CSIRO

Science in full bloom. 🌱 Using the DNA sequences of more than 9500 flowering plant species, our scientists worked with an international team of researchers to produce a genomic ‘tree of life’. Similar to your family tree, the tree of life maps out how flowering plants are related and in which sequence they evolved. It was built using 1.8 billion letters of genetic code sequenced from living plants and centuries-old specimens held in herbaria across Australia and the world. It includes extinct and endangered species and contains 15 times more data than any comparable studies of the flowering plant tree of life, as well as 800 plants that have never had their DNA sequenced before. The tree of life gives us the most up-to-date understanding of flowering plants we've ever had. It will help scientists do everything from classifying plants to discovering new medicines. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gZXkz2-2 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Creating value for innovation. 💡 Today is World Intellectual Property (IP) Day! This year #WorldIPDay celebrates the important role IP, innovation and creativity plays in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the benefit of everyone. Did you know the number of patents relating to the SDGs is rising, and at increasing speed? Almost 1 in 3 inventions are related to these global goals. Here are some ways our research is solving these challenges with the power of patents. 👇

A new study has identified the origins of more than half of the world's branded plastic pollution. 🗑️ The study, co-authored by us, found more than half of the branded plastic pollution found in the environment was linked to 56 companies. It's the first ever quantification of products from global plastic producers in the environment through audit events. Researchers used data from a five-year program, spanning 84 countries, to identify brands found as plastic waste in the environment.

Technically speaking, we need more women and girls in tech. 👩💻 To mark International Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day, we asked two of our STEM education program participants for their words of encouragement for girls and young women thinking about a career in ICT. ⭐ Sheree Pudney, an IT expert and our STEM Professionals in Schools volunteer, contributes to coding lessons, empowering students with digital skills from an early age. “I'm constantly amazed at the incredible ideas the students come up with," says Sheree. "They are so enthusiastic, totally engaged, and inquisitive. They’re brimming with ideas for solving problems, they work well together, and are just so excited and proud of their work.” ⭐ Emma, a former Generation STEM Links participant and a tech enthusiast, thrives on blending technical skills with creativity to solve problems. "Absolutely, go for it! There are so many ways you can combine your passions with a job in IT. No matter what your grades are or your history, it’s never too late to pursue a tech career," says Emma. "If you have any interest in anything technical, I’d say to give it a shot." Interested in sharing your expertise? Find out how to get involved: https://lnkd.in/g5KY66hs #WithSTEMYouCan

Peering into the future of protein. 🔮 Protein demand is set to double by 2050. This increasing global demand opens up new growth opportunities for Australian industry. We see a more holistic future for the plant, animal, and novel protein industries. Protein Futures provides an open forum for leading protein and food innovators to discuss challenges and opportunities. Join us to dish about the future of protein. Together, we’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities in scaling up production, including current and cutting-edge food science and technology. 📆 28-29 May 📍 Virtual or in-person (Sydney) Find out more and book now. 👇

Sowing the seeds for the future of farming. 🌾 We recently published the Ag2050 Scenarios Report, to identify what futures we might want Australian farming to look like in 2050. As our Ag2050 lead Dr Rose Roche explains, the goal is to empower the agriculture sector with accessible, cutting-edge scientific solutions for a sustainable future in Australian agriculture. "The report underscores the critical need for Australian farming systems to accelerate innovation and embrace transformative change to ensure long-term productivity, resilience, and sustainability," said Rose. Rose, together with Dr Katherine Wynn, spoke with Cosmos about the significance of the report.

Ahead of the curve. ☀️ In case you missed our announcement last month, flexible solar panels that are quick and cheap to print are close to a commercial reality. But some of the best innovations take many years to perfect, so it's been a long journey to get here. We first began this research in 2008. When we first started researching flexible solar cells, we were using organic solar cell technology which uses conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules. But their efficiency is limited. So we pivoted to using perovskite, which has allowed us to set world records in efficiency for fully roll-to-roll printed solar cell modules. Here's a little peek at the journey we've taken to get to where we are today. Find out more about our recent efficiency record: https://lnkd.in/gJVdX5TR

What does it mean to do innovation, responsibly? 🤔 New technologies can hold incredible benefits. But they can also bring disruption, inequity, and uncertainty. Over the past five years, our Responsible Innovation Future Science Platform has been asking big questions. Like, how do we ensure new innovations are fit-for-purpose, and truly needed by Australian society? And how do we consider social and ethical risks at the forefront of innovation – not as an afterthought? To ensure the innovations of tomorrow deliver benefits to all Australians, we’ve developed a unique approach. Here, Research Director Justine Lacey teams up with our senior leaders to explain how we do Responsible Innovation – and how it’s helping answer those big questions.

We’re ready for impact! 🙌 We're excited to be here at Impact XSummit Sydney, ready to talk about how we can bring Australia together to tackle net zero faster. If you're here in Sydney, join us as we engage in meaningful conversations, share insights, and take purposeful action towards a net zero future. Swing by the CSIRO booth to learn more about natural capital accounting. Find out more about our Towards Net Zero Mission: https://lnkd.in/gNqkTiXb

Taking circular economy solutions across borders. 🌏 Fifteen innovative startups and SMEs from India and Australia recently gathered in Sydney for the inaugural Immersion Week of the India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator. The action-packed week included business strategy sessions, networking, pitching, and site visits, as part of their nine-month journey to introduce their circular economy technologies into new markets. A highlight of the week was a panel discussion on resistance to disruptive solutions driving sustainable impact and change. This panel featured Asheesh Malaney, entrepreneur and RISE Accelerator Expert-in-Residence, Michele Lemmens, APAC Head of Business Sustainability & CTO at Tata Consultancy Services, Jo Howarth, Founder of Planet Protector Packaging, and one of the RISE Accelerator participants. We were delighted to host Dr. S. Janakiraman, Consul General of India, who opened the panel session and reflected on the rich history and value of collaboration between India and Australia. Learn more about our RISE Accelerator, delivered in partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission Official (AIM): https://lnkd.in/dNJBtAW5