CSIRO Awards announced

A team of scientists, which set a world record of 10 gigabits per second for wireless data transmission, has been awarded the 2012 CSIRO Chairman’s Medal.

The Ngara Backhaul Project Team was presented the medal today at the annual CSIRO Awards held in Canberra.

Gigabit wireless networks can be used to complement high-speed fibre connections, in infrastructure for mobile communications, and for ad hoc communications services. This technology is at least 100 times faster than current wireless local area networks.

Senator the Hon Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, also presented Lifetime Achievement medals to two staff - Richard Head and Terry Healy - for their outstanding contribution to the organisation over an extend period.

Professor Head has been at the forefront of the National Research Flagships Program and also led the establishment of the Preventative Health Flagship that led the stimulus for a preventative approach to human health at a national level.

Terry Healy was recognised for his leadership of CSIRO’s legal team, providing legal and policy advice, mentoring colleagues, managing CSIRO’s landmark wireless LAN IP litigation and contributions to Australian innovation.

Since 2006, Healy has successfully managed CSIRO’s landmark wireless LAN IP litigation and his legal and tactical advice is widely recognised as a critical factor in CSIRO’s success.

Other awards included the induction as CSIRO Fellows of:

• Dr Paul Fraser for research relating to all major greenhouse gases that drive climate change, as well as the conception and development of the Cape Grim Air Archive. Dr Fraser has published more than 200 research papers and reviews, including 10 in Nature and Science. His research provides a scientific basis for efforts by Australian industry and government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Professor Wojciech (Voytek) Gutowski for research in adhesion science and technology and the commercialisation of technologies in key global manufacturing companies. Professor Gutowski’s published works include 22 book chapters, 87 refereed journal papers and 64 generic patents. The revenue Dr Gutowski’s technologies has generated since 2000 for CSIRO and other Australian industry exceeds $180 million.
• Dr Jorgen Frederiksen for his theories of the genesis of major modes of atmospheric circulation and turbulent flows that have led to deeper understanding of atmospheric processes, climate variability and change, and to improvements in weather and climate models and their predictive skill. Dr Frederiksen pioneered research into atmospheric dynamics and fundamental aspects of  atmospheric circulations that play major roles in weather, climate variability and climate change. He has formulated theories of the genesis of major modes of atmospheric circulation and turbulent flows.

CSIRO chief executive Dr Megan Clark said the awards were a highlight of the year for the organisation and were indicative of the quality, dedication and diversity of CSIRO staff.

“These awards reflect the organisation as a whole and show the amazing work which is done every day by not only the winners, but all of the staff at CSIRO,” Dr Clark said.

“The work by people like Dr Paul Fraser, who is a world leader in climate and atmospheric research, is not only vital for understanding and adapting to a changing climate, but is adding to the knowledge and expertise of a whole generation of scientists around the world in a range of other areas.

“I congratulate all the winners and all CSIRO staff for their commitment and dedication to solving some of the biggest problems facing the world today and working for a better future.”

Also announced was the winner of the CSIRO Science Journalism Award - Jodie Duffy of the Illawarra Mercury.

The CSIRO Science Journalism Award encourages and showcases exceptional reporting that promotes awareness of science and its impact to the Australian community. Jodie Duffy is a senior writer for the Illawarra Mercury’s Weekender magazine. The judges said Jodie was a passionate, articulate journalist who had written a series of cover stories across a range of science topics in a way the general public could easily understand the varied benefits of science.