Assessing Ecological Risks from Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM)
The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim), supported through NCRIS, enabled Australia’s first experimental assessment of ecological risks associated with naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and co‑occurring contaminants such as mercury linked to offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Researchers from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), working with AIMS scientists, recreated realistic decommissioning scenarios by […]
Australia races forwards with high precision positioning tech
AuScope’s investment in geodesy has enabled a step-change in Australia’s national positioning capability, forming the backbone of Geoscience Australia’s National Positioning Infrastructure (NPI) and supporting the rollout of Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) services. By delivering a continent-wide network of GNSS stations and data systems, AuScope has underpinned a transition from metre-level to centimetre-level positioning accuracy—transforming […]
SeaSim Accelerates Large‑Scale, Climate‑Ready Reef Restoration
The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim), funded through NCRIS, is Australia’s most advanced marine experimental facility and a cornerstone of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP). SeaSim’s industrial‑grade automation, precise environmental control, and bespoke experimental systems enable complex, long‑term studies. Within SeaSim’s controlled environments, RRAP partners developed and validated next‑generation restoration interventions, including selective breeding […]
Forecasting ocean currents reduce environmental impact and cost of global shipping
Each day more than 50,000 cargo ships travel the world’s oceans, carrying about 90% of all goods traded worldwide. Global shipping is an enormous industry and responsible for 3% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. If the shipping industry were a country, it would rank as the sixth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.CSIRO research vessel (RV) […]
Advancing Defence Materials Through Marine Testing and Advanced Manufacturing
The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim), supported through NCRIS, supported through NCRIS, is enabling a new Defence innovation partnership between Charles Darwin University, James Cook University, SPEE3D and the Queensland Defence Science Alliance (QDSA). Through QDSA’s Collaborative Research Grants program, the team is advancing Australia’s sovereign capability to manufacture and validate high‑performance materials for naval and […]
Australia welcomes its first EMBL ARISE Fellow at Monash University
Australia’s capabilities in research infrastructure (RI) have received a major boost, with Monash University set to host EMBL Fellows as part of the Career Accelerator for Research Infrastructure Scientists (ARISE) – a flagship European initiative designed to train the next generation of RI leaders. ARISE Fellow Dr Richard Jacoby from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) will […]
ACCESS-NRI: Australia’s climate simulator
Earth system models are computer simulations used to explore the dynamics of the planet’s climate and weather, predict future climate and understand how it is changing.
Our infrastructure provides world-class simulations for climate and weather at different temporal and spatial scales, specifically designed for Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. Our simulations support research and decision-making by underpinning global, national and state climate projections.
Australian Access Federation (AAF)
The Australian Access Federation (AAF) is Australia’s leading provider of identity and access management services to the education and research sector. We make it easy for people to securely access education and research services nationally and internationally, by providing single sign-on. It allows individuals from different organisations to collaborate and access online resources within a trusted environment.
Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC)
The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) provides Australian researchers with competitive advantage through data. It accelerates research and innovation by driving excellence in the creation, analysis and retention of high-quality data assets. The ARDC is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). NCRIS is a national network of world-class research infrastructure projects that support high-quality research that will drive greater innovation in the Australian research sector and the economy more broadly.
Heavy Ion Accelerators (HIA)
Our $150M world-class accelerator facilities for high-energy ion beam research represents decades of strategic investment by the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, our industry partners and the Australian Government. With R&D capabilities unparalleled in Australia and matched by few globally, we support research activities in sectors of national priority, including quantum computing, space and astronomy, advanced materials, environment and climate, cancer therapies, minerals exploration, and fundamental nuclear science.
Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS)
IMOS is a national collaborative research infrastructure, undertaking systematic, sustained and scientifically-robust observations of our vast and valuable marine estate. All IMOS observations are made discoverable and accessible via the Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN) platform, using FAIR data principles. Additional data is incorporated into the AODN from a wide range of partner organisations including research institutions, federal and state government departments, and private industry.
Marine National Facility (MNF)
From ice edge to equator, the Marine National Facility (MNF) is Australia’s dedicated ocean research capability which enables world-leading research to increase our understanding of Australia’s vast and valuable marine environment. The MNF is funded by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and operated by CSIRO on behalf of the nation.
Microscopy Australia (MicroAu)
Microscopy Australia provides researchers and industry with open access to the nation’s largest range of high-end microscopes, microanalysis tools, and specialists. It consists of university-based microscopy centres around the country. Our instruments have dedicated experts to deliver high quality training and support to ensure you get the best research outcomes.
National Sea Simulator (SeaSim)
Discover the future of marine experimental research at the National Sea Simulator, managed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Our cutting-edge facility employs leading industrial process automation to conduct complex, extensive and long-term aquarium experiments, focusing on Australia’s tropical marine ecosystems. Join us in advancing research and conservation efforts for Australia’s diverse marine estate.
Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre (Pawsey)
Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre is home of Setonix, Australia’s fastest and most energy-efficient supercomputer, delivering the nation’s most advanced AI research infrastructure through massive GPU power.
Our integrated platform combines cutting-edge GPU acceleration with AI frameworks, real-time analytics, and advanced remote visualisation services and expertise. This gives researchers nationwide access to the scale, speed and expertise needed to accelerate discovery and innovation across every field, from climate modelling and drug discovery to quantum research and astronomy.
Data Connect Australia
The Population Health Research Network (PHRN) has been at the forefront of integrating health and human services data across Australia. With a robust network of data linkage units, PHRN empowers researchers to unlock insights into disease, shaping innovative treatments and enhancing health services nationwide. Underpinned by a commitment to privacy and ethical standards, PHRN exemplifies collaborative research, bolstered by substantial support from government and academic sectors.
Southern Coastal Research Vessel Fleet (Coastal Vessels)
The Southern Coastal Research Vessel Fleet has been established to coordinate vessel use and provide better access to coastal research vessels in Southern Australia. This includes competitive access to fully funded grants of sea time onboard southern coastal research vessels and support for a replacement vessel to upgrade the aging fleet to provide the marine research community with access to contemporary coastal research infrastructure.
AARNet
AARNet is Australia’s national research and education network, a not-for-profit organisation equally owned by 38 Australian universities and CSIRO. AARNet provides essential high-speed internet and advanced network services tailored to meet the specialised needs of researchers in Australia.
Urban greening for health
On average, someone is hospitalised for a heart attack every 9 minutes, according to the National Heart Foundation of Australia. And the toll on taxpayers runs into billions each year. Reduced cardiovascular disease Few studies have explored whether health benefits from urban greening translate into reduced healthcare expenditure. Study co-lead Professor Xiaoqi Feng from the University […]
How our seabed mapping is boosting knowledge of Australia’s incredible marine estate
A collaborative effort by CSIRO and Geoscience Australia is delivering high-resolution seabed data to illuminate our ocean estate and make incredible discoveries. Australia has the third largest ocean territory on the planet, measuring 13.8 million square kilometres, including the Australian Antarctic Territory. Australia’s diverse oceans, seas and waterways form an integral part of our lifestyle, […]
Australia’s climate future: new ACCESS model goes global
Australia’s latest climate model, called ACCESS-ESM1.6, is ready to enter the global stage through the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP7), which will inform the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. Climate change will shape everything about life in Australia – from the homes we live in and the food we grow to the […]
Research impact: understanding bikeability to shape healthier, more connected cities.
Across Australia, cities are looking for safer, easier ways to support cycling. ‘Bikeability’ describes how well an area supports cycling through its infrastructure, safety, environment and access to everyday destinations. But understanding what actually makes an area ‘bikeable’ is not straightforward. Until now, studies have used different definitions, indicators, and modelling approaches to explore bikeability, […]
ACCESS models help to unveil the causes of the unprecedented 2023 North Atlantic Ocean heatwave
A paper published recently in Nature using two ACCESS models, has revealed the drivers of a marine heatwave that swept across the North Atlantic Ocean during the summer of 2023, causing severe impacts on climate and ecosystems. “The intensity of the warming in that single summer was equivalent to about two decades worth of warming for the […]
New season of turtle tracking helping to understand the sub-surface waters of Northern Australia
IMOS is providing valuable oceanographic measurements in this poorly sampled region whilst simultaneously delivering information about turtle behaviour and movements by attaching satellite tags to turtles. On a recent field trip satellite tags were attached to 20 olive ridley turtles during the nesting season at Imalu Beach on Melville Island, which is in the Tiwi […]
Strengthening international research relations and showcasing Australian capability
Driving global collaboration through the Prato 2025 Health Research Infrastructure Symposium The 2025 Australian & European Health Research Infrastructure Symposium, held from 16-18 September at the Monash University Prato Centre in Italy, united leaders from major Australian and European research infrastructures to strengthen international partnerships and tackle shared challenges in health and life sciences. The three-day […]
ACCESS-NRI joins the international Momentum partnership to advance climate and weather prediction
Australia’s climate simulator, ACCESS-NRI is thrilled to announce its participation in the Momentum Partnership, joining an international collaboration that develops world-leading modelling frameworks for weather and climate science. The Momentum Partnership includes access to the UK Met Office’s Unified Model (UM Model), which is the atmosphere component of the ACCESS framework. ACCESS-NRI’s partner collaborators, CSIRO and the […]
Seeing through the smoke
Innovative infrared drone sensor technology offers a promising solution for early bushfire detection and effective firefighting. The end of winter and beginning of spring increasingly heralds a summer on fire. The devastation caused by the 2019-20 Black Summer remains seared in Australia’s collective memory. Yet, many Aussies have already forgotten how bad last summer was […]
Cost-effective imaging technology to revolutionise spatial transcriptomics
EMBL Australia group leader Dr William Roman & his team have launched a new imaging-based spatial transcriptomics platform that dramatically reduces experimental costs from more than $35,000 to approximately $30 per experiment, making spatial biology more accessible to researchers across Australia. While modern sequencing technology has made it relatively easy to tell which genes are […]
Corals in a warming ocean
Investigating heat resistance in corals Since 2013, the National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) has been a pivotal resource in advancing our understanding of coral heat resistance and the potential for human-assisted evolution to bolster coral resilience. Assisted evolution involves accelerating naturally occurring evolutionary processes to help corals adapt to predicted future climate ocean scenarios, such as rising […]
Research Impact: School provision, workforce distribution, housing, and the staffing of schools in Sydney
More children and young people are accessing schooling than at any other point in history. This is largely due to the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SGD4), which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” In tandem with the millennial development goals, this has contributed to […]
Research Impact: Assessing “Child-Friendliness” as a Pathway to Reducing Private Car use for Children’s Transport
The journey to school is a vital part of a child’s physical, psychological, and social development. It offers children an opportunity to interact and emotionally engage with the world around them, building self-possession and independence. However, in Australia, the heavy reliance on cars to transport kids to and from school inhibits this, as well as […]
Research Impact: Measuring the Age-Friendliness of Australian Suburbs
Australians are ageing at an unprecedented rate. As people get older, frailty and increased use of health resources pose a significant challenge to already strained health services. It is vital to keep ageing populations healthy to not only reduce this dependence on services but also to promote their wellbeing, independence, and participation in society. This […]
Research Impact: Mitigating Childhood Asthma Risks from Traffic-Related Air Pollution
Using data available through AURIN, as well as Westgate and EPA (Environment Protection Authority Victoria) monitor data, researchers from the University of Queensland and the University of Melbourne have raised concerns about the impact of emissions from truck traffic on childhood asthma rates in Melbourne’s Inner West. Clare Walter, Peter D Sly, Brian W Head, […]
Streamlining remote sensing data transfers for environmental research
FileSender addresses the challenge of moving large datasets around for researchers participating in the Joint Remote Sensing Research Program. For environmental researchers, the volume of data generated by remote sensing technologies can be massive and challenging to manage. The Joint Remote Sensing Research Program (JRSRP) is a leader in this field, involving experts from academia […]
Making visible the impact of Australia’s national microscopy infrastructure
Through trust and identity, the impact of Australia’s distributed microscopy infrastructure will be revealed. Microscopy Australia is a consortium of university-based microscopy facilities that provides more than 3,500 Australian researchers a year, with access to state-of the-art microscopes. Through access to their facilities, crucial research is enabled in areas such as future energy innovations, improved […]
Enabling research and innovation to address climate change through trust and identity
Understanding the usage of Australia’s critical climate change modelling software through user reporting, will inform the future of this service. ACCESS-NRI, Australia’s Climate Simulator, is the national critical research infrastructure that provides software engineering support for Earth system and climate research. Standing for the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator – ACCESS – is […]
New native mice species
Two new native mice have scurried into the list of Australian mammal species! The words “species” and “Australia” are unfortunately traditionally linked to their disappearance from our continent’s highly biodiverse ecosystem. Following from last year’s discovery of a very much alive mouse species which was previously thought to be extinct in the wild, researchers have […]
Nanocluster Catalysts Remove Toxic Organic Chemicals from Wastewater
Water contamination from dyes used in food, cosmetics, textiles, and other production processes has become a major ecological problem. Numerous chemical companies, such as those that produce textiles, cosmetics, and dyes, discharge hazardous and non-biodegradable dyes into the environment. Azole dyes, including methyl orange, make up over half of the dyes used in the textile […]
A true partnership to improve position, navigation and timing services in Australia
What do precision agriculture, weather predictions and synchronising financial transactions all have in common? They rely on geodesy, the science of measuring the Earth that enables all Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) applications that are used in everyday life. This exact science underpins the global geospatial economy, which has a value of at least US$1 […]
Shared Vocabularies Create Oceans of Opportunities
Research vocabularies are helping researchers aggregate data from a wide range of sources and disciplines to find evidence-based solutions to big societal challenges such as climate change. In 2021, an analysis of sea temperature data collected from the Southern Ocean over 25 years revealed disturbing evidence that the potential for Antarctic ice-sheet melting has been […]
Australian Urban Health Indicators
Creating new health indicators that improve the understanding of the health of Australian urban and regional populations Australian Urban Health Indicators (AusUrb-HI) is a collaboration between NCRIS facilities – the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN), the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) and the Population Health Research Network (PHRN) – and researchers, that will develop a suite of new indicator data […]
Engineers devise new method to remove harmful E. coli from water
Engineers at Monash University have developed a new solar filtration method to remove deadly bacteria, such as E. coli, from water using a safe and low-cost material: graphitic carbon nitride with polyethylenimine. This builds on previous solar filtration technologies but has one key benefit, it does not leach metals back into the water to create secondary […]
A wonder material made from waste
In February 2020, Clean Earth Technologies (CET) signed an agreement with Flinders University to produce commercial quantities of an environmental wonder material. Developed by Prof. Justin Chalker and his team at Flinders University, this novel polymer — made exclusively from waste materials — is capable of pulling oil from the oceans and contaminants like mercury […]
EcoCommons
A world-first collaborative commons for analysing and modelling ecological and environmental challenges. The Challenge Our planet is facing massive biodiversity loss due to overexploitation of species, invasive species, pollution, climate change and the degradation, fragmentation and destruction of habitats. Decision makers concerned with biodiversity need powerful computing and analytical capabilities to help navigate this challenge […]
Reef Spawning in SeaSim
The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) supports the propagation of a range of marine organisms, including corals, sponges, and Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS). Utilising advanced infrastructure, SeaSim replicates natural spawning conditions, making it an invaluable resource for studying reproductive processes and early-history of marine invertebrates. SeaSim’s proximity to the Great Barrier Reef ensures easy access to reproductively […]
