01 Customers

Clear waters ahead with Graphair

Currently, about 2.1 billion people don’t have clean and safe drinking water. As a result, millions die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene every year. In a massive breakthrough, our researchers have used a patented form of the 'wonder material' graphene, called GraphAir, as an extraordinarily effective filter that supercharges water purification. GraphAir films could help create clean drinking water in a single step, regardless of how dirty the water once was. All that’s needed is heat, our graphene, a membrane filter and a small water pump.

02 Research

World-first white shark count

By comparing the genetic data of juvenile white sharks, our researchers have been able to give the first definitive baseline estimate of the population of this infamous fish in Australian waters. Until now, it had been almost impossible to say whether white shark numbers were increasing or decreasing. But thanks to this fresh starting point, we can help balance the competing goals of conservation and human protection. So just how many sharks are there?

First stars of the Universe

Witnessing the birth of the very first stars of our Universe may sound a little far fetched, but a team of US astronomers has done just that. A new-found signal, detected using our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in remote WA, marks the closest astronomers have seen to the cosmic dawn - coming from 13.6 billion years back in the Universe’s history. Understanding the first stars is key to understanding the full story of our cosmic origins.

03 Discoveries

04 People

Researchers pressing for change

Now, more than ever, there's a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. #PressforProgress is motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive - and we are making progress. Women are changing the world every day. And not because they’re women, but because they’re working on curing diseases, saving the environment, exploring the skies, and developing new technology and industries. We’re lucky enough that some of these incredible women work right here.

JOBS

Food for thought

The Research Director of Nutrition & Health based in Adelaide will report to the Director Health & Biosecurity and be responsible for programs for industry, government and the community. You will develop and manage a portfolio and pipeline of science, projects and external relationships. A key responsibility is to promote collaborations to bring the best internal and external capability those projects and clients.

Join the space race

CSIRO’s Centre for Earth Observation has a new position for a Satellite Operations and Data Manager. You will manage CSIRO’s new requirements for satellite tasking, downlink and data distribution, initially for the NovaSAR satellite. Coordinating operations and data services for future CubeSats or EO satellite partnerships that CSIRO is planning to join, including domestic and international aerospace industry sectors, will be part of the job.

05 Participate

Listeria outbreak: what you need to know

Listeria monocytogenes, along with Salmonella, is responsible for more deaths in Australia than any other food-borne disease, each accounting for about 15 deaths per year. So what can you do at home to reduce your risk of food-borne illness? Key food safety tips include washing your hands, storing food that is meant to be chilled (like salad bags) at five degrees or colder, cooking food properly and keeping raw and cooked foods separate during storage and preparation. Find out more.

How your home could help power the grid

Household batteries can help minimise the effects of ‘ramping events’, which are large and sudden changes in load and energy generation. This can happen when the sun plays ‘peek-a-boo’ with the clouds and solar energy drops in and out; or the more predictable change that occurs when solar production drops at night. Batteries can also provide energy when demand is expected to peak. This can reduce the costs to maintain the electricity network, as well as our household electricity bills.

Watch BHP Billiton Foundation Science and Engineering Awards