PM's plea for innovation, agility, disruption answered by CSIRO/BOM outcome

CSIRO boss Larry Marshall.

Australia’s PM has repeatedly called for innovation, agility, and disruption.

Malcolm Turnbull, along with others in the government should be smiling as the CSIRO has enacted what he proposed.

CSIRO boss, Dr Larry Marshall, brought disruption to the organization announcing that its emphasis on climate change research would change saying: “We must focus our work on areas of the most benefit and sometimes this means making some tough choices, making changes and most importantly looking 20 years ahead to what Australia will need.”

“CSIRO is working on tomorrow. For example, our world leading solar thermal technology has already attracted exports, we are using sky cameras to better integrate solar into our grids, we are working on methods to control fugitive emissions from mining activities, and we are dramatically reducing energy and chemical use, and greenhouse gas emissions in the minerals industry through smart ore sorting technology. Each of these technologies is addressing a fundamental need that faces society now, climate change mitigation,” he said.

What he doesn’t say, however, that Australia’s world-class climate change scientific and research departments within the organization will be scaled back and the emphasis will be on aligning its work with Australia’s market-driven, profit-based economy.

Malcolm Turnbull would be delighted as the changes forced upon the CSIRO (“forced” has many interpretations) such as his innovative, agile and disruptional goals have been achieved, but at a cost, both personal and through the erosion of Australia’s position on the climate change scientific hierarchy.

Mr Turnbull’s push for innovation appears to be answered with another government organization, which obviously recognizes the value of the CSIRO’s climate change research, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is planning to pick up its work.

With BOM valuing and in need of the CSIRO research it will, in an agile and  innovative move, take on that research – the PM will be pleased – Robert McLean.

Read the story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Bureau of Meteorology plan to take over CSIRO climate change research.”