[Music plays]
(Glen Paul) Welcome to CSIROnow.
On August 6th, Australia was listening when the
CSIRO managed Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
received signals from NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Rover
Curiosity, as it landed safely on the surface of the red planet.
The public turned out in droves at the Business Centre
to share in the excitement and the sausage sizzle.
The alignment between Earth and Mars
meant that only the giant communication antennas at CDSCC
had the direct communication link with Curiosity
for its critical entry, descent and landing.
As the last critical seven minutes of “terror”,
as described by NASA Scientists and the landing phase sped by.
People stood, transfixed to the screen,
watching a live feed from the Mission Control Centre
at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
In the final few seconds everyone held their breath
and then erupted in cheers
as confirmation of the landing came through.
[Crowd applauds]]
Touring the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
and meeting with staff,
CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Megan Clark,
expressed her admiration for the professionalism of the Engineers
and Technicians based at the complex.
(Dr Clark) Just an amazing level of professionalism
that NASA and JPL could trust
to really be the prime communication centre for
the landing of Curiosity on Mars.
I mean, just how exciting
and what a wonderful endorsement of our partnership.
(Glen Paul) Joining the hundreds still gathered in the Business Centre,
Dr Clark, United States Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich
and Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex Director,
Dr Ed Kruzins, gave the mission a thumbs up.
It had been a long day for all involved and the serving of the
Mars cake was a fun way to wrap up the event.
(Glen Nagle) It’s been an ongoing partnership
and space exploration today, exemplified,
by the great work done by our teams.
Providing that communication to land the Mars Science Laboratory
Curiosity on the surface of Mars,
and this will be a partnership
that will go on for many, many years to come.
(Glen Paul) A new type of cattle gate aimed at preventing farmer death
and injury has completed rigorous testing and development by CSIRO.
SaferGate, designed by farmer and inventor Edward Evans
has been put to the test by a CSIRO developed crash test cow.
[Loud bang]
The SaferGate was invented after Mr Evans had his own leg broken
when operating a traditional cattle gate on his farm.
The invention then went on to win the ABC Televisions
New Inventors Grand Final in 2011.
(Edward Evans) I started working with the CSIRO
after winning the grand final on the New Inventors
and the major prize
was $10,000
for testing and to see if they could add more science to the gate.
(Glen Paul) Unlike a traditional cattle gate,
the SaferGate swings away from the operator when a cow charges at it,
preventing injury or death.
This is achieved by a pivot mechanism
which splits the gate in to two pieces when hit,
allowing the part of the gate in-front of the operator
to fold back on itself and away from them.
(Peter Westgate) The design of the gate is quite unique
in that it’s a gate in two parts.
There is one part that is only railing and the cattle can see through,
and that’s the part that the cattle will want to go to.
The other section is a baulk section,
where the farmer is standing behind that baulk gate.
The cattle won’t generally aim for that section of the gate
because they can’t see through it.
It’s deemed as a solid object to the cow.
(Glen Paul) CSIRO’s Scientists improved the original design
by adding a magnet on the gate hinge,
which allows the gate to remain in a steady position until hit.
They also added a handle on top of the gate
that makes it easier for workers on horseback to open it.
(Peter Westgate) This is a safety device
that will save many lives in time to come.
(Dr Ash) I’d like to now get on with proceedings.
And first of all introduce Elvira Poloczanska, Elvira.
(Glen Paul) On August the 17th,
the Queensland Maritime Museum was the venue
for the launch of the 2012
Marine Climate Change in Australia Report Card.
(Dr Poloczanska) Hello. I’m Elvira Poloczanska
from the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship.
The Marine Report Card
and the accompanying website is a communication tool,
it’s been put together by over 80 Australian Scientists
and it brings together our state of knowledge
of climate change impacts and adaptation in Australia’s oceans.
(Glen Paul) Led by CSIRO,
the report shows that for many groups of plants and animals
where there was no evidence of climate impacts in 2009,
there is now striking evidence that extensive southward movements
of tropical species in southeast Australia
declined in abundance of many temperate species
and the first signs of the effect of ocean acidification
on marine species with shells.
The project was funded by the Australian Government,
Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency,
through the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility,
Marine Biodiversity and Resources Marine Adaptation Network,
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
and CSIRO’s Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship.
(Dr Poloczanska) Having this sort of information underpins our evidence
of changes in the marine environment,
but also provides much needed information to decision makers.
(Glen Paul) A new development from CSIRO
was announced in August that aims to bring
instant and expert technical help to remote locations.
Helping to improve skills, slash costs,
raise productivity and improve safety in rural and regional areas.
(Dr Alem) This technology we called ReMoTe,
means that expert help could be available anywhere, anytime.
(Glen Paul) At a remote location, this person needs help with machinery
and puts on a wearable computer.
Back in the office the expert who knows how to fix it,
fires up their end of the connection.
The remote operator can see what’s been worked on
by the onsite operator and the two talk to each other.
And the onsite operator can see the hands of the expert.
Research has shown that hand gestures provide a rich source of information.
(Dr Alem) We initially developed the ReMoTe for the mining industry,
but its uses are far wider than that.
We see it being used in farms, in hospitals,
in manufacturing industries,
literally, in any industry where expert help is needed.
(Glen Paul) The technology will work wherever there’s a landline
or a satellite internet connection
and is another example of how technology is shrinking our planet.
From August 11th through to the 19th
was National Science Week,
an annual celebration of science in Australia.
In Queensland the Ecosciences Precinct opened its doors to the general public,
to showcase its extraordinary science.
A number of agencies, including CSIRO,
the Queensland State Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
and Department of Science Information Technology,
Innovation and the Arts were involved.
There was plenty on offer, including hands on experiments for the kids,
live demonstrations from the CSIRO Education Team
and guided tours of the Ecosciences Precinct.
And that’s CSRIOnow.
For more information on any of these stories
or to follow us on other social media, go to www.csiro.au.