Dr Brent McInnes

Fulbright Professional Business / Industry (Coral Sea) Scholar

Media Profile

“CSIRO has been involved in the development of remotely operated mining vehicles for over a decade, and the next stage of evolution of this technology will be to incorporate geochemical analysis and mineralogy sensor feedbacks for use in hazardous or isolated environments. My research project will review material characterisation approaches being developed for the U.S. space exploration program and consider commercial applications of these methods in Australia’s exploration and mining industry.”

Dr Brent McInnes has received the Fulbright Business/Industry (Coral Sea) Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 1992 by former U.S. Ambassador Mel Sembler and donations from U.S. companies to recognise the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea and address business and industry issues common to Australia and the U.S.

Brent is a Senior Principal Research Scientist and Ore Systems Science Leader with CSIRO Exploration and Mining in Perth, Western Australia. Through his Fulbright he will undertake a secondment at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre (GSFC) in Maryland, where he will review materials measurement and characterisation strategies being developed for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission, the Mars Science Laboratory Mission and the Earth Observation System Program.

“The GSFC is spearheading the development of highly advanced sensors and autonomous platforms that conduct scientific measurements and deliver integrated information products to remote observers,” explains Brent. “It is likely that some of these technologies will have commercial applications in the Australian minerals industry, a sector of the Australian economy that accounts for approximately 8% of GDP, 45% of merchandise exports, and underpins the employment of 320,000 Australians. The Australian resources sector is highly innovative and continually on the lookout for new ideas that will keep workers safe, increase productivity and minimise environmental impact during exploration and mining operations.”

“I am also keen to contribute to those NASA teams responsible for prioritising sites for scientific investigation by orbital mapping surveys and robotic reconnaissance vehicles. The next phase of planned human exploration on the Moon and Mars requires an exploration and mining perspective because prospecting for the natural resources required to build infrastructure and support life will be an absolute necessity.”

Dr Laurie Leshin, GSFC Director of Sciences and Exploration says "NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is pleased to host Dr McInnes as a Fulbright Scholar in our Science Directorate and welcomes the participation of Australia's CSIRO in our scientific and space exploration activities."

Originally from Canada, Brent is a geology graduate from McMaster and Ottawa universities and undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the California institute of Technology. He was recruited to Australia by CSIRO and holds an adjunct appointment at Curtin University. Brent is past Vice-President of the International Society of Economic Geologists and has received a CSIRO Chairman’s Gold Medal for Research Excellence and an International Development Research Centre Young Researcher Award.

“On my return to Australia, I plan to give public lectures on my Fulbright experience that will hopefully inspire the next generation of students to seek exciting career opportunities in science and technology. I also hope that my visit will serve to establish an enduring collaboration between NASA and CSIRO that will facilitate the exchange of people and ideas, and potentially lead to trials of autonomous exploration technologies in Australia.”