PRESIDENT'S NOTES
19 October 2001
Dear Colleague,
We have all been appalled by the recent tragic events in the United States. On 15 September, on behalf of all Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science, I conveyed to Bruce Alberts of the US National Academy of Sciences our sympathy for our colleagues and the American people.
Our Foreign Secretary, Kurt Lambeck, recently in Paris for an InterAcademy Panel Executive Committee Meeting, contributed to discussion leading to a statement issued on 25 September by Co-Chairs Eduardo Krieger and Yves Quéré expressing the IAP's sympathy and condemning the use of terrorism.
Many of us in the science community see that education, health and scientific development must be universal if humanity is to prosper.
Best wishes,
Brian D O Anderson
PRIORITIES FOR AUSTRALIA
As the federal election campaign warms up, we have released the Academy’s booklet, 'Priorities in research and innovation for the next Australian Government'. It has been sent to all senators and federal members, and to other interested parties. We are arguing that education for our people and innovation for our industries are the best investments in an uncertain global future.
Copies of our media release and the booklet are available at http://www.science.org.au/media/priorities.htm.
BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
The Academy has set up a committee to help develop a position statement on ethical issues in sponsored biomedical research and to consider whether we should have a statement on sponsored research generally. This follows Fellows’ concerns about commercial pressures on research and a statement on publication ethics by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The committee will be chaired by the Secretary (Biological Sciences), John Young.
OLIPHANT CENTENARY
The lecture and dinner marking the centenary of the birth of the Academy’s Foundation President, Sir Mark Oliphant, on 8 October, was a great success. Erich Weigold said some words that made us reflect on the life of one of Australia’s greatest scientists and Brian Schmidt delivered a sparkling lecture on ‘Taking measure of the universe’. Brian is the 2001 Pawsey Medallist and last year's winner of the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Achievement in the Physical Sciences.
The Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Resources also came to the party. The head of the innovation and science division, Mr Grahame Cook, announced funding for a new series of conferences to be known as The Sir Mark Oliphant International Frontiers of Science and Technology Conference Series. This Academy, together with the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, will organise the conferences.
FEDERATION FELLOWS
I was delighted that eight Academy Fellows were among the recipients of the first round of Federation Fellowships. The aim of the fellowships is to keep researchers of the highest international standing in key positions in Australia. The Academy Fellows are Robert Clark, Max Coltheart, Michael Dopita, Graham Goodwin, Martin Green, Yiu-Wing Mai, Keith Nugent and Mandyam Srinivasan.
Our media release is available at http://www.science.org.au/media/federation.htm.
AWARDS TO METCALF AND CLARK
I would also like to congratulate one of Australia’s greatest medical scientists, Donald Metcalf, on winning the 2001 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science. He and his team at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research are acclaimed for their life-saving work on cancer.
More on Donald Metcalf’s life and work is available at http://www.science.org.au/media/pmprize.htm.
Another distinguished Fellow, Graeme Clark of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, was recognised for his outstanding work on the bionic ear when he was acclaimed Senior Australian of the Year 2001.
LORD MAY VISITS
On 3 October, the President of the Royal Society, Lord May of Oxford, had lunch with the Academy Council in Canberra. That evening there was a reception with ACT Fellows at the Shine Dome. Bob May and I exchanged gifts and we all had a good chance to compare the science policies of Australia and the United Kingdom.
SECTIONAL COMMITTEES
The Council has reorganised the sectional committees which recommend scientists for election to the Fellowship. The committees, which follow scientific disciplines, now better reflect the contemporary balance of the disciplines, and have been increased in number from nine to ten. The new arrangements will not be implemented until year 2003 elections.
SYMPOSIUM ON SUSTAINABILITY
The organising committee for the Academy’s 2002 symposium, on sustainability, is making progress. The program has been agreed and a small group has been identified to prepare each of the papers.
BASSER LIBRARY
Council has been reviewing the role of the Academy’s Basser Library. The library is seen as a repository for material on distinguished Australian scientists. The priority is to catalogue personal papers rather than published papers which are available from other sources, such as journals and websites of research organisations.
Information on the library’s collection is available at http://www.science.org.au/academy/basser/bass_inf.htm.
THANKS
I have received a letter from the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Nick Minchin, thanking the Academy for its contributions to discussions on a number of subjects. Thanks to those officers and Fellows who have contributed their time and ideas.
LINKS
The Executive Secretary, Sue Serjeantson, and I are looking for ways to improve the Academy’s links with industry and governments, particularly state governments. With funding from the GST, the states are starting to develop their own science and technology policies. And we need to use Fellows in the private sector to bring a different perspective to the Academy’s deliberations and to raise the Academy’s profile in industry.
VIDEOS OF YOUNG AUSTRALIAN SCIENTISTS
The Australian Research Council has funded a project to film interviews with young researchers. Five have been interviewed with another ten scheduled for interview before the end of the year. The project aims to enthuse young people, especially secondary school students, about careers in science. The researchers interviewed so far have conveyed a deep enthusiasm for what they do. The ARC has recently approved funding for the second stage of this project, due to start in 2002.
HISTORICAL RECORDS TO CSIRO
CSIRO will take over the publication and distribution of the Academy’s journal, 'Historical Records of Australian Science'. The journal publishes, and will continue to publish, historical articles and memoirs of former Fellows.
PRIMARY INVESTIGATIONS
The Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs has agreed to provide $15,000 to match the Academy’s $15,000 to undertake an evaluation of the 'Primary Investigations' science program. The aim of the project is to assess the effectiveness of the program and recommend modifications or enhancements. Neville Fletcher will represent the Academy on the reference committee. The report is due at the end of May 2002.
ROYAL SOCIETY'S FOREIGN SECRETARY TO VISIT
Professor Dame Julia Higgins, FRS, will be visiting most states of Australia in November this year as Solomon Lecturer (sponsored by the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute). Professor Higgins holds the Chair of Polymer Science in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College, London. She is the first female Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society; she is a member of the UK Council for Science and Technology and chairs the Steering committee of the Athena project, which is funded by the UK government to improve recruitment, retention and advancement of women in academic science, technology and medicine.
DIARY HIGHLIGHTS
2 November: Deadline for applications to the Academy's international exchange programs with North America. More information is available at http://www.science.org.au/internat.
13 November: Australian Foundation for Science AGM.
29 November: Victorian Group Christmas Party, 7.00 for 7.30pm, Rainforest Room (Main Entrance), Melbourne Zoological Gardens ($70/head). Members of the Academy's Executive Committee will be there and I will be giving a short address. Contact Geoffrey Opat at mailto:g.opat@physics.unimelb.edu.au.
7 December: Ian Wark dinner and lecture at the Shine Dome (in conjunction with the Canberra Fellows' Dining Club). Contact Faye Nicholas at mailto:ac@science.org.au.
OFFICE BEARERS
President, Professor Brian Anderson
phone (02) 6125 8667, fax (02) 6125 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 Michael Barber
phone (08) 9380 2460, mailto:mbarber@acs.uwa.edu.au
Foreign Secretary, Professor Kurt Lambeck
phone (02) 6125 5161, mailto:kurt.lambeck@anu.edu.au
Treasurer, Professor Ian McDougall
phone (02) 6125 4136, mailto:Ian.McDougall@anu.edu.au
