CSIRO Alumni
Welcome to the July 2019 CSIRO Alumni newsletter.
Within CSIRO we understand the importance of collaboration; bringing together teams and combining their knowledge and skills to achieve more innovative solutions and better results. Looking to our alumni community we encourage you to take the opportunity to engage with each other across the network. Our alumni members have a vast range of experience and expertise – who knows what one conversation could lead to?
Read below to find out about our networking events and other opportunities to connect with alumni.
What will Australia be like economically, socially and environmentally in 2060? Read our recently released 2019 Australian National Outlook and find out how we can work together to ensure Australia has a great future.
In our last newsletter we featured our team from the USA, and in this edition you can read about our CSIRO Singapore office who are making an impact in Asia.
Since our launch in November 2018 we have listed over 190 events on our alumni calendar.
We are always keen to hear about events and help promote them through the website. So, let us know if you are organising events, speaking at conferences or hosting an exhibition stand. Just use the ‘create an event’ button on our website to give us the details and we’ll add it to the online calendar.
Upcoming events
21 July: Australia & Apollo 11 - On 21 July 2019, it will be 50 years since humankind’s first steps on the Moon. Australia played an important role in helping NASA reach the Moon and send TV images to 600 million people around the world. Learn more about Australia’s role in the Apollo 11 program by visiting some of the sites involved, and taking part in the exciting and educational activities planned.
8 Aug: Advances in Digital Agriculture - The annual WA Alumni mid-year seminar will be held at Floreat.
15 Aug: Image and Video Analytics - A joint STITC and CSIRO Alumni Event in Melbourne. Science-oriented developments in image and video analysis: from nano-materials discovery to speeding-up recovery from joint replacements.
In case you missed it
2 May: Scientific AI - The CSIRO Alumni network is a co-sponsor of the Sci+Tech in the City series. This event looked in a practical and hype-free way at the application of AI techniques to scientific discovery and the application of science to real-world innovation and problem-solving. Look out for more events in this series.
We have been featuring a series of alumni profiles on our CSIRO LinkedIn pages.
After leaving CSIRO, our alumni go on to do some incredible things. Visit our alumni stories pages and find out what some of our former colleagues did next.
Kate Taylor is now Director, Research Strategy, at the University of Melbourne and a member of our CSIRO Alumni network.
Sebastien Ourselin is now Head of the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London.
Silvia Marchesan is now Associate Professor in Organic Chemistry, University of Trieste, and was recently named one of Nature's rising stars in science.
Cedric Pradalier is now Associate Professor at Georgia Tech Lorraine. As Head of Robotics Research in the DREAM Lab he contributes to the research in mobile robotics by the development of real systems.
Piers Barnes is now a Lecturer in Experimental Solid State Physics at Imperial College London.
Michelle Carter joined KPMG within their Innovate team and volunteers as a mentor with ON teams.
Have you got a story you’d like to share? Let us know what you’re doing now - join our professional alumni network to reconnect with your former colleagues, attend reunions and events, and share your experience and expertise with our community.
One way that CSIRO demonstrates its value to our nation is when our scientists win prestigious prizes and fellowships. Many of our young scientists are hesitant to apply as they find writing applications daunting for a variety of reasons.
Alumni can contribute significantly to CSIRO’s early career scientists’ ability to win by sharing their considerable knowledge and experience as Expert Advisors.
How the programme works:
When a CSIRO researcher or team requests advice for a major prize or fellowship, they are matched to an Expert Advisor, who is then invited to work with the CSIRO researcher or team to help develop their prize nomination, fellowship application or funding proposal. The program is entirely voluntary for both parties.
“It’s great we have alumni members who are interested in sharing their experience to help the Research Office. We’re looking forward to bringing in their expertise for our prize nominations in 2019”, Dr Cathy Foley - Chief Scientist, CSIRO
There are many other ways you can get involved with CSIRO programs and activities. Check out the wide range of opportunities on the alumni website.
Our alumni network now has over 4,000 members!
And you already all have one thing in common. So, make the most of this opportunity to build your professional network and meet other members who can help you with advice or introductions. Use the online community to search and connect with like-minded individuals.
Join us at one of the many events listed on the calendar or start a conversation through our online discussion forum. You can join groups based on your area of interest or create your own – as some of our alumni have already done – check out the Western Australian, Melbourne and Woodville groups.
We know that great science requires collaboration, but the first step of initiating a conversation is often the hardest. Here's some tips to increase your confidence and help you get the most out of networking with your peers.
Australian science and technology is front and centre in ASEAN as CSIRO grows its presence in the region. Led by our team in Singapore, and strengthened by teams in Vietnam and Indonesia, Australia's national science agency plays a critical role in the Australian Government's commitment to collaboration with ASEAN members to enhance regional security and prosperity.
CSIRO is building on the strong foundation of our existing partnerships with ASEAN governments, research institutes and businesses to build the region's scientific excellence, pathways to market and collaborative networks. CSIRO's deep connections across the Australian innovation ecosystem provide an entry into all Australian universities, major Australian industries and Australian start-ups and spin-outs through CSIRO's sci-tech accelerator ON and Main Sequence Ventures fund.
Stay connected to CSIRO news and events in the region by subscribing to the quarterly ASEAN newsletter at asean@csiro.au
Latest news
Australia's National Science Agency Sets up base in Singapore to Lead ASEAN Innovation Drive
Aus4Innovation: CSIRO is working closely with DFAT to share public sector knowledge and experience between Australia and Vietnam to strengthen our innovation systems and deepen research linkages and private sector connections, as we utilise the benefits of new technology to build the economy of the future.
CSIRO's Data61 Launches Vietnam's Future Digital Economy
A*STAR & CSIRO Announce Partnership in Innovative Foods for Health