Our 2020 CSIRO Award winners have been announced!
This year has tested all of us, both professionally and personally. But now, as we celebrate the 35th CSIRO Awards, I am filled with pride at the achievements of Team CSIRO.
The CSIRO Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of our people and partners who are unlocking a better future for everyone. It’s our ultimate rewards and recognition program.
Congratulations to all of our 2020 CSIRO Award winners!
2020 CSIRO Award winners
Sir Ian McLennan Impact from Science and Engineering Medal
Awarded to TraNSIT.
The Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT) revolutionised the way Australia’s transport-related infrastructure investments are prioritised. The tool is now widely used by all levels of government to inform Australia’s largest transport infrastructure projects and initiatives.
CSIRO Medal for Diversity and Inclusion
Awarded to the domestic family violence and abuse working group.
The working group developed a comprehensive and impactful workplace response to support our people impacted by domestic family violence and abuse.
CSIRO Collaboration Medal
Awarded to Northern Australian Water Resource Assessment (NAWRA) team.
The NAWRA is the world’s most extensive, multi-disciplinary water resource study, involving a team of more than 180 people. NAWRA has created value for various customers, with the research outputs actively used by governments, industry, communities, individual land holders, and developers to inform resource planning, management and investment decisions.
Awarded to the COVID-19 vaccine development team.
The COVID-19 vaccine development team rapidly pivoted and actively engaged in the global pursuit of vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Impact Excellence Medal
Awarded to the Indigenous STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Education Project.
Working in partnership with schools and communities, the Indigenous STEM Education Project established best practice education models that increased participation, aspirations and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and communities in STEM.
CSIRO Medal for Support Excellence
Awarded to Flattening the Response Curve team.
Proactive and focused support from the Flattening the Response Curve team helped our research teams’ partner with industry, government and the innovation ecosystem to deliver COVID‐19 response and recovery solutions to the communities we serve.
Chief Executive Team CSIRO Award
Awarded to Simon Barry.
Simon led the development of our Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Future Science Platform. He brought people together from multiple teams across the organisation, as well as numerous external partners, to drive a vision that is truly cross-cutting, domain-spanning, and transformational in these spaces.
Awarded to Sarah Pearce.
Sarah played a leading role in our involvement in the international Square Kilometre Array project to build the world’s largest radio telescope, and was Australia’s science negotiator for the SKA international treaty. Earlier this year she was named NSW Telstra Business Woman of the Year, and just this month awarded Space Executive of the Year and made a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
CSIRO HSE Medal for Area Custodian of the Year
Awarded to the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) ethanol collection relocation team.
The ANIC ethanol collection relocation team created an innovative solution to store its ethanol collection. The collection was relocated to new facilities, which ensured alignment with Australian Standards and best practice dangerous goods handling and storage, and prioritised our people’s safety.
Awarded to the CSIRO Alerts Notification Service Project team.
Our Alerts Notification Service Project team established an emergency alert notification service for the organisation in record time. This system will ensure our people are safe when the unexpected occurs.
John Philip Award for the Promotion of Excellence in Young Scientists and Engineers
Awarded to Bita Bayatsarmadi.
Bita’s transformative innovation in flow cell design has dramatically increased the efficiency and marketability of electrochemical processes.
Awarded to Adrian Murdock.
Adrian’s outstanding research has scaled-up graphene films, advancing the GraphAir technology towards commercialisation as a water purification membrane.
Delia Muller Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Study Award
Awarded to Cassandra Diamond.
Cassandra has increased the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students – particularly women – in STEM. Her research into methods to increase engagement in STEM education by young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women has the potential lift Australia’s science capacity and capability.
CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award
Awarded to v2food.
Our partnership venture v2food developed and commercialised innovative plant-based meat alternative products. The design and development of the ‘meat-like’ ingredients and their translation from laboratory to industrial-scale occurred in just over a year.
Chief Executive Professional Development Award
Awarded to Hayley McGillivray.
In two years, Hayley has facilitated 24 Innovation Connections projects, driven an increase in WA kick-start projects, coached early-career-researchers, contributed to the SME Mission, and found time for professional development.
Awarded to Max Temminghoff.
Max has supported industry development through the delivery of several important scientific papers. He uses his deep technical comprehension and analysis to translate important information into key commercial insights.
CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement
Awarded to Louise Glenn.
Louise’s dedication to science support is outstanding. Working in our finance and project support areas, she has always been great promoter of our science to our people and stakeholders alike.
Awarded to Philip John Larkin.
Philip’s research leadership of several teams has contributed to impactful science including: BYD virus resistant wheat varieties, synthetic virus resistance genes, improved pharmaceutical poppy, micronutrient-dense rice, gluten-free barley and cereals for digestive health.
Awarded to Kathleen McInnes.
Kathy’s sustained research excellence has advanced the knowledge of how climate change affects sea-level rise, storm surges and severe weather, and enabled communities to understand and adapt to climate change.
Chairman’s Medal for Science and Engineering Excellence
Awarded to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) COVID-19 team.
The work of the ACDP COVID-19 team enabled the rapid progression of the two leading vaccine candidates through clinical trials. Bringing the world a step closer to a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.
Importance of recognition
This year, we’ve been more apart than ever but we’ve worked better together than ever.
The road ahead for Australia’s recovery and future resilience calls on us to collaborate widely and generously to boldly take on challenges that are bigger than ourselves. It won’t be an easy road. But together, with our partners, there is no limit to how far we can go.
Congratulations again to our CSIRO Award winners!
5th December 2020 at 8:05 am
Agree with the Rod Jamieson and congratulate all the winners.
3rd December 2020 at 5:54 pm
Recognition matters so it would be interesting to know who else was considered for these awards. Often provides clues to future priorities’
8th December 2020 at 4:15 pm
Hi Rod, finalists were only announced for a few categories. But we can share some teams and their science with you.
• Digiscape Great Barrier Reef Project Team. The team created ICT tools for monitoring and predicting the discharge of nitrogen pollution from fertiliser applied to sugarcane lands into waterways and rivers flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.
• CSIRO Ore Sorting Team. The team developed transformational bulk ore sorting technology to achieve step changes in mining productivity.
• Éva Plagányi. Éva’s research combines mathematical modelling with knowledge of biology and field data to tackle the tough challenges in natural resource management and conservation. Her work contributes to ensuring sustainable management of Australian and other international fisheries and marine systems.
• The 3D Printed Nitinol Stents Team. The team developed a world-first additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology to fabricate customised nitinol stents, a critical medical device used in the treatment of narrow or blocked arteries.
• Phoslock Research and Development, Patenting and Commercialisation. Phoslock, developed and commercialised by Grant Douglas, removes phosphorus from water by absorption, starving existing algal blooms and, after settling, providing a cap over bottom sediments to intercept additional phosphorus release.
• Marine National Facility (MNF) Indigenous Time at Sea Scholarship Team (ITSS). ITSS offers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students a unique opportunity to gain experience on a world‐class marine research vessel.
• Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy. The key objective of the Academy are to encourage young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students who identify as women, to pursue STEM studies and careers.
Thanks,
Team CSIRO