Dr Christopher Munnings
Biography
Dr Christopher Munnings is a senior research scientist with CSIRO Energy Technology based in Melbourne and has a strong background in energy conversion technologies such as fuel cells. Christopher joined CSIRO in 2010 and is currently working in the High efficiency thermal & electrochemical technologies group. He has a special interest in the conversion of cutting edge fundamental science into commercial products with a passion for the creation, storage and use of energy. He has worked across the full spectrum of the innovation chain from fundamental structural chemistry studies carried out within synchrotron facilities in Europe and Australia to applied R and D within large commercial organisations such as Rolls-Royce and MEL chemicals. In addition to his work in the field of energy conversion he has also worked on a diverse range of projects including the developing advanced ceramic armour for vehicles, novel ceramic thermal barrier coatings for gas turbines and nano-zirconia materials that are resistant to hydrothermal aging. He is a keen advocate of collaborative research and has worked in projects with a range of partners from across the globe including groups in the US, UK, Singapore, Canada and Portugal. He has a PhD from Imperial College London and has worked within a number of European universities, the NRC (Canada) and Rolls-Royce. He won the annual Imperial college Entrepreneurs challenge in 2001, was awarded an early career Marie Curie fellowship in 2004, selected to represent CSIRO at the annual science meet parliament event in 2011 and became a fellow of the centre for sustainability leadership in 2012.
Christopher currently leads the Centre for hybrid energy systems (CHES) in Clayton, Melbourne.
www.csiro.au/CHES
Key search terms: hybrid energy systems, renewable hydrogen, industry & innovation, sustainable transport,
Fields of Research
Current Roles
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Project Leader
Centre for hybrid energy systems (CHES)
Academic Qualifications
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2001
BEng.
Imperial College London -
2006
PhD.
Imperial College London
Professional Experiences
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2010-2010
Fuel cell consultant
Self employed -
2010-2010
PDRA
Loughborough University -
2009-2010
Materials consultant/PDRA
Loughborough University / MEL Chemicals -
2005-2009
Advanced technologist
Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd -
2005-2005
Materials consultant
Southside Thermal Sciences Ltd -
2004-2004
Marie Curie Fellow
University of Aveiro (Portugal)
Achievements and Awards
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2013
Invited speaker International workshop on Molten carbonates and related topics
CSIRO -
2010
Invited speaker The Welding and Joining society, lecture title: Characterisation of aluminium/alumina bond within interpenetrating metal ceramic composites
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2008
Invited speaker at Supergen (Fuel cells) workshop, lecture title: Fracture mechanics in thin films
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2002
Winner of the London Materials society lecture competition
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2001
Winner of the annual Imperial College Entrepreneurs Challenge competition (2001), Commended entry (2003)