Mission design at rocket speed

Operations on 22 February, 2019

Planning space missions is traditionally a time-consuming and costly process. But the new Australian National Concurrent Design Facility (ANCDF), housed at UNSW’s Canberra campus, speeds things up so a mission can be planned in weeks rather than months.

Harnessing the expertise, design processes and software of the French Space Agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales), the UNSW team has created Australia’s first concurrent design facility.

The ANCDF allows engineers and scientists—both professionals and students—to design different parts of a mission in parallel rather than one after the other, which is the traditional approach. Read More about Mission design at rocket speed

Wheat that’s good for guts

Operations on 22 February, 2019

A new kind of wheat high in resistant starch can improve intestinal health

Bowel cancer is the world’s third most common cancer. A diet that includes more resistant starch, a kind of fibre that feeds good bacteria in the large intestine, can make it less common. Resistant starch helps improve gut health and reduces the risk of conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer.

Since 2006, CSIRO scientists have been working in a joint venture with French company Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients and the Grains Research and Development Corporation to develop wheat with more resistant starch. Read More about Wheat that’s good for guts

Radar-in-a-suitcase makes bridges safer

Operations on 3 July, 2017

Assessing ageing bridges just got safer and easier, thanks to a high-tech radar device that fits inside a suitcase.

Developed by Dr Lihai Zhang of The University of Melbourne as part of a collaborative research project supported by The Australia-Indonesia Centre, the IBIS-S radar technology can scan a bridge in 15 minutes from a kilometre away with an accuracy of 0.01mm, quickly assessing its condition and stability.

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Australia’s Nobel Prize winner, the Square Kilometre Array and more – stories of Australian Science 2012 out now

Operations on 16 November, 2012

Our latest collection, Stories of Australian Science 2012, is now online here.

In the past year Australian science has continued to come of age on the global stage.

Brian Schmidt won a Nobel Prize, Australia won part of the $2 billion Square Kilometre Array radio telescope and Australians continue to add to the leadership and ranks of the most prestigious and productive research groups across the planet.

In this collection, you’ll learn about: the winners of major science prizes, the work of Australian science institutions, Australia’s connection to the 2012 announcement of the discovery of a Higgs boson-like particle and much more.

Australia's Nobel Prize winner, the Square Kilometre Array and more – stories of Australian Science 2012 out now

Operations on 16 November, 2012

Our latest collection, Stories of Australian Science 2012, is now online here.

In the past year Australian science has continued to come of age on the global stage.

Brian Schmidt won a Nobel Prize, Australia won part of the $2 billion Square Kilometre Array radio telescope and Australians continue to add to the leadership and ranks of the most prestigious and productive research groups across the planet.

In this collection, you’ll learn about: the winners of major science prizes, the work of Australian science institutions, Australia’s connection to the 2012 announcement of the discovery of a Higgs boson-like particle and much more.

Stories of Australian Science 2012

Science in Public on 21 May, 2012

Call for stories open until 1 June 2012.

We are gathering stories for our next magazine collection and online showcase of Australian science — Stories of Australian Science 2012.

We’ll publish online by 30 June, in print by 31 July, and distribute them to our contacts in Australia and overseas. We’ll also present them to guests at the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science dinner in October.
Read More about Stories of Australian Science 2012