The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, sad this week it will be “shifting” its climate change research focus from modeling and monitoring to mitigation and adaptation. “Australia’s biggest challenges and opportunities lie in the health, prosperity and sustainability in the face of rapid global changes; climate is one piece of a much larger puzzle,” CSIRO Chief Executive Larry Marshall wrote in a statement. “No one is saying climate change is not important, but surely mitigation, health, education, sustainable industries, and prosperity of the nation are no less important.”
In the shift of focus up to 350 positions may be eliminated, according to the Feb. 8 release. “In our Oceans and Atmosphere business we have about 420 staff… and after these changes we expect to have about 355,” Marshall said. “We asked business unit leaders to focus their operational plans on growth, and growth within finite resources will always initially lead to making choices about what to exit.”
Total staffing is expected to be equal to today’s numbers after a two-year period, Marshall said. “Some people will be redeployed or reskilled and some will be made redundant and those final figures are not yet determined,” he stated. “CSIRO has a well-established and respectful process when changes are made. People are advised early, as was done last Thursday, updated as soon as details are available, as is continuing this week, and consulted on how best to implement decisions.”