Geoscience Australia

• National Geoscience Capability, including developing and maintaining datasets and collections which support enduring national issues. The availability of the datasets help to increase the use of geoscientific information across all research sectors. Two data collections of national significance are the ARG25 and ASTER Collections
• National Geoscience Infrastructure, including operating nationally important infrastructure such as observatories.
• Promotion and Presence, including operation of a popular education centre and open day, support for curriculum development and engagement with the research community.

The agency is focussed on, and generates data about, the following Australian Government priorities:

• Responsible Resource Development, including developing and promoting a prospectus of Australia’s onshore and offshore resources to maintain Australia’s share of global resource markets, and ensuring issues around groundwater and seafloor biodiversity can be managed.
• Cleaner and Low Emissions Energy Technology, including carbon capture and storage and geothermal energy.
• Community Safety, including mitigating the impact of natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes and landslides, and supporting governments to respond more effectively when disasters do occur.
• Improving Marine Planning and Protection, including supporting Australia’s claims to territories and resources, and supporting management of seafloor and coastal biodiversity.

• Restoring Long-Term Health of the Murray-Darling Basin, including analysis of options for storing water underground, when it is available, to avoid losses caused by evaporation.
• Tackling Climate Change Impact, including provision of information about coastal vulnerability to sea -level rise and monitoring of forestation/deforestation in the region.
• Official Development Assistance, including support for the Mining for Development Initiative and for increasing disaster resilience of countries in the region.