CANBERRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has appointed a leading ocean expert as the country's new chief scientist.
Ed Husic, the minister for industry and science, on Tuesday named oceanographer Tony Haymet as Australia's 10th Chief Scientist, replacing Cathy Foley - whose three-year term ended in December.
Haymet previously served as chair of the Antarctic Science Foundation, the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Climate Change Working Group, and the Oceans Council at the World Economic Forum in 2012-13.
As chief scientist, he will provide authoritative advice to the government on Australia's science and technology priorities and contribute to improving Australia's scientific capability.
He said he will use his three-year term to emphasize the "importance of measurements, of data and scientific facts."
"My role is to support the scientists out on the farms, the deserts and oceans - it's measuring what's happening to our land, water and atmosphere," Haymet said.
While working at the national science agency the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Haymet co-founded the Wealth from Oceans Flagship - a major research initiative aimed at maximizing economic and environmental benefits from Australia's oceans.
Husic said Haymet has been a "fierce advocate" for action on climate change, healthy oceans and the public value of science and will be a "vocal champion" of Australian science.
During her term, Foley contributed to the government's plan to grow Australia's quantum industry and led the development of the country's national science and research priorities. ■
