Editor’s note: It’s remarkable the role of stubbornness is in invention. Both to convince the world to see things your way, or to convince your world to see things the other way. We analyse articles that seek to innovate across material reality, and social organisation.
Innovation Spotlight: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
source: australiangeographic.com.au
Australians are often credited for their laid-back character and generally easy-going vibes. None was more a victim of this than Sir Alan Walsh, the inventor of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).
For a brief chemistry lesson, molecules and atoms can exist in several energy states. They can move from lower to higher states by absorbing a photon of matching energy, and from higher to lower states by emitting one.
Emission spectroscopy measures the electromagnetic radiation emitted by excited atoms/ molecules as they move to a lower energy state. Meanwhile its twin, absorption spectroscopy, detects the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a molecule or atom as they move from a lower energy state to a higher one.
When Sir Alan Walsh, an English born Australian working for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), discovered atomic absorption, he was met with a classic Aussie response:
“Look! That’s atomic absorption” Alan shouted,
Dr J.B. Willis responded with “So what?”
The value of AAS was initially misunderstood, and Sir Walsh spent many years trying to get recognition for both his technique and the benefit that it could have. The first commercial device produced under licence was inadequate and eventually Walsh and his team took it upon themselves to create a kit that could be used by researchers to create their own AAS instrument. They called this “Operation Backyard” and used conventional electronics components from a local five person firm, Techtron, who later grew into a major producer of Atomic Absorption Spectrometers.
Today, AAS is considered one of the most important analytical techniques in modern chemistry. It is used globally in anything from environmental monitoring to forensic analysis. What started off as an ignored and undervalued idea has become the backbone for many safety and quality controls. AAS enables testing for mineral levels in food and beverages. It can identify the presence of heavy metals that have toxic effects on the human body. It is also used to measure air pollution, assess the quality of pharmaceuticals before they are distributed and can even identify metal levels in blood, serum and hair which is used in clinical and forensic analysis.
This Australian innovation, whilst met with a classic Aussie response, also demonstrates another key Australian characteristic: perseverance. Sir Alan Walsh knew not only the value of his technique but the good that it could do. He worked tirelessly with his team until this technique had the instrument needed to replicate it by other scientists and from there it took on a life of its own.
Australians may have an easy-going approach, occasionally to our own detriment, but our determination is unmatched and Sir Alan Walsh is just one example of this. He teaches us that innovation doesn’t just come from a new idea, but from hard work, belief in oneself and an unwavering desire to add more to the world around us.
Article Contribution: Tom L
Media Machinations: What the Democrats can learn from MAGA
Editor’s note: We are interested in what we can learn from anyone anywhere; those who have done anything better, or interesting, or different from what’s expected in a given accepted narrative.
Regardless of the political views an individual holds, there is plenty to learn from the current climate of US politics.
Journalist Charles Duhigg’s recent article in The New Yorker highlights that there are two key vehicles for growing support: mobilising and organising.
“Mobilising refers to the process of educating people about a cause and then prompting them to participate in public events”. A prime example of this was the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program. Formed by the Los Angeles Police Department, it aimed to provide younger students with the tools to resist peer pressure regarding alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Initially the program was rapidly adopted and endorsed by politicians and big businesses. Within a few years it had more than 3 million student participants. Its budget eventually reached US $25million and was supported by the White House. However, multiple studies later found that despite this mobilised support, there was minimal change in behaviour. Some reports even found children more interested in experimenting with drugs due to the early exposure.
Duhigg also described organising, the process of helping members to become leaders on their own, using Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). MADD is an organisation founded after a repeat drink-driving offender killed a Sacramento woman’s daughter, prompting her to seek changes to the law. Her initial movement came from personal beginnings but after gaining traction she had other mothers reaching out for support and guidance. Rather than prescribing a method or program the organiser of MADD provided some advice on how to engage with members of community, law enforcement and the criminal justice system for other mothers to use as they thought best. This enabled small pockets to spring up across the country, grounded in the same ambition but with varying beliefs on the best method. Some looked to ban serving alcohol at public events and rejected funding from alcohol companies while others thought the focus should be anti-drink driving not anti-drinking and welcomed donations from beverage companies. These differences, and even at times conflicts between communities, may appear inefficient however when MADD’s founder was caught pocketing donations for personal use and ousted from the organisation the “chaos led to the empowerment of local chapter heads and allowed the social bonding that a movement needs to survive.”
MADD was rooted in local engagement based on the same goal and that is what made it survive beyond its founder. While DARE was found to be ineffective in changing behaviour, MADD currently has chapters in every state and helped pass more than a thousand state laws.
It raises the important question: what is more effective, mobilising or organising?
“Mobilising is about getting people to do a thing, and organising is about getting people to become the kind of people who do what needs to be done.” Hahrie Han
Circling back to the political climate in the US, we see that the Democrats were strong at mobilising, large rallies, millions of dollars donated and overwhelming support in the form of phone calls and letters, however, the Republicans excelled at organising. They encouraged local communities to support Trump in any way they deemed effective.
“Republicans have become adept at creating broad coalitions in which supporting Trump is the only requirement. Democrats get tied up with litmus tests.”
This ultimately worked for the Republicans in the most recent election but also worked for the Democrats in 2008 and 2012. Obama’s campaign was based on recruiting thousands of volunteers and encouraging them to promote and support Obama in any way they saw fit. This created local support but also local leaders that shared how they best supported Obama. A keen volunteer even created a website with instructions on how to create Pro-Obama videos. These grassroots organisers inspired more engagement both with volunteers and voters than any other campaign in US history.
Australians can learn from this. We as a nation feel confused, frustrated and ultimately lost (1). This is not a time for blame, rage or fear. It is a time to organise local initiatives and build momentum founded in the same ideals with the support to experiment with methods.
It is important to note that while Duhigg highlights the Democrats have been getting caught up in litmus tests it is crucial there is alignment beyond agreeing with the leader in charge. Supporting principles and working towards the same goal, as shown by MADD, rather than simply aligning to a leader, ensures a legacy. Organising is essential for long term support however it should be backed by ideals and goals, encouraging local leaders to emerge.
Article Contribution: Jonathan M
Cited Works
1. IPSOS. Half of Australians believe ‘society is broken’, ‘country in decline’. [Online] 2024 February 19. [Cited: 16 February 2026.] https://www.ipsos.com/en-au/half-australians-believe-society-broken#:~:text=five%20key%20statements:-,The%20economy%20is%20rigged%20to%20advantage%20the%20rich%20and%20powerful,people%20like%20me%20(62%25).