Snapshot issue 03.16

01 Customers

A collection of desktop electronics including tablet, laptop and smart phone.

Automation won’t destroy jobs - it will change them

It’s easy to buy into the doom and gloom vision of work in the future, one dominated by technology-induced unemployment. However, a report by our Futures team paints a much more positive and exciting vision – one where job creation will outpace job destruction. In simple terms, we believe the routine, repetitive and rules-based tasks will be susceptible to automation. But tasks involving creativity, complexity, judgement and social interaction will be beyond the scope of robots, and these jobs will grow in number. This means more opportunities for an agile, flexible and nimble workforce able to cross professional and industry boundaries quickly and smoothly. Is your business ready? Can we help?

02 Research

Hand drawn rendering of a bat

Bat super immunity could help people

Bats are really, really good at carrying disease. From rabies to Ebola to Hendra, our flying friends have evolved the ability to host – but remain unaffected by – dozens of nasty bugs that can spell death for us humans. Thanks to an international research effort we now understand how this ‘super immunity’ works – and that could lead to fundamental changes in how we protect people from infectious diseases. It’s all about the bat, man

The Parkes radio telescope

Fast radio bursts to weigh the Universe

Every day thousands of spectacular flashes emitting as much energy in a millisecond as our sun does in 10,000 years are taking place all across the sky. These elusive fast radio bursts (FRBs) have only been detected 16 times since the first one was discovered by our Parkes telescope in 2007. Now, for the first time, scientists have pinpointed the location of an FRB, confirming that they originate in the distant Universe. Why this means we can weigh the Universe

03 Discoveries

EUREKA!! Einstein's gravitational waves theory proven

04 People

Mark Clements in greenhouse with orchids

Medal win for orchid hunter

One man, 40 years and thousands of orchid specimens. Congratulations to Mark Clements who was awarded the prestigious Westonbirt Orchid Medal in London for his contribution to science. His life’s work has helped unravel the evolutionary relationships among orchids, to understand their biodiversity and improve their conservation and management. More on Mark and his orchids

Jobs

Be part of our energy future

We’re looking for a senior research scientist to join our world-class Hydraulic Fracturing team. You’ll work closely with international research teams and industry, pioneering new applications for caving-type mining operations, gas drainage, geothermal reservoir development and unconventional gas stimulation methods.

Big picture thinking welcome

Are you an innovator who knows the ins and outs of financial structures, service delivery opportunities and competitive intelligence? We’re looking for an Executive Manager, Strategy for our Business and Infrastructure Services team. The position will have a property and environmental sustainability focus.

05 Participate

Petrie dish with pink agar showing colonies of salmonella

Salmonella: protect against it

Lettuce, raw egg mayonnaise, a pinkish chicken breast – a common factor unites the three: Salmonella. This terrifying food-borne illness can lead to hospitalisation, and in some severe cases, death. Brush up on your food safety knowledge

The Infinity swing at night

Swingin’ in style in Brisbane

Why should Sydney and Melbourne get all the fun? Our kind-of-famous Infinity Swing has made its way up to Brisbane, as part of the World Science Festival. For five days you can swing your heart out AND generate some electricity. Get those dates in your diary

Watch Australia’s ‘Big Ben’ erupts
3D computer height map of the Big Ben volcano

We blog about news, the universe, big ships and more.