Message from the Chief Executive—December 2018

As 2018 draws to a close, I’d like to personally acknowledge the generosity of the Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science who tirelessly and generously share their time and expertise to advance science in Australia and internationally.

In this month’s newsletter, some of our award recipients share accounts of what their awards have enabled. Their experiences make clear the impact and reach of the Academy’s awards and medals. This year we are delighted to have been able to build on this by awarding the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Travelling Research Award. The award recognises research primarily in the natural sciences by outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD students and early- and mid-career scientists. The award is part of the Academy’s national effort to improve diversity and inclusion in the sciences.

Our awards rely on the generosity of partners, sponsors and individual donors who make it all possible, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunities they provide.

I wish to congratulate all 45 Australian higher education and research institutions who are working to improve gender equity and diversity, and a special congratulations to the first cohort of 15 Australian institutions to achieve Athena SWAN Bronze Accreditation. The Academy is proud to partner with the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering to support organisations in the STEM sector through our Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program.

If you’re looking forward to a relaxing break this summer and enjoy a good read, make sure you look through the Fellows’ Annual Christmas Reading List. There’s something for everyone in the list, and reading the recommendations is fun in itself!

With the festive season soon upon us, the December newsletter will be the last for 2018. We take a short break with the next edition in February 2019.

Thank you for your readership and support and we wish you a safe and happy Christmas and new year.

I look forward to catching up with you in 2019.

Anna-Maria