I’m pleased to be able to bring you the July newsletter. July is generally a quieter month after our annual celebration of science in May, but there is still plenty to communicate as our programs progress and activities across the sector continue.
This month has seen the formation of the new International Science Council, with the organisation’s founding General Assembly held in Paris. We are looking forward to ongoing engagement with the Council after 64 years of involvement at many levels with the former International Council for Science.
Other international activities include the recent Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting, the election of Professor Frances Separovic to the Regional Committee of ISC for Asia and the Pacific, an international congress to be held in Australia, and the Australia–Americas internship program.
We have three major events planned for National Science week in August, including Dr Karl and Academy Fellow Professor Veena Sahajwalla in Canberra. We also invite you to join us for Falling Walls Lab Australia in September, and be inspired by the 20 young Australian researchers selected for the event.
There is a push to improve the qualifications of science and maths teachers in all Australian schools, with the Academy supporting increasing STEM teacher graduates and advocating for support for existing teachers. And we say farewell and thank you to Denis Goodrum and Shelley Peers, who for many years have been leading lights in STEM education in Australia and internationally.
Our extraordinary impact across social media continues to grow, but we rely on sourcing solid scientific information for our videos and articles. Find out what we need and how to contact us if you have an idea for a video or article, or would like to provide expert review of our content before it goes live.
In July, our Chief Executive Anna-Maria Arabia is spending time at the Royal Society of London, an organisation with which we have a long and collegial relationship. She is then taking a well-earned break and will return to work in August.
David Perceval
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
