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Dr Cathy Foley CSIRO’s chief scientist will be Australia’s next chief scientist.Summary
Dr Cathy Foley has been appointed as Australia's next chief scientist commencing Jan 2021. For the last two years, she has been CSIRO's chief scientist and is an expert in superconducting materials. Superconductors have several uses such as detecting magnetic fields which is useful in detecting valuable deposits of minerals. See: Australia in box seat to become world's new rare earths powerhouse. Dr Foley notes that post-covid Australia needs to become more sustainable in several industries. She also states that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) is essential in ensuring Australia does not become too dependent on other countries. However, Dr Foley also notes that Australia must continue to collaborate internationally. Dr Foley has been a champion of diversity in science and leadership, and she is keen to attract more girls and women into STEM subjects. Think about the significance of Dr Foley's expertise and possible implications for future defence technology development.
