Hobart Networking Evening
CSIRO Hobart, 11 Nov 2019
Alumni, external partners and friends joined us for an evening of science talks and networking.
Dr Anita Hill hosted a series of short presentations in the lecture theatre. We heard from our local teams, across a range of scientific disciplines, and learn about their cutting edge projects and how they are exploring and discovering new opportunities.
We’d like to thank the teams who presented:
CSIRO Land & Water – Dr Anthony O’Grady, Leader of the Landscape and Forest Function Team “Climate risks to Tasmania’s forests-implications for pollination security”
Dr O’Grady explored the work we have been doing examining risks to forests associated with climate change. He highlighted how this is impacting industry in Tasmania and addressed some of the potential solutions we are exploring.
CSIRO Ocean & Atmosphere – Javier Porobic Garate, Experimental scientist
“Going to extremes. Ecosystem modelling from a simple to a not so simple approach.”
Dr Javier Porobic is an ecosystem modeller who is part of the marine ecosystem modelling and risk assessment group based at CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere in Hobart. He has a strong background in marine biology with a focus on numerical modelling and management of marine ecosystems and resources. His main interest is to understand the functioning of marine ecosystems and how their management and understanding can help to sustain marine resources for future generations. Dr Porobic is also a member of the Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania.
Marine National Facility – Matt Marrison/Dr Ben Arthur
We heard about the Marine National Facility and how it has supported, enabled and inspired marine science for Australia. Funded for 300 research days each year, Australia’s dedicated blue-water research vessel, Investigator, is delivering vital research, education and training across our vast marine estate and beyond.
CSIRO Agriculture and Food – Simon Allen, Weather and Climate Decisions Team
“Making the Leap”
There is a gulf between the data used in weather forecasting, its delivery as a weather forecast and the information needed by agriculture for their day to day operational decision making. It is also very difficult for farmers and growers to see the long term trends in their past weather and what it means in terms of agriculturally significant variables.
CSIRO and BOM embarked upon a ‘journey of discovery’ visiting each and every natural Resource Management (NRM) region to talk to the agricultural operators to listen and learn about what information was needed and how it needed to be presented to be ‘useful’ to the individuals in each region.
Simon shared some of his experiences and some of the learnings from this project. The project is shaping the BOM’s future engagement strategy across agriculture.
STEM Professionals in Schools – Teleah Healy, Project Officer
“How do we inspire the next generation of problem solvers and innovators?”
The CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools program supports the curriculum and is designed to bring real-world STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) experience into the classroom, by facilitating flexible, ongoing partnerships between STEM professionals and teachers in schools across Australia. In Tasmania, 100 partnerships are currently active, with STEM professionals volunteering from all levels of Government and the private sector.