PRESIDENT'S NOTES
2 August 2010
Dear Colleagues,
When Kurt Lambeck passed to me the gavel at the end of the Academy’s Annual General Meeting on 6 May, I said then how deeply honoured I felt to be elected to the presidency of the Academy. I am very conscious this is a great responsibility and I thank the fellowship for its confidence in me. Since assuming the role, I have become much more informed about the many and varied activities of the Academy and I look forward to interacting with Fellows as we work together to carry forward these initiatives.
Australia is fortunate to have a rich science heritage. Just as in the past, our future prosperity will depend on our capability in the sciences, engineering and mathematics. During this election period, we must all be vigilant to ensure this message is heard clearly. Despite budgetary constraints, the next government must continue to invest strongly in research and development.
Many challenges loom for the nation: in health, energy, water, climate change, sustainable agriculture and preservation of biodiversity. Each of these areas requires expertise and insight from many scientific disciplines and the application of a systems-based approach. The Academy is well situated to make major contributions and must play a proactive leadership role. We must stand ready to provide society and its policy makers with sound independent scientific advice.
As the first elected female President, I am particularly conscious of the resource that women represent for Australia’s scientific future. We must ensure that our governments, universities and research organisations provide solutions that enable more women to pursue life-long careers in science and that the contributions made by women are recognised and rewarded.
A nation’s strength in science and technology is absolutely dependent on the quality of its education system. The Academy has a proud record of achievement in fostering excellence in science education, starting with the Web of Life and progressing to Nova: Science in the News, Primary Investigations and, most recently, Primary Connections and Science by Doing. With their emphasis on enquiry-based learning, the Academy’s education programs are an important resource for the new national science curriculum.
I look forward to the next four years as President and hope to continue the work of my predecessors who were absolutely committed to the ideals and activities of the Academy.
With best wishes,
Suzanne Cory
Please feel free to pass this note on to any interested colleagues.
POPULATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
In 2011 at the Academy’s Science at the Shine Dome event there will be a one-day symposium on the topical and highly intertwined issues of population and sustainability – Australia 2050: Population Challenges to Sustainability. Planning for the symposium is already quite advanced and the committee of Fellows and experts planning the symposium anticipate releasing information on the speakers and the program late in 2010. This symposium is part of a network of Academy activities that will focus on population and sustainability in the coming years as the Academy moves to complete its Australian Research Council funded Learned Academies Special Project, Australia 2050: Achieving and Environmentally Sustainable and Socially Equitable Way of Living. This research will draw on the scientific expertise of the fellowship and also seek to engage with other research disciplines. Preparations and planning are already underway for the project’s first major research activity, a workshop to be held in the second half of 2011. Population and sustainability have long been a topic of significant interest to the Academy, as outlined in the President’s recent statement Australian Academy of Science’s role in the sustainable population debate. With the return of the population and sustainability to the public discourse, the Academy is well positioned to provide scientific evidence to inform the national debate.
GOVERNMENT AND RELATED REVIEWS AND SUBMISSIONS
On 16 July the Academy provided a submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the Rural Research and Development Corporations Model.
Academy reports and submissions are available from: www.science.org.au/reports/
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE LINKAGES PROGRAM
Last month the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation tabled its report on the inquiry into Australia's international research collaboration. The inquiry focused on Australia’s ability to engage in research at an international level and examined the impediments to collaborating internationally. The Academy, along with 84 other institutions and individuals, contributed submissions to the review. The report contained 18 recommendations, including one in support for the continuation on a successor program to the International Science Linkages (ISL) program as soon as practicable and a budget increase.
The report, Australia's international research collaboration, is available from: www.aph.gov.au/House/committee/isi/intresearch/report.htm
The ISL is currently being reviewed by the Allen Consulting Group. The review is expected out before the end of the year.
OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
The Academy has recently organised a number of international activities, including:
The Singapore-Australia Joint Symposium on Stem Cells and Bioimaging, Biopolis, Singapore, 24–25 May 2010
This symposium was organised by the Academy and the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). More information: available soon
The Australia-Indonesia Agriculture and Food Security Workshop, Shine Dome, Canberra, 8–9 June 2010
The Academy and the Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology (RISTEK) organised the Australia-Indonesia Agriculture and Food Security Workshop.
East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) 2010
The Academy hosted 20 US graduate students selected by the US National Science Foundation to travel to Australia between June and August 2010 under the EAPSI summer program. The participants of the program come from a number of research areas, and are hosted by various institutions including universities, CSIRO divisions, museums, teaching hospitals and government institutions in five Australian states and one territory. More information: www.science.org.au/internat/eapsi.html
International Science Linkages – Science Academies Program 2010–11(round two) grants
The Academy, on behalf of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR), awarded scientific grants to 69 leading Australian scientists to undertake important international collaborative research under the International Science Linkages – Science Academies Program. More information: www.science.org.au/internat/SAP-participants-2010-11(Round2).html
Australia–Germany Solar Photovoltaics Research Call 2010–11
The Academy, on behalf of DIISR, awarded scientific grants totalling $200,000 to eight leading Australian research groups to participate in Australia–Germany Solar Photovoltaics Research projects. More information: www.science.org.au/internat/solar-pv-participants-2010-11.html
Australian participation in International Research Staff Exchange Scheme
The Academy, on behalf of DIISR, awarded scientific grants totalling $200,000 to 12 leading Australian research groups to participate in Round 2 of the European Commission's new scheme, the Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES).
Australian participation in European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research
The Academy is accepting applications for funding for exchanges in relation to Australian participation in European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST). More information: www.science.org.au/internat/europe/cost.html
NATIONAL COMMITTEES
The following meetings have been scheduled for national committees:
- National Committee for Plant and Animal Sciences – 10 September
- National Committee for Biomedical Science – 15 October
- National Committee for Geography – 1 November
- Geography Think Tank – 2 November
More information about national committees is available from connie.berridge@science.org.au or jeanette.mill@science.org.au.
PRIMARY CONNECTIONS UPDATE
Trialling has now commenced for the first of the next nine Primary Connections curriculum units. Over 400 applications were received from teachers Australia wide who were interested in trialling a unit during 2010. Of these applications, 230 teachers have been selected representing all states and sectors.
These nine trial units will complete a suite of 28 units for Years K–6. By mid 2011, teachers at each year level will have access to four units, one for each strand: physics, biology, chemistry, and Earth and space science. The three units currently being trialled are: Year 2 Growing and changing (biology), Year 3 Runny or not (chemistry) and Year 6 Life in the balance (biology). The trial units have been written to align with the draft Australian Curriculum: Science.
In 2010 the Primary Connections team have been conducting Australia wide training and recall sessions, ranging from half to 3-day workshops for approximately 137 professional learning facilitators and curriculum leaders. Further recall day training sessions for approximately 180 professional learning facilitators occurred in late July 2010 in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.
For more information about Primary Connections go to: www.science.org.au/primaryconnections/
SCIENCE BY DOING UPDATE
With the completion of the five trial professional learning modules and three trial curriculum resources, a three day workshop for school coordinators was conducted in April 2010. Coordinators, or heads of science departments, came from 28 high schools around Australia.
The workshop was opened by Dr Michele Bruniges, Deputy Secretary (Schools) of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. A welcome to the participants was also provided by Professor Kurt Lambeck FAA.
During school Terms 2 and 3, the professional learning and curriculum resources are being trialled in the 28 schools. Members of the Science by Doing team will visit each school during this trial period to provide continuing support as well as observing the resources and professional learning approach in action.
More information about Science by Doing is available from: www.science.org.au/sciencebydoing/
REMINDER ABOUT CLOSING DATES FOR 2011 ACADEMY AWARDS
The following research support awards close on 31 August:
- Boden Conference (biological sciences)
- Fenner Conference on the Environment
- Elizabeth and Frederick White Conference (physical sciences)
- Inaugural WH Gladstones Population and Environment Fund Grant
- Margaret Middleton Fund for Endangered Native Australian Animals
- Selby Fellowship (all fields of science)
Application information is available from www.science.org.au/awards/
LATEST PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES ON WATER MANAGEMENT
On Tuesday 1 July, Leith Boully presented the latest public lecture in the Water management options for urban and rural Australia series. Audio from the lecture Water dance is available from www.science.org.au/events/publiclectures/wm/boully.html
The next lecture in the water series is on Tuesday 3 August. For more information go to www.science.org.au/events/publiclectures/wm/crase.html
NSW SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD
Nominations are invited for the NSW Scientist of the Year Award. Six awards of $5,000 each will be granted to individuals in the following categories:
- environment, water and climate change sciences
- physics, Earth sciences, chemistry and astronomy
- biomedical sciences
- plant and animal sciences
- engineering, mathematics and computer sciences
- leadership in teaching secondary science and mathematics
Nominations close 6 August. Further information is available from: www.osmr.nsw.gov.au/science_communication/science_promotion/scientist_of_the_year2
DIARY DATES 2010
19–20 August. 2010 High Flyer Think Tank, Searching the Deep Earth: The Future of Australian Resource Discovery and Utilisation, Shine Dome, Canberra. Contact savita.khiani@science.org.au or call 02 6201 9462.
7 September. Public lecture in the series Water management options for urban and rural Australia by Tom Hatton. 5.30–7.00 pm, Shine Dome, Canberra. More information: www.science.org.au/events/ Contact savita.khiani@science.org.au or call 02 6201 9462.
23 September. Discovery of Australopithicus sediba in South Africa: Implications for our family tree. Public lecture by Professor Paul Dirks, Shine Dome, Canberra. More information: www.science.org.au/events/Contact savita.khiani@science.org.au or call 02 6201 9462.
25 September. Shine Dome open day. 10.00am to 5.00pm, Shine Dome, Canberra. Contact savita.khiani@science.org.au or call 02 6201 9462.
5 October. Public lecture in the series Water management options for urban and rural Australia by Ross Young. 5.30–7.00 pm, Shine Dome, Canberra. More information: www.science.org.au/events/ Contact savita.khiani@science.org.au or call 02 6201 9462.
7–8 October. ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies symposium, Coral Reefs in a Changing Environment, Shine Dome, Canberra. For more information go to:
www.coralcoe.org.au/events/2010.html
9–12 October. 2010 UK-Australia Frontiers of Science – Marine Science Meeting, Perth.
2 November. Public lecture in the series Water management options for urban and rural Australia by Craig Simmons. 5.30–7.00 pm, Shine Dome, Canberra. More information: www.science.org.au/events/ Contact savita.khiani@science.org.au or call 02 6201 9462.
9–10 December. First Australian Earth System Outlook Conference, Shine Dome, Canberra. Features keynote speaker Professor Johan Rockström from the Stockholm Resilience Centre. www.science.org.au/events/conferences-and-workshops/earth-system-outlook/index.html
