CSIRO
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This article is part of the Tobacco portal on Sourcewatch funded from 2006 - 2009 by the American Legacy Foundation. |
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, most commonly referred to by its acronym CSIRO, was established in 1926 as an Australian government agency to undertake scientific research to assist primary or secondary industries in Australia.
Contents
Growing Commercialisation
The CSIRO has been criticised for a growing focus on making a profit, rather than on undertaking research. For example, in August 2006, the CSIRO has signed an agreement with Genetic Solutions, a Brisbane based-company, to become a shareholder in the company in exchange for its research into cattle genes. [1] The CSIRO has not traditionally held shares in companies.
In addition, much CSIRO research is now funded by private enterprise, which has raised questions about corporate influence on the CSIRO's previously independent research. For example, tn February 2007, the Canberra Times reported that "the CSIRO has confirmed coal industry bodies have the power to suppress a new report questioning the cost and efficiency of clean-coal carbon capture technologies because they partly funded the research". [2]
CSIRO PR
Until mid-July 2006, Donna Staunton was the Executive Director of Communications for CSIRO and is also a member of the Executive team. Staunton was previously a vice president of Phillip Morris, the chief executive of the Tobacco Institute of Australia, and sat on the board of conservative Australian think tank the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA). [3] The IPA has been a consistent critic of climate science, arguing that the link between increased greenhouse gas emissions and climate change has not been proven.
Case Studies
- CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet
- CSIRO Gags its Scientists
- CSIRO's Communications Strategy
- CSIRO and Industry Funding
- CSIRO's Role in Promoting Genetic Modification Technology
CSIRO Board
The CSIRO Board is responsible to the Australian Government for the overall strategy, governance and performance of CSIRO. But controversially, in February 2006, the Howard Government appointed two coal and energy industry executives - Eileen Doyle and Peter Willcox - to the board, leading to acusations that the CSIRO was becoming captured to by fossil fuel industry interests, thus compromising its independence. Australians Greens Senator Christine Milne was quoted as saying that "it is outrageous. The Australian public should be seriously concerned about the implication of these appointments for the independence, integrity and direction of CSIRO's research." [4]
Board Members
- Ms Catherine Livingstone: Chairman
- Dr Geoff Garrett: Chief Executive
- Prof Suzanne Cory
- Dr Terry Cutler
- Mr Brian Keane
- Ms Deborah O’Tool
- Ms Lisa Paul
- Prof Alan Robson
- Dr Eileen Doyle - Chair of Port Waratah Coal Services
- Mr Peter Willcox - Former CEO of BHP Petroleum, former chairman of AMP and a former director of James Hardie Industries and Woodside Petroleum.
Contact details
CSIRO Enquiries
Bag 10
Clayton South, Victoria, Australia 3169
Toll free: 1300 363 400 (cost of a local call within Australia)
International: +61 3 9545 2176
Email: enquiries AT csiro.au
Fax: (03) 9545 2175
Web: http://www.csiro.au/
External links
- William Birnbauer, "CSIRO job for tobacco defender", The Age, April 25, 2004.
- Damien Murphy, "Axed: CSIRO to cut 200 research jobs", Sydney Morning Herald, November 3, 2005.
- Selina Mitchell and Leigh Dayton GM crop scrapped as mice made ill", The Australian, November 18, 2005.
- Peter Pockley, "CSIRO Staff Slam Executive's Spin, Australasian Science, January/February 2006.
- Peter Roberts, "Staff Slap CSIRO's Public Face", Australian Financial Review, January 7-8, 2006.
- ABC Rural News, Red meat funds linked to diet advice 09/01/2006.
- Judy Skatssoon, CSIRO diet gets a grilling, ABC Science Online, Monday, 29 August 2005.
- Stephen Cauchi, Peers turn up heat on CSIRO diet, The Age, December 28, 2005.
- Rosemary Stanton and Gyorgy Scrinis, Not enough science behind scientific diet, Sydney Morning Herald, August 29, 2005.
- Michael Borgas, "CSIRO can take more scrutiny", Australian Financial Review, January 20, 2006.
- Michael Borgas and Pauling Gallagher, "A culture of fear builds at the CSIRO", The Age, February 21, 2006.
- Rosslyn Beeby, CSIRO appointees drawn from oil, coal industries, Canberra Times, Tuesday, 21 February 2006.
- Katharine Murphy and Selina Mitchell, Energy executives join board of CSIRO, The Australian, February 22, 2006.
- Alison Caldwell, "Energy industry reps appointed to CSIRO Board", The World Today - Wednesday, 22 February, 2006.
- Roy Ecclestone, "Fat Fighters", The Weekend Australian Magazine, March 11-12, 2006, page 20-23. (Not available online).
- Rosslyn Beeby, Industry can gag research: CSIRO, Canberra Times, Thursday, 15 February 2007.
- Katherine Wilson, CSIRO scientist asks chefs to leave GM foods alone, Crikey.com.au, 8 July 2008.
Resources and articles
Related Sourcewatch articles
References
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