PRESIDENT'S NOTES
13 October 2006
Dear Colleagues,
I am looking forward to engaging with the Regional Groups of Fellows during my term as President. Each year, the Victorian Group welcomes its New Fellows with a public symposium followed by a private dinner that is always very well attended. I was pleased to participate in this event in late May, together with my wife Meg. We returned to Melbourne again in July, to join Fellows and friends in honouring Graeme Clark with the Ian Wark Medal.
The ACT Fellows gathered in September for a President’s Soiree on the topic of stem cell research, where lead speakers were Elizabeth Finkel, Peter Rathjen and John White.
On 30 October, the Academy will host the fifth annual High Flyers Think Tank, this year to be held in Adelaide on the topic of Innovative technical solutions for water management in Australia. The program is available at www.science.org.au/events/thinktank/thinktank2006/. I’ll take the opportunity to meet with South Australian Fellows to discuss present and possible future activities of the Academy.
On 2628 February 2007, the National Academies Forum will host a symposium on A celebration of the history, culture, science and technology of Recherche Bay in Hobart
(www.naf.org.au/recherchebay/index.htm). I hope many Fellows, especially those from Tasmania, are able to participate in this celebration.
I thank the Regional Groups of Fellows, and their Chairs, for helping facilitate these events that are as enjoyable as they are informative.
Best wishes,
Kurt Lambeck
The Academy’s latest Newsletter is available at: www.science.org.au/newsletters/aas65.pdf
AUSTRALIAN FOUNDATION FOR SCIENCE
The Australian Foundation for Science, chaired by Mr John Ralph AC FAA FAIM FAusIMM FCPA FTSE, met in The Shine Dome on Monday 9 October. Fellows and friends of the Academy gather on an annual basis to hear progress reports on the Foundation’s activities and to suggest new initiatives. Dr Sharon Abrahams presented recent developments on Nova: Science in the News, the Academy’s electronic resource for secondary science teachers and their students (www.science.org.au/nova/index.htm). Ms Shelley Peers, Managing Director of Primary Connection, outlined how this rich primary science program has moved from the concept stage to implementation (www.science.org.au/primaryconnections/).
Professor Lambeck announced the completion of one project recently supported by the Foundation, the design and distribution of a poster celebrating the award of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Fellows Barry Marshall and Robin Warren. The poster has been sent to 10,000 Australian schools and to 90 Australian foreign missions (www.science.org.au/nobel/).
AUSTRALIACHINA ENERGY SYMPOSIUM
The Academy and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), on behalf of DEST, have been invited to organise the Australia China Energy Symposium to be held in Sydney, 57 November. This is the third in a series of annual symposia to be conducted with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
The symposium will explore current and future energy technology developments in three workshop themes: traditional energy sources, static renewable energy for power generation and transportation fuels. Following the symposium the Chinese visitors will visit technical sites that cover their specific areas of interest. The Chinese delegation will be led by Professor Yongxiang Lu, President of CAS and Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, People’s Republic of China. The Australian delegation will be led by the Presidents of the two Academies, Professor Kurt Lambeck and Dr John Zillman. Vice President of CAS, Professor Chen Zhu, will also be part of the delegation.
AUSTRALIA INDONESIA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM
Under the agreement for cooperation in science and technological development signed between Australia and Indonesia in 2005, the Academy managed, on behalf of the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) the first Australia Indonesia Joint Symposium on Science and Technology, in Jakarta, 1315 September.
The symposium had four workshops: agriculture and biotechnology workshops focussed on early disease diagnosis, while the water and energy workshops focused on the centralisation and decentralisation of these commodities. The Australian delegation of 13 researchers was co-lead by Professor Leon Mann, Immediate Past President of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and Professor John Mackenzie, Australian Biosecurity CRC. The Indonesian convenor was Professor Sangkot Marzuki, Director, Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jakarta.
The symposium promoted research cooperation between Australia and Indonesia and identified opportunities for further collaboration. The Academy is grateful for the assistance it received from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and the Indonesian State Ministry of Research and Technology (RISTEK).
NATIONAL COMMITTEES FOR SCIENCE
Space science
The National Committee for Space Science is drafting the first Australian Decadal Plan for Space Science. Details can be found at: www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~ncss
Astronomy
The outgoing Chair of the National Committee for Astronomy, Dr Brian Boyle, has taken on the position as chair of the International Square Kilometre Array Steering Committee. The new Chair of the national committee is Professor Matthew Colless.
Terrestrial Carbon Task Force
The Terrestrial Carbon Task Force held its first meeting on 27 September. Chair of the Task Force is Professor Andy Pitman. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how to implement the Blueprint for Australian Terrestrial Carbon Cycle Research and to work toward an integrated national terrestrial carbon strategy.
MUSES-C Task Force
Dr Trevor Ireland will chair the MUSES-C Task Force following the retirement of Professor Ross Taylor. The Hayabusa (MUSES-C) mission to sample material is led by Japan and aims to acquire leading-edge technology for future sample-return missions into space.
STUDENT PRIZE FOR AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
The National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science and the National Museum of Australia (NMA) have announced the inaugural NMA Student Prize for Australian Environmental History. This follows on from the success of the inaugural NMA Student Prize for the History of Australian Science. The Prize a certificate and $2,500 will be awarded for original unpublished research undertaken by students enrolled at any tertiary educational institution. Closing date for submissions is 28 February 2007. Details can be viewed at: www.science.org.au/natcoms/hps-award-aeh.html
PrimaryConnections WINS PUBLISHING AWARD
PrimaryConnections won the 2006 Australian Publishers Association Award for Excellence in Educational Publishing in the Primary Teaching and Learning category. The award recognises the high standard of the first four units and the professional development DVD Questioning Minds.
On 18 September Academy President, Professor Kurt Lambeck, enjoyed a visit to Narrabundah Primary School, ACT, where teachers have been trialling the program since January 2005. The Principal, Trish Keller, provided a guided tour, visiting teachers and students at work in the classrooms.
The second round of state-based workshops for PrimaryConnections Professional Learning Facilitators was held in September in five capital cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. The workshops were well attended and the feedback has been very positive. The next four units to be published are nearing completion and will be available for purchase by the end of 2006 bringing the total number available to eight.
INTERACADEMY PANEL WORKSHOP ON SCIENCE EDUCATION
Professor Julie Campbell, the Academy’s Secretary for Education and Public Awareness, co-chaired the third InterAcademy Panel workshop to evaluate the need for international collaboration on inquiry based science education, in Chile, 2526 September. Shelley Peers, Manager Education and Public Awareness, gave a presentation on PrimaryConnections at a round table discussion. The program was well received, with ten countries requesting further information.
URANIUM MINING AND NUCLEAR ENERGY REVIEW
The Academy submitted a report to the Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Review (UMPNER) Taskforce. The Academy recognised the breadth of the terms of reference for the UMPNER Taskforce and advocated strong support for basic research in nuclear science in Australia and the need to invest in the development of skills and expertise in this area. The submission is available at: www.science.org.au/reports/18august06.pdf
REVIEW OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
The Academy submitted a report to the Australian Government Productivity Commission relating to the review of publicly funded research in science and innovation. The submission emphasised that productivity in research is more than economic benefits. Productivity involves the ability to produce high quality research outputs and retain a highly skilled and innovative workforce enabling Australian to take advantage of international advances. The release of the discussion draft is due by the end of October.
PRIORITIES FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
The Academy has delivered a submission to the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council on Australia’s Science and Technology Priorities for Global Engagement. The submission commented on the Academy’s continued role in maintaining formal linkages to global activities and developing international collaborations to promote global engagement in science and technology. The submission is available at: www.science.org.au/reports/12september06.pdf
PMSEIC WORKING GROUP ON DATA FOR SCIENCE
The Academy submitted a report to the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council Working Group on Data for Science. The Academy emphasised that science is an international activity with international, discipline-based databases and is underpinned by publication of scientific findings. Editorial policies that support the professional maintenance and use of international databases are the most cost-effective way to ensure access to publicly and privately funded research. The report is available at: www.science.org.au/reports/data-for-science-11august06.pdf
AUSTRALIAN POLICY AND CHANGING RISK
The Academy has published a report from the National Academies Forum presenting some key features in risk assessment. The changing risk environment: Ideas for a new Australian policy framework for handling risks presents an examination of five Australian case studies and concludes that Australia has performed well in responding to disaster situations. However areas of improvement, including additional research, were identified. The report is available at: www.science.org.au/reports/28july06.pdf
ORIGIN OF SPECIES LECTURE SERIES
The first two lectures in the Academy’s Public Lecture Series 2006-07 have been well received. The series, The origin of species: The Australian connection highlights the contribution of Australian material in developing the ideas of Charles Darwin and counters those who seek to have Intelligent Design taught as an alternative to evolution in Australian schools.
The first lecture Australian mammals: Curious sex and reproduction was held in August during National Science Week. Professor Jenny Graves and Dr Hugh Tyndale-Biscoe discussed where Australia’s unique mammals fit in the evolutionary tree. The second lecture, held on 3 October, was given by Dr Peter Weston, Royal Botanic Gardens (NSW). In Drifting proteas or continents? Historical biogeography of the Proteaceae,Dr Weston explored the Proteaceae plant family and mapped their evolution across the drifting continents.
The next lecture, Why is Australia a cradle for the evolution of complex social systems in birds? will be given by Professor Andrew Cockburn on Tuesday 5 December at The Shine Dome, 6.007.00pm. Refreshments will be available from 5.30pm. Admission is free and bookings are recommended. For bookings and information phone 02 6201 9401, fax 02 6204 9494
Information on upcoming lectures are available at: www.science.org.au/events/publiclectures
REGIONAL ACTIVITIES
Victoria
The very successful annual Joint Academies Dinner was held on 23 August at the Bio21 Institute building, Melbourne a very interesting and suitable venue. The dinner was organised this year by the Victorian Regional Group of the Academy and attended by Fellows of all four learned Academies. Professor Fred Mendelsohn, Director of the Howard Florey Institute, gave an excellent after-dinner speech on The Neuroscience Revolution, a topic of great interest to all 70 attendees.
DIARY DATES 2006
26 October. Public lecture by Dr Jason Holt, Desalinating water cheaply Exploring technologies. The Shine Dome, Gordon Street, Canberra, 6.007.00pm, refreshments from 5.30pm (www.science.org.au/events/26october06.html).
30 October. Innovative technical solutions for water management in Australia (High Flyers Think Tank), University of Adelaide (www.science.org.au/events/thinktank2006/index.htm).
89 November. Integrating agricultural and environmental imperatives for a profitable and sustainable future (Fenner Conference on the Environment), The Shine Dome, Canberra. Organised by CSIRO Plant Industry and co-sponsored by the Academy (www.pi.csiro.au/FennerConference/index.htm).
37 December. Australasian Society of Immunology Conference 2006, Auckland, New Zealand (www.cce.auckland.ac.nz/conferences/index.cfm?S=CCE_ASIC).
38 December. 17th Biennial Australian Institute of Physics Congress, Brisbane.
5 December. Public lecture by Professor Andrew Cockburn, Why is Australia a cradle for the evolution of complex social systems in birds?The Shine Dome, Gordon Street, Canberra, 5.30pm. (See item above.)
2628 February 2007. A celebration of the history, culture, science and technology of Recherche Bay (National Academies Forum Symposium), CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart (www.naf.org.au/recherchebay/).
COUNCIL MEMBERS (www.science.org.au/academy/council/officers.htm)
President, Kurt Lambeck
phone (02) 6125 5445, fax (02) 6125 5443, kurt.lambeck@anu.edu.au
Secretary (Physical Sciences), Robert Frater
phone (02) 8884 2338, 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
