PRESIDENT'S NOTES
26 October 2000
Dear Colleagues
It was a great pleasure to chair the dinner for the first winners of the Prime Minister's Prize for Science, Liz Dennis and Jim Peacock, and the two young winners of the Minister's Prizes, on 3 October. We should also be pleased that these two Fellows of the Academy will become ex-officio members of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council for the next 12 months.
With best wishes,
Brian D O Anderson
PRIME MINISTER’S SCIENCE COUNCIL
I attended a meeting of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council Standing Committee last month. The discussion focused on the reports of the Chief Scientist, Robin Batterham (The chance to change), and of the Innovation Summit Implementation Group (Innovation: Unlocking the future). These issues were followed up at the Academy Council's lunch on 11 October, when Dr Batterham was the guest.
The Secretary (Science Policy), John White, has also formally responded to the two reports (see http://www.science.org.au/media/chance.htm).
Since July this year I have been chairing the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council working group on information technology, communications research and development. The report of this group will be presented to the 30 November meeting of the Council.
IDENTIFYING MAJOR FACILITIES
John White has submitted, on behalf of the Academy's Steering Group on Major Research Facilities, a comment on the Chief Scientist's discussion paper. This suggests ways of identifying and funding major research facilities in Australia. For more information contact Trish Nicholls at (02) 6247 3966 or mailto:nr@science.org.au.
TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABILITY
Following his attendance at the InterAcademy Panel meeting on the sustainability transition in Tokyo in May, Graeme Pearman has been discussing the issue with other Australian academies and institutions. I have also raised the possibility of joint action with the National Academies Forum. All have supported the concept. Further discussions are planned for November.
GREENHOUSE FORUM
On 13 October I attended the Academy’s National Science and Industry Forum on greenhouse gases in Melbourne. There were many stimulating speakers; thanks to Keith Boardman for organising the forum. A report will be published in a few weeks.
SCHIZOPHRENIA, TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO ACTION
Researchers, medical practitioners, policymakers and health-care consumers gathered in Canberra for an Academy symposium on schizophrenia and other psychoses on 20 October. Talks ranged from the frontiers of research to the techniques of political lobbying for increased resources. Papers and a summary report will be available later in the year. Abstracts are already available at http://www.science.org.au/schizophrenia/abstracts.htm
INTERACADEMY PANEL ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
After considering the draft constitution and a report of the first meeting of the provisional executive, the Academy has decided to join the InterAcademy Panel (IAP). This new international body is a grouping of many of the world's science academies, working together on policy issues of common concern. Kurt Lambeck will prepare a report on all the Academy’s international affiliations.
MEDICAL PANEL
The Academy has also been invited to join a group of overseas academies that are forming an InterAcademy Medical Panel. The Secretary (Biological Sciences), John Young, is convening a committee to consider how Australia should affiliate with the new body.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN JAPAN
Two members of the Academy’s Asia Exchange Committee, Professor Brian Kennett, FAA, and Professor Barry Osmond, FAA, will prepare advice to Council on how to increase interest in the opportunities for long-term research in Japan.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
The National Committee for Environment has been considering the implications for the environmental sciences of the restructured Australian Research Council. The National Committees for Psychology and Physics have prepared responses to the Chief Scientist's discussion paper.
2001 AGM AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS
The Academy’s 2001 annual general meeting events will be open to the public. The symposium, Cracking the code – using the code: the Human Genome Project and its applications, is being convened by Grant Sutherland. There will also be the third New Fellows Seminar, which has proved very popular.
PROGRESS ON THE SHINE DOME
All internal renovations of the Shine Dome should be completed before Christmas, subject to the weather. External works should be completed early in the new year. Additional work on cabling to improve communications within the dome and between it and Ian Potter House is being planned.
NOVA: SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
Council received a very encouraging report on the Academy's educational projects, including the Nova website which has achieved a high level of global visibility. Council re-affirmed its commitment to science education.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
CSIRO Publishing has decided to discontinue its subsidy for the Australian Journal of Physics. The Academy's Council has made some suggestions through the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Australian Journals of Scientific Research, Hugh Tyndale-Biscoe, FAA.
DIARY
6 November: Closing date for Research Award for the Conservation of Endangered Australian Vertebrate Species (http://www.science.org.au/awards/conservation.htm)
8 November: Executive Committee
27 November: Australian Foundation for Science AGM
28 November: Victorian Group Christmas Party, 7.00 for 7.30pm, The Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens, Carlton ($65/head). All AAS Fellows welcome to attend. Contact Professor Geoffrey Opat at mailto:g.opat@physics.unimelb.edu.au
30 November: Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council
29-30 November: NAF forum on AIDS
1 December: 283 Council
OFFICE BEARERS
President, Professor Brian Anderson
phone (02) 6279 8667, fax (02) 6279 8688,
mailto:brian.anderson@anu.edu.au
Secretary (Physical Sciences), Professor Bruce McKellar
phone (03) 9344 5122, mailto:b.mckellar@physics.unimelb.edu.au
Secretary (Biological Sciences), Professor John Young
phone (02) 9351 4600, mailto:johny@physiol.usyd.edu.au
Secretary (Science Policy), Professor John White
phone (02) 6249 3578, mailto:jww@rsc.anu.edu.au
Foreign Secretary, Professor Kurt Lambeck
phone (02) 6249 5161, mailto:kurt.lambeck@anu.edu.au
Treasurer, Professor Athel Beckwith
phone (02) 6249 3234, mailto:beckwith@rsc.anu.edu.au
