This month Rork Projects started work to replace the combustible cladding on one of the CSIRO buildings located at its Pullenvale, Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (QCAT) which houses the Betty Allen Data Centre.
More than just a renowned research institition, this builidng at CSIRO’s Brisbane location honors one of the organisation’s first female data leaders to challenge gender norms and pave the way for future generations.
Betty Allan, is acknowledged as being CSIRO’s first statistician. She joined the then Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1930 and championed and demonstrated the usefulness of biometrics in science. Ms. Allan held a Bachelor of Arts in ‘pure and mixed’ mathematics with honours in all subjects, a Diploma of Education, and a Master of Arts. She won the Nanson Prize for post graduate research and a Fred Knight Research Scholarship.
The data centre was named after Ms Allan to acknowledge her contribution to CSIRO as she provided statistical and mathematical support to all six CSIRO divisions as well as outside organisations.
QCAT was originally established in 1998 by an agreement between the Queensland Government and CSIRO, to develop a centre that focuses on expanding research and development in the mining, energy and related manufacturing industries in this State and the country.
The site now has a broader range of research including mining, energy and robotics. The site brings together researchers and resources from across CSIRO and works with the State Government, Universities and Queensland and Australia-wide minerals, energy, and manufacturing industries in collaborative activities.
Today CSIRO employs about 4,500 staff involved in a variety of research including those working on the response to the COVID-19 vaccine and bushfire response. Collectively, these scientists possess expertise in almost every major scientific discipline. This enables CSIRO to draw on a large and diverse pool of individual skills to meet emerging global and national scientific, health or technological challenges.
Undertaking these remediation works will restore the exterior of the building to ensure its safety and compliance for CSIRO, its collaborators and visitors whilst maintaining the integrity of the building that honours the late Betty Allen.
Photos above show the CSIRO buildings ahead of works commencing on site