History of Australian Science and Innovation
Researching the history of science and innovation in Australia from pre-colonial times until the present day.
Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation
First developed in 1985, the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation is a register of the people and the many industries, corporations, research institutions, scientific societies and other organisations that have contributed to Australia's scientific, technological and medical heritage, with references to archival materials and an extensive bibliography of published literature.
In 2021, the Encyclopedia moved to the Centre for Transformative Innovation (CTI). CTI is the publisher of the Encyclopedia, and the program is managed and led by internationally renowned social and cultural informatics specialist and science archivist Associate Professor Gavan McCarthy.
The aims of the Encyclopedia project are:
- to further develop the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, including entries on contributions to world science, medical knowledge and technological innovation
- to record Australia’s First Nations’ knowledge, including land management and astronomy
- to research and publish information about the history of Australia’s scientific institutions, with emphasis on CSIRO and universities
- to research and publish information about the history of international science diplomacy, with emphasis on Australian science diplomacy.
Other projects
Project leads: Professor Tom Spurling and Professor Terry Healy
Based in CTI, the CSIRO History Project examined the evolution of CSIRO since its formation in 1949 (as the successor to CSIR) and how this evolution reflected CSIRO’s response over time to its changing external environment, including changes in the Australian economy and society, scientific disciplines around the world, and in levels of funding.
Noteworthy outputs from the project include:
- CSIRO Oral History Collection – a series of oral history interviews with key figures in CSIRO's history
- expansion of CSIROpedia exploring CSIRO’s greatest innovations and discoveries across the decades with brief biographies of the people responsible (focusing on achievements recognised by major honours and awards or research with significant commercial outcomes or benefit to society)
- digitisation and description of selected CSIRO governance and historical records.
Select recent publications
- Upstill Garrett, Spurling Thomas H., Healy Terence J., Simpson Gregory W. (2023) Realignment and change: CSIRO and industry 2000–10. Historical Records of Australian Science.
- McNamara Nicole, Kopinathan Anitha, Wolff Helen, Spurling Thomas H., Simpson Gregory, Locock Katherine E. S. (2023) Breaking down barriers: standing on the shoulders of Australia’s early female chemists. Australian Journal of Chemistry 76, 63-73.
- Upstill Garrett, Spurling Thomas H., Healy Terence J. (2021) CSIR and Australian industry: 1926–49. Historical Records of Australian Science 32, 52-66.
- Upstill Garrett, Spurling Thomas H. (2020) Engaging with Australian industry: CSIRO in the late twentieth century. Historical Records of Australian Science 31, 1-16.
- Wolff Helen A., Healy Terence J., Spurling Thomas H. (2019) An introduction to the CSIRO Oral History Collection. Historical Records of Australian Science 30, 112-118.
- Upstill Garrett (2019) Promoting Australian industry: CSIRO 1949–79. Historical Records of Australian Science 30, 1-11.
Our research team
| Name | Position | Research area |
|---|---|---|
| Jocelyn Bardot | Adjunct Research Fellow | Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation |
| Helen Cohn | Adjunct Research Fellow | Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation |
| Terry Healy | Adjunct Professor | Governance, Intellectual property |
| Gavan McCarthy | Adjunct Professor | Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation |
| Ken McInnes | Adjunct Research Fellow | Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation |
| Greg Simpson | Adjunct Professor | Science capability development |
| Tom Spurling | Professor, Innovation Studies | Oral histories, Governance, Technology transfer |
| Garrett Upstill | Honorary Research Associate | Evolution of technology transfer |
| John Webb | Adjunct Professor | Science diplomacy |
Explore our other research themes
Contact the Centre for Transformative Innovation
There are many ways to engage with us. If your organisation is dealing with a complex problem, get in touch to discuss how we can work together to provide solutions. Call us on +61 3 9214 4861 or email cti@swinburne.edu.au.