Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Global assault on science continues


Word from Down Under:  the Australian government is making big cuts to their science programs, which are administered under the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO).  While CSIRO has many different sectors, one in particular is their research on climate and ecosystem change.

CSIRO closes sites and cuts research as a result of budget
The federal government cut CSIRO’s funding by $111 million over four years, which will result in 500 job cuts dddt the nation’s peak scientific organisation.
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The directions statement, marked commercial-in-confidence, says as research and development in unconventional gas – such as coal seam and shale gas – has the potential to ‘‘create significant value for our nation’’ CSIRO will increase research in the area. It will also implement its new mining strategy focusing on activities ‘‘that help to significantly enhance the productivity of this vital sector’’.

But in low emissions energy technologies the statement says: ‘‘To adjust to the more difficult operating environment, we will stop our geothermal work and reduce other activities, especially in CO2 capture and efficient energy management.’’

Nothing about nuclear energy.  Nothing.

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