Moving serviceforMalcolmNEARLY 1000 people in Canberraand several hnndred at CSIRO sitesaronnd Australia celebrated the lifeof Dr Malcolm McIntosh, at aservice held in the Great Hall,Parliament HOllse.

The ceremony on March 8 was direct­telecast to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne,Hobart, Sydney and Brisbane.

Dr Jim Peacock was Me.Speakers in praise of Malcolm were

Prime Minister John Howard,Opposition Leader Kim Beazley,Malcolm's younger brother IanMcIntosh, Allen Hawke, DefenceSecretary and friend Bob Wylie, col­league and friend Darren Cundy and JimPeacock, CSIRO.

Young Charles McIntosh made aspeech never to be forgotten by anyonein the audience.

Amanda Hyatt's striking portrait ofMalcolm was unveiled, a chapel choir

sang a traditional Welsh melody, apianist gave us Grainger's Handel in theSiralld - one of Malcolm's favourites towhich he had been known to dance - andfinally, a lone piper, standing all the bal~

cony above the hall, carried us to conclu­sion upon the stmins of the McIntoshLament.

It was an event undoubtedly unique inCSIRO history.

-WENDY PARSONS, CNA• Legacy of adaptability - Page 2

Electrifying Australian carus on biotechAustralians trust

cent, would wear clothes made fromgenetically engineered fibre; lisegenetically modified medicines, 64 percent; or buy genetically modifiedfruits or vegetables if they tasted bet­ter, 51 per cent.

And perceptions of a lacl~ of infor­mation on gene technology ,vere "com­pounded by sensationalist media cov­erage", the report stated.

The telephone and focus-gronpstudy, by Vano Hoare 'Wheeler, com­missioned by Biotechnology Australia,surveyed almost 2,000 people through­out Australia.

It is available at www.iSl..gov.ull/ba-MEGAN BIRD

AUSTRALIANS trust CSIRO themost to provide truthful informationauout biotechnology, an independentsurvey has found.

The recent study found that 30 percent of people would have the mostconfidence in CSIRO to tell them thetruth about biotechnology.

The next most trusted groups werescientists, 14 per cent, schools and uni­versities, 11 pel' cent, and consumerorganisations, 11 per cent.

In other results, about half of the 75per cent of people aware of biotech­nology expected it to provide benefits.

Only 20 pCI' cent expected it to makethings worse. The l11ajol"ity, 81 per

TIle surge-power unit or supercapaci­tors have not been used successfuUy inelectric vehicles before and were devel­oped by CSIRO to work with the batterypack and electric traction motor.

The car can be charged overnight onlow-tariff electricity to reduce runningcosts even further.

Director of CSIRO's AustralianAutomotive Technology Centre MrDavid Lamb said: "It's packed withCSIRO technology and the best thatAustralian industry can provide.

"Australia is one of only 10 countriesin the world that can style, design, engiM

neer ancI rnanufnchlre almost evelY com­ponent of the modem car."

The car will travel from Canberra toFisita 2000, a major international auto­motive-technology symposium in Seoul,then to Japan, Chinn and Europe.

Drive time: an artist has captured theinnovative exterior o( the car.

80 Australian component manufacturers.The drive train incorporates features

such as a bank of five spedal leadMacidbatteries, rather than one in a conven­tional car.

The CSIRO battery design containsseveral innovations, is the subject of apatent with the world's largest industrialbattery manufacturer and includes a newlead material that has been developedwith Pasminco and that is now sold com~

merciatly.

By MEG~~I~ _A REVOLUTIONARY $30 millionhybrid-electric car will be unveiled atParliament I-louse in Canberra on May31.

1t will show how vehicle fuel con­sumption can be halved and pollution cutby 90 per cent.

It is the second aXcessaustralia con­cept car.

The first, a low-emission car, wasunveiled to the world in 1998 at theDetroit Exposition of the Society ofAutomotive Engineers. And it helpedAustralian component manufacturersachieve more than $730 million in newexport business.

It toured the world for a year and wasseen by more than a million people.

The new car uses hybrid-electric tech­nology and has been put together withinnovative technology from more than

381##2000

Lucerne to mop up salinity

Head on: A recent visit to Sangiran unearthed the skull second from the Icrt, thought to be between 100,000 and 200,000 years old.The s«ull on the far left is a cast of an ke-age Australian aboriginal sl<ull, 10,000 years old. Second from the right is Homo erectus ofSanglran, between 300,000 and 400,000 years old, then early H. Erectus, between 900,000 and 1.1 million years old.

LADY Julia Percy Island is believed 10house one of the country's biggestAustralian fur seal populations.

Preliminary counts indicate 16,000seals live there and 4,100 pups werethere this summer. The colony couldhave doubled since the last count in the1970s, according to the recent survey.

CSIRO wildlife ecologist Dr PeterShaughnessy from Wildlife and Ecologyrecently spent nearly a week on thesouth-west Victorian island markingseal pups to calculate numbers as part ofthe Parks Victoria island-habitat rescueproject. He said the only other compara­ble seal colony was Seal Rocks inWestern Port Bay where researchers hadestimated 4,800 seal pups in the 1997-to- I998 summer.

Seal of approval

Island hop: Dr Peter Shaughnessy, fromWildlife and Ecology, recently spent: aweek on lady Julia Percy Island.

Photo:Warrnambool Standard

"Richard Austin is determined to killthe myth that science is boring."

~ Bundaberg News Mail, December4, page 1, story about a local high­school student travelling to theCSIRO-sponsored National YouthScience Forum in CanbCIT3

"Life must be confusing fOf the citi­zens of Melbourne. Earlier this week theCSIRO released some figures on theanalysis of rainfall in the southern capi­tal since 1910. The Herald-Sun and TIleAge both ran the story but the fonner'sheadline read, 'Summer gets warmer.wetter' while the latter said, 'After acenrury of rain on the rise, (he future islooking dry. It probably meansMelbourne's weather is nonnal - best tocarry a raincoat and a parasol.'

~ Melba, The Australian, January13, page 9

"The Federal Government mustreview its R&D policies and providegreater opportunities for scientific dis~

coveries; not only within universitiesbut also throngh CSIRO and privateenterprise. ,.

- Professor Roy Jackson, Letters tothe Editor, The Age, December 2,IJage A18

"Why don't scientists get the samerecognition as sportspersons? ... It'sbecause scientists from the CSIRO conHdueting experiments proving geneticengineering can increase the yield ofsorghum crops by 13.15 per cent can'tdraw crowds of 15,OOO~plus at BruceStadium on a regular basis."

~ Bruce Stuart, Letters to theEditor, The Cnnberra Times,December 16, page 10

"It must have been a slow news dayfor The Age newspaper, which yester­day ran a short piece Oll the bug, fOUf

days after the embargo date. Could it bethat the Millennium Bug was thusnamed because of its important role asan indicator of (he health of inlandfreshwater bodies. a precious resourcethat must be protected for future gener­ations? Or did the taxonomists merelyhave good PR in mind."

- Melbn, on the CSIRO spin-doc­tors, The Australian, January 6,page 9

"The relevant question is not howmany immigrants to Australia havequalifications in science and engineer­ing, but how many of them areemployed in scientific research in ouruniversities, CSIRO and industry."

~ Dr David Wiltshire, Letters to theEditor, prompted by Senator NickMinchin's claim thel'e was a net gainof scientists and engineers between1990 and 1996 of 20,000, TheAustralian, page 3

Sydney water auditSYDNEY'S water catchment is "moder­ately good", according to a recent audit.

The research, conducted by CSIROunder the leadership of Dr JohnWilliams, Deputy Chief, Land andWater, provides a snapshot of the cntch­ment environment, land-uses and thehuman activities that put pressure onwater quality and catchment health.

Test helps woolly exportsWOOLGROWERS will save moneywith a new test for pesticide residues thatwill keep Australian wool at the fore­front of global markets.

CSIRO's Dr Ian Russell said: "Thenew test will reduce residue testing coststo woolgrowers by at least two-rhirds."

The test has been developed byCSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology tomeet International Wool TextileOrganisation specifications.

Australia exports most of its woolunprocessed, and this can be sold intosensitive environments subject to strin­gent environmental legislation.

• MEGAN BIRD andKAREN ROBINSON, CNA

the river bottom. Phoslock absorbs andlocks up large amounts of phosphorus.

If this and other trials are successfulthey will provide managers of fresh­water bodies around Australia with anew weapon against the toxic plague.

Thorne, a world authOlity on human evo­lution in the Asia~Pacific region.

TIle next difficulty was to get pictures.By the time Ibu Sari got back to

Jogyakarta the shops were closing. Adesperate hunt turned up a Chinese pho­tographer. But when he saw the subjecthe turned pale and, muttering about spir­its, rushed out the door. He returned min­utes later, bearing flowers, which he laidin a circle around the skull;' out the dooranel down the street.

But his pictures tumed out fine,Based on these, Professor Thorne

believes there may be similaritiesbetween the skull and early Australianspecimens. Dr Aziz says it is undoubt­edly archaic, based on the degree of min­eralisation and the position of the fora~

men magnum, the hole in the base wherethe spinal cord enters. This suggests itsoriginal owner may have carried herhead further forward on her shouldersthan is common in modern humans.

While interviewing the local fossilentrepreneur Ibu Sari discovered anotherskull had come to light. This, too, provedto be Homo sapiens. It was stained darkfrom chemicals in the soil, and its weightsuggested it was partially fossilised. Itcould be 30,000 to 40,000 yenrs old,comparable in age to some of the best­known early Australian specimens. This,too. she acquired on behalf of LIPI.

A sponsor is urgently being sought tohelp meet the cost of dating andanalysing (he two skulls. Dr Aziz andProfessor Thorne have agreed to assem­ble an expert Indonesian-Australian sci­entific team to do this.

Mr Cribb said: "We hope this fortl1~

itous discovery, which hints at possibleancestral links between the two coun­tries. will come to have symbolic as wellas scientific significance and help to pro~

mote understanding and cooperation."• JULIAN CRIBB, CNA

Fighting toxic algaePOISONOUS blue-greeu algae inPerth's Canning River could be starvedby reducing one of its major foodsources, phosphorus.

In a world-fhst experiment scientistswill attempt to trap phosphorus in thewater and river sediments by placing athin layer of absorbent clay calledPhoslock, less than a millimetre deep, on

Gargle for healthRINSING your mouth out could be thebest way to gauge your chances of devel~oping hypertension.

A world-first diagnostic test usescheek cells to predict whether youngaduJ ts and teenagers are at risk from thepotentially fatal condition.

The CSIRO-developed test usesmouthwash to extract human cheekepithelial cells that then have tbeirsodhlffi ion transport activity monitored.This activity is about half as likely inadults with high blood pressure com­pared to those with normal blood pres­sure.

ers exploit lower-grade ore deposits,extract metals more cheaply. clean upwaste streams and possibly improvemine safety. The volcanic systems to beexplored for these lifefonns are of thesame type that fanned Australia's might­iest ore bodies, like those at Broken Hilland Mt Isa.

German anthropologist GHR vonKoenigswald.

Von Koenigswald was duped by thelocals, who began offering him pieces offossil human cranium. It was only after acouple of weeks that he realised they hadfound a whole skull, smashed it, andwere selling it to him piece by piece.

Just weeks before the MSS-LIPI teamvisited Sangiran, a fossil erectus skullwas bonght on the black mnrket, smug­gled out of Indonesia, and sold in NewYork for a reported $US450,000.

Ibu Sari said: "We knew our skull waspotentially valuable, and we didn't wantit to be lost to Indonesia. So we askedLIPI officially to acquire the specimen."

This was agreed to and she returned toSangiran to retrieve it. Here she met theskull's discoverer and questioned himclosely.

When he realised he was dealing withthe authorities the (rulh came tumblingout. Yes, the skull was a forgery, but pos­sibly a unique forgery in the long andmurky history of archaeological skull­duggery,

That remarkably ugly face wascleverly constructed from miUion-year­old fragments of bone from cattle andother local fossil animals. But the crani­um was genuine. It was an almost perfectspecimen of archaic H. snpiens, probablya female.

"We laughed a lot," Mr Cribb said. "Itrecalled the famous Piltdown forgery ofa modern skull with an ape's jaw, thatwas perpetrated in England in the 1920s.

"The big difference was that, in thiscase. the cranium was a genuine fossil.from someone close to the borderlinebetween erectus and sapiens. And fossilsof that vintage are pretty rare."

To try to estttblish if there wns anyconnection with Australian aborigines,Mr Cribb called on the AustralianNational University's Professor Alan

A PAIR of fossil human skulls found bya CSIRO-LIPI team in Central Java maythrow new light on the common ancestryof the Javanese and Australasian peoples.

The skulls also tell an extrnordinarystory about a 60-year-old black-markettrade in forged and genuine human relics,and the importance of protectingIndonesia's early human heritage.

The skulls come from Sangiran,Central Java, a region famous for morethan a century for its fossil humans. Theywere located by Ibu Tjempaka Sari ofIndonesia's LIPI aud CSIRO's Mr JulianCribb during a visit to the Solo river areain mid-1999.

Both skuIls are archaic Homo sapiens.One is estimated to be between 100,000and 200,000 years old and the other pos­sibly 30,000 to 40,000 years.

The skulls are at the Brmdung Instituteof Quatemary Geology in the care of DrFahroel Aziz, where they await full sci­entific study.

The first is thought by experts to havefeatures in common with the earlierHomo erectus of Sangiran, as well aswith more recent Australian aboriginalspecimens. It may date from when pre­historians believe humans first sailedfrom Indonesia to settle in Australasia.

They came to light during a visit toSangiran by !btl Sari and Mr Cribb whenthey were inspecting sites.

Mr Cribb recalls: "I'd been makingsome enquiries about the availability ofcasts of the Sangirnn erectus skulls. Nextthing we know, this gentleman pulls upon a motorbike with a plflstic shoppingbag swinging from the handlebars. A fewseconds later, I'm staring into the face ofthis incredibly old, incredibly uglyskul]'''

Of course, it was for sale. The region'svillagers have a history of unearthingfossils and selling them to colleclors,dating back to the 1920s' trade with

Bugs hold mining keyEXTRAORDINARY lifefonns that cansurvive at the temperature of boilingwater and dine on a chemical soup con­taining copper, gold and nickel will besought out in active volcanic vents in thedepths of the Pacific Ocean.

The pioneering search will bemounted in April in the seabed of theManus Basin, north of Papua NewGuinea, to help discover new processesthat will help Australia's .$37 billionmining-export industry.

The deepHsea bugs, known asextremophiles, will help Australian min-

Skullduggery unearths surprise

Solution to water hoggersSMART meters that monitor thoughtlessteenagers taking extravagant showers isa possible future water-use solution,according to a CS1RO investigation.

Off-peak water delivered to homesduring the night and stored until it's timeto use it is another option emerging fromthe first national urban-water-use inves­tigation. Director of the Urban WaterProgram Me Andrew Speers said: "Wenow have evidence to suggest that bybetter managing water peaks and bettermatching pipe size to demand, thepotential exists to save the nation tens ofmillions of dollars as we renew our $50billion urban water infrastructure."

STUDIES on organisations that havecontinued to flourish for more than 100years have revealed one dominant char­acteristic. It is their ability to adaptquickly to changing external events,over many decades, and to respond withrelevance and integrity that sets themapart.

The CSIRO Executive has recentlyconducted workshop withGovernment departments, our mostimportant stakeholders. to gain insightinto those issues that are most importantto them. These included the groWdl ofthe services' economy globally, ruraldevelopment and a broad range of envi­ronmental concenlS; all issues that havea requirement for scientific insight andtechnological solutions.

These issues, which are important toall Australians, were never far from DrMalcolm McIntosh's consciousness,and his great legl1cy has been to explainto our political leaders and bureaucratsjust how important scientific discoveryand technological progress will be inaddressing them.

The next decadeThe CSIRO Executive - Chiefs,

DCEs and Sector Coordinators - met todiscuss how CSIRO will plan for thenext decade in response to these andother challenges. This was a meetingMalcolm planned, and was vitally inter­ested in. It will generate a series of rec­ommendations that refine our views ofthe scientific and technological chal­lenges facing Australia. We are commitHted to moving forward, and to reinforc­ing the initiatives Malcolm put in place.

I am convinced the organisationshould use these challenges as a triggerto develop the innate capabilities of allour staff, particularly our young scien­tific leaders. In this way our collectiveinput will serve to strengthen the organ­isation '5 ability to respond to the chang­ing demands from a variety of sectors inthe years ahead. We face both scientificand commercial challenges, and theexecutive is welI~placed to continuewith the journey Malcolm began.

Malcolnl'slegacy ofadaptability

EFFECTIVE pasture management mayhalt rising water tables and could pre­vent dryland salinity, soil acidificationancI water logging.

Plant Industry's Dr Mark Peoples saysexcess water costs Australia more than$600 million a year in lost agriculturalproduction and is a serious problemacross agricultural land in WesternAustralia, NSW and Victoria.

CSIRO research has shown the vigor­ous deep roots of perennial pastures likeluceme are highly effective at removingwaler from deep in the soil and control­ling this problem.

Dam pure waterCSIRO is pioneering a new way to makepolluted water safe, by storing it under­ground.

Microbiologist Dr Simon Toze fromLand and Water has shown that disease­causing micro-organisms can be killedby storing water in underground aqui­fiers for several months.

Hnmlless microbes purify the waterthat has been polluted by sewage dis­charges, leaky septic systems andanimals, the research indicates.

These bugs reduced the polio virus toundetectable levels in less than 40 daysduring laboratory studies.

The geopurification technique is partof a project to store water below ground.

Underground dams would be cheaper,can be located closer to users and theenvironmental impact is far lower.

By Dr COLIN ADAM,Acting Chief Executive

381-2000

CoResearch J------------

Media releases add vital value, survey findsSCIENTISTS have reported that mediareleases are a valuable tool that cnn helpbuild awareness, new contacts and evenincrease funding rather than a nuisance atthe end of projects.

Most scientists found releases helpfulto their work, according to a recent sur­vey of sources of media releases issuedlast year by CSIRO National Awareness.

Of the 128 respondents to 182 ques-

lionnaires, 29 recorded making usefulscientific contacts, Dnd 40 reported mak­ing new contacts with industry, govern­ment and other key stakeholders. Tworespondents even reported a definite"yes" to help with funding, with a further10 "highly likely".

The email questionnaire was sent tothe scientist listed as the contact on themedia release two weeks after it was

issued. The respondent who reportedgenerating the most media coverage wasDr Kevin Hennessy of AtmosphericResearch for his media release "Don'tforget your umbrella", which reported onAustralia becoming wetter, with morerainy days and more heavy rainfall.

He said the coverage he received wasalmost too good. "I was prepared for twoto three days of media demands, but the

response was sustained for three weeksand I'm still receiving a dribble ofrequests now four months later.

"It's not really a negative result but itsignificantly reduced my research andmanagement productivity for onemonth."

But it was worth it. Dr HeIUlessy mademany new scientific, industry and mediacontacts. He had wide media coverage,

which enhanced the public profile ofhimself, his division and the organisa­tiOIl. And he experienced similar satura­tion coverage with another mediarelease.

Many of the comments made in thesurvey indicate that issuing a mediarelease at key points in a project is nowpart of the whole project-planningprocess. - KAREN ROBINSON, CNA

Multiwskilled: Bella Robinson stepped into a computer career. Photo:Andrew Campbell

From ballet shoes to computing careerlot of the heavy metals," Dr McLaughlinsaid.

The researchers found filtered coffeeremoved between 78 and 90 per cent ofcopper and lend from the water usingthree commercial coffee brands.

Positively charged heavy-metal ionsbind strongly to uncharged or negativelycharged coffee grounds. It was likely theprocess also removed other heavy metalssuch as mercury, cadmium and zinc,although this has not been tested. DrMcLaughlia said. - MEGAN BIRD

Fll...TERED coffee can remove up to 90per cent of heavy metals from tap water,according to an international team of sci­entists from the universities of Delawareand Santiago, and CSIRO Land andWater.

CSIRO's Dr Mike McLaughlin won­dered how Chileans drank tap water afterhearing a Chilean scientist talk aboutheavy-metal contamination of Santiago'sWaleI' supply.

"If, as I thought, they drank a lot ofcoffee, chances were it would absorb a

Grounds to drink more coffee

LAST issue's story about a non-driphose system invented in Australia,tested by CSIRO scientists andrefined accordingly dtdn't mentionthe holes, a reader has advisedCoResearch.

Dr Jonathan Hodgkin fromMolecular Science said: "It tickled meto read the story. We have been work·ing with a small manufacturer foryears to help malre leakier hoses forgarden irrigation."

DSC Management also makesmouse mats, mats or horse floats andboats and scores of other niche prod­ucts from combinations of waste plas­tic and recycJed paper or crumbedrubber.

The leaky hose, made from polyeth­ylene and rubber crumb from tyres, ispurposely not very compatible so itends up fuJI of holes.

And the Ian Wark LaboratoriesSocial Club, at Clayton, is benefitingfrom IO\VMcost samples.

The enterprising manufacturer'sideas for products from his recycledmaterial are a drop in the ocean,Jonathan tells us. - MEGAN BIRD

Leak in thenon-driphose story

my mum said: 'There are lots of jobs incomputers' .

"I did some computing subjects at uniand liked them so followed them throughand, four years later, found a job atCSIRO."

Bella, from Mathematical andInfonnation Sciences in Canberra, isworking on the scalable vector graphics(SVG) viewer. SVG is an alternative toOIF. JPEG and other Intemet-graphics'formats. - MEGAN BIRD

chemistry and molecular biology at theAustralian National University.

"It was the virus's ability to mutatethat enabled it to escape our immune sys­tem. Development followed, but slowly,and in August Relenza™, the drug madeby Glaxo Wellcome, was licensed forsale in America.

''Relenza™ works by 'jamming' thenon-mutating part of the virus andpre~

venting the bug from spreading tohealthy throat cells; scientists claim itcan act as a preventative, ease conges­tion and reduce the duration of flu forthose already suffering from an averageeight to six days.

"Colman is now director of theBiomolecular Research Institute inMelbourne, joint winner of the AustraliaPrize in 1996 for his efforts, and Laver,70, is still at the ANU."

The most powerful people in the 500­strong list were, respectively, Tony Blair,Bill Gates, Alan Greenspan, RupertMurdoch and Gordon Brown.

- DOUG GALE andWARRICK GLYNN, CHSN

A QUEENSLAND dancer traded in herballet shoes for a computing career adecade "go.

Ms Bella Robinson was recentlyrewarded in her career choice when sheand a colleague beat the world's best todevelop a viewer for high~quality graph­ics on the Internet.

Bena, 29, graduated from theAustralian Ballet School 10 years ago. "Icouldn't get n job," she said.

"When I couldn't get work as a dancer

on world

A FORMER CSIRO scientist has beenrated more important than Viagra byBritain's Sunday Times newspaper.

Dr Peter Colman, along with theAND's Dr Graerne Laver, was rankedthe 56th most powerful person in theworld.

He was rated ahead of the Pope,ranked 81, and Posh Spice, at 91, whojust pipped Professor Stephen Hawkingin the Power List 1999. The pair camethird in the list of Powerbrokers inMedicine. Viagra came in at number 20.

Dr Colman and his colleagues atCSIRO's then division of BiomolecularEngineering pioneered development ofthe drug Relenza™, The Sunday Timesreported: "There are few ovemight sci­entific discoveries.

"The development of the drug to com­bat flu - which kills 4,000 people inBritain every year - is a case in point.

"In 1983 Colman, an Australian physi­cist, was working for theCommonwealth Scientific and IndustrialResearch Organisation on initial researchby Laver when he was professor of bio-

Ex-staffer

power list

381-2000

CSIRO around the nation

OBITUARY Dr BarryWagland,1937.2000

Livestock reviewCSIRO is reviewing the use of its infra­structure for its livestock research, withparticular emphasis on the role ofCSIRO Animal Production.

More than 70 submissions have beenreceived and facilities have beeninspected at sites ranging from Prospectto Perth. Victorian and ACT locationswill be visited in March.

The goal is to optimise CSIRO's abil­ity to support its livestock research,development and technology transfer inthe light of major changes in R&Dmethodology.

Major changes in the livestock indus­tries. particularly wool, have influencedthe decision to conduct the review.

The committee has been drawn fromCSm.O's Sector Advisory Committeesfor the textile, clothing and fibre indus­try as well as the meat, dairy and aqua~

culture industry. It is chaired by Mr JohnBlood, a leading textile and garmentconsultant, and includes ProfessorAndrew Vizard from the University ofMelbourne, Mr Colin Sleep fromNational Mutual Rural Enterprises, MrGordon French, a dairy farmer fromQueensland. and Dr Oliver Mayo ofCSIRO Animal Production.

Engineering successDR ROBERT Leicester from Building,Construction and Engineering has wonThe Marcus Wallenberg Prize, an inter­nationally prestigious award.

It will be conferred on Dr Leicester bytbe King of Sweden in October.

Chief of the division Mr Larry Littlesaid: "Attached to the prestige of win­ning an award that is compared to aNobel Prize in ils field, is a significantmonetary reward of abolltUS$250,000,"

The award is for Dr Leicester's pio­neering work in structural engineeringand original research.

The charity is also beginning a work­for-lhe-dole scheme to get unemployedpeople to help in the sorting and rebuild­ing stages. IT manager Gen)' Mutsaertssaid: "The charity was overjoyed to getour first balch of 48 computers.

Climate of praiseDR BARRIE Pitlock from the DivisIonof Atmospheric Research won thePublic Service Medal late last year forhis leadership and visionary approach toidentifying, researching and communi­cating a range of global climate scienceissues. The medal is awarded twice ayear by the Governor-GeneraL

participants and finalists who are work­ing for CSIRO or other science organi­sations. We are also keen to hear frompast Double Helix Club members to seeif these associations encouraged them intheir science career choices."

If you know anyone in thesecategories please contact Lynn Pulfordon (02) 6276 6643 or ateducation-programs@helix.csiro.au

Kid's stuffTEXT1LE and Fibre Technology hasdonated 70 surplus computers, 13 mon­itors and four printers to a children'scharity_

The six-month-old Geelong-basedcharity has presented more than 200computers to children.

PCs for Kids build reliable low~end

computers from unwanted computercomponents. The computers are loadedwith educational software and donatedto primary schools that pass them on tochildren for use at home.

Entomology farewellsONE of Entomology's longest-servingemployees retired late last year.

Ms Hilda Abbey joined Ihe division in1951 to work in the insecticidal groupand rapidly gained a reputation for herconscientiousness,

When Hilda married eight years later,she feU victim to the staff policy that didnot allow women to continue in indefi­nite positions once married. A bureau­cratic loophole tied her over until thepolicy was finally lifted in 1967. Shetransferred to the temlite groups in 1977where she worked until her retirement.

Another employee, Dr JohnLawrence's recent departure after 22years from the division was made morenotable by two events. The first was thelaunch of Juhn's CD-ROM, Beetles OfThe World, an interactive identificationgnide to about 350,000 describedspecies.

The CD is the product of the world'slargest database of its kind, built usingDELTA (DEscription Laugnage forTAxonomy) software designed bycsmo - KATE SMITH, CE

Student plantNATIVE acacias, bush peas and rareplant species were on the minds of threescholarship recipients at the Centre forPlant Biodiversity Research thissummer. University students CatherineGallagher, Rose Andrew and DanielFalster worked with CSIRO scientists atthe Black Mountain site in Canberra for10 weeks.

Direct hIt: Mr Chris Krishna~Pillaywill toywith the science of dating duringNational Science Week.

include a Forensic Frenzy workshop inSouth Australia, a Science-a-thon inQueensland and a public-speaking com­petition in Victoria.

Pre-coital is one of 44 events givenfunding under the Department ofIndustry, Science :md Resource'sScience and Technology AwarenessProgram, - MEGAN BIRD

Indigenous science network

Rewarding searchCSIRO Education is trying to locate thesuccess stories of the BHP ScienceAwards, which are turning 20 this year.

The awards are Australia's most pres­tigious science research competition foryoung people. Entrants must demon­strate both innovative approaches andthorough scientific procedure in theirprojects. CSrn.O initiated the awards,invited BI-IP's participation and hasbeen continuously involved since.

Mr Ross Kingsland, Manager, CSIROEducation said: "We are looking for past

A CONDOM filled with litres of waterwill be likened to spenn counts acrossthe animal kingdom in a CSIRO eventduring National Science Week.

Pre-Coital - The Science Of Dating isdescribed by its presenter as "adult edu­cational cabaret".

"Events leading up to sex will beeX1Jlored and incorporated into songs,stand-up comedy and on-stage antics,"Mr Chris Krishna-PiIlay, from CSlROEducation, said.

The statistical chances of meetingyour perfect partner will be discussed.

"It may be a lot more likely than youWQuld think." Mr Krishna~Pillay said.

"Mathematically, in a room of 40 peo­ple, for instance, you have a better than90 per cent chance of meeting someonewith the same birthday as you."

The event, from May 3 to 6, at Spm, atthe National Convention Centre inCanberrn, is one of dozens organised byCSIRO for the national celebration ofscience from May 3 to 10.

Enquiries can be made by phoning(02) 6207 5901. Other csmo events

CSIRO is helping to set up an indige­nous science organisation,

The Centre for AppropriateTechnology is facilitating the establish­ment of the Australian IndigenousScience, Engineering and ArchitectureNetwork.

Dr Fiona Soloman, from Minerals,said: "It's all about providing appropri­ate technology.

"I suppose the best way to do that isby the people who grew up in thosecommunities rather than have tech­nology imposed by Westem scientificvalues.

Membership is open to indigenouspeople studying or working in thesefields. It provides a network, encourage­n1ent and will develop employer links.

For more infOlmation contactMargaret on 1800500954.

Chief retiresTHE CHIEF of csmoTelecommunications and IndustrialPhysics, Dr Dennis Cooper, will retireon March 31 after 32 years of service,12 as chief.

Dr Cooper joined the then Division ofRadiophysics in 1968 as a research sci­entist. He p1ayed a pivotal role in the1970s in developing the aviationmicrowave landing system, Interscan.His technical input and championing ofInterscan intemationally contributed tothe eventual selection of this system bythe International Civil AviationOrganisation.

He became the project leader for theantenna design for the AustraliaTelescope in the 1980s. Many earth-sta­tion antennas in Australia and overseasowe a debt to his early design work andfaith in the ability of Australian compa­nies to produce first-rate systems.

He was also responsible for the devel­opment of microchip-fabrication facili­ties in the division. The division, underDr Cooper's guidance, has establisheditself as a world leader in telecommuni­cations research and development.

A comedy of Eros

He joined CSIRO as a technical assistantat the McMaster Laboratory at SydneyUniversity in 1954.

He attained, part-time, a diploma ofapplied biology and bachelor and mas­ters degrees in science from NSWUniversity. He was awarded a CSIROoverseas' studentship in 1967 to studyunder Professor Robin Coombs at theDepartment of Pathology, CambridgeUniversity, where he gained his PhD.

Dr Wagland retumed to CSIRO in1978 where he continued his researchinto parasites until his retirement.

He published 77 research papersbetween 1961 and 1996 in the field ofimmunology to parasitic diseases.

He continued, in retirement, to studyfann and land practices, graduated fromthe Australian Securities Institute and, inthe process, won the Queensland stateprize for managed funds. markets andproducts.

DR BARRY Wagland was a pioneer anda repository of infonnation that he wasalways ready to share.

He carried out pioneering work on theimmunology of wonns in sheep andticks in cattle, parasites that costAustralia hundreds of millions of donarsa year.

Long-term Animal Production col­league Dr John Steel said: "He was agentleman and a great mentor, partic­ularly to younger members of staff.

"He was very modest, had a wann andgenerous personality and was alwayswilling to spend time sharing skills andknowledge and teaching techniques."

Dr Wagland had an outstandingCSIR0 career that ended when heretired. two months short of 40 years'service. in 1993. He was diagnosed withprostate cancer three years later.

Dr Wagland was born in Warwick,Queensland, to Darling Downs' fanners.

Gentleman and a mentor

381-2000

CSIRO.s staff newspaper No.382 Winter 2000

Strengthened livestock research involves staff changes

Science showcase launched Olympic.experiencesflicker in.memoriesTHE Olympic flame has already been lit- and in one case extinguished - for var­ious CSIRO staff around the countrywho have been sharing their pastOlympic glories.

Leanne Stinton, from Food ScienceAustralia, has been compiling Olympicmemories of staff in her division andhere is what she has uncovered.

Bany Johnson was involved in man­aging the Olympic flame at the 1956Melbourne Games.

He was studying at the University ofMelbourne at the time, when he and aselect few were given the honours.

But not everything went to plan.In the wee hours of the morning, in a

deserted MeG, the flame guardersdecided to test how long it took for theflame to die, as a closing~ceremony test.

In his defence, Barry was not present.The officials kept a separate pilot

light fully open to maintain continuityof the flame. It slowly got smaller and,with one last gasp, went out. The fmalrush of air back up the piping blew outthe main flame and the pilot light.

Chaos ensued with frantic cries of"Match! Match'"

A box was found and the main burnerreignited.

Zeus would not have been pleased.Sharon Kennedy-Miles' father,

Grahame Kennedy, calTied the Olympictorch for a mile in the bund~l1p to the1956 games.

Unfortunately, due to the fumescaused by the burning Hexamine, solidfuel in the torch, many of the runnerscarrying the torch, including Sharon'sdad, were made ilL

Today CSIRO staff are heing askedonce again to contribute to the OlympicGames.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 foreignmedia looking for colour during theSydney Olympics are expected to brushpast CSm.O developments at DarlingHarbour's Sydney Media Centre.

Briefings, displays and presentationsare being planned for the internationalnon-accredited journalists to cover.

CSIRO has been invited to participatein the scientific research and develop­ment and environment themes of thecentre. A solar car, the birdwing blltter~

fly and new wine varielies are possibleareas of focus.

If you have suggestions or would likemore information contact RosieSchmedding on (02) 6276 6520 orrosie.schmedding@nnp.csiro.au

• MEGAN BIRD

The McMaster parasitology laboratorywill be relocated from Prospect toCSIRO's Chiswick facility nearArmidale. Other staff will move tostrenglhen CSIRO's livestock nutritionresearch group in Perth. In Geelong, ani~

mal welfare research and pig researchwill be reinforced with the move of stafffrom Prospect.

The review group recommends aug­menting CSIRO's Rendel laboratory inRockhampton to meet the needs of thebeef induslry and the Belmont field sta­lion nearby.

An executive summary of the reviewgroup's recommendations is available athttp://www.csiro.au/csiro/livestockre­view/index.html

effort. It will be the largest facility of itskind in the Southern Hemisphere.

The shifting focus will mean theProspect laboratory will close Elnd staffrelocated to other sites.

CSIRO will move its biotechnologygroup from the Division of AnimalProduction's Prospect (Western Sydney)facility to Brisbane.

Dr Adam said: "CSIRO has reluctantlyaccepted this proposal, despite thequality of the science conducted atProspect.

"All staff at Prospect will be offeredpositions at other locations of the newdivision and attractive relocation pack­ages will be developed to encourage staffto relocate."

surgical training by allowing life-savingtechniques to be introduced sooner asexperienced surgeons update skills moreeasily, according to medical director ofctec Dr Richard Vaughan.

CSIRO staff. Entry for others is $6 foradults, $3 for school students and con~

cessions, a,nd.$15 for family paslies. It isopen seven days a week, from9am, to5pm.

For more information call Terese, Johnor Kelly oa (02) 6246 4646.

Royal visit: Queen Elizabeth II toured ctec at the UniverSity ofWestern Australia.

research within the Division of TropicalAgriculture. "Our review grOllp took astrategic perspective for the next 20 yearsof the facilities CSIRO would need for itsresearch plans to meet future industryneeds. We wanted to avoid any narrowshort-teml focus". Mr Blood said.

The review group identified biotech~

nology of crucial importance to thefuture of Australian livestock sector, andfound the Institute for MolecularBiosciences was an ideal location for allCSIRO's research in this field.

This facility, which is being developedby CSIRO and the University ofQueensland at its St Lucia campus inBrisbane, will represent a significant pro­p0l1ion of dIe national biotechnology

The Haptic Workbench was developedby CSIRO, Swedish company ReachIn

Technologies and the AdvancedComputational Systems CRC.

The technologies could revolutionise

researchers working in laboratoriesabove the exhibits.

Discovery also incorporates meetingrooms, a 184-seat lecture theatre, cafeand catering facilities, and an exhibitionarea.

Entry to the exhibition is free to all

CSIRO is to strengthen its research onbehalf ofAustralia's $12 billion livestocksector on the recommendation of anindustry review group headed by MrJohn Blood.

There will be a major new commit­ment to biotechnology at the Institute ofMolecular Bioscience in Brisbane ActingChief Executive Dr Colin Adamannounced in May. "There will also be arevitalisation of rural [lnd regional labo~

ratories at Annidale. Rockhampton, andGeelong, and integrated leadership of alllivestock research through the fonnationof a new division," he said.

The new division will comprise theexisting divisions of Animal Health,Animal Production and livestock-related

CSIRO moves mountains for QueenBy Janelle Kennard, CMISTHE QUEEN felt the valleys and moun­tains of a virtual earth recently when shetested the CSIRO-developed HapticWorkbench.

"Remarkable," she commented afterthe event.

She experienced CSIRO's virtual~real­

ity technology which could allow traineesurgeons to learn procedures on virtualpatients. It was on display at ctec . amedical training centre at the Universityof Westem Australia in PeI1h - when theQueen opened the centre on April 1.

She watched as a virtual cannular wasinserted into the vein of a virtual hand.

CSIRO's Duncan Stevenson said:"The system creates a very realisticexperience. You can really feel the nee­dle pop through the skin of the hand, andthen watch it fill with blood.

"This realism is crucial for practisingthe precise and complex dexterous skillswhich surgeons need."

Open doors: The interactive Discovery exhibition centre will highlight the work done by Australian scientists.

CSIRO Deputy Chief Executive ChrisMallett said at the opening: "Discovery isabout plltting science into context, it is aliving exhibition, not a museurn of pastachievements...

The use of glass throughout the venueallows visitors to watch the nation's top

THE major Budget news for CSIRO isthat six properties will be offered forsale and lease back over the next threeyears.

Half the properties are in the ACT, atLimestone Avenue, Gungahlin andYarralumla, one in NSW at Riverside,North Ryde, one in Queensland, atCleveland, and one in Westem Australiaat Mannion.

A sub~committee of the CSIROBoard will make sure appropriate pack­ages are developed so CSIRO retainsmanagement and operational control tocover the special needs and risks ofresearch.

The Budget papers make clear thatCSIRO's research will suffer no adversefinancial impact. "CSIRO will receivefunding for additional sale and rentalcosts," it states.

The announcement comes after anindependent review of property holdingin 1999 and early 2000.

It also confinued funding for otherexisiting government science programs.but there are a few other items of poten~tial interest. These include an announce­ment of funding of $30.5 million overfour years for a National BiotechnologyStrategy. This includes $20 million forcommercialisation assistance toAustralian biotechnology research.

Other examples include $22.3 millionover four years to strengthen animal andplant health status. And there will be$18.2 million over two years for fanninnovation, a pilot program to helpfarmers identify market directions anddiversify; and support for the develop·ment of gas-to~liquidstechnology.

CSIRO's funding will be maintained,as announced for the triennium last year.

Propertysales headBudget news

By Larissa Mullot, CPICSIRO's interactive Discovery exhibi­tion centre was opened 011 May 1 as partof National Science \Veek celebrations,

About 200 guests and local mediawatched ACT Chief Minister KateCarnell switch on the exhibition for thefirst time.

Light and music flooded over theexhibits as she set off wilh 30 studentsfrom two CanhelTa schools to exploreexhibits for the first time.

The Haptic Workbench, developed forremote surgery and technical operations,was a highlight.

One primary-school student said: "It'sreally cool. It's great, but it feels weird:'

The wrap-around 3D virtual-realitytheatre featuring virtual plants, radioastronomy and mining, and the Face InThe Crowd exhibit that showcases facial­recognition technology, also receivedhigh praise from the students.

Mrs Carnell snid: "We haven't beenvery good at letting Australians knowabout the wonderful work being done byAustralian scientists.

"Discovery will change that, becausenow people can see a bit of that work,and some of the things that have made adifference about the way we live."

The permanent interactive exhibition,sponsored by Cable & \Vireless Optusand the ACT Government, highlightssome of CSIRO's scientific discoveriesand research activities that have changedthe lives of many Australians.

382##2000

"How much longer can CSIRO and theuniversities continue to provide essen­tial research and education in the face ofthe subtle erosion of their core fund­ing ... ? How many efficiency dividends,how much inadequate compensationsfor inflation, and how many cost­increasing 'efficient business pmctices'... must these organisations sufferT'- The Canberra Times, AprU 27

PETER LEPPERT. FFP,Yarralumla

THE Annual Youlh Prize for PhysicalScience has been renamed the MalcolmMcIntosh Prize.

This was rmnounced at the end of therecent National Innovation Summit inMelbourne.

The AND has also recognised thework of the late Dr McIntosh. The topgraduate-scholarship winner in tilephysical sciences will be known fromIlext year onwards as the MalcolmMcIntosh Scholar.

"It is a tragic situation when one seessuch an outstanding institution asCSIRO Entomology beingdecimnted by economic rationalism:'M Murray S. Upton, Honorary Fellow,CSIRO Entomology, Letter to theEditor, The Canberra Times, April 1

AND announcesMcintosh Medal

Malcolm's ideal

"You'II find infonnation packs on theseats, Don't eat them by mistake."• CSIRO's Charles Allen at theNational Innovation Summit break­fast, The Australian, February 14

"The sum of McIntosh's life has defiedthat sarcm;tic piece of Balzacian wis­dom that cemeteries are full of irre~

placeable people."- The Age, February 14

IT IS with much s",dness that we mournthe loss of our fonner CEO, who trulywas a man of vision and integrity. I trustthe legacy of Malcolm's influence andstyle will live on in the future of sciencemanagement in this country. I believewe are all privileged to have had theyears we had with him.

As those of us who have been in theorganisation for some years are nil toopainfully aware, the Playing Field ofScientific Research in this country haschanged forever.

No longer can we expect to be A­funded to pursue the greater goal of fur­thering the understanding of the worldwe are a part of, but are all driven toobtain funding targets that encompassupwards of 35 per cent external earningsto achieve our ends.

I was reminded recently of a meetingI attended some years ago where projectleaders and divisional industrial partici­pation committee members had thepleasure of firing questions from thefloor to our new CEO Elect, MalcolmMacintosh.

I will never forget one of his state­ments that day which. roughly remem­bered, was: "I will look at aU levels ofmanagement in CSIRO and those whichare seen to add no value 10 Ihe processof doing good scientific research in thiscountry, I will get rid of."

With Malcolm's ideal in mind, Irecently had the thought. why don't allCSIRO corporate employees on the Hilldo one year in every five of their careersat a divisional site to keep in louch withthe business end of CSIRO. viz. Doingscientific research?

This may not be a world-shatteringrevelation. but I do believe it wouldrefocus the understanding and commit­ment of researCh-support (Le. admin.)slaff to what we are here for. doingworld-class science.

Could I also be facetious enough tosuggest that some of our colleagues inthe Ivory Tower may have lost sometouch with the primary function ofCSIRO by being resident 011 the Hill toolong?

)

Harry Minnett, a fanner boffin andChief of the Division of Radiophysics.wrote the chapter on Radar And TheBombing Of Darwin.

"For five years we were all sworn tosecrecy under the Crimes Act," he said."I couldn't even tell my parents what Iwas working on."

To order send a cheque made out toRadar Air Defence Branch No. 2A/C toWalter Fielder·Gill, 18 ParksideAvenue, Baleau Bay NSW 2261.

Snapshot of successCSIRO dominates much of the research/lnd development in Australian civilianscience.

As one of the world's largest researchbodies, it has assisted primary producersin a plethora of ways. Industry and com­merce, too, have benefited from CSIROprowess.

Wizards of Oz (Allen & Unwin,237pp. $19-95, Peler Spinks), whichrelates many of Australia's scientificachievements, has remained on the NewScientist Top 10 list for more than 10months.

firmed that rammed-earth walls havepoor thermal resistance.

Mr Robin Clarke, of CSIRO Thermal& Fluids Engineering, said: "Our find­ings were based on testing of two com­mercially-produced rammed earth prod­ucts, both of which turned out to havepoor thennal resistance.

"The overall thennal' resistance (R­value) of il typical rammed-earth wall isless than R 0.4.

"This is low compared to everydayinsulating materials such as glass fibrebalts which typically come with ratingsofR 2 or R 3."

Show time: Chris Freund discussedCSIRO business with the Minister forIndustry, Science and Resources, SenatorNick Minchin. Photo: Deutsche Messe AG.Seewald-Hagen, Hannover

can build up vibrant new industries inAustralia, leading to Australian jobs"

Hannover Fair was attended by about270,000 visitors. More than 2,000 peoplevisited the CSIRO Australian stand dur­ing the six-day show. including theAustralian science minister, SenatorNick Minchin. and German Minister forEconomics and Technology in LowerSaxony, Dr Peter Fischer.

For more information visithttp://www.hannover.csiro.au/

NEW contacts, business opportunities.and checking out what the competitionwas doing were highlighls of CSIRO'spresence at Hannover Fair 2000.

CSlRO hosted the stand featuring over30 Australian technologies at the world'sbiggest industry and innovation fair inHannover ill March.

This was the third year running thatCSm.O aod its industry partners haveexhibited Australian technology at thefair.

CSIRO Deputy Chief Executive DrRon Sandland said: "We are very pleasedwith the results. Our stand generated alot of interest. particularly for our com­mercial partners.

"We have had over 200 seriousenquiries, some of which led to follow­up visits immediately after the fair.

"We must let the world know what weare capable of so that we can getAustralian technology into the interna­tional market place. This will mean we

By Rosie Schmedding

THE only documented death from ameteorite fall was of a dog in Egypt in1911, according to Meteorites.

There is the celebrated Iheory of thegiant rock that killed off the dinosaurs65 million years ago, but here theauthors are cautious saying theundoubted impact might have assisted aprocess that was already well underway.

This book is for the convertedmeteorite-spotter. It provides infonna­tion, and some interesting anecdotes.

Meteorites (CSIRO Publishing, 60pp,$19.95, by Robert Hutchison andAndrew Graham) is being distributed byCSIRO Publishing on behalf of theNatural History Museum ~n London andcan be ordered on 1800 645 05 I.

By Megan Bird

Eyes on climateA PROJECT on the drawing board alMarine Research involves an annada ofrobots that can roam up to 2,OOOm underwater and surface every 10 days to senddata to a satellite.

TIle floating eyes (see diagram above)wHi observe changes in Southem Oceanand Indian Ocean conditions. regionsthat have direct influence on Australianrainfall. The project will help long-rangeforecasting,

Rammed earthLATEST tests by CSIRO have con-

Fair business in Hannover

Secret history of radarThe almost~forgotten hushed history ofthe Radar at the University of Sydney, asecret weapon for the war in the Pacific,hus been resurrected.

The idea for 'Boffins' Of BOlany Bay(Australinn Academy of Science. 82pp,$15 including postage, edited by RoyMacLeod) came during a workshop atthe university's history department.

Dog-gone meteorite trivia

.... 1/ ~J(..

i:",1 My m"""'co ! / ~\ ' / I\\t /ReCOI'ding temperature :

\ / ' and salinity as it rises ,~ __ ~~ I

Drifting 10 days 1500 m .•'

Road1VortllyshoesneededSTATISTICS showing Ihat lO,OOO peo­ple died in the last decade from slips andfalls indicate that Australians need moreroadworthy shoes.

Mr Richard Bowman, fromSustainable Materials Engineerillg, said:"Of all the causes of injury, slips andfalls is the largest and it is the oneAustralia has done the most about."

The cost to the community of slipsand falls is $3.17 billion, more than thecosts of motor accidents ($2.7 billion)and all other causes of accidental injury.

CSIRO has called for a new standardto benchmark slip-resistant footwearsold in Australia.

Grape expectationsPLANT Industry has developed fournew high-quality red-wine grape vari­eties for Australian conditions.

CSIRO has been granted PlantBreeder's Rights for the new grapes,Cienna, Vermillion, Rubienne andTyrian. The breeding team crossedSumolL, a grape from Barcelona inSpain, with Cabemet Sauvignon, to pro­duce the new varieties.

jects aged be-tween 35 and 73 years ofage. All had cholesterol levels greaterthan the standard desirable limit.

tion to Fellowship of the AustralianAcademy of Science in 1981 and theaward of a Doctor of Science byCambridge University.

Michael was an editor of The Web OfLife textbook that elevated the teachingof biology.

He was also heavily involved in thewider community as a member and thenPresident of the Trust of the AustralianMuseum and a member and Chailman ofthe Royal Botunk Gardens and Domain.Michael was honoured with the award ofan OBE in 1978.

In 1983 Michael was appointedDirector of the CSIRO Institute ofBiological Sciences.

I appointed Michael as my deputy in1986. He had responsibility for a rangeof activities that included humanresources policies. I relied on his wisecounsel and valued his courtesy and,above all, his loyalty. It was indeed apleasure to work with him.

In 1988, Michael was appointed amember of the newly formed AustralianResearch Council. The then Minister ofScience, BalTY Jones, thought highly ofMichael's qualities and requested thatCSIRO second Michael to theDepartment of Industry, Technology andCommerce as Chief Science Advisor andas his personal advisor.

In 1992 Michael was appointed ChiefScientist in the Department of the PrimeMinister and Cabinet.

The French Government honouredMichael with the award of the Chevalierde l'ordre national du Merite for hiswork in strengthening French-Australianrelationships. - KEITH BOARDMAN

Michael George Pitman, 1933-2000

William Hartley, OBE, 1906-2000

help Australian plant scientists use theLatin binomial names for the speciesthey investigated and produced periodiceditions of Standardised Plant Names.

He was chosen as the Advocate for theCSIRO Officers' Association in the 1954Work Value Case. William's final role,on leave from the division from 1961 to1969. was as CSIRO's Chief ScientificLiaison Officer.

He had four children and eight grand­children. His first wife, Alison Taylor.died in 1965. His second wife, AliceSmith, also died before him.

• LLOYD EVANS, CPI

ONE of the earliest members of this divi­sion, William Hartley, died in Marchaged 93. A vertically challenged but irre­pressibly humorous Yorkshireman, hewas appointed in 1929, soon after graduRnting from Cambridge, as Junior PlantIntroduction Officer in the Division ofPlant Industry at Canberra.

He made more than 30,000 plant intro­ductions to Australia, mostly of pasturegrasses and clover. and conducted theHrst plant-collecting mission to SouthAmerica in 1947. He published widelyon grass phytogeography.

After a year at Kew Garden (1938­1939) William recognised the need to

MICHAEL Pitman was the Director ofthe CSIRO Institute of BiologicalResources from 1983 to 1987, before hewas seconded to DITAC and took on therole of Chief Scientist.

He became the Foreign Secretary ofthe Australian Academy of Science andwas instrumental in developing strongerscientific links with French scientificactivities.

Michael was born in the UK, excelledin science and gained an open scholar­ship to Cambridge University andSidney Sussex. He received Class IHonours in all subjects.

At the beginning of his time as a post­graduate student Michael and Maureenwere married. Brigit and Adrian wereborn at Cambridge. Michael obtained aPhD under the supervision of eminentplant physiologist Professor G.E. Briggsand was awarded a Junior Fellowship atSt John's College Cambridge.

At Cambridge Michael met a strongAustralian contingent of future scientificleaders in Australia, people like AlexHope, Alan Wnlker. Martin Canny,Carrick Chambers, Arthur McComb.The interaction with them no doubtinfluenced his decision to apply success­fully for a lectureship at AdelaideUniversity where Bob Robertson wasProfessor of Botany. After four years atAdelaide, and at the age of 33, Michaelwas appointed Professor of Biology atthe University of Sydney.

Michael became one of the foundersof modern mineral-nutrition physiology.He inspired a generation of research stu­dents through his simple, elegant experi­ments and clear fonnal analysis.

Michael's outstanding researchachievements were recognised by e1ec-

More milk for IndiaINDIA is likely to produce millions ofmore tannes of milk, thanks (0 a systemdeveloped by Animal Production.

CSIRO and India's National DairyDevelopment Board have teamed up forthe $1.5 million project to improve theproductivity of grazing animals in bothcountries on poor-quality feeds.

Spreading low cholesterolMARGARINE containing naturallyocculTing plant sterols has been shownby Health Sciences and Nutrition tolower cholesterol levels.

Results of a trial found that choles­terol can be reduced by up to 10 per centill three weeks in men and women withelevated blood cholesterol. It used sub-

Plant Industry division pioneer

BUSH tucker is heading for restaurantsnnd dinner tables around the world,according to CSIRO Land and Water.

The division is undertaking a four­year trial in the global race to find outhow to increase production ofAustralia's native plrmts.

Dr Maarten Ryder said: "Countrieslike Israel or the US would love to gettheir hands on these native plants so weowe it to ourselves to learn how to bettercultivate and grow them on a commer­cial basis."

The research will focus on quandongs,mountain pepper. bush tomatoes.muntries, riberries, two native citrus andacacias.

Forging stronger links

Bush cuisine on the menu

OBITUARIES

382-2000

CoResearch 3------------

Big six talk up best news coverageBy Megan BirdLAND and Water scientists made largecontributions to a dramatic 48 per centincrease in the number of press articlesabout CSIRO last year, the best CSIROhas ever achieved.

The most widely quoted CSIRO idenM

tilies in the Australian press were DrMalcolm McIntosh, Dr Tom Hatton, DrGraham Han-is, Dr John Williams, DrOliver Mayo and Dr Katrine Baghurst.

These six leaders contributed directlyto positive coverage in 341 articles,according to a report for 1999 byCARMA International.

CSIRO National Awareness directorJulian Cribb said the willingness ofCSIRO scientists to freely discuss theirdiscoveries and advances in the media

was the key factor in what is believed tobe the most extensive coverage of theorganisation in its history.

"It asks a lot of scientists to be con­stantly and patiently available to media,and people like Dr Hatton are doing afantastic job not only for their science butfor CSIRO as a whole,"

CSIRO received a total of 6223 print­media mentions during the year, 85 percent of which were favourable, 13 percent neutral and 2 per cent unfavourable.

Dr Hatton was widely quoted in themedia on Ihe issue of salinity. Land llndWater's Dr Hurris and Dr Williams wereso well-quoted that their divisionreceived the most coverage of any - atotal of 1,904 articles.

The next most extensive coverage was

achieved by the Biodiversity Sector(1377 stories) then Meat Dairy andAquaculture (1233) and Field Crops(1093),

Dr Mayo contribured to positive cover­age of wool and livestock issues and DrBaghurst commented on issues such asfood and nutrition, including geneticallymodified foods.

Mr Cribb said: "Dr McIntosh was alsoconvinced that the positive character ofCSIRO's media treatment was a key fac­tor in his campaign to secure sound trien­nial funding for the organisation. Heoften received feedback from elsewherein government about the favourablenature of reports on the work of CS]RO."

CSIRO received its greatest coveragein The Australian, then The Canberra

Times and The Age newspapers. Themain foclls of media attention was onCSIRO's role in education and training,wool and salinity.

And 91 per cent of educatiol1R und­training coverage was positive. It includ­ed csm.o's involvement in programs forstudenLs, particularly the Double HelixClub and the National Youth ScienceForum, the report said.

Letters to the editor generated theleast-favourable coverage but 54 per centof these were nevertheless favourable toCSIRO.

In two critical areas there was somegood news. For the first time in fouryears media coverage of rabbit cali­civirus was predominantly favourable toCSIRO. And, despite hugely negative

national coverage of gene technologyissues, 82 per cent of media stories aboutCSIRO on this issue were favourable and14 per cent neutral.

The sectors receiving the mostfavourable media treatment were MineralExploration, Mineral Processing andEnergy,

Their stories included mine safety,mineral-mapping teclmologies, explo­ration, energy use and electric motors,

Among the slates, Victorian press ­which also rated the most-favourable ­gave us the biggest coverage,Queensland and NSW tied for secondplace. and Western Australia rated third.

There were 6,223 press articles aboutCSIRO last year compared with 4,lI 7the year before, according to CARMA.

By Megan Bird

Staff surveytriggerssome change

Undersea sweephits golden snag

formed giant are bodies IiI{e MtIsn and Brol<:en Hill more thana billion years ago.

Researchers are studyingore-forming processes andhunting for extremaphilemicrobes endowed with thenatural ability to process min­erals at high temperature.

The snagged blad( smoker isa tubular encrustation of min­erai that would make a prizedmuseum display, according toexpedition leader Dr' Ray llillnsof Exploration and Mining,

"Our dredge must have fall~

en right over its top," he said."This anchored the ship for

over an hour but it finallybrol(e off at the base."

"MEGAN BIRD

STAFF told senior managers what theythought of them two years ago.

The results of the poll were scathingfor some divisions, but appear to havecatalysed some change,

Animal Health hus been addressingissues since then and conducted its ownfollow~up poll in March to see howthings have changed.

Pollster Kelly Samson said the divi­sion has improved markedly in the sen­ior and local-leadership categories.

"In fact, it has moved from beingamongst the lowest-perfonning organi­sations in February, 1998, to beingabove the Australian nOlTI1, in FallsCorporate Research's database."

Animal Health Chief Dr MikeRickard said the 1998 poll rated thedivision very poor in leadership andmanagement in the division and withinCSIRO. "It was quite devastating at thetime to understand how deep the feel­ings went.

"But, while it was bad then, it was ablessing."

Dr Rickard said: "An advantage ofholding a division-specific poll was thatit showed major differences betweenprograms, functional groups andemployment levels. Areas of specificconcem to programs can be identifiedand acted on."

The division's Human ResourceManager Mr Ken Barker said lhe newpoll shows morale has improved. "Wehave still got a way to go, but we'reworking on it," he said.

Th poll committee is chaired by theChief of Land and Water, Dr GrahamHarris.

CSIRO researchers have acci­dentally found II huge under~

sea chimney laced with goldand other minerals andswarming with remarlmble lifeforms in the Bismark Sea.The smoker was recovered byresearch vessel Franklin northot'Papua New Guinea on a voy­age of discovery to probe mys­teries of vast hydrothermalsystem on the ocean 0001'.

The search, to help makeAustralia's $37 biHioll mineral­export industry cleaner, green­er, safel' and more competitive,is being conducted ill an eerielandscape nearly two kilome­tres below the ocean's surface.

The hydrothe1'lnals spew antplumes of superheated miner­al-I'iell fluids like those that

PHOTO:Andrew James, Calms Post.Ship shape: Dr Ray Binns and his crew departed from Cairns on a voyage of discovery in April.INSET: A blade smoker was accidentally snagged about a week later.

JUST over a century after the fathers ofcinematography, Auguste and LouisLumiere, astonished the patrons of LeGrande Cafe in Paris. Australia ispreparing Scinema, our first internation­al festival of science film.

Australians spend about $600 milliona year on movie tickets.

The festival will be held in Canberralater this year and CSIRO Education'sRebecca Scott is one of two festivaldirectors. "]t is open to both amateurand professional film-makers." she said.

Categories include science and tech­nology, natural history. education andmedicine and health.

"We are particularly keen to encour­age cross-disCiplinary collaborationbetween lhe sciences and the arts and touse film to highlight the contributionthat scientific research makes to all ofour lives.

Last year Rebecca was invited to rep­resent Australia as a jury member atTelescience. This is one of the world'slargest science film festivals and is heldeach year in Montreal.

Rebecca snid: "The gala award nightwas exciting because the ABC's SilentSentinels was a winner. There were onlytwo Australian films in the 100 entries.Silent Sentinels is a documentary aboutthe massive death of coral reefs in 1998.It WilS a proud moment being on theother side of the world ,.. seeing CSIROscientists flash on to the screen, talkingabout global wnrming and rising car­bon-dioxide levels. "

For more information, visitwww.csiro.au/scinemu

" NICK GOLDIE, CNA

Science fdmfestival forAustralia

382-2000

CSIRO around the nationanalysers and sensors for the iron are.alumina, gold, mineral sands and urani­um industries. The natural gamma radi­ation technique has also been applied toagricultural products such as monitoringthe soil content of sugar cane.

Back to workTEXTILE and Fibre Technology staffpedal for charity in their spare time withtheir work on their backs.

The division's Sportwoo1 develop­ment gave the team an edge in thisyear's recent 24-hour MUlTay to MayneCharity Ride from Swan Hill to PortFaiLy.

Comments from the team included:"We were warm when we needed to beand cool and dry when we needed tobe.'·

"We cycled so fast this year we evenreached the pub in time for a beer."

"But there were too many punctures.Perhaps someone in CS1RO canimprove the perfonnance of tyres?"

The team has raised more than$15,000 for Geelong charities over fiveyears.

The Sportwool garments, made froma unique double-layered fabric, withwool on the inside and polyester on theoutside proved to be an invaluable teammember. • JULIA MARSH

Magazine wins awardECOS has won this year's BanksiaEnvironmental Foundation Award forCommunicCltion.

The 36-page magazine about the lat­est research relating to Australia's envi­ronmental problems is published quar­terly by CSIRO Publishing.

Ecos won the award for "covering awide range of issues in a rational, in­depth and accurate manner", accordingto judges.

It has been widely read by students,teachers, community groups, po1icy~makers and others for more than 25years.

Award night: Acting Chief Executive DrColin Adam and Dr Bill Mathew celebrate.

Technique of a winnerCSIRO Minerals' Dr Bill Mathew haswon a 2000 Clunies Ross NationalScience and Technology Award forresearch that led to on-line analysistechniques worth millions of dollars tothe Australian minerals' industIy.

Dr Mathew, a nuclear physicist,recognised that natural gamma radiationcould be used to perfonn instantaneousanalysis of coal and are while it wastransported on conveyor belts.

His research led to the developmentof several on-line analysis instruments,which bring millions of dollars worth ofbenefits to the industry and opportuni­ties for their Australian manufacturers.

Dr Mathew said: "The technology is avery simple one. It is based on the factthat all geological materials, like coal,have minor traces of radioactive ele­ments such as potassium, uranium andthOllum."

Dr Mathew realised this natural radia­tion could be used to measure the com­position of coal and ores.

His research team has developed

He said: "A healthy future forAustralia's landscapes is dependent onthe persistence of our unique biodiversi­ty, healthy regional societies andeconomies and, ultimately. on clever,innovative research and development."

Super possibilitiesTHE CSIRO/Bureau of MeteorologyHigh Performance Computing andCommunications Centre is undergoing amajor upgrade with the recent installa­tion of one NEC SX-5 supercomputerand approval for a second one to beinstalled later this year.

The centre's Deputy Manager, RobertBell, says this upgrade provides anopportunity for CSIRO researchers totake greater advantage of the facility.

"The Bureau of Meteorology uses itto produce forecast and weather-model­ling [nfonnation. Some of the CSIROprojects we have been involved in arethe understanding of proteins related todrug design and work on understandingclimate variations in order to assessfuture change.

"We're sure there are other CSIROprojects out there that could benefitfrom using our resources and we'realways happy to discuss possibilities."

For more information contact Dr Bellon (03) 9669 8102

• TOM McGINNESS

Hot all': Chris I(rishna~Pl1lay,right,expands on a topic. PHOTOS: Giulio Saggin

from CSIRO Education, received manyfavourable press mentions for his cabareton the science of dating, was interviewedon Triple J radio during the week, andperformed in a play about HowardFlorey.

More than 1,000 science-week events,run in venues ranging from workplacesand museums to pubs and shopping cen­tres, delved into topics ranging frombubbles to frogs.

On air: Dr Geoff Clarke. rightjlistens In.

National Science Week highlights

Digital libraries on desktops

New ChiefCSIRO Wildlife and Ecology has a newChief.

Dr Steve Morton has been appointedto replace Dr Brian Walker who stooddown as Chief at the end of Decemberlast year.

Dr Morton has had a distinguishedcareer at Wildlife and Ecology as aresearcher and research manager, work­ing in tropical Australia, the central aridzone and in south-eastern temperateAustralia. He is strongly committed tothe application of ecological knowledgeto natural-resource management.

Allen delights: Cyberians helpedcelebrate Australian Library Weel(.

Eureka PrizeDR BRIAN Cooke of CSIRO Wildlifeand Ecology has won the AustralianMuseum POL Eureka Prize forEnvironmental Research for 2000, forhis research into controlling wild rab­bits.

Dr Colin Adam said: "Brian CookehilS spent more than three decades grap­pling with this greatest scourge ofAustralia's environment.

"He is being rewarded for brilliant,painstaking research applied to a gravenational problem, culminating in a prac­tical and ecologically sound solution. Itis the epitome of the value of CSIRO toAustralia."

Brian worked in South Australia inthe Animal and Plant ControlCommission before coming to Wildlifeand Ecology in 1995.

DR GEOFF Clarke from Entomologywas one of many CSIRO staff to hit theairwaves during National Science Weekin May.

Dr Clarke, right, and other event­presenters naturalist Harry But.ler andwildlife photographer Steve Parish wereinterviewed, at a Canberra fair, by ABCradio abollt working for the environ­ment.

Melbourne's Chris Krishna-Pillay,

AUSTRALIAN Library Week fromMay 15 to 21 at Manufacturing Science& Technology was out of this world.

Cyberians promoted the runge ofelectronic-information resources avail­able to staff from witl1in the library andfrom their desktops.

The recently launched Directory ofInformation Tools is accessible to allstaff. Visit Ilttp:!lwww.csiro.au/applica­tions/infoToolsl

• STEPHANIE LAVAU

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the new Feral~

ucts: Once the unsuspecting- depicted here by this

v Loans for every purposev Savings & Investmentsv Financial Planningv VISA cardsv Insurance

MembersAustraliaalEDI1'UIDl

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Greg Doran;Manufacturing Science and Teeright Implant In, you put the right implant out, youand shake it all about..', ~That's' right girls. No more annoying plastic s'urgeons. Get a friend to do itfor you with the Do~lt-Yourself Breast AUgrTlenta e.

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382-2000

CSIRO's staff newspaper No.383 Spring 2000

Trust us, we're from CSIROAUSTRALIANS regard CSIRO as trust­worthy, especially in making statementsabout controversial areas of science likegene technology and the environment.

Recent focus-group research exploringCSIRO's public image concludes that:"Almost universally the opinionsexpressed about CSIRO were positive."

This was despite the fact that manyAustralians can't describe very well whatthe organisation actually does.

The study was intended to explore

levels of public understanding and trustand the reasons behind them, as well asexpectations of science and CSIRO.

Thirteen focus groups representing 11

cross section of the public were heldaround Australia.

Many people admitted they had diffi­culty understanding what gene tech­nology was, often saying that not enoughinformation was available to help them todecide who they could really trust on thisissue. CSIRO, university and medical

researchers generally emerged as themost t111sted groups by the public in mak­ing statements on the issue. The businesssector and its corporate scientists werenot trusted.

About half the participants admittedthey were scared by gene technology.

Many believed it was impOltant forscientists to present both positive andnegative information on gene technologybecause of an evident concern thatcorporate profit-seeking drove the issue.

How much the public uusted scientistsdepended on whether 01' not they wereclosely associated wjth companies thatgain commercially from gene technology.

The main expectations that Australianshold about CSIRO are:

• CSlRO should be honest with itsfindings and ethical in how S&T researchis undertaken and applied;

• CSIRO should keep the publicinformed about the outcomes of ourwork;

• CSIRO should continue to aspire tobe a renowned science institutionof international standing; and

• CSIRO should continue to workwith business and industry to createvalue~added goods and services toachieve more exp0l1s.

The study was conducted for CSIROby Market Attitude Research Servicesamong representative Australians aged18 and over in various cities duringMay and June.

Extreme events overshadow extremophiles

Ms Brodie first saw the volcanic activ­ity at dawn, 10 nautical miles out fromthe seamount. These photos were takenat about Spm.

"I've spent a lot of time at sea and thiswas definitely out of the box, an extraor­dinary thing," she said.

By Megan BirdTHOUSANDS of documeotary-makerswould have loved a berth on CSIRO'sresearch vessel when the crew watchedthe explosive birth of an island and acci­dentally hooked a record-sized metal­rich black-smoker chimney.

The two surprising events overshad­owed the RV Franklin's mission to probethe mysteries of vast hydrothermal sys­tems on the seafloor off Papua NewGuinea and the Solomon Islands.

But, along with the undersea chimneylaced with zinc and silver and the footflgeof the volcanic island that erupted intolife in the Pacific Ocean, researchers didcelUm with an esky full of 80extremophile samples.

Microbiologists at Land and Water atFloreat will revive the frozen microbes tounderstand how they survive the heHishconditions around the black-smokeractive chimney vents.

The extremophiles live in extremetemperatures and pressure around thetoxic smokers, and will be grown in lab­oratory temperatures of between 85 and95 degrees.

They hold the cIues to how lifeemerged on the planet, and their ability toprocess metals at high temperatures willbe studied to boost Australia's $37 billionmineral-export industry.

The first leg of the clUise dragged upthe 2.7m-high smoker that will be stud­ied in Sydney.

The expedition's Chief Scientist fromExploration and Mining, Brent McInnes,said: "It's the world's largest chimneyever recorded, which I hope will be puton show in a museum for all of Australiato see."

On the second leg of the voyage, tostudy submarine volcanoes, scientistswere overwhelmed when they anived atthe Kavachi seamount to see violenteruptions taking place every fiveminutes.

Molten lava was ejected up to 70mabove sea level and sulphurous steamplumes mushroomed to 500m. At nightthe red glow of the explosive eruptionsproduced a spectacular display.

Mastel' of the Franklin Neil Cheshire

said: "We were able to approach to with­in 750m of the erupting centre."

The rare event was a new phase ofisland-building activity after nine yearsof apparent dormancy.

Dr McInnes, who led this part ofthe cruise, said: "It was totally unex-

pected, the chance of a lifetime really."Ms Pamela Brodie, a programmer with

the data centre at Marine Research tookthese photographs with a Pentax she hadbought on the way to New Guinea.

"I didn't really know what the camerawould do," she said.

New focusI for regional

1~~~~i~~S~~g~~~Ostrengthen CSIRO's effort in sustainableregional development and natural­resource management.

The as-yet-unnamed division will beformed by a merger of the integratedagricultural systems work of TropicalAgriculture with the ecological and blO­diversity capabilities of Wildlife andEcology.

Chief of CSIRO Wildlife and EcologyDr Steve Morton said: "This new divi­sion will bring together Wildlife andEcology's expertise in ecology andecosystem management with the farm­ing systems' skills developed byTropical Agriculture.

"Through partnerships with landhold­ers, industry and communities we willapply the combined skills to developsolutions for using the landscape sus­tainably."

Dr Morton will head the new divisionwhich will have a national perspectiveand capabilities in the ACT,Queensland, the Northern TelTitory andWestern Australia.

The division will work closely withother CSIRO groups. particularly Plaatlndustry, Livestock Industdes and Landand Water. It will also work closely withcommunity and farming groups, gov­ernment at federal and state level, andwith other researchers.

Dr Elizabeth Heij, Chief of CSIROTropical Agriculture, will move to anew position assisting co-ordination ofrural sustainability research across divi­sion and sectors.

The work of Tropical Agriculture willcontinue under different divisional affil­iations at its existing Queensland loca­tions_

The new division will have about 330staff.

Livestock Industries, a new divisionfeatured in the last issue of CoResearch,will have about 500 staff. Mr ShaunCoffey is the acting Chief. Before thishe was CSIRO Sector Coordinntor forthe Meat, Dairy and Aquaculture sector.

PM says organisation 11eeds protection and support

c·

PRIME Minister John Howard hasdescribed CSlRO's contribution toAustralia as "truly legendary" and said theorganisation deserves protection andSUppOlt.

Mr Howard was opening Discovery, thefirst science centre dedicated to Australianresearch and imlOvation, in CanbelTa onAugust 30.

He spoke of his "great admiration" forCSIRO and the work it has done for the

people ofAustralia over decades. "It is oneof those really great and enduringAustralian institutions," he said.

"It is a very precious part of ournational life and one that needs protectionand support," he said.

Mr Howard said the work of CSlROhad had far-reaching effects on the lives ofAusu-alians, "CSIRO is one of those greatAustralian institl1tions which one firstheard of, if you were my generation, as a

_young child and then at various stagesthrough life.

"CSm.O has made euonnous contribu­tions, not only to the science and techno­logical life of Australia, but through it tothe.ecouornic strengths of the nation andalso to the betterment of the human condi­tion and the social conditions in which ourcommunity lives."

Mr Howmu said CSIRO was an organi­sation Australians could be proud of.

"CSlRO has made a tndy legendarycontribution so far as discovery andachievement and the examples of it arenumerous and indeed too numerous to liston occasions such as this.

"Australia has a velY rich tryadition andone that demonstrates very clearly that wehave always perfonned above our size andour population when it comes to discoVelyand when it comes to the development ofideas."

Premier screening: The Prime Ministerwears 3D glasses to watch a specialDiscovery launch show.

383##2000

House demolition for safety's sakeSIMULATED cyclones and earthquakesare about to destroy the world's firstdisaster house of its kind.

The destruction of the house, atCSIRO Infrastructure SystemsEngineering at Highett, Melbourne, willmake future homes safer and moreaffordable.

The complete load distribution in alight-frame building will be measuredfor the first time.

TIle data coneeted from the test andcomputer modelling will help scientistsdesign new products for disaster-proofhomes and locate them where they willbe most effective.

Methane studyBURPING cattle and sheep are responsi­ble for about 90 per cent of Australia'smethane emissions in the agriculturalsector, according to CSIRO researchers.

Mr Simon Bentley, from CSIROAtmospheric Research said: "Most ofthe livestock methane comes from cattleand sheep burps, with a small additionalsource being animal wastes."

A typical cow burps 280 litres ofmethane each day, the result of microbialdigestion of fodder in its stomach. Sheepproduce about 25litres of methane a day.

The researchers have mapped latest

roundupestimates of methane emissions fromlivestock.

Stop the I"OW

NOISE from some Australian roads is sobad it's like trying to sleep three metresfrom a running vacuum cleaner.

This is what life near majorMarrickville truck routes that registermore than 70 decibels at night is like,according to a Roads and TrafficAuthority study in 1995.

Noise pollution is so bad, according toCSIRO, it's time regulations werechanged. Poor insulation, a trendtowards hard floor surfaces and higherdensity living are contributing factors torecord noise complaints, according toCSIRO Acoustics Services Manager DrJohn Davy from Building, Constructionand Engineering.

Bubbles no troubleCSIRO has burst the bubble on a prob­lem that has been plaguing industry.

Bubble trouble has been solved thanksto the CSIRO-developed softwareStreamTone.

Dr Richard Manasseh of CSIRO

Bubbles: CS1RO has solved a problemthat has plagued industry.

Thermal and Fluids Engineering said:

"In baked foods the right bubbles canmean the difference between a satisfyingcrunch and a tooth-breaking experience.

"In industry bubbles are often too big,

too few, starving industrial chemical

reactions of essential oxygen or other­gases and wasting millions in tbeprocess."

StreamTone can identify differentbubbles by their sound and a feedbacksignal can be generated to automatemany bubbly processes.

The meaning of lifeONE-QUARTER of all plant, animal,fungi and micro~organism species maybe extinct by 2025, and threewquartersmay be lost or nearing extinction by theend of nex.t century.

Chief of Entomology Dr Jim Cullensays the inclusion of the AustralianNational Insect Collection in a newFederal Government list of "majorAustralian research facilities" is wel­come recognition of the key role playedby biological collections of objectivesources of infonnation about life andearth.

It also provides baseline data essentialfor understanding the implications ofwhat seems increasingly an unsustain­able way of life.

On the road to successCSIRO has received its first royalty pay­ment from Roads und Traffic Authority

of NSW (RTA) for the commercialisa­tion of world-leading RoadCrack tech­nology.

RoadCrack, a collaboration betweenCSIRO and RTA, is an automatedmachine vision system that detectsand classifies road cracks in realtime at vehicle speeds of up to 105km/h.

This multi-Divisional project, led byCSIRO Manufacturing Science &Technology's Ian Macintyre, unitedCSIRO expertise in imaging, optics.electronics and mathematics.

The team's efforts were rewarded witha 1999 Engineering Excellence Award(Institution of Engineers, Australia) anda CSIRO Medal!ast year.

Safer new landscapeFARMERS can reduce their risks beforethey plant a crop, thanks to a TropicalAgriculture initiative.

The FARMSCAPE Training &Accreditation program helps farmerspredict likely world fanning outcomesand results on their own land.

It works by giving producers the abil­ity to make improved crop-managementdecisions by generating simulations andscenarios that estimate yields based onthe farmer's own paddock conditions.

Picture this: A promotional montage shows a small sample of the images availablefrom Science Image Online.

Science image libraryfor online browsers

.. CSfR.Q.pis~~~ryCentre.-'t.:n~et'LI. ACf• CSIRO Riv••,id", No.4 Th. Villas" NSW"'The: G\e-tl ShoppinsCentt>e.,level I. VIC

"'Most of the livestock methane comesfrom cattle and sheep burps,' a CSIROboffin said. See. Bet you thought themethane was animal farts. Aren't youglad you kept reading now?"• Syduey MornIng Herald, July 24

"While ever the CSIRO is receivingfunding from the biotechnology indus­try it's going to be a case ofleaving thefox to guard the chickens, so to speak."• Leller to the Editor, SydneyMorning Herald, May 17

"Privatisation of resern'eh leads to gov­ernments treating CSIRO and the uni­versities as trading corporations."~ Barry Jones' speech, li'jnancialReview, June 20

last word--------"Aussie women fell heavily upon theCSIRO's beta ali stine skincare rangewhen its first three products werereleased nearly three decades ago. Theyfigured if the crusty CSIRO says it'sgood, then it must be."• The Age, June 7

the 19605 and still an important factor inthe establishment of successful vine­yards, "J'lIGEL,SCOTI;. <::PI

Renowned biochemist[)rc;olin Br_a,!yl~30-2000

DR COLIN Brady, who retired fromCSIRO in 1993, died aged 7I at hishorne in Nelson Bay on July 4.

Colin's career with CSIRO began in1951 when he joined the Flax ResearchUnit. He completed his MSc Agr inSydney and obtained his PhD from theRowett Research Institute in Aberdeen.

He was renowned as a protein bio­chemist llnd worked on a diverse rangeof plants. from bananas to wheat. Hispioneering work, with colleagues, on thefruit-softening enzyme. polygalactur­onase, led to the development of the firstcommercially released genelically modi­fied tomatoes in the US and later inBritain.

He was appointed Visiting Professor toa number of Institutions including MIT,Massachusetts, University of Malaya,DC Davis, ,md was a frequent invitedspeaker at international conferences.

He became very active in his focalenvironment as a member of the FingalBay Pinks and Reserves Committee.

...... :AN(;EL,tl.5;~CKLI;,~~1

mophilic microbes which reside in sub­maline hydrothermal vents and whichhave great potential to assist in theextraction of metals from ores. ThecLUise received widespread publicity inboth the print and electronic media inAustralia and overseas and is featured onthe front page of this CoResearch.

Dave was a warm and supportive col­league and mentor to staff.

In recognition of his exceptional lead~

ership skills and active research role,Dave was reclassified to Chief ResearchScientist the week before he died.

• DR BRUCE HOBBS, D~E,C'!E

Merbein lab veteranRonY~oodhal11,.192-'-:-2000

MR RON Woodham died recenUy inMildura where he had retired after a 46~

year association with the MerbeinLaboratory.

Ron began as a Laboratory Assistant in1937 and rejoined the division in 1948after a period away for study and in theRoyal Australian Air Force duringWWII.

Ron was recognised for his work allgrapevine viruses and virus-like dis­eases. These diseases were of increasingimportance during the expansion of vineimprovement in Australian viticulture of

The organisation began in May, 1943,when a small group of scientists based inCanberra, Melbourne and Sydney found­ed the CSIR Officers Association.

The OA banded together with theCSIRO Technical Association and thePublic Sector Union in the early 1990s,to form what is now the CSIRO StaffAssociation.

As the OA was the largest and longeststanding of these predecessor bodies inCSIRO, the Staff Association continuedwith its membership-numbering system.

• SANDY ROSS, CPSU

across the whole organisation. Itincludes awareness of the personal andfinancial costs of manual-handling inci­dents, the use of the BOSS riskwassess­ment guide and video, and cooperativeidentification and nssessments of haz~

ards within project groups.Staff and supervisors will conduct risk

assessments at their work places duringtraining.

• CAROLINE LANGLEY, CHR

THE IO,OOOth CSIRO Staff Associationmember to join up has been presentedwith a mystery flight to celebrate themilestone.

Dr David Lovell, from Mathematicaland Information Sciences, North Ryde,said it was "the icing on the cake ofassociation membership".

Past president of the association DrMichelle Smyth was awarded life mem­bership at the same function at FoodScience Australia.

There are about 3,400 StaffAssociation members.

OBITUARIES

Research leader with a broad depth of vision

Mystery flight marks nlilestol1e

BOSS to cut health and safety risks

D-,·_'2".ve[)el~~,J~I~2000

AT ABOUT midnight on July 16, whilehe was watching the eclipse of the moon,Dr Dave Dekker, Chief ResearchScientist and Mining Science Co-ordina­tor in Exploration and Mining, diedsuddenly.

It is some comfort to know that as aphysicist and a keen astronomer Davewas doing one of the things he trulyloved when he died.

Dave came to Explora\ion and Miningin 1995 from Mount Iso Mines where hewas the Engineering Research Manager.In his regrettably brief career withCSIRO, Dave sllccessfully managed asignificant research leadership role inExploration and Mining and the Mineral,Exploration and Mining Sectors.Because of the broad depth of his visionand his clear logical thinking Dave wasasked to be the Coordinator for the sectorin March this year.

Dave was also actively involved in anumber of research projects in miningautomation and the study of farsightedpotential to mine or henefit from deep­sea ore bodies. This culminated in himbeing one of the lead scientists on amulti-divisional research cruise on RVFranklin in April 2000.

Dave's main interest was in hyperther-

THE FIRST national occupational healthand safety improvement program to bedeveloped for CSIRO is being imple­mented.

BOSS (Backs, Ovel1lse Injury, Strainsand Sprains) involves a one-day trainingprogram.

The program, which was developedwith the help of pilots at three CSIROsites, will be implemented across 13divisions by June 200l and, eventually,

jtJst over 600 images in its banks." Mostcommercial sites offer more than 5000images, she said.

"Lab and field photos, black and whiteprints and historical images are all wel­come," she said.

"With CSIRO help Science ImageOnline will become Australia's premierescience image bank.

"CSIRO does have a unique collectionof images that will be of interest aroundthe world." she said.

Science Image Online, which will beofficially launched in October, is atwww.scienceirnage.csiro.auFor more information contact KateParsons on (03) 9662 7591 or atkate.parsons@publish.csiro.au

" Loans for everypurpbse" Savings & Investments'" Financial Planning'" VISA cards" Insul"ance

MembersA..ustraliaCREDITUI'ION

Call 132 888'N,,"Vl.maCU catr au

~ The ..

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CSIRO Publishing has a dynamic newonline picture library, Science ImageOnline.

The web site specialises in science andnature images and offers school students,CSIRO staff and \he media free use ofimages. There are charges for commer~

cial uses.And for each commercial transaction

completed half of the royalties go to thedivision that supplied the image.

CSIRO Pnb1ishing is asking staff toexplore filing cabinets, bOHom drawersand storage areas for photos. negativesand slides to add to the collection.

Images should be owned by CSIRO.in good condition and related to sden­tifie research.

Manager of the site Kate Parsons said:"Unfortunately. while the site's collec­tion has quality, it lacks quantity, with

383-2000

CoResearch 1------------

CSIRO a key to HIV vaccine effortA $US16 million contract to fund a trialvaccine to fight HIV and AIDS has beengiven to an Australian research groupthat includes CSIRO.

The contract is one of four made by theNational Institutes of Health (NIH), theUS government's leading medical­research-funding body. to accelerate theevaluation of potential HIV vaccines inhuman clinical trials. The other threecontracts went to US consortiums thatinclude pharmaceutical companies.

NIH has committed US$70 million tothe contracts over the next five years.

The Australian consortium, headed by

the University of New South Walesthrough the National Centre for HIVEpidemiology and Clinical Research,will trial an Australian-developed vac­cine strategy that involves a prime-and­boost approach.

The vaccine involves two injections,The first primes the immune system withDNA thut expresses HN protehls.

Dr David Boyle from CSIRO'sAustralian Animal Health Laboratory co~

developed technology for the booster inwhich a fowl pox virus will be used as avector, or transport system, to carryactive parts of the HIV vaccine, The

booster prompts the development oflarge numbers of T-ceUs to hunt downand kill the mY-infected cells.

To increase the levels of T-cells thebooster will also carry natural-immunebooster or cytokines using patented Co­X~GeneTM technology that was devel­oped by CSIRO and the AustralianNational University. Co-X-Gene™ tech­nology is licensed to Australia companyVirax Holdings.

Another Australian company, theInstitute of Drug Technology, will manu­facture the trial fowl-pax-virus vaccinesfor Virax in Melbourne.

Dr Boyle said tests have shown theprime-and-boosl vaccine to be effectivein preventing HIV infections in pre-clin­ical animal trials.

"Although we don't know exactlywhat type of immune responses arerequired to protect people against I-IIV,there is a growing body of opinion thatthe induction of high levels of T-cellswill be crucial to an effective HIV vac­cine," he said.

"The prime-and-boost vaccinationstrategy is particularly effective in induc­ing high levels ofT-cells."

The first phase of human clinical trials

will be funded through the NIH, and willdetennine if the vaccine is safe and ableto generate good T-cell responses inhumans.

Dr Boyle cautioned: "An effective pro­tective vaccine is a long way off."

It would take at least another five yearsand several hundred million dollars afterthis work has been completed to deter­mine if any of the vaccine candidates canprotect humans.

"In the meantime, it's important thatstrategies of safe sex and needle­exchange programs are maintained," hesaid.

Spanking-bad times for women

This is the second .time I have noticedthe larvae on the marell. The last timewas about four years ago when thecaterpillars were marching across theback road that leads to our storagebuilding.

Recently, the bushland behind oursite was sold and is being developedinto residential and light-industry prop­erties.

Nearly all the trees have been felledand perhaps the caterpillars hiked fromthe bushland area to the nearest wattletree next to our fencelinc, before theirhair-raising expedition across our gate­way.

conditioned by society to believe theyshould fiU only the lower positions".

People had different ideas about whatbeing a woman in CSIRO meant

"I find that being a woman is anadvantage," said one of today's seniorwomen in the organisation, "and admitfreely to using certuin feminine wiles toconvince some of the more dour gentle­men of science that they really can affordto accept readable versions of theirweighty statements." The woman inquestion had to regularly transform sci­entific jargon into simple English.

Another felt that "the job does requirea woman's touch, an understandingapproach which might be absent if amale occupied the position. The men Iwork for are gentlemen of the old school,brought up to be poHte to women.They're far less prone to blow up when awoman is present and I suppose in thisway I have the traditional view of awoman's role operating very much in myfavour." (CoResearch, July 1975).

Issues of CoResearch in the 1970sexpressed the changing attitudes ofwomen, and if the masthead of the July1975 issue is anything to go by, it was theintroduction of some radical changes forCSIRO and its women.

rom sure. she was surposed to taKe it offbefore she burnt it?

for food. The larvae of a native lepi­doptera (moth) lays its eggs on a certainwattle tree.

They hatch and climb up the tree toreach the leaves, and stay on the treeuntil they are mature enough to pupate,ar until they eat every leaf and have tofind a new tree.

When this happens, the caterpillarsall march back down the tree trunk, andfollow each other in an endless proces­sion in the search for food.

If this happens in an area with fewtrees, the caterpillars [lre doomed towalk until exhausted and, if they cannotfind n food tree, they wiII die.

Clunies Ross. "When I first joined assecretary to Sir Ian at the McMasterLaboratory, 1 had to be vetted by theChairman. When I made my first over­seas visit I had to be inspected by theMinister, no less. During the war yearswomen received equal pay, but tlus rightwas taken from us after the men cameback. It was only fully restored a yew"ago [1972]."

Up until 1974, there had never been awoman Chief, only an Acting Chief, DrRachel Makinson of the then Division ofTextile Physics. Today there are three.

International Women's Year was in1975 and a CoResearch article (July1975) reported that "equality had been agentle victory" for CSIRO's women.

"For the most prot women in CSIROare reasonably content with their work­ing conditions, especially those in theprofessional areas, but that doesn't meanthat there isn't room for improvement."

Women were, in fact, "denied the rightto work in the field, and women in tech~

nical areas were not so sure they were onan equal footing with their male counter­parts. While some felt they had achievedthe equality their qualifications medted,others found that promotion was slow."

The article said that "women were

Looking bade: The masthead from CoResearch No I94,July, 1975, was printed duringIntematlonalWomen'sYear. BELOW: This cartoon appeared in the same issue.

By Sharon Kennedy-Miles, FS~THE MARCH of the ProcessionaryCaterpillars sounds like the title of aHollywood film.

But the story unfolded in CannonHill, Brisbane, in March, as staff wereintroduced to one of our native insectsin a most unusual manner.

Bowling up to the gates, staff weregreeted by strings of silvery grey hairstretching across the bitumen roadway.

Squeamish drivers had llO alternativebut to drive over the 7m strings of fluff.

This mysterious exodus ofProcessionary Caterpillars, or Hairy orItchy caterpillars, was a suicidal search

Ciros theGreat

WOman:"CrOf amatch Ciros?

By K","-en Robinson, CN_A _A WOMAN was spanked for helpingherself to stationery, women employeeswere not allowed to wear slacks orstiletto heels and had to resign upon mar­riage or pregnancy.

These are some of the indignitiesCSJRO women have had to endure,according to back issues of CoResearch.

These incidents seem to have beenparticularly well-reported during the1970s.

CoResearch (July 1975) tells the story"of a storeman, fomlerly a very properWorld War II Royal Navy Omcer, whoguarded his premises jealously. He let ithe known - politely at fIrst- that peopledid not enter the precincts and help them­selves. Repeated offenders met with cer­tain verbal abuse and dire threats.

"When one steno-secretary refused toheed the warnings she found he meantwhat he said - she was summarHy dealtwith. The ex-RN officer put her acrosshis knee and soundly spanked her."

The Materaity Leave Act of 1973freed women from official discrimina­tion of having to resign from Australiangovernmental employment. The Act stat­ed that "the possible or actual pregnancyof a woman shall not be grounds for dis­crimination against her", but this wasdifficult to enforce, and employers had toseriously consider the consequences ofappointing women who were "pregnancyrisks",

The late Dr Helen Newton Turner, aworld authority on sheep genetics, and akey female role model in CSIRO, toldCoResearch in 1973 about her exped­ences as a young secretary to Sir Ian

Suicide caterpillars march on

383-2000

CSIRO around the nation

.-."~

o-O().0 ..• .0leu C

tee since 1977, chair for the past sixyears and was recently made a lifemeIIlbel'._ ._P~UL_HClI.P_EJ!LCAR

Measure of loecogllitionDR Barry Inglis. the Director of theNational Measurement Laboratory atLindfield NSW, has been elected to theInternational Committee for Weightsand Measures (CIPM).

CIPM is a conunittee of eminent sci­entist and metrologists elected under theConvention of the Metre to oversee theactivities of the Intemational Bureau forWeights and Measures It plays a centralrole in setting the directions of interna­tional metrology.

In the 125-year history of the conven­tion, only about 135 people have servedon the CIPM. Dr luglis is the fourthAustralian to be appointed.

- JACQUI DE BATTISTA, CTIP

Chief Executive's awardsCSlRO Chief Executive's Study Awardsare made once a year so staff can gaincareer-related training and experience.Here is a Jist of the eight awards for thisfinancial year.

Ms Kathryn Boxsell, CorporateHuman Resources, to attend theStrategic Human Resource ManagementConference and review human-resourcepractices in the USA; Ms Laura Castelli,Health Sciences & Nutrition, to attendthe Cold Spring Harbor yeast-geneticscourse and visit collaborators at theUniversity of Michigan; Mr HarryHiggins, Marine Research, to attend theASLO Aquatic Sciences Conference,USA, and visit laboratories in the US.Canada, Belgium and France; Mr AI1hurLangston, Wildlife & Ecology, to atteuda Summer School on Complex SystemsBehaviour at the Santa Fe Institute; MrRussell McCulloch. TropicalAgIiculture, t.o attend a shrimp-patholo­gy short course at the University ofArizona; Dr Jonian Nikolov, Minerals,to visit the Mintek laboratory in SouthAfrica and present a paper in Italy; MrGregory Roberts, Australian CottonResearch Institute, to conduct researchat the Frank Wise Institute, Kununurra,WA, to allow the adaptation of theNutriLOGJC program for NorthernAustralian Cotton crops; Mr StephenSpeer, CSIRO Discovery, to visit arange of teacher/scientist network pro­grams in the USA and Britain.

of Fellows of America's NationalAssociation of Corrosion Engineers.

NACE has only 106 Fellows from aworldwide memhership of 15,000.

Mr King was admitted for recognitionof his "sustained professional activity inapplied research on atmospheric corro­sivity that led to mapping proceduresand new insights into cold climateeffects" of corrosion.

Mr King, a Principal ResearchScientist with CSIRO SustainableMaterials Engineering at Highett,Melbourne, gained international recog­nition for developing the world firstAccelerated Testing Shelter system(ATS). Mr King's ATS enables acceler­ated testing of products to be conductedin the marine environment two to 10times faster than usual.

CSIRO ATS can, for instance, evalu­ate new and existing roof-fastener prod­ucts for corrosion perfonnance in six to12 months instead of years.

Mr King is also well known for hiscorrosion mapping throughout Australiaand his work in atmospheric corrosion,COITosion monitoring, conservation andheritage preservation and developmentof Australian COlTosion test standards.

Focus on measurementCSIRO's National MeasurementLaboratory hosted the prestigiousConference on PrecisionElectromagnetic Measurements(CPEM) in Sydney from May 14 to 19.

11 was CPEM's 21st anniversary and,as only the second one outside NorthAmerica or Europe, reflects recognitionof tile growing impOLtance of the AsiaPacific region to world met.rology.

Professor Ron Ekers from CSIRO'sAustralia Telescope National Facility,was one of seven plenary speakers.

The conference attracted 430 dele­gates from 43 countries, including 67delegates from Australia.

The Department of Industry, Scienceand Resources was a principal confer­ence sponsor.

-ANGELA SAMUEL,CTIP

Champion's farewellTHE Gabba scoreboard was recently litup with a farewell message for Mr BatT)'Johnson who has retired from FoodScience Australia.

Bany provided information to themeat industry for 31 years.

The industry organised one of theretirement functions for him at theGabba in Brisbane.

Speakers included an ex-chief, twogroup managers and a number of cap~

tains of industry, including a boardmember.

Mr Lawrie Stewart, of CryovacAustralia, announced an annual YoungAchiever's Award to be Ilamed inBaITY'S honour.

- BEVERLEY GEORGE,Food Science Australia

Business manager retiresAFTER a career spanning 34 years withCSIRO, Mr David Slater is retiring fromCSIRO Atmospheric Research inAspendale, where he has led the busi­ness team for more than 20 years.

David has experienced at first handvirtually all the tasks associated withsupporting a world-class research labo­ratory.

''The biggest change I've seen overthe years would have to be technologyand the increase in our contrnct work.Computing power underpins everythingwe do and there is now so much morepressure on CSIRO to commercialise il:sresearch," he said.

Mr Slater had a large role in the majorsite developments that CSIRO under­took at Aspendale in the late '80s andearly'90s.

uThe building work gave us sorelyneeded laboratory and office facilities ina stunning building that won majorarchitectural awards," he says.

He has been on the CSIROBenevolent fund management commil-

King-sized fellowCSJRO corrosion scientist George Kinghas been admitted to the exclusive club

STAFF at North Ryde have celebratedtwo awards made to RiversideCorporate Park.

The Ryder Hunt, Property Council ofAustralia National Award 2000 wasawarded to CSIRO for RiversideCorporate Park, NOlih Ryde. RiversideCorporate Park Development was alsonamed the Ryder Hunt, PropertyCouncil of Australia RecognisingBuilding Excellence -- 2000 NSWWinner.

General Manager Corporate PropertyGeorge Harley (pictured left), andDirector of APP Property Brian Taskerhad a lot to do with the success_

Genetic prizeAN ANU postgraduate student atCSJRO Entomology has won this year'sGenetic Society of Australia's $1000grant to attend an international confer­ence.

Jeremy Brownlie was awarded theSmith-White student award for his pres­entation at the Genetics Society ofAustralia conference in CanbelTa fromJuly 3 to 7.

Jeremy will use the money to travel tothe Keystone Conference on GeneticManipulation of Jnseets in February2001. He won the $150 Biorad StudentPrize at the same conference last year.

Doctor wins recognitionDR Shirley Jeffrey, from MadneResearch, has won an internationalaward and selection to th~ United StatesNational Academy of Sciences.

Dr Jeffrey becomes the thirdAustralian woman in the ZOOO-memberorganisation.

She won the Gilbert Morgan SmithMedal, which recognises excellence inmarine or freshwater research, for herresearch on microscopic algae.

DR Christine O'Keefe, fromMathematical and InformationSciences, has become the first woman towin the Medal of the AustralianMathematical Society.

"Infonnation security is a major issuein taday's digital telecommunicationenvironment," says Dr O'Keefe.

uAs businesses gather infonnation onthe marketplace and use new techniquesto infer'valuable understanding from it,they need to protect this infonnation."

Dr O'Keefe's research has providedefficient techniques to control access toimpOltant documents and infonnation.

The techniques provide high levels ofsecurity. Immense compu\ing power, farbeyond that cUlTently available, wouldbe required to overcome the securityschemes.

Dr O'Keefe can-ied out the basicresearch that earned her the medal whileat the University ofAdelaide. She joinedCSIRO's Business Intelligence Groupearlier this year to use the research toadd information security systems to thegroup's technologies for integratinginformation. "Having the chance toapply my research in pure mathematicsto real world problems in tlus way isvery exciting," she said.

"Being awarded the Medal is a greathonour. I'm thrilled."

She was one of two Australianresearchers to receive the medal thisyear.

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383-2000

CSIRO's staff newspaper Season's greetings to all our readers. No.384 Summer 2000

My job is to listen: new ChiefONE of Dr Geoff Garrett's first acts onarriving in Australia as Chief Executivedesignate was to take a straw poll of ordi­nary Aussies to find out what theythought of CSIRO. The results delightedhim and confirmed his own view thatCSIRO is "a seriously classy act".

Talking to taxi drivers and hotel door­men about their views on science andCSIRO is one of the ways Dr Garrett,very much a people-person, keeps hisfinger on the pulse. It's likely to becomea hallmark of the Garrett style of leadingthe organisation,

"CSIRO's got a brilliant brnnd and JoePublic holds the organisation in suchhigh esteem. CSIRO's reputation in theglobal scientific community is also out­standing," he says.

"This needs to be reinforced anddemonstrated with some of the decision­making players, but it's a wonderfulfoundation."

Dr Garret takes up his post on January15. Once on deck, he will embark on atour of the divisions and the main sites,starting in February, to find out whatpeople really think.. He will also be meet­ing many of CSIRO's key clients andstakeholders at the earliest opportunity.

In the Garrett approach, leadership isabout making people feel good about

, CSIRO is a treasure

chest of amazing people

and amazing innovations

that need to be

unleashed. ,

themselves as wen as about gettingresults. "I try to listen hard. It's veryimportant to understand what turns peo­ple on and how you can help people bethe best they can be," he says.

liMy job is to listen and reflect back,and then help set mutually agreed,stretching goals. We all need to stretch"

Bdtish-bom Dr Garrett, 52, has livedin South Africa for 28 years, and headedup our sister agency, CS1R, for the lastfive of these.

He strongly believes in the importanceof communicating about science and itsrole and impact with the people who,ultimately, will make use of it.

"Sometimes, as scientists, we need totake a rap on the knuckles for our inabil~

ity to adequately communicate with pas­sion and energy the excitement of ourdisciplines.

"Our psyche often tends more towardsunder-promising and over-delivering. Ibelieve we should be about promisingand delivering and shadng with morepeople the exciting things that go on inour work."

International alliances m'e especiallyimportant for countries with relativelysmall populations and economies likeSouth Africa and Australia, Dr Garrett isconvinced.

"We need to build networks andbridges and cooperate to build criticalmass," he said. "Many of these are over­seas, as well as within our own country.

"Too often science institutions tend tocompete among themselves like we doon the sports field. That's pretty stupidbecause the world is a very competitiveplace and, unless you're holding handsacross bound,uies, you can really strug­gle."

Not surprisingly, for a sports fan thatgrew up playing cricket and football andboxed for his Blue at CambridgeUniversity, the Sydney Olympics playeda part in his decision to join CSIRO.

"It was a confluence of things, but thatwas a tie-breaker," he said.

"I thought: this is a nation that can doanything and really make it happent andhave great fun in the process."

People-person: Dr Geoff Garrett believesIn the Importance of communkatlon.

The high profile of science andinnovation in the public arena was anoth­er vital factor.

"Debate is robust and there's a generalacknowledgement that science and tech~

nology will underpin an innovation­driven economy critical to competingeffectively in the global marketplace," hesays.

But the most important reason foraccepting the job was CSIRO's record ofexcellence in research and development.

"I'm hugely impressed with the peo­ple," he said. "CSIRO is a treasure chestof amazing people and amazing innova­tions that need to be unleashed."

Dr Garrett acknowledges the learningcurve ahead is steep.

"Not having a network inside or out­side the organisation, and not knowingthe political system are disadvantages.

"Fortunately Dr Colin Adam hasagreed to help me by sharing his wisdomand huge experience during the earlystages."

"But, I also come without baggage or ahistory, and that can be an advantage insome situations," he says.

"It's up to me to build my credibilityand bring a different and value-addingperspective.

"Ill the five dnys I was with CSIRO inNovember, I had many special Conversa­tions and feel like I've made some palsalready. You quickly make those connec­tions and they lead to others.

"One of the challenges ahead for all ofus will be to educate the political envi­romnent around the great and excitingthings that are happening in Australianscience," he says.

Dishing up Parkes' inside story

On track: John Bolton (CSIRO), left, and Robert Taylor (NASA) check some figures.

Stars above: Characters from The Dishgaze into the heavens.

PHOTO: Lisa Tomasetti

But there was never any animosity thatanyone would admit to between theParkes' staff and the American NASAstaff, both of whom were more numerousthan cast.

The Prime Minister went toHoneysuckle Creek for the landing, notPnrkes.

Which images were televised first tothe world continues to be a source ofcontention. But it is widely agreed thatParkes provided the best images and themajority of them. These were seell by theworld eight or nine minutes after the startof the broadcast.

When John Sarkissian spoke to theWorking Dog team about this the expla­nation was simple and reasonable.

"The story was complicated enough asit was," he was told. "We didn't want toconfuse the public."

For more details about the mission andto view original photographs visitwww.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/apollo111

The real mayor of Parkes at the time ofthe landing, Jack ScobIe, was a quiet,non-drinking lay preacher.

The movie mayor was based on theprevious mayor, Cec Moon, who lobbiedCSIRO to have d1e telescope built atParkes.

The high winds did happen. They gust­ed up to lOOkrnlh during tlle moonwalkand continued for at least 20 minutes.

The control desk was reconstructedaccurately, thanks to former staff whowere consulted.

One of them, Dave Cooke, said: "I wasamazed how accurately they built the setof the control room. That WftS eXh'aordi­nary."

NASA did provide incorrect SouthernHemisphere coordinates some timebefore the moon landing and once whenApollo 11 was on its way back to earth.

of choice among those we interviewed.John Bolton would never have pennit­

ted cricket on his dish, said those whowere there.

Operations manager John Sarkissianhas further evi.dence. "You couldn't playcricket there if you wanted to," he said.

"The surface was like chicken-wiremesh and wasn't replaced until 1973with perforated aluminium panels."

Some individuals did hit gotf balls infront of them as they walked from thetelescope to the observer's quarters forlunch.

There are no known incidents of golfballs finding their way into the dish,although former dish-driver Cliff Smithdid say mischievonsly: "The balls alwayscame back to you."

The flamboyant movie mayor ofParkes was part fact, part fiction.

!!.r Megan -cB-;-ir~dc-~c-:-----c:c----=:­THE smash hit Australian film, TheDish, tells a story of the role played byCSIRO's Parkes radiotelescope in the1969 moon landing.

Some ofthe CSIRO people involved inParkes' big moment in history have givensome new angles on the movie's storyand offered their comments on what itwas like to be there.

In the film, a diesel generator fails tokick in after a power failure. In reality,the blackout did not happen and Parkesstaff would have coped if it had, thanksto the meticulous attention to detail thetelescope's then director, John Bolton,was renowned for.

Visitors' centre manager Rick Twardysaid: "John Bolton had calculated howfast to turn the gears by hand in the eventof a power failure. But it never hap­pened."

John Bolton, called Cliff Buxton andplayed by Sam Neill in 1Ile tilm, wnsknown as the "Dish Master", but that'swhere any likeness between the two end.

Fonner senior operator Dave Cookesaid: "There was no comparison at allbetween Cliff Buxton and John Bolton.There was not a shred of indecision inJohn Bolton."

In the movie, Cliff's wife had died ayear ago. But John's wife, Letty, 82. hasoutlived her husband so far by eightyears.

She said: "My husband was a veryhandS-Oil person. He wasn't sitting theresmoking a pipe during the moonwalk. Iwas there. Everyone was flat to theboards. It was quite emotional and trau­matic in the control room."

John was a chain smoker, according toLetty, but never a pipe-smoker. He rolledhis own, and was known to break hisown rule of smoking in the control room.

Operations scientist at Parkes JohnSarkissian said: "He wouldn't have askedfor advice. He was a pioneer in his fieldand he knew exactly what he was doing.He would have just done it."

A rumour does persist that cricket wasplayed on the disb. but golf was the game

384##2000

Wine drinkers queue up

CORRECTION

"The CSIRO has been the most prolificorganisation in obtaining US patentsfrom Australian science. And the racefor funding has meant the clUsty institu­tion has emerged into the businessworld." .~ Australian Financial Review, August12.

The RV Franldin's undersea-chimneyexpedition, referred to in the last issue,was led by Dr Ray Binns, not Dr BrentMcInnes, as stated. Dr McInnes led thesecond team. which encounterd theKavachi eruption, as reported.

"The CSIRO is an adult day-care centre.You have to split it up. How can youhave four or five people working on thehuman genome? What is that going todo? You have to target areas, They areworking on every area known to man.It's nuts."- Business Review Weekly, August 18,quoting Peter FaneH, the chief execu~tive of ResMed, the largest medical­devices' group in Australia.

"CSIRO is proving through its agribusi­ness research that becoming a clevercountry can still mean riding 011 asheep's back."• The Age, September 30.

"While the CSIRO stressed that swal­lowing one was not dangerous, operadiva Yvonne Kenny was lucky her futTylittle friend chose her dress and not awarmer place to view the dosing cere­mony."- The Austl'3liau, October 3. onbogong moths.

"Investment in science and technologywas the most likely cause of the power­house economy in the US. John Howardsaid yesterday in his strongest hint yetthat he plans to increase science fund­ing."~ The Australian, August 31, MrHoward was speaking at the openingof CSIRO~sDiscovery centre.

Green-tea partyCSIRO research is the first to identifywhy green tea can lower cholesterol.

It increases the amount of a liver pfO­tein that works to clear cholesterol fromthe blood, according (0 Health Sciencesand Nutrition.

THE sexual scent of insects is cuttingdown on pesticides in commercialorchards.

Insects that plague orchards lose theurge to mate if they are bombarded withthe overpowering scent of their oppositesex, according to CSIRO entomologistDr Richard Vickers.

Pheromone-based control systems arenot suitable for domestic fmit producersbecause of the small areas involved.

instead of every decade, thanks to aCSIRO instrument to identify the initialstages of corrosion.

The instrument, developed bySustainable Materials Engineeringpromises to slash the cost of fixing rustycars and could save the aircraft industry$3 l11illiol1 an aircraft. The ScanningKelvin Probe has been likened to the dis­covery of the first electron microscope.

Sex sells

Cows left to fend for· themselves inopen paddocks are likely to lose between250 and 3IO litres of milk a year by theyear 2030 because of climate change,according to the CSIRO AtmosphericResearch study.

Toxic new homesNEW-HOME owners could be exposedto up to 20 times the allowable limit forindoor air toxins for up to 10 weeks aftertheir dream homes have been built.

Up to half a million Australians mov­ing into about 120,000 new homes eachyear could be exposed to the airbornepollutants, researcb by CSIRO Thennaland Fluids Engineering has found. Themost potent sources of toxins werepaints, adhesives and some wood-basedpanels.

Rust revolutionPAUL Hogan could have been maderedundant in his early job as a harbour­bridge painter if a new hi-tech probe hadbeen around then,

The Sydney Harbour Bridge may needa new coat of paint once every 33 years

SCORES of healthy men have volull­teered to drink red wine every day in thename of research.

The wine study could shed light oncardiovascular disease, a disease and itsrelated conditions that killed more than40.000 Australians in 1997.

"In some other research projects wedo, it's hard to get enough people;' PhDstudent Will Greenrod said.

"Bllt this time we are over-subscribedby a factor of 10."

A newspaper advertisement for nOl1­smoldng male volunteers aged between40 and 60 prompted the over-supply.

The three-month trial requires partici­pants to spend a month alcohol-free,drink two glasses of red wine a day for amonth and exercise controlled drinkingfor the next month. The study is fundedby CSIRO Health Sciences andNutrition and the Grape and WineResearch and Development Corporation.

In the mood for foodCHEERFUL men and miserable womenare likely to fight over junk food.

Men are more likely to eat snackfoods when they are happy and womenare more likely to eat sweet foods whenthey are sad, according to a speaker atthe recent CSIRO Food Ind\1stryConference.

Professor Larry Christensen said:"Both men and women are more likelyto eat vegetarian foods after a happyevent than after a sad event."

His research showed that emotionaldistress creates a craving for carbohy­drate and fat-rich snack food, whichtemporarily relieve some of the symp­toms.

"When the symptoms retum, the cyclebegins again," Professor Christensen,the chair of psychology at the Universityof South Alabama, said.

Milk down as cows heat upcows that are pampered by their farm­ers with shade sheds and sprinklers pro­duce between 190 and 220 litres moremilk a year than cows left exposed inpaddocks.

CSIRO National Awareness is calling onall staff to become a part of history byjoining our search-anci-rescue missionfor old photographs.

Start rununaging through old filingcabinets, bottom drawers and albums.

Author and historian Brad Collis willproduce a narrative history of ourscientific achievements next year inCSIRO's 75th anniversary.

The book will be published mid-nextyear. It will be about 300 pages long.include 16 chapters and up to 70 photos.

We are looking for private and divi­sional photographs that cover all majorareas of CSIRO research.

In particular, photos of people inaction in the general fields of biologicalcontrol, entomology, wildlife, animalproduction, textiles, crops and pastures,forestry, northern development, fish­eries and oceanography, atmosphericresearch, radio astronomy, food, miner­als, manufacturing and general instru­mental wizardry are sought.

We also plan to produce a separatepictorial history of CSIRO, so photo­graphs will be considered for bothprojects.

Please send your pies along withinformation on what they are of to MsKaren Robinson, CSIRO NationalAwareness, PO Box 225, Dickson, ACT2602. For more information phone(02) 6276 6108, or e-mailKaren.Robinson@cc.csiro.au. Allphotographs will be retumed.

Picture this: A Division of Plant Industryproject ploughs on In Cowra In 1940. Oldphotographs are being sought for Inclu­sion In an anniversary boo}<.

Wanted: oldphotographs

Gold-medal honours for CSIRO staff OBITUARIES Dr DougWaterhouse 1916·2000

Entomology mourns former chiefHis visionary approach to biological

control has seen huge pay-offs, not onlyto Australia in terms of pest and weedmanagement, but also to many of ourneighbouring countries, especially thePacific island natio11S, where projectshave restored local economies. His latestbook, jointly authored withEntomology's Dr Don Sands. is on thissubject and will be published next year.

Dr Waterhouse was recognised global­ly for his leadership in science by hiselectiol) as a Fellow of the RoyalSociety, Fcl10w of the AustralianAcademy of Science and FeJIow of theAustralian Academy of TechnologicillSciences and Engineering.

He was made an Officer of the Orderof Australia (AO) in 1980 and publishedmore than 100 scientific papers and sev­eral books.

He was instrumental in the establish­ment of the Canberra College ofAdvanced Education, now theUniversity of CanbclTa.

He is survived by his wife Dawn, theirdaughter Jill, and S021S Douglas,Jonathon and Gowrie, and their families.

• MALCOLM ROBERTSON, CE

DR Doug Waterhouse, a past Chief ofCSIRO Entomology and the inventor ofthe active ingredient in the insect repel­lant Aerogard, died in Canberra onDecember 1 at the age of 84.

Affectionately known as "Father" dur­ing his time as Chief, Dr Waterhousedevoted his life to applying the scienceof entomology to solving practical prob­lems faced by people in Australia and inthe developing nations.

He will be remembered for much morethan his invention of the active ingredi­ent in Aerogard, but this one contributionepitomises his whole approach to sci­ence, the need to apply results so that weall benefit.

As Chief of Entomology for 21 yearsfrom 1960 to 1981 Dr Waterhouse cham­pioned a number of research programsthat continue to have lasting benefits toAustralian agriculture, to our unique bio­diversity, and to all Australians,

He was the driving force behind theestablishment of the Australian NationalInsect Collection in 1962, part ofCSIROEntomology, as a permanent entity todevelop an understanding of Australia'sinsect biodiversity.

his research innovations and commer­cialisation of biostable polymers formedical implants.

• Tf-ill Low-Emissions Vehicle Teamwon the 2000 Chairman's Medal for pro­ducing the complete powertrains for theECOmmodore and the aXcessaustraliacar. There were fonr 2000 CSIRO Medalwinners: the Amphibian DiseaseResearch Team, High-PerformanceWireless LANS Team, Magmetal ProjectTeam and BHP's Team Falcon, the exter­nal medal winner.

• DR ROBERT Leicester, fromBuilding Constmction and Engineering,won the A$373.7I8 Marcus WallenbergPrize. The King of Sweden presented DrLeicester with the prize for his work intoaspects of building-performance engi­neering for wood structures.

• AT the 10th Australian CottonGrowers Research Association CottonConference, Dr Joanne Daly, fromEntomology, was presented with the1999 Researcher of Year Award for herwork over 18 years on insect geneticsand resistance, Dr Ian Rochester, fromPlant Industry, won the 2000 Researcherof the Year Award for his work over 17years on cotton rotation crops andnutritioll.

• THE Sir Ian McLennanAchievement for Industry Award waspresented to Dr Tony Miller, fromMathematical and Infonnation Sciences,for his pioneeIing research on spectaclelens design. Clearer vision for millionsof people who wear progressive lenses isthe result of Dr Miller's research. It con­tributed to nearly $1 billion worth of lenssales a year for SOLA International, aworld-leading spectacle lens company.

A Certificate of Commendation wasawarded to Dr Pathiraja Gunatillake for

Visionary: Mathematician Dr Tony Miller

Mr Bryan Loft, Dr Mike Skalsky, DrGreg Simpson, Dr Tom Spurling Dr JackSteele ill1d Dr Donald Brown. Mr TrevorThacker won the Customer-Relationsh.ipManagement Award.

SPORTING medals were not the onlyaccolades this spring as CSIRO staff wondozens of prestigious scientific awards.

• DR Jim Peacock and Dr LizDennis, from Plant Industry, shared theinaugural $300,000 Prime Minister'sPrize for Science, for work that couldhelp boost the world grain harvest. Thepair were awarded the prize for theirwork in plant molecular biology, prima­rily for discovering a key gene in plantsthat controls flowering.

• THREE international commercialinitiatives expected to eam more than$700m from exports won CSIRO's inau­gural Commercial Excellence Awards.

The award-winners me CSIRO's FoodInto Asia program, expected to delivermore than $670m in new eomillgs forAustralian exporters; new reJationship­management strategies leading to con­tracts with the Boeing Company totalling$37m; and a new biomedical spin~off

company, Elastomedic, earning CSIRO$6.8m.

The Marketing & BusinessDevelopment Award was won by RusselRankin, Stephan Wellink and JudyMarcllre. The Technology-TransferAward was given to Dr Gordon Meijs, DrSimon Carroll, Dr Pathiraja Gunatillake.

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A CENTURY of global wealth based oneasy oil and metal is over and Australiamust find alternative technologies forenergy or go nuclear.

The ideal wonld be to develop ahydrogen-based economy.

These were some of Dr Bruce Hobbs'comments during the recent annualBrodie Hall Address in Perth. DeputyChief Executive of Minerals and EnergyDr Hobbs said: "The minerals' industryis referred to as part of the old economy."

For the next decade the future of mill-

ing and energy in Australia depended ontechnological advances through the neweconomy, he said. To do this mining hadto target a zero emissions, zero wastepolicy.

Dr Hobbs outlined the Glass EarthProject, a strategy to get Australia to2025, based on his projections ofAustralia's population being 25 million.The project is the work of 100 scientists.

"The time has come to stop talkingabout green power and start acting," DrHohbs said.

Glass earth:The prolect is the wor/< of100 scientists.

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CoResearch 3

Tribute tothe greatsTWO former CSIRO scientists werepart of an exhibition honouring great20th Century Australian scientists.

Joseph Pawsey and Sir Ian Wack fea­tured in the National Portrait Gallery'sCavalcade Of Scientists' exhibition inCanbelTa.

Sir Ian's knighthood medal and a let­ter relating to it, the Pawsey Medal andsome old phDtographs were some of thefeatures of the exhibition.

Sir Douglas Mawson's balaclava,Professor Fiona Stanley's portrait andan early prototype of Graeme Clark'sbionic ear were other highlights.

Curator Magda Keaney said: "Wehave tried to include something that rep­resented each scientist's wDrk as well astheir private lives to create a balancebetween the accolades and the more per­sDnal things".

Radiophysicist and radio astronomerJoseph Pawsey (1908-1962) pioneeredleadership of the Radiophysics Divisionof CS1R from 1940.

Chemist and mineralogist Sir IanWark (1899-1985) joined CSIR in 1939to establish chemistry research for thebenefit of Australian industry.

The exhibition, part of the TallPoppies Campaign, was recently at OldParliament House.

The art ofhome brew

Mixed business: Dr Mark Hibberd gmwshops to flavour his award-winning brews.

DR Mark Hibberd is an atmospheric sci­entist, with interests in fluid mechanics.In his spare time he is interested in flu­ids of an amber hue.

Yes, Mark brews his own beer. Andcider. And mead. He does it so well thatin October he won the Best BrewerAward at the Victorian AmateurBrewing Cham.pionships.

:'1 started brewing about six yearsago. It's a nice mixture of art and sci­ence," he said. "1 like to brew beers withlots of flavDur, styles you can't buy."

Colleagues at CSlRO AtmosphericResearch believe that Mark is the idealperson to be president of their socialclub. He generously provides samples ofhis craft fDr after-work functions.

- PAUL HOlPER, CARCoReseal'ch has ulldertaken to

feature the creative endeavours ofCSIRO staff. We know about troupes ofjugglers and dancers, a couple ofpainters, writers and singers. Let us'know about others. Contact Megan Birdat hiho@dynamite.com.au or phone(02) 62844113.

Village life: (left to right) TreasurerHayden Smith, l'esldent Beryl Robertsonand secretary David Evans celebrate theproject's extension.

cats during dry seasons. When droughtsbroke, weakened native populations hadlittle chance to rebuild against predatorsthat had suryived in great numbers onrabbits.

The Mala population found byNewsome and Sharman was also hit byfDxes not long after its discovery and hasonly been saved from total extinctionthrough a breeding program started byKen Johnson, a researcher from NorthernTerritory Parks and Wildlife,

The species' hold on life remains tellU­OUS, but there are hopes a larger breedingprogram in a predator-free environmenton Trimouille Island off the WesternAustralian CDast will eventually build upMala numbers.

The stmggle by Australian wildlife tosurvive European settlement has becomean epic saga and Mala came to representthe perilous state of all small native ani­mals on this continent. However, forNewsome it was just the start of a per­sonal journey of discovery that time andagain drew public and scientific attentionto the uniqueness of many Australiancreatures.

Newsome spent years explaining topastDralists that the dingo was in facttheir ally against foxes, cats, rabbits andexcessive kangaroo numbers.

Newsome is now retired and living inCanberra. He went into the desert with ascientist's dispassion, and came out witha philosopher's sorrow.

During his time in central Australia thered deselt became his home: "When mytime comes, that's where I want to takemy last walk," he said, at the start of hisretirement.

BiologistAlan Newsome Photo: Brad Collis

"Anyway, Murray jumps and out runsthis little animal, a Mala, which tenrsaway across the scrub. I was staggered.We asked what else was around and hesaid, 'walbagiri', the Aranda name forbilby. This was amazing. He also shDwedus tracks of the palcufll, a little bandicootalso thought to be extinct."

Regrettably, 30 years later, the palcuruis extinct - as are at least 23 species ofvertebrates, mDstly small mammals andmarsupials unique to the Australian con­tinent and wiped out by the impact ofEuropefll1 settlement.

Evidence, much of it gathered over theyears by Newsome, painted to the devas­tating impact Df overstocking a fragilelandscape with cattle that destroyed thesmall marsupials' shelter. Newsome hadobserved just how defenceless this hadmade them against the unholy trinity ofintroduced faxes, feral cats and rabbits.The rabbits were also prey for faxes and

units dDnate about one-third of buildingcosts.

When they stay for less than 10 yearsthe donation is refunded, less 10 per centa year for the period of occupancy.

An independent cDrrunittee of mostlyCSIRO staff and some Geelong-basedprofessionals such as dDctors, lawyersand health workers run the non-profitventure. The committee plans to build anactivity centre and provide an on-sitemanager when more funds are available.

This expansiDn, its fifth, was fundedby a loan from Members Australia CreditUnion, fOlmerly Sirocredit.

"And it really makes all the hard workworthwhile to see our residents gain animproved quality of life in such a low­cost and secure environment."

Half of the units are reserved fDr finan­cially disadvantaged tenants.

"The project was initially planned forCSIRO retirees," Hayden said.

But Dnly one such tenant has movedin. and she did that last month.

uThe philosophy of Sirovilla is to pro­vide active senior citizens with inde­pendent accommodation at minimumcost," Hayden said.

Self-sponsors who occupy the other

habits, and links with other stories thatinstructed people how to live with thisland.

Newsome's introduction to the centralAustralian desert came after he left llni~

versity in the mid-1950s and gained ajobwith the animal-industry branch Df theNorthern Territory Administration. Hewas sent into the hot, lonely landscape tolearn, and developed an abiding passionfor the desert, its people and its creatures.

It was during this period that heentered central-Australian folklore aftermaking one Df the most remarkablewildlife discoveries Df the century.

A noted reproductive physiologistfrom Adelaide University, GeoffSharman, agreed tD be his masters'supervisor. In 1959 the pair went into theTanami Desert. Sharman also hoped tofind a sman, rare faHailed marsupialcalled a dasycercus,

Newsome recalled: "It was October,very hDt and no trees. The only shadewas from these massive termite mounds.So we were alDngside one of these tryingto grab some shade in which to eat a bitof food and I noticed a sand dune a littleway olf.

"This was unusual. It wasn't sand­dune cDuntry. So we drove Dver and therewere tracks all over it, tracks we didn'trecognise, although we could see it wassome kind of wallaby."

The two men drove IOOkm to a cattlestation and returned with a tracker namedMurray. On being shown the strangetracks he simply said, "Oh, Mala."

The Mala, known by whites as theRufus Hare Wallaby, was supposed to beextinct.

AN innovative community retirementvillage in the heart of Belmont, Geelong,has just opened six new units, thanks tothe efforts of CSIRO staff in Geelong.

Sirovilla is home to almost 50 resi­dents who occupy 39 one and tWD-bed­room unils.

Mr Hayden Smith, from Textile &Fibre Technology, said a decade of fash­ion parades, art shows, fairs, otherfundraising activities and gDvemmentgrants had laid the village's foundations.

"CSIRO staff have really been thedriving force behind the development ofSiroviUa," he said.

Red centre of knowledgeBy Il~~~ Collis_._____ _SOME of Australia's most eminentwildlife researchers and ecologists gath­ered in Callbena in October to celebratethe life and work of biologist AlanNewsome, who recently retired fromWildlife & Ecology.

In a career spanning 40 years Alanbecame one of Australia's leadingauthorities on t.he red kangaroo, dingoesand pred£llor-prey relationships.

At the start of his career in the early19505 Alan was a young biologist drawnto Australia's red centre by its ecologicalmysteries. He developed a close bondwith the Aboriginal communities and, ashe gently probed their ancient, sacredstories, he discovered an enormoussource of knowledge.

Newsome penned his observations in acontroversial 1980 paper, The Eco­Mythology Of The Red Kangaroo InCentral Australia, which explored theAjaiijourney. It was to become a grolll1d­breaking treatise in its use of Aboriginalmythology to throw new light on toecological puzzles.

He became one of the fIrst scientists inAustralia to realise that much of theknowledge needed to beHer manage theland and its ecosystems already existed.

In tracing the red kangaroo's mytholo­gy, he was able to establish the first bio­logical profile of this, Australia's largest,native mammal. The totemic sites, andthe stories and songs that accompanyeach site, were components of a biggerpicture which, when pieced together,gave n detailed account of red-kangarooecology ~ social habits, breedingpattems, migration, diet and eating

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CSIRO around the nation•••

Tactical responseFARMERS and land-managers havebeen offered a package of tactics, pres­ent and future, for combating the threatof rising salinity in the Murray-DarlingBasin.

These methods are outlined in therecent CSIRO report, A Revolution inLand Use: Emerging Land Use Systemsfor Managing Dryland Salinity by DrRichard Stirzaker, Dr Ted Lefroy, DrBrian Keating, and Dr John Williams.

Copies are available by phoning MsMargaret Bryant on (08) 9333 6215.

FOOD Science Australia's marketingmanager Ms Judy Marcure has pub­lished a professional marketing resourcefor R&D organisations.

Marketing Scientific Results AndServices: A Toolkit, was co~authored byJudy and Mr BlUce Davies from theBerkeley National Laboratory in the US.

Head of tl,e Berkeley lab Dr CharlesShank said the book demonstrated howcommercial expertise could operatealongside scientific excellence in R&Dlabs.

The collaboration is the result ofJudy's secondment to Berkeley in 1996on a CSIRO Chief Executive's StudyAward.

For more information visithttp://www.calibrecornm,com/>www.calibrecomm.com

On the market

The Black Mountain Cup was won inCanberra by the new division.

A new category for this year's event.the Chiefs' Challenge, was won by thedivision's chief, Dr Steve Morton.

And the first runller home was StuartDoyle, from Sustainable Ecosystems, in19min 50sec.

The first woman horne was CarolHarding, from Plant Industry, in 25min49sec.

The event is open to all divisionsthroughout Australia, and the best fourrunners home from each team are count­ed towards the Cup's tally.

Other events are held for walkers andmountain-bikers and the day is cappedoff with a barbecue.

" NERIDA GIBB, CE

Take your measureANOTHER close contender for our cap­tion competition was this one, sent in byJan Brett.

Just how long is a piece of elastic?This is the conundrum Mr Ron Cookand Mr Walter Giardini have beensetting scores of groups during shortmeasurement-uncertainty courses.

The 50th course was recently run inHong Kong by the NationalMeasurement Laboratory, part ofCSIRO Telecommunications andIndustrial Physics.

They have been run throughoutAustralia and in Pl!fts of Asia for thepast seven years.

The courses place emphasis on stu­dents achieving competence in makinguncertainty calculations according torecommendations of the internationallyrecognised ISO Guide To TheExpression Of Uncertainty InMeasurement.

Any scientific, technical or engineer­ing staff who are required to make for­mal estimates of their measurementuncertainties would benefit from attend­ing one of the three-day courses.

The one-day course is suitable forlaboratory managers, quality-assurancestaff and others requiring a generalknowledge. For more informationphone (03) 9545 2965, fax(03) 9544 [[28 or e-mailjan.brett@mst.csiro.au

New division dominatesCSIRO's newest division, SustainableEcosystems, dominated the field recent­ly at CSlROFIT's premier annual eventin the fight against flab.

Industry open dayMORE than 100 people went toManufacturing Science & Technology'srecent industry open day in Adelaide.

It featured tours, seminars and exhibi­tions.

Depnty Chief Allan Mnrton said:"The response from industry visitorswas quite positive. In particular, thesmooth and expert operation of the var­ious welding and cutting equipmentcaused favourable comment."

One staff member sent in the abovephotograph with her own cornie caption:"The Kelly Gang witnesses robotic pipewelding." _

researcher Dr Keith Weller retired fromCSIRO Minerals on September 21 aftermore than 36 years' service.

Keith graduated from the Universityof Adelaide in chemical and metallurgi­cal engineering and built his career incomminution practice.

He has left a legacy of fundamentalresearch that has had a significantimpact on industrial practice.

Unaccustomed as I am

Researcher retiresWORLD-RENOWNED comminution

McIntosh prize winnerTHE inaugural winner nf tbe $35,000Malcolm McIntosh Prize forAchievement in the Physical Science isDr Brian Schmidt, a Fellow at MountStromlo and Siding SpringObservatories.

Dr Schmidt led one of two interna­tional teams that concluded the universeis expanding at a continually accelerat­ing rate, a reversal of accepted thinking.

"I hope I'm worthy of a prize bearingthe name Malcolm Mclntosh," DrSchmidt said. "He was an amazing!l'!J'.'~' _

Olympic effortTELECOMMUNICATIONS &Industrial Physics (TIP) were involvedin both the men's and women's Olympicmarathons.

TIP staff produced the liquid hydro­gen needed to power two concept carsthat led the races.

Liquid hydrogen is not normallyavailable in Australia.

Producing it involved a tonne ofimported cryogenic equipment, twoconcept cars and about a dozen Opelengineers from Germany.

This collaboration arose through thedivision's strong relationship withGeneral Motors Holden to develop theECOrnmodore, a hybrid electric vehicle.

The Olympics Opel engineers treateda few CSIRO staff to rides in theHydroGenl before shipping both cars totheir next destination.

The vehicle was unveiled at theGeneva Motor Show in March. It uses a55kW electric motor and a hydrogen-airfuel cell. It has a range of about 400kmall a "full tank", or 70 litres, of liquidhydrogen.

A CSIRO public-speaking club wasrecently inducted into RostrumAustralia.

The YalTnlumla Rostrum Club wasformed by Canben:a staff at Forestry andForestry Products.

It meets ansite every fortnight anduses divisional facilities, such aslecterns and visual equipment, todevelop and practice a range of presen­tation skills.

Members are guided by more experi­enced members and given feedback onhow to improve presentation ilnd speecharchitecture and 011 the importance ofbody language and voice control indelivery and emphasis.

Club president Mr Mike Connell said:"The gain in poise and confidencewould benefit anyone's career path."

Some staff use meetings to practiceand improve delivery of a paper or pres­entation for a conference, workshop,dinner or field day.

HMany CSIRO people desire to, or 8rerequired to, present their research resultsto their peers, make submissions seek­ing financial backing, or infonu the gen­eral public," Mike said.

He is happy to advise other staff aboutsetting up similar clubs, and can be con­tacted at mike.connell@ffp.csiro.au

o

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384-2000