$140 million government funding cuts to the CSIRO will have huge impacts on scientific research in Australia

WI-FI and Aeroguard are two of many incredible innovations created by the CSIRO. But funding cuts in the Budget mean the future looks bleak for scientific research.

IMAGINE a world without plastic bank notes, WI-FI and Aeroguard.

Think soggy money, computers chained to our modems and constantly swatting at mosquitos on hot summer nights. The prospect alone is terrifying.

The Australian CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) is responsible for the invention of plastic bank notes, WI-FI and Aeroguard, among a host of other amazing innovations in science and technology.

Many things we take for granted every day are a result of hard work by the talented team of scientists and researchers at the CSIRO. Their innovative discoveries have even inspired Twitter hashtag #thankcsiroforthat.

Brilliant online archive of free photos http://t.co/Zl8L0p8gr0 #thankcsiroforthat

— matt levinson (@matt_levinson) April 15, 2014

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: Brilliant online archive of free photos http://t.co/Zl8L0p8gr0 #thankcsiroforthat & mdash; matt levinson (@matt_levinson) April 15, 2014

What about our amazing banknotes #thankcsiroforthat http://t.co/7mvehN0nDn

— Ken Macken (@mack2it) April 21, 2014

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: What about our amazing banknotes #thankcsiroforthat http://t.co/7mvehN0nDn— Ken Macken (@mack2it) April 21, 2014

Contributing to tuberculosis diagnostics in animals and humans. #thankCSIROforthat http://t.co/WssQogTdZU

— Julie Leask (@JulieLeask) April 14, 2014

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: Contributing to tuberculosis diagnostics in animals and humans. #thankCSIROforthat http://t.co/WssQogTdZU— Julie Leask (@JulieLeask) April 14, 2014

The CSIRO scientists work in areas of climate adaptation, biosecurity, digital productivity and services, renewable energy, biosensor technology in food manufacturing, preventive health measures, medical research, sustainable agriculture and marine science, to name a few. But this research is in danger of downsizing.

CSIRO scientists don’t always work in labs. Photo: CSIRO

MORE: 14 awesome things you never knew were invented by the CSIRO

The recent Federal Budget means huge funding cuts for the CSIRO and other science organisations.

In a nutshell, the CSIRO will have their government funding reduced by $A27 million in the 2014-15 financial year, and a projected cut of $A114 million over the next five years.

The CSIRO’s CEO Dr Megan Clark released a company wide Annual Directions Statement outlining the organisational planning and restructure of the CSIRO in light of the Budget announcement.

Dr Clark announced that the Budget cuts will result in a loss of 500 jobs at the CSIRO, and eight research site closures.

CSIRO CEO Dr Megan Clark.

CSIRO spokesman Huw Morgan confirmed the 500 job cuts were a direct result of the funding reductions, but said some of the site closures were a result of the Budget and some were planned beforehand.

In regards to the site closures, Mr Morgan said “the intention of CSIRO is to consolidate operations around the country, where it aligns with organisational priorities and with its science objectives. CSIRO has over 1,100 buildings across 56 sites,” he said.

“Our priority is to consolidate capital city sites. This is happening in Clayton in Victoria and in Black Mountain in Canberra. Our site at Griffith will close but a date has not been determined.”

This is a blow for Australian science research, as Australia already lags behind the rest of the world, investing comparatively very little when it comes to research and development.

At 0.5% of GDP, Australia’s government spends less than the OECD average of 0.8% and much less than Denmark, Finland, South Korea and the United States.

The CSIRO laboratory building on the Hobart waterfront.

And with job cuts resulting in hundreds of Australian scientists facing redundancy, it’s no surprise that many people are questioning the nation’s priorities.

Liberal MP Dennis Jensen has yesterday criticised the government’s cuts to the scientific research sector.

“I’m worried about the future of science,” he told ABC news radio. “I believe that the funding for the research organisations needs to be not necessarily completely restored, but almost completely restored.”

Mr Jensen also questioned the government’s priorities in allocation of members. “We’ve got a minister for sport, for god’s sake, but we don’t have a minister for science.”

Mr Jensen spoke at length on the issue yesterday, saying that Prime Minister Abbott asked him to draw up a list of recommendations for science reform in Australia.

But Mr Jensen said he saw “no evidence of an improvement in the science policy.”

“These issues of … science are critical to our future and we neglect them or downgrade their importance at our peril.”

What do you think of the funding cuts to the CSIRO? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @gracekoelma

TITLE: The Australian science crisis SIZE: 650x366px CAPTION: Mr Jensen speaking on the Australian science crisis

Originally published as $140 million government funding cuts to the CSIRO will have huge impacts on scientific research in Australia