Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
CSIR
1926 – 19 May 1949
Renamed Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in 1949.
The Commonwealth's national scientific research body, which carried out research for primary and later secondary industry through divisions and laboratories in fields such as animal health, plant industry, soils, forest products, radiophysics and aeronautics.
Names over time
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research1926–1949
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation1949–present
How it came into existence
Constituted in 1926 under the Science and Industry Research Act 1926, which amended the Institute of Science and Industry Act 1920 and replaced the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry with a council and executive committee led initially by George Julius, David Rivett and Arnold Richardson.
Constituted by amendment of the Institute's 1920 Act.
Legislation: Science and Industry Research Act 1926 (amending the Institute of Science and Industry Act 1920)
Changes during its life
- 1937The government extended CSIR's work to secondary industry, leading over the following years to the National Standards Laboratory, the Division of Aeronautics and the Division of Industrial Chemistry.
- National standards of physical measurement
- Ionospheric prediction service (Radio Research Board)
- Aeronautical research (Division of Aeronautics)
How it ended
Reconstituted on 19 May 1949 as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949; secret defence work, including the Division of Aeronautics, moved to the Department of Supply and Development.
Reconstituted under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949, which amended the existing Act.
- Secret defence research
Main functions
- Research for the pastoral and agricultural industries
- Research for secondary industry
- National standards of physical measurement
- Radiophysics and radar research
- Aeronautical research
- Training of research scientists
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Post-War Reconstruction.
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.