Australian Academy of Science Newsletter 168

Australian Academy of Science Newsletter January-February 2023 number 168

Anna-Maria Arabia

Message from the Chief Executive

The Academy has started the year energetically. Roundtables, reports, rabbits and reefs—we’ve got it all.

Academy to advise on future of the Great Barrier Reef

The Academy is to convene a series of roundtables that will support the Reef 2050 Independent Expert Panel in its role of advising government.

Experts deliver evidence in long COVID parliamentary hearing

Defining long COVID and understanding knowledge gaps about the condition and its impacts were the focus of a recent expert roundtable.

Improvements in emissions reduction and removal in Australia welcomed

The Academy has welcomed the release of the final report from the Independent Review of Australian Carbon Credit Units.

R&D investment boost needed in Federal Budget

Australia’s leading scientists have urged the Australian Government to commit to a bold and ambitious structural reform agenda for science.

Australia’s leading scientists call for ARC to restore support for basic research

The Academy has called for the role of the ARC in supporting fundamental research be restored and safeguarded.

Developments in Australian science to watch out for in 2023

Environmental reform, new national science and research priorities and stronger scientific engagement in the Asia-Pacific are on the agenda in 2023.

Academy Fellow Professor Tom Calma named Senior Australian of the Year

Professor Tom Calma has been named Senior Australian of the Year in recognition of his work as a human rights and social justice advocate.

Academy Fellows celebrated with Order of Australia honours

Four Fellows have been recognised in the 2023 Order of Australia honours.

President of India awards President of Australian Academy of Science

The Indian Government has recognised Professor Jagadish for his outstanding achievements in science, technology and education.

Emerging Indigenous women scientists recognised with Academy award

Michelle Hobbs and Stephanie Beaupark are the recipients of the 2023 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award.

Mining museum venom, bee memories and more: 2023 J G Russell awardees

Five awardees have received a grant that will contribute to their ARC Discovery Early Career Research award.

Academy welcomes new philanthropy director

Kate Groves brings experience in philanthropy, strategic planning, and fundraising campaigns and models.

Grand support for Future Earth Australia

Future Earth Australia has received a generous donation from Grander’s Trust.

Adrien Loir, Louis Pasteur and the Australasian rabbit plague

Two recently digitised scrapbooks from our archives describe a strange chapter in scientific history.

2024 awards and funding opportunities now open

Don’t miss out! The Academy offers two types of opportunities for scientists: our honorific awards recognise outstanding contributions to the advancement of science at the early, mid and career levels, and our funding opportunities support scientists to undertake research projects as well as travel and lectures at a national and international level.

Nominations for the Academy’s honorific awards for scientific excellence close 1 May 2023.

Applications for research awards, travelling fellowships and research conference funding close 1 June 2023.

More information on the Academy’s 2024 awards and funding opportunities

Call for membership of the National Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

The National Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is calling for expressions of interest from people with a relevant science background who are keen to contribute to the future of this important sector in Australia.

The committee aims to:

  • foster the key scientific disciplines that underpin productive and sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and food industries in Australia
  • link the Academy to scientists in these disciplines
  • interact with relevant scientific societies
  • serve as a link between Australian and overseas agricultural scientists, primarily through the International Union for Biological Sciences.

The committee also works to develop, promote and implement the Decadal Plan for Agricultural Sciences.

Expressions of interest are invited by 20 March 2023.

From Alice Springs to coral reefs: new issue of Historical Records of Australian Science

Looking for something interesting to read? Try the latest issue of our journal, Historical Records of Australian Science, where you can delve into the central Australian laboratory established by CSIRO or the history of Australian coral reef science. There are also helpful book reviews and a bibliography of the history of Australian science. Find out more about the latest issue.

Submissions to government

The Academy recently made the following submissions to government:

Food security in Australia

Australia’s tourism and international education sectors

Australia’s migration system

Australia’s transition to a green energy superpower

Universities Accord Terms of Reference

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Guidelines

Supporting democracy in our region

Removing nuclear energy prohibitions

Australia’s illicit drug problem

Plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways

2023–24 Federal Budget

Critical Minerals Strategy 2023 discussion paper

Opportunities for scientists

Find out more about coming opportunities for scientists.

Fellows update

Keep abreast of the Academy Fellowship in the Fellows update​:

  • Honours and award to Fellows
  • Obituary for Professor John Lovering

Launch of ‘Greenhouse gas removal in Australia: A report on the novel negative emissions approaches for Australia roundtable’

Join the President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, at the launch of ‘Greenhouse gas removal in Australia: A report on the novel negative emissions approaches for Australia roundtable’ and an expert panel to discuss the themes in the report, and opportunities and implications of greenhouse gas removal for Australia.

Date: Wednesday 1 March 2023

Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm AEDT

Venue: Online via Zoom (link provided after registration)

More information and to register

Looking back, moving forward: Indigenous knowledges informing our modern world

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. The wealth of knowledges gathered over 65,000 years has growing and continued relevance to modern scientific discoveries.

Hear how the intersection of Indigenous knowledges is informing our understanding of topics including climate change, agriculture and astronomy.

Join Indigenous knowledge holders, researchers, innovators and industry experts to explore the power of combined ideas in 2023.

More information on our fascinating Public Speaker Series in 2023


Gifts and legacies from Fellows and friends have helped the Australian Academy of Science to consolidate its independence.

Support given through general donations is directly responsible for strengthening the Academy’s core activities such as scientific meetings, advice to support policy development, publications, education, public awareness and outreach, international activities, awards and fellowships.

Each time you make a gift through our annual tax or special appeals, you help to make the Academy a vital, viable and visible presence in Australia and around the world.

Learn more about giving to the Academy.

Find out about Celebrate science, which gives you the opportunity to dedicate a virtual copper roof tile of the Shine Dome to an Australian scientist who has made a significant contribution to science.

Donate today


The Honorary editor of the Academy newsletter is Professor Yuri Estrin FAA

 

© 2024 Australian Academy of Science

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