State politicians will take time out for a science lesson on Wednesday, June 4, as seven Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) brief Parliament on recent scientific contributions to Queensland's environmental, mining, agricultural and rural manufacturing industries.
The Centres are part of the national CRC program which brings universities, public sector science and industry together to carry out research and education into areas of national importance.
CRC members will brief state parliamentarians and senior advisors on a range of new research applications and technologies.
CRC Association chairman Tony Staley said the seven Queensland CRCs 'represent excellent examples of what is happening nationally to boost Australia's research and development effort.
'In the short time that the CRC Program has been operating, I have become aware that CRCs are not only doing excellent and exciting research, but have successfully brought researchers and industry together to commercialise Queensland technologies and improve government decision-making for public policies."
Topics to be presented at the Parliamentary Annexe will include:
- new technology to increase the nation's supply of natural gas and improve the safety of underground coal mines (Mining Technology and Equipment CRC);
- improved alloys for die casting to enhance quality and reduce costs associated with lightweight metals such as aluminium and magnesium used in the production of vehicles (Alloy and Solidification Technology CRC);
- sustainable use of tourist pontoons on coral reefs (Great Barrier Reef CRC);
- new sources of disease resistance for tropical crops such as bananas, sugarcane and sunflowers (Tropical Plant Pathology CRC);
- innovative approaches to support ecologically sustainable development in the Australian sugar industry (Sustainable Sugar Production CRC);
- strategies for coordinating the fight against pests in tropical agriculture (Tropical Pest Management CRC); and
- a process to remove nutrients from industrial wastewater (Waste Management and Pollution Control CRC).
Copies of these presentations are available prior to the briefing. Media representatives are invited to the State Science Briefing, Parliamentary Annexe at 4.30pm. Interviews with CRC Directors will be held after the presentations from 5.30 to 6.00 pm outside the Annexe.
For further information or copies of presentations contact Don Alcock, mobile telephone: 015 635669
