Change to research units

The CSIRO Board recently endorsed the creation of new business units to strengthen the organisation's health and biotechnology research activities, as well as other areas including food processing.

Changes aimed at maximising CSIRO's impact in the food processing and biotechnology industries will see the creation of two new business units from the mergers of three existing research groups.

To strengthen CSIRO's health and biotechnology capability, a new Division will be formed through the merger of HS&N's protein and structural biology groups at Parkville, with the Division of Molecular Science at Clayton.

"Merging together our chemists and structural biologists in one business unit will allow us to have a strong presence in part of the growing biotechnology industry in Australia, while still being able to maintain our strong presence in manufacturing says Dr Warren King,group executive, information, manufacturing & services.

Boosting CSIRO's commitment to environmental sciences, the Divisions of Atmospheric Research and Marine Research will be merged into CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, with a complement of over 500 staff. Dr Tony Haymet ­ former Sydney University Professor and Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at the University of Houston and current chief of CSIRO Marine Research ­ will lead this new Division.