BIGCAT upgrade, ATCA will become even more adaptable, flexible and user-friendly, pushing the boundaries of existing astronomy technologies to address today’s complex cosmological questions.
One of the things Elizabeth is most excited about is the versatility BIGCAT will provide to support a wide range of science projects.
"Researchers will be able to capture detailed information on the physics, chemistry, and movement of a galaxy’s star-forming regions. They will also peer deeper into the Universe to understand how galaxies formed and evolved."
Collaboration is at the heart of this work and as Elizabeth looks to the future, her optimism is clear.
“This is a multidisciplinary effort, bringing together electrical and digital engineers, technicians, computer scientists, and astronomers. The challenges ahead are exciting because we’re breaking new ground. We’re breaking new ground to equip our facilities with the latest, state-of-the-art radio technology,” she said.
“We’re creating something entirely new, solving unforeseen problems, and uncovering new insights. It’s going to be a really exciting year.”
Inspiring the scientists of tomorrow: Ruth Carr
As we look ahead to 2025, we’re committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators, including continuing to support over 600 young Indigenous women on their STEM journey through school. Ruth Carr, Director of Education and Outreach, said our focus is on connecting students with real-world science.
“2025 is shaping up to be a significant year for STEM education,” Ruth said.
"We'll be leading the charge in developing innovative ways to build and use evidence in STEM education, assisting others to do the same.”
Ruth said there are some exciting new plans on the horizon too.
“We plan to roll out new initiatives to build student and teacher capabilities in emerging industries, such as quantum technology and decarbonisation,” she said.
Students and teachers look to us for inspiration and a glimpse of Australia's future which Ruth said gives us more opportunities to showcase our nation’s science and scientists.
“We encourage anyone with passion, ideas, time, or resources to get in touch and contribute to our mission of putting science into the hands of young Australians to build the strong and diverse STEM capable workforce Australia needs.”
Global collaboration, global impact: Margaret Donoghue
Margaret Donoghue, Head of CSIRO’s US office in San Fransico, said 2025 is shaping up to be a year of global collaboration.
“It'll be a year of multinational collaborations that are poised to give momentum to climate and energy research at a global scale,” Margaret said.
She’s particularly enthusiastic about some particular initiatives.
“We’re looking forward to launching a partnership with Stanford's Precourt Institute of Energy to advance research in grids, batteries, and critical minerals, as well as a collaboration with the University of Merced and the State of California to develop Earth observation tools for drought resilience and water quality.”
While these partnerships offer immense potential, Margaret acknowledged it can be tricky with so many stakeholders.
“Success in these collaborations requires alignment from government, institutions, and researchers,” she said.
Despite this, she’s optimistic about the future and the impact these collaborations can have on global challenges.
“It keeps us on the edge of our seats as we pull together the opportunities. The foundations for 2025 are strong, so I am very optimistic going into the year.”
As we step into 2025, the vision and optimism of our people highlight the exciting potential of science to shape a better future for our nation and beyond. With their groundbreaking work, CSIRO is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation in the year ahead.