molecular spectroscopy and membrane science, a very successful Manager of technical projects and is highly effective in transferring science and technology to his industrial partners.
on the photochemical conversion of solar energy. This project produced some highly innovative science (see papers 25-57) and culminated in a novel and highly efficient system for the solar production of hydrogen from water. This system is still used in research worldwide and much of Dr Mau's international reputation as a molecular spectroscopist rests on the scientific success of this project.
Devices Project. The genesis of this project was the spectroscopic studies associated with the solar photolysis of water project. The Reserve Bank of Australia requested CSIRO in 1985 to devise a machine readable feature (MRF) which would enable them to rapidly authenticate banknotes. Dr Mau devised the concept of a method for high speed verification of currency notes. Dr Mau has been outstandingly successful in managing and developing the project into the market place. As a result the Reserve Bank of Australia has brought new fully-funded projects to the CSIRO which are not related to the earlier work. In particular, a new UV curable intaglio ink for banknotes has been developed which greatly improves the print quality. The work on security devices has been of outstanding scientific originality. It has opened up a whole field of applications for chemical security methods which will have significant repercussions in the future.