Annual Report shows breadth and depth of CSIRO science

By October 13th, 2009

The CSIRO 2008-2009 Annual Report tabled in Parliament today reflects an organisation responding well to complex national challenges in population growth, climate change, water and energy security and the health and wellbeing of Australians.

The Annual Report shows that the delivery of the science done by CSIRO in the form of journal articles, book chapters, conference papers and technical reports has increased over the five years to 2008.

Journal articles by CSIRO scientists increased from 1858 in 2004 to 2542 last year. Citations per paper have increased from 9.87 in 2004 to 12.56 in 2008 – this is the highest citation rate of any Australian institution which publishes across a range of research fields. The Australian average is 10.37 and the world average is 9.43.

“What we are seeing is continued investment by industry, government and communities in the national challenges that face not just Australia but the globe and are becoming driving market forces for industry,”

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark.

The number of research scientists has also increase in the past five years to 1837 with a 6 per cent increase in 2008.

Despite global pressures, CSIRO has maintained a strong financial position in 2008-2009 and has recorded it’s highest ever levels of external revenue.

“What we are seeing is continued investment by industry, government and communities in the national challenges that face not just Australia but the globe and are becoming driving market forces for industry,” CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark said.

“As a result, CSIRO is in a strong financial position now and into the future.

“In addition to the Annual Report which fulfils our statutory requirements, we are also now providing additional information through a publication, Science: securing the future, which will accompany the Annual Report and allow people to learn more about the remarkable and important work of CSIRO.

“The global and national challenges we are now facing increasingly require the use of science to understand and provide solutions.”

CSIRO 2008-2009 Annual Report and Science: securing the future available at: http://www.csiro.au/resources/Annual-Report-08-09.html

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