PRESIDENT'S NOTES
13 February 2003
Dear Colleague,
The Academy has close links with the Mount Stromlo Observatory and I am shocked at the extent of the damage there, as a result of the bushfires which ravaged Canberra on 18 January. The fires destroyed five telescopes, the equipment workshop, eight houses which had been occupied by staff and an administration building. The ANU has set up a website, which includes information on how to help with the redevelopment of Mount Stromlo: www.anu.edu.au/fires/. Our thoughts are with the astronomy community, which has resolved to rebuild.
On a brighter note, we were delighted when one of our Fellows, Fiona Stanley, Director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth, was recognised as Australian of the Year. I’m very pleased that a scientist was chosen to be honoured, and especially pleased that Fiona’s contributions have been acknowledged in this way.
The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson, has announced a major initiative to map science and innovation activities across the public and private sectors. The study is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of resources, players, linkages and performance. I (among others) have agreed to membership of the Reference Group, which will be chaired by Robin Batterham, the Chief Scientist.
With best wishes, Jim
US-AUSTRALIA WORKSHOP ON QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE
The first of two workshops to be held in 2003 between the Academy and the US National Science Foundation (NSF) took place in Sydney from 7 to 10 January. The workshop was jointly funded by NSF and the Department of Education, Science and Training.
The Australian convenor of the event was Bob Clark from UNSW and the American convenor was Birgitta Whaley from the University of California at Berkeley. The workshop was attended by 27 participants from the USA and 37 from Australia.
The Minister for Science, Peter McGauran, met the participants during lunch on 9 January. The Academy's Secretary for Science Policy, Michael Barber and the Executive Secretary, Sue Serjeantson, were able to attend part of the workshop.
HIGH FLYERS' THINK TANK
On 4 April the Academy will be holding a think tank which will bring together early-to-mid-career researchers from a broad range of disciplines to discuss one of the national research priorities - Safeguarding Australia. The researchers will discuss novel applications of existing science and technology and identify gaps in knowledge that might be addressed when applying science (including social science) and technology to safeguarding the nation.
I will let you know when the report from the think tank becomes available on the Academy's website.
NORTH AMERICA EXCHANGE PROGRAM
The Minster for Science, Peter McGauran, recently announced the names of 18 successful grantees of the Academy's North America exchange program. The program is funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training. Information about the researchers is available on DEST's website at
http://www.dest.gov.au/ministers/mcg/feb03/mr_123_060203.htm.
NATIONAL COMMITTEES FOR SCIENCE - GUIDELINES
The Academy's system of National Committees, which has existed since the Academy was founded in 1954, foster a designated area or theme of (natural) science in Australia, provide liaison with appropriate international scientific bodies and advise the Academy's Council on these matters.
New guidelines for the 22 National Committees have recently been approved by Council and will be implemented in May this year. More information about the committees is available on the Academy's website at http://www.science.org.au/natcoms, together with the guidelines.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS - GUIDELINES
The Academy has issued a set of guidelines in relation to international scientific meetings which are held in Australia at the invitation of the Academy. Individuals and organisations considering hosting an international conference are encouraged to read these guidelines before issuing bids for these event (http://www.science.org.au/internat/guidelines.htm).
SCIENCE AT THE SHINE DOME, 30 April-2 May 2003
The Minister for Science, Peter McGauran, will be our guest speaker at the annual general meeting dinner, to be held in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Thursday, 1 May.
Planning for the three days of Science at the Shine Dome is well underway. Program and registration details are being added to the Academy's website as they are finalised (http://www.science.org.au/sats2003).
PRIMARY INVESTIGATIONS
You will recall that the Academy last year commisioned an evaluation of our Primary Investigations program. The evaluation concluded that Primary Investigations has made a significant positive contribution to primary science education in Australia. The major recommendation is that the program be revised to further build on its success. Next month the Academy's Secretary for Education and Public Awareness, John McKenzie, and I will be meeting with the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson, to discuss how a revision of the program could most effectively meet the needs of our primary schools.
REGIONAL ACTIVITIES
Julie Campbell, Director of the Centre for Research in Vascular Biology at the University of Queensland, is the new Chair of the Queensland Fellows. Sue Serjeantson and I look forward to catching up with Julie in May when we travel to Brisbane to meet with Fellows and other scientists and to present a seminar on Academy programs.
DIARY DATES
28 February. Deadline for applications for Visiting Fellowship for a Senior Academic Woman in Engineering and Information Sciences at the Australian National University (http://www.rsise.anu.edu.au/nieis/VF.html).
7 March. Deadline for applications for DEST's Innovation Access Programme - International Science and Technology grants (http://www.dest.gov.au/science/iap).
26 March. Deadline for nominations for DEST's 2003 Science Prizes (https://sciencegrants.dest.gov.au/scienceprize).
26-28 March. Commercialisation Forum and Fair of Ideas, Sydney (http://www.kca.asn.au).
30 April. Deadline for applications for the Cambridge Australia Trust Scholarships (http://www.anu.edu.au/cabs/scholarships/cambridge/cambridge-apply.html).
30 April-2 May. Science at the Shine Dome (http://www.science.org.au/sats2003).
16 May. Deadline for applications for Oxford Nuffield Medical Fellowship (http://www.science.org.au/awards/nuffield.htm).
16 May. Deadline for entries for the Australian Museum's Eureka Prizes (http://www.amonline.net.au/eureka).
21-27 May. First Beijing International Science Popularization Products Exhibition and Workshop (http://www.bjkp.gov.cn/kjzpyth/english/index.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 (02) 6276 6388, mailto:michael.barber@csiro.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
