PRESIDENT'S NOTES
21 June 2002
Dear Colleague,
As mentioned in my last note, the Academy is playing a leading role in the consultation process on national research priorities. The scoping workshop held at the Academy on 29 May brought together 24 participants from across the four learned Academies, the research funding agencies, research organisations, industry and government. The discussion was broad-ranging and provided a useful basis for the Department of Education, Science and Training taskforce and the Consultative Panel to then engage the broader community in the consultation process. The discussion will continue at Michael Barber’s National Press Club Address on Wednesday 26 June, followed by the Strategic Forum on 26 and 27 June. I hope to be able to report a vigorous and constructive debate in my next note.
Chairs of Regional Groups have been invited to submit comments to Michael Barber (Secretary, Science Policy) by 12 July for inclusion in the Academy's submission to the taskforce.
With best wishes,
Jim Peacock
QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS TO FELLOWS
Congratulations to Ron Brown and George Szekeres who have been made Members of the Order of Australia (AM) for their services to science and education.
NATIONAL ACADEMIES FORUM CONFERENCE
The National Academies Forum will be holding a conference on 'Climate and Culture in Australia' from 25-27 September at the Shine Dome in Canberra. Registration information is available at http://ozhistory.info/weather or mailto:weather@ozhistory.info.
HUMAN CLONING
John White, the Academy's Spokesperson on Human Cloning and Stem Cell Research, has responded to the draft legislation on Human Cloning and Research Involving Embryos Bill 2002. The submission is available on our website at http://www.science.org.au/media/21June02.htm.
COALITION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MEDICAL RESEARCH, AUSTRALIA
CAMRA invited the Academy to send a representative to accompany its delegation to Parliament House on June 18 and 19. The delegation met with a number of parliamentarians to raise awareness of stem cell therapy research, particularly embryonic stem cell research. The Academy's Executive Secretary, Sue Serjeantson, was happy to attend the meetings to answer any scientific questions.
NEW ACADEMY POLICY ADVISOR
Mark Matthews has recently been engaged as the Academy's Policy Advisor. He is the founder and director of the Australian public policy research firm Policy Intelligence and spent the last year working on science and innovation policy in the UK with SQW Ltd. His previous academic career spanned the universities of Sussex (Science Policy Research Unit), Bath (School of Management) and Warwick (Warwick Manufacturing Group). Mark has carried out a wide range of science and innovation policy studies for Australian Federal Government departments and for Whitehall. His current research focus is on comparing innovation and risk management in the public and private sectors.
ACADEMY'S EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
The Academy is again calling for applications for its exchange programs with Europe, North America (Canada, USA, Mexico), Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan), and Postdoctoral Fellowships with Japan. These programs are managed by the Academy and are funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. Application forms and information on deadlines are available at http://www.science.org.au/internat/index.htm.
I would like to draw your attention to the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Invitation Fellowship for Research in Japan (Short Term), designed to promote international scientific cooperation and exchange. This Fellowship is different from other Academy programs in that it allows Japanese researchers to invite senior scientists, university professors, and others with substantial professional experience from Australia to visit Japan to participate in discussions, attend seminars and give lectures. More information is available at http://www.science.org.au/internat/exchange/jspsfst.htm.
JSPS also offers postdoctoral fellowships annually for young Australian researchers to work in institutes affiliated with JSPS for 12 to 24 months. The Academy receives few applications for this program and I would like to encourage Australian researchers to apply for this award (http://www.science.org.au/internat/exchange/jspspd.htm).
AWARDS FOR SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE
The Academy is also calling for nominations for its Awards for Scientific Excellence for junior and senior researchers. The disciplines cover Earth sciences, biology, medicine, mathematics/statistics, physics, mineral exploration and applied research.
The closing date for nominations is 30 August. Further information, including the conditions of each award and nomination forms, is available at http://www.science.org.au/awards/index.htm or mailto:ac@science.org.au.
NEW FELLOWS ON VIDEO
The videotaped proceedings of the very successful New Fellows Seminar, held on 1 May as part of Science at the Shine Dome, are now available for purchase from the Academy. The 3-tape set is available for $55 (including GST and postage) from the publications manager at mailto:maureen.swanage@science.org.au or 02 6247 5385.
The stars of the proceedings, the new Fellows, will be sent a complimentary 20-minute tape of their own presentation.
FUTURE SCIENCE AT THE SHINE DOME SYMPOSIA
Preparations are already underway for next year's symposium on nanoscience, to be convened by the Secretary, Science Policy, Michael Barber. During the course of the following year, 2004, we will be celebrating the Academy's 50th anniversary and I invite you to email me with your suggestions for an anniversary symposium topic (mailto:president@science.org.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).
28 June. Deadline for written submissions on the discussion paper Higher Education at the Crossroads (http://www.dest.gov.au/crossroads).
12 July. Deadline for comments from Regional Groups on national research priorities (mailto:mbarber@acs.uwa.edu.au).
18 July. New Fellows' Welcome Symposium and Dinner. Victorian Regional Group. For further information contact Mikki Narielvala on 03 8344 5123 or mailto:M.Narielvala@physics.unimelb.edu.au.
26 July. Closing date for nominations, Clunies Ross National Science & Technology Award.
(http://www.cluniesross.org.au; mailto:info@cluniesross.org.au).
28 July. Deadline for applications to the Academy's exchange programs with Europe (http://www.science.org.au/internat/exchange/eurovis.htm).
31 July. Closing date for receipt of Certificate of a Candidate for Election. For further information contact the Academy's election manager on 02 6247 5777 or mailto:em@science.org.au.
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).
23 August. Deadline for applications to the Academy's exchange programs with Asia (http://www.science.org.au/internat).
23 August. Deadline for applications to the Academy's JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships program (http://www.science.org.au/internat/exchange/jspspd.htm).
30 August. Deadline for nominations for the Academy's Awards for Scientific Excellence (http://www.science.org.au/awards/index.htm).
25-27 September. Climate and Culture in Australia (National Academies Forum Conference). For registration information see http://ozhistory.info/weather or mailto:weather@ozhistory.info.
27 September. Deadline for applications to the Academy's exchange program to North America (http://www.science.org.au/internat/exchange/usavis.htm).
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
