PRESIDENT'S NOTES
26 August 2002
Dear Colleague,
I know you will join with me in extending heartfelt congratulations to Frank Fenner on being awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Science. The prize was awarded at a wonderful dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Tuesday, 20 August, where Frank, clearly the people's choice, was given a standing ovation by family, friends and colleagues. It was a privilege for me to act as MC for the evening.
The Academy is also delighted that long-time colleague Ruth Dircks was awarded the inaugural Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools. Ruth first worked with the Academy in 1981 during the production of the third edition of The Web of Life and later with a number of publications, including Biology: The Common Threads.
And congratulations are also due to Academy Fellows Ronald Ekers, Terence Hughes, Yuri Kivshar and Rodney Tucker on being awarded Federation Fellowships in the second round.
With best wishes,
Jim
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Proceedings from the National Research Priorities Strategic Forum, hosted by the Academy on 26-27 June, are available on our website at http://www.science.org.au/events/priorities/index.htm.
On 8 August, the Academy hosted a workshop for 18 early to mid-career researchers, with the aim of engaging them in the process of choosing research priorities. The workshop prepared four submissions for priorities and these should soon be posted on the DEST website at http://www.dest.gov.au/priorities/sub_priorities.htm).
Individual nominations for priorities have also been submitted from several of the Academy's National Committees. These should also be available on DEST's website.
The Federal Government has recently formed an Expert Advisory Committee to advise it on national research priorities. Academy Fellows Robin Batterham, Suzanne Cory, Terry Hughes and Sue O'Reilly are members of the committee and I have been given the honour of chairing it. The full membership of the committee is available on DEST's website at http://www.dest.gov.au/ministers/mcg/aug/mr_62_150802.htm.
PROVIDING THE MACHINERY OF SCIENCE
The Academy has released a discussion paper entitled Providing the machinery of science: defining a whole-of-government strategy for securing access to critical research facilities. The paper has been prepared by Mark Matthews, the Academy's Science Policy Advisor, as part of the ARC-funded Australian Research Infrastructure Project. The paper seeks to stimulate a sea change in how the pay-offs to public sector investment in building and securing access to research facilities are judged by policy makers. It focuses on the wider national interest arguments that favour greater coordination over securing access to leading edge facilities overseas and in improving our information on, and coordination of, domestic investment in research facilities and equipment. The paper is available at http://www.science.org.au/media/machinery.pdf.
SCIENCE OLYMPIADS
After seven years as chairman of the Australian Science Olympiads, Bob Crompton has recently retired from the post on a high note. For the first time since 1995 each team member in the three Australian teams (chemistry, biology and physics) have won medals at this year's International Science Olympiads. Our chemistry team came 12th out of 57 countries; biology 8th out of 41 and physics 15th out of 66. More information is available on DEST's website at http://www.dest.gov.au/ministers/nelson/aug02/n145_090802.htm.
Professor Mary Garson, Department of Chemistry, University of Queensland, is the new chair of the Australian Science Olympiads. The Olympiad's website is at http://www.rtaso.org.au.
PRESERVING THE RECORDS OF MODERN SCIENCE
A paper entitled Preserving the Records of Modern Science has been recently added to the Academy's website. Endorsed by the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science, the paper discusses the need to permanently preserve the historically valuable paper and electronic records of modern science and to make them accessible to researchers. Such records include the papers of leading scientists and the records of scientific organisations, as well as the records of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and its member organisations. The paper is available at http://www.science.org.au/policy/iuhps.htm.
ACT HERITAGE GRANT FOR IAN POTTER HOUSE
The Academy has received $10,000 from the ACT Heritage Unit to develop a Conservation Management Plan for Ian Potter House. The Plan is the required first step before re-roofing the building. The grant was announced during a joint ACT Heritage Unit and Royal Australian Institute of Architects function held at the Shine Dome on 29 July. The function also launched the ACT Buildings of Significance Map, which features both the Shine Dome and Ian Potter House.
SIR MARK OLIPHANT CONFERENCES
The Academy and the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering are seeking expressions of interest for international conferences to be held in Australia from 1 July 2003 to 31 December 2004 under the Sir Mark Oliphant Conferences - International Frontiers of Science and Technology. More information is available at http://www.oliphant.org.au. The deadline for expressions of interest is 30 September 2002.
AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FESTIVAL/NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK
Many of you have no doubt been involved in National Science Week activities in your own State. In Canberra, the Shine Dome has featured prominently during the Australian Science Festival, which is held in conjunction with National Science Week.
The Australian Science Festival chose the Shine Dome for its high profile Poster Launch and 10th Birthday Celebrations. 'The Art of Digital Effects in Feature Films', held in conjunction with Screen Sound Australia, featured Paul Kirwan (an ANU graduate who won an Oscar for his special effects in The Lord Of the Rings) as guest speaker. ABC radio presented James O'Loughlin's evening show live from the Shine Dome, and the Academy’s video histories were on show for school students during a session highlighting Australian Science Stories.
One highlight of National Science Week was the Grand Final of the genETHICS Competition 2002, held at Old Parliament House in Canberra and hosted by Bob Williamson, Chair of the Gene CRC Education and Ethics Program (http://www.genecrc.org). State finalists from six high schools presented their arguments in a hypothetical scenario. Paul Willis of the ABC moderated a discussion panel on the topic 'Making babies to save lives'. Jenny Graves and Robyn Williams were among the panel participants.
ACADEMY NOMINATIONS
Concerns have been raised regarding the inclusion of argued cases as part of the documentation accompanying nominations to the Fellowship of the Academy. After discussion at the August meeting of EXCOM, it was agreed to recommend to October Council that argued cases be removed from the documentation for new and continuing candidates.
AFGHANISTAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
The Academy has received a request for assistance from the Afghanistan Academy of Science by way of Peter Zahler from the UN Environmental Programme's Afghanistan Task Force. In essence, he says, 'the scientific capacity of Afghanistan has been entirely destroyed, and while there are many scientists eager to continue the Academy's legacy of scientific research, there are at the present time no resources to allow this to happen'.
If you would like to help in any way, please contact Peter for more information: mailto:peter.zahler@unep.ch.
DIARY DATES
30 August. Deadline for nominations for the Academy's Awards for Scientific Excellence (http://www.science.org.au/awards/index.htm).
5-7 September. Australian Universities International Alumni Convention, Melbourne (http://www.auiac2002.com).
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.
26 September. Lloyd Rees lecture, Melbourne (http://www.science.org.au/awards/rees2002.htm).
27 September. Deadline for applications to the Academy's exchange program to North America (http://www.science.org.au/internat/exchange/usavis.htm).
30 September. Deadline for expressions of interest for the Sir Mark Oliphant Conferences(http://www.oliphant.org.au).
30 September. Deadline for nominations and expressions of intent for the Academy's Travelling Fellowships and Research Conferences (http://www.science.org.au/awards/index.htm).
30 September. Deadline for nominations for the Edgeworth David Medal. For information mailto:info@nsw.royalsoc.org.au.
1-4 October. BioMalaysia 2002 Conference, Kuala Lumpur (http://www.biomalaysia2002.com).
31 October. Deadline for nominations for the Fondation Fyssen's International Prize (http://www.fondation-fyssen.org).
16-18 December. Biochemistry Society Christmas Meeting, Imperial College, London: 'Biochemical aspects of health and disease' (http://www.biochemistry.org).
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.unimelb.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
