The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world. Involved in more than 740 research activities CSIRO works with: leading scientific organisations in over 80 countries; and, partners and customers ranging from foreign governments, small companies to large multi-nationals, and international foundations.

 

CSIRO is committed to increasing public awareness and knowledge about climate change and the range of energy technologies available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to its technical research program, CSIRO has become increasingly aware of the critical role that changing individual energy behaviours will play if we are to be successful in our efforts to mitigate climate change.

 

Our research has shown that while the majority of Australians are concerned about climate change and greenhouse gas mitigation they do not necessarily relate their own energy behaviours as being part of the problem. In response to this research, CSIRO has developed a project called Energymark. Energymark brings communities together to discuss energy technologies and climate change and to learn more about the role they can play in moving towards a sustainable future. Small community based networks commit to a series of discussion meetings at which balanced information is provided. Groups progress through topics at their own pace. After each meeting, a summary of the key points raised is sent to CSIRO. Participants also complete questionnaires to further inform CSIRO about the range of perspectives in the community.

Group Convenors are one of the key roles needed for the project to work successfully. They organise and manage group meetings providing a link bank to CSIRO. Group convenors are individuals, who based on their own interest, volunteer to bring together a small group of people (family, friends, neighbours and/or workmates) to instigate conversations about energy and climate change.

 

The purpose of the CSIRO stall at Greenfest 2009 is to provide the community with information about SCIRO, specifically the Energymark project, and to recruit interested Brisbane residents into the project. The Energymark concept can provide enormous opportunity for Australia to bring about large scale behaviour change in energy consumption, providing objective information and involving individuals and communities in the decision making process around energy.

 

Please contact Anne-Maree at anne-maree.dowd@csiro.au for more information.