PRESIDENT'S NOTES
28 May 2002
Dear Colleague,
When Brian Anderson passed the baton to me (in the form of the Academy's gavel) at the end of the Academy's annual general meeting on 2 May, I said then how honoured I felt to have been elected to the presidency of the Academy.
I would like to reiterate here how humbling it is to be following in the footsteps of past presidents. I would also like to thank the Fellowship for their confidence in me and I hope to live up to your expectations.
If you were unable to attend this year's very successful Science at the Shine Dome meeting, detailed information about the various events is available on the Academy's website (http://www.science.org.au/sats2002) and there will be a full report in the next issue of the Academy's Newsletter. I would particularly like to draw your attention to Brian's outstanding address to the 48th annual meeting of the Academy (http://www.science.org.au/media/president.htm).
With best wishes,
Jim Peacock
THANK YOU!
Brian and Diane Anderson have presented a magnificent mallee burl shield clock to the Academy, to mark the completion of Brian's term as President.
The clock was designed by David McLaren of the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery and made by Jim Homman from the south coast of New South Wales. Mallee burl is an extremely hard wood and very difficult to work, but is prized for its beautiful marbled grain which takes a superb finish.
The clock will be a valuable addition to the Becker Room, the venue for Council meetings.
I was pleased to present to Brian and Dianne a photographic record of his time as president. The album was prepared by secretariat staff member Tania Walkom.
NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES
The Science Minister, Mr Peter McGauran, this week released an Issues Paper on national research priorities, and announced the formation of a high-level consultative panel. Academy Fellow Graham Farquhar is one of nine members on the panel, which is chaired by the Chief Scientist, Robin Batterham. The Academy is taking a leading role in the consultation process, convening a small scoping workshop on 29 May and a larger strategic forum on 26 and 27 June.
The forum is timed to follow Michael Barber's National Press Club address - Research priorities for Australia: Setting our future - on 26 June. Seating is limited - book early! Reservations can be made by calling 02 6273 3644 or contacting mailto:npc@npc.org.au. Further information is available at http://www.npc.org.au/speak/bookings.html. The address will be televised live by the ABC.
The timeline for the consultation process is very short. The deadlines for written submissions are 28 June for comment on the framework for setting and implementing national research priorities and 9 August to nominate national research priorities. Government will announce the national research priorities in October. The Academy will be making submissions on the framework and the priorities. The Issues Paper is available at http://www.dest.gov.au/priorities.
MEETING OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRS
On 30 April a very productive meeting of the chairs of the Academy's National Committees was held at the Shine Dome. The purpose of the meeting was to investigate ways in which the National Committees could better help the Academy to achieve its aims, which are, broadly speaking, to promote and disseminate scientific knowledge.
Recommendations from the meeting will be in the next issue of the Academy's Newsletter.
ICT CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ANNOUNCED
I am delighted to be able to report that the Government has just announced that National ICT Australia (NICTA) was the preferred applicant to establish and operate the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Centre of Excellence. Brian Anderson, Director, Research School of Information Sciences and Engineering and Professor of Systems Engineering at the Australian National University, will be the interim CEO.
(http://www.noie.gov.au/publications/media_releases/2002/May/CoE_success.htm)
HIGHER EDUCATION REVIEW
The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson, has released the first in a series of discussion papers on higher education and has called for submissions on the paper. A reference group, chaired by Dr Nelson and convened by Dr Peter Shergold, Secretary of DEST, will guide the consideration of issues raised through the process of the review. The first discussion paper, Higher Education at the Crossroads, is available at http://www.dest.gov.au/crossroads. Michael Barber, Secretary, Science Policy, will chair a small group charged with preparing the Academy's submission.
Dr Shergold joined members of the Academy's Executive Committee for lunch on 15 May. Discussion focused on the Higher Education Review and national priority setting.
NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO THE FELLOWSHIP
Fellows are advised that if they wish to nominate a candidate for Ordinary election, the Certificate of a Candidate for Election and all supporting documents must be received by the Secretariat by 31 July 2002.
At a recent meeting, the Executive Committee agreed that it is the responsibility of the proposer to provide a candidate with the list of required supporting documents, receive these from the candidate, and forward all documents to the Secretariat by the due date. ExCom also agreed that there be one closing date, 31 July, for receipt of Certificates and all supporting documents.
The Certificate of a Candidate for Election and a list of the required supporting documents are available from the Academy's elections manager, mailto:wendy.pascoe@science.org.au. If possible, proposers should provide documents electronically.
ANNUAL REPORT
This year, for the first time, the Academy has produced a professionally printed annual report. The 34-page report shows the broad range of activities undertaken by the Academy. It is available as a PDF file at http://www.science.org.au/academy/anrep.pdf and printed copies are available from the Academy's publications manager at mailto:maureen.swanage@science.org.au.
REAPPOINTMENT OF CHIEF SCIENTIST WELCOMED
The Academy issued a media release on 21 May applauding the 3-year reappointment of the Federal Government's Chief Scientist, Dr Robin Batterham FAA. We are delighted that Robin has agreed to continue in this role - there is still much to be done as the nation embarks on research priority-setting. (http://www.science.org.au/media/chiefscientist2.htm)
AWARDS TO FELLOWS
Professor Graham Goodwin, Director of the Centre for Integrated Dynamics and Control at the University of Newcastle and Professor Bruce Kemp, Deputy Director of St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, have been elected to the Royal Society. A corresponding member of the Academy, Dr Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St Louis, was also elected.
(http://www.science.org.au/media/frs02.htm)
Professor Suzanne Cory, Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, has been elected to the French Academy of Science as an Associate Foreign Member, making her the first Australian woman to be honoured in this way. (http://www.wehi.edu.au/information/press/20may02.html)
BUDGET NIGHT
In keeping with tradition, the Minister for Science, Mr Peter McGauran, invited Michael Barber, Sue Serjeantson and me, together with a few other members of the science community, to his parliamentary office to watch the Treasurer deliver the Budget on closed circuit television.
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES
The Academy has negotiated a new contract with the Department of Education, Science and Training to fund our exchanges program for the next four years. We are very pleased to receive a boost to our funding for these activities. Information about the exchanges program can be found at http://www.science.org.au/internat.
EU - SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME (FP6) 2002
The Office of the European Commission in Canberra has advised us that the EC is inviting those interested in submitting proposals for 'Integrated Projects' or 'Networks of Excellence' (both are new instruments for FP6) to submit expressions of interest.
(http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/eoi-instruments/home.html)
THE SIR MARK OLIPHANT INTERNATIONAL FRONTIERS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE SERIES
Photonic Crystals Down Under, the inaugural conference of the Sir Mark Oliphant International Frontiers of Science and Technology Conference Series, will be held at the Academy and the Australian National University between 18-24 August. More information can be found at http://wwwrsphysse.anu.edu.au/nonlinear/meeting/.
REGIONAL ACTIVITIES
Tony Klein has taken on the position of convenor of the Victorian regional group, following the sudden death of his colleague and friend, Geoff Opat. The group will be holding a New Fellows' Welcome Symposium and Dinner on 18 July, at which the new Victorian Fellows will give a brief and informal talk about their research. I am looking forward to giving the after-dinner address.
For further information please contact Mikki Narielvala at the School of Physics, University of Melbourne on 03 8344 5123 or mailto: mailto:M.Narielvala@physics.unimelb.edu.au.
DIARY HIGHLIGHTS
26 June. Michael Barber's address to the National Press Club - Research priorities for Australia: Setting our future. For reservations please call 02 6273 3644 or mailto:npc@npc.org.au. More information is available at http://www.npc.org.au/speak/bookings.html.
28 June. Deadline for written submissions to comment on the framework for setting and implementing national research priorities (http://www.dest.gov.au/priorities)
18 July. New Fellows' Welcome Symposium and Dinner. Victorian Regional Group (see information above).
26 July. Closing date for nominations, Clunies Ross National Science & Technology Award.
(http://www.cluniesross.org.au; mailto:info@cluniesross.org.au)
31 July. Closing date for receipt of Certificate of a Candidate for Election (see information above).
9 August. Deadline for written submissions to nominate national research priorities (http://www.dest.gov.au/priorities)
18-24 August. Photonic Crystals Down Under. Inaugural Oliphant International Frontiers Conference. (http://www.rsphysse.anu.edu.au/nonlinear/meeting)
17-23 August 2003. The Fourth International Symbiosis Society Congress. Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. One of the featured speakers is Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Director of the Centre for Marine Studies in Queensland. (http://people.bu.edu/dzook; mailto:dzook@bu.edu)
COUNCIL MEMBERS (http://www.science.org.au/academy/council/officers.htm)
President, Jim Peacock
phone (02) 6246 5250, fax (02) 6246 5530
mailto:jim.peacock@csiro.au
Secretary (Physical Sciences), Bruce McKellar
phone (03) 9344 5122, mailto:b.mckellar@physics.unimelb.edu.au
Secretary (Biological Sciences), John Shine
phone (02) 9295 8120, mailto:j.shine@garvan.org.au
Secretary (Science Policy), Michael Barber
phone (08) 9380 2460, mailto:mbarber@acs.uwa.edu.au
Secretary (Education and Public Awareness), John McKenzie
phone (03) 8344 6407, mailto:dean@science.uni.melb.edu.au
Foreign Secretary, Kurt Lambeck
phone (02) 6125 5161, mailto:kurt.lambeck@anu.edu.au
Treasurer, Ian McDougall
phone (02) 6125 4136, mailto:Ian.McDougall@anu.edu.au
Ordinary Members (Physical Sciences):
Graham Goodwin
Lew Mander
Graeme Pearman
David Pegg
Cheryl Praeger
Ordinary Members (Biological Sciences):
Jim Angus
Suzanne Cory
David Kemp
Marilyn Renfree
Andrew Smith
With sympathetic regret, EXCOM noted that Bob Porter is unable to accept the responsibilities of Secretary (Biological Sciences) for the next four years. Council has filled the casual vacancy; I thank John Shine for agreeing to serve as Secretary B until the end of the 2003 AGM.
