PRESIDENT'S NOTES
5 June 2006
Dear Colleagues,
When Jim Peacock passed to me the Academy’s gavel at the end of the Academy’s Annual General Meeting on 4 May, I said then that I was deeply honoured to be elected to the presidency of the Academy. I thank the Fellowship for its confidence in me and I am pleased to commit to the ideals and activities of the Academy.
This year’s Science at the Shine Dome meeting was once again a great success, thanks to the sheer excellence of the scientific presentations. If you were unable to attend the meeting, this year’s detailed information about the events is available on the Academy’s website (www.science.org.au/sats2006) and there will be a full report in the next issue of the Newsletter.
Once again, the feedback from the early-career researchers and from the teachers was very positive and I have included some of their comments later in this Note.
With best wishes, Kurt Lambeck
The Academy’s latest Newsletter is available at www.science.org.au/newsletters/aas64.pdf.
THANK YOU
Jim and Margie Peacock have presented an iconic Australian marquetry by Baz Foster to the Academy, to mark the completion of Jim’s term as President. The marquetry, Wren on wild fig, depicts a fairy wren in blackheart sassafras and is a gift of enduring value and pleasure. It will be a valuable addition to Ian Potter House.
6th ANNUAL ACADEMY ADDRESS TO THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
Professor Kurt Lambeck, President, Australian Academy of Science, will give the 6th Annual Academy address on sea levels and climate change on Wednesday 23 August. The address will be televised live by the ABC at 12.30pm.
SPECIAL ADDRESS TO THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
Professor Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate, will give a special Academy address to the National Press Club on Wednesday 12 July. Entitled The scientists, the media and the decision makers, the address will be televised live by the ABC at 12.30pm.
Information on how to book these lunches is available from the National Press Club (www.npc.org.au, npc@npc.org.au or (02) 6121 2199).
ANNUAL SYMPOSIA, SCIENCE AT THE SHINE DOME
2006: Transcripts of the presentations made at the 5 May 2006 Symposium Science on the way to the hydrogen economy are available at www.science.org.au/sats2006/symposium.htm.
2007: Professor Lesley Rogers will convene the 4 May 2007 Symposium, Development and evolution of higher cognition in animals.
2008: Fellows are invited to propose suitable topics in the physical sciences for the Symposium to be held on 2 May 2008. Suggestions should be sent by 31 August 2006 to es@science.org.au.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE WORKSHOP
The Academy’s National Committee for Earth System Science is organising a workshop on Science of seasonal climate prediction, to be held at the Shine Dome, 23 August. The aim of the workshop is to provide a forum for discussing issues such as methods and limitations of seasonal and inter-annual time scale predictions, the probabilistic nature of forecasts and how to get practical value from such forecasts. The workshop is being supported by the Academy, Bureau of Meteorology, Bureau of Rural Sciences, CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship, and Land & Water Australia.
Further information is available at www.science.org.au/natcoms/ncess-seasonal-prediction-workshop-2-3august2006.pdf.
NATIONAL COMMITTEES FOR SCIENCE
The Chairs of the Academy’s 20 National Committees and two working parties gathered at the Shine Dome on 13 April for the biennial meeting. Discussions centred on the national and international roles and responsibilities of National Committees and the Productivity Commission Review of Public Support for Science and Innovation. Chairs agreed to seek input into the review from their committees, particularly examples of productivity gains from research. It was noted that in some cases, economic gain from research is indirect and it is difficult to place a dollar figure on the improvement to people’s socioeconomic well-being.The proceedings are available at www.science.org.au/natcoms/ncmeeting130406.htm.
Upcoming meetings of the National Committees:
History and Philosophy of Science, Tuesday 4 July, Canberra
Antarctic Research, Friday 14 July, Hobart
Medicine, Monday 24 July, Ian Potter House
Plant and Animal Science, July (TBA), Ian Potter House
PrimaryConnections
State-based workshops for trial teachers and professional learning facilitators of the PrimaryConnections program were held in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane during April. The participants in each state were updated on the progress and development of PrimaryConnections and discussed how the program could be used as an assessment tool. The facilitators, who were attending workshops for the first time, networked with the trial teachers and were able to draw on what the teachers’ experience with the units in their classrooms.
The third set of trial units is currently being sent to schools, bringing the total number of units trialled to 11. The units will be trialled in classrooms in Term 3 and teachers will provide feedback at the end of the term.
Recently 250 teachers from 125 schools in Queensland attended two days of training in the PrimaryConnections program. Half the teachers attended in Brisbane on 2930 May, and half in Cairns on 12 June. The professional learning workshops were funded by Queensland’s Spotlight on Science Project, with the Academy providing the DEST funded resources professional learning folder and DVD, and four curriculum units. The consulting Co-Director for the project, Professor Mark Hackling, Edith Cowan University, Perth, conducted the training workshops assisted by facilitators trained at the Academy in January 2006. The event was so successful that if funding can be accessed it will be repeated.
More feedback about PrimaryConnections is available at www.science.org.au/primaryconnections.
SCIENCE BY DOING
The first meeting of the Reference Group for the Academy’s junior secondary school science project, Science by Doing, will be held at the Shine Dome on 7 June. The Reference Group comprises key representatives from every State and Territory and all education jurisdictions. In the lead up to this important meeting, Kurt Lambeck chaired the Science by Doing Steering Committee meeting on 25 May.
Science by Doing aims to more actively engage secondary science students in a way that helps them better understand the world in which they live. The project seeks to develop enthusiastic teachers using student-centred investigations as the key to achieving the most effective science education for Australia’s future. As we know, school science experiences can engage and excite students, enabling them to use scientific thinking in their private and professional lives, and inspire many to take up science and engineering careers.
REVIEW OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
The Academy welcomes the review by the Productivity Commission on ‘Public Support for Science and Innovation’ as an opportunity to articulate the importance of R&D and innovation policy frameworks and looks forward to your views. Please send your contributions to the Academy by Friday 30 June.
STATUTORY REVIEW OF GENE TECHNOLOGY
The Gene Technology Ministerial Council Secretariat for Therapeutic Goods Administration has released a report reviewing the Gene Technology Act 2000 and the Gene Technology Agreement 2001 as tabled in Parliament by the Hon Christopher Pyne MP on 27 April 2006. The report is available at www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/gtreview-report.htm. The Academy’s submission to the review is at www.science.org.au/reports/15july05.pdf.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT’S INNOVATION REPORT 200506
The Australian Government’s Innovation Report 200506 has been released by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the Australian Government’s policies and programmes in science and innovation, focussing on the three key themes of Backing Australia’s Ability: strengthening Australia’s ability to undertake research, accelerating the commercial application of ideas and developing and retaining Australian skills.
56th MEETING OF NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS
The Academy has been invited to select seven young Australian graduate students in chemistry to attend the Lindau Foundation Nobel Laureate meeting at Lake Constance, Germany, 2530 June. The group will be led by Professor Max Crossley, and will travel to Lindau to meet with some 24 Nobel Laureates in chemistry and 500 students from around the globe. The group will participate in plenary sessions, round table debates and small group discussions within and beyond their respective disciplines. More information about the meeting is available at www.lindau-nobel.de.
FEEDBACK FROM EARLY CAREER-RESEARCHERS AND SCIENCE TEACHERS ATTENDING SCIENCE AT THE SHINE DOME MAY 2006
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‘It was interesting to see the quality and depth of research being done here in Australia.’
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‘The New Fellows Seminar was fascinating. It provided great insight into a wide range of recent research.’
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‘It is a privilege to be among the best people in science. The opportunity to network with Fellows, symposium speakers and workshop presenters was invaluable.’
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‘The symposium on the hydrogen economy was excellent. I now feel more confident to teach this topic to my classes.’
NATURE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MENTORING
Two new awards recognising excellence in mentoring in Australasian science have been launched by the journal Nature. There will be two awards, each of AUS$10,000; one for lifetime achievement and the other for a scientist in mid-career. Nominations for these awards are now open.
Candidates may be from any natural sciences discipline and will be judged by a prestigious panel chaired by Professor Kurt Lambeck, President of the Academy, and including Professor David Boger, Professor Paul Callaghan, Professor Suzanne Cory, Professor Adrian Lee and Nature correspondent Dr Carina Dennis.
Researchers can nominate themselves or be recommended by research team members, past or present. Each candidate must include independent testimonials from five researchers who have been mentored by the nominee.
Nominations close 31 July 2006 and winners will be announced by Dr Philip Campbell, Editor in Chief of Nature, at an awards ceremony in Australia in December 2006. For more information contact Dr Carina Dennis, naturementor@gmail.com. Full details and nomination forms are available at www.nature.com/nature/mentoringawards/australasia.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The Academy invites applications from professional scientists to visit Europe, North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), and North-East Asia (China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan), between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008. Proposals in any fields of natural science, basic and applied, including mathematics and engineering science, will be considered.
Applicants must propose a collaborative research project, or a specific activity, which has been developed in consultation with host scientists. Under this scheme, applicants can request travel support to access international leading-edge small to medium research facilities and equipment. Support will not be provided for costs associated with the use of these facilities or when the primary purpose of the visit is to attend a conference. The duration of the visits must be between two and six weeks.
This project is supported by the International Science Linkages - Science Academies Programme established under the Australian Government’s innovation statement, Backing Australia’s Ability.
Applications close 14 July. Information and application forms are available on the Academy website at www.science.org.au/internat/programs.htm.
FOR THE FELLOWSHIP
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 2006.
The closing date for receipt of proposals for Corresponding Members for election in 2007 is 31 August 2006.
DIARY DATES 2006
59 June. Earth system feedbacks: vulnerability of the carbon cycle to drought and fire, Shine Dome, Canberra. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Academy.
13 June. New ways of thinking about polymers and proteins, the NSW 2006 Solomon Lecture by Professor David Tirrell (California Institute of Technology). To be held in Lecture Theatre 4, Department of Chemistry, University of Sydney. For more information contact Brian Hawkett: (02) 9351 6973, b.hawkett@chem.usyd.edu.au.
2021 June. From Stars to Brains: Pathways to Consciousness in the Natural World. A conference organised by Manning Clark House in honour of Professor Paul Davies at the Shine Dome, Canberra (www.manningclark.org.au/).
30 June. Closing date for 200708 Australian Antarctic Division Research applications (www.aad.gov.au/applications).
26 July. Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2006, Melbourne. Organised by the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the Geological Society of Australia.
12 July. Professor Barry Marshall to give a special address to the National Press Club (see item above).
1214 July. Antarctica in the Earth System, Hobart. The 2nd Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference
14 July. Deadline for applications for scientific visits to North America, North-East Asia and Europe (see item above).
24 July20August. Fusion energy and ITER: an opportunity for Australia, a lecture tour by Dr Barry Green. Lectures will be held in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. For a full schedule of his program please contact Dr Matthew Hole, matthew.hole@anu.edu.au.
27 July. Ian Wark Medal and Lecture. Woodward Centre, University of Melbourne, to honour the 2006 Ian Wark medallist, Professor Graeme Clark of The Bionic Ear Institute. For information and details contact faye.nicholas@science.org.au.
31 July. Deadline for receipt of Certificate of a Candidate for Election (see item above).
31 July. Nominations close for the Nature Award for Excellence in Mentoring (see item above).
23 August. Kurt Lambeck to give the 6th Annual Academy of Science address to the National Press Club (see item above).
31 August. Deadline for receipt of proposals for Corresponding Members for election in 2007.
COUNCIL MEMBERS (www.science.org.au/academy/council/officers.htm)
President, Kurt Lambeck
phone (02) 6125 5161, fax (02) 6125 5443, kurt.lambeck@anu.edu.au
Secretary (Physical Sciences), Robert Frater
phone (02) 9886 5628, rfrater@resmed.com.au
Secretary (Biological Sciences), John Shine
phone (02) 9295 8120, j.shine@garvan.org.au
Secretary (Science Policy), Philip Kuchel
phone (02) 9351 3709, p.kuchel@mmb.usyd.edu.au
Secretary (Education and Public Awareness), Julie Campbell
phone (07) 3365 4658, julie.campbell@uq.edu.au
Foreign Secretary, Jenny Graves
phone (02) 6125 2492, jenny.graves@anu.edu.au
Treasurer, Phil McFadden
phone (02) 6249 9612, mcfadden@grapevine.com.au
