Delivered 9 am Wednesday 29 May 2019, Shine Dome, Canberra
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Australian Academy of Science President, Professor John Shine
Fellows of the Academy, colleagues. distinguished guests, friends
Welcome to Science at the Shine Dome 2019.
Before I begin, I too would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal people.
I would also like to add my personal thanks and acknowledgement to the sponsors mentioned by Anna-Maria whose generosity has made this event possible and allowed it to reach more people.
It is customary for the President to deliver an annual address at Science at the Shine Dome.
In this 65th anniversary year of the Academy and 60th year of the Shine Dome I would like to use the opportunity to reflect on the Academy’s beginnings, the role it has played in the science sector and to raise awareness of the Academy’s priorities going forward.
From its inception, the Academy was critical in shaping the architecture that supports scientific research practice as we know it today.
By way of example, as early as 1958, just four years after the Academy was established and before this very building existed, the Academy’s Council discussed the idea of establishing an Australian National Science Trust to fund scientific research.
It took two years for those discussions to materialise into a formal proposal which was handed to then Prime Minister Menzies in 1960.
Eventually, in 1965 the Prime Minister wrote to the Academy President to announce the establishment of an Australian Research Grants Commission, a body analogous to the National Science Trust that has been proposed by the Academy some 5 year earlier.
The Australian Research Grants Commission was to become the modern-day ARC—a fundamental component of our research ecosystem.
From its earliest days the Academy has been concerned with science policy in Australia.
In this area too, the Academy played a fundamental role in shaping the research landscape familiar to us today.
In 1967, the Academy recommended the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Science and Technology.
Finally, five years later, in 1972 Prime Minister William McMahon announced the formation of such a body.
Subsequent governments changed the composition of the Committee and its Terms of Reference with the Howard Government transitioning this body to the Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Council.
Today, this committee is known to you all as the National Science and Technology Council.
Much has changed, but much has remained the same.
Through the advent of electronic communications, we have become less patient and more expectant of rapid change—but in reality, we would be wise to remember that it still takes decades for structural change to occur in the science sector.
We should also take comfort in the things that remain the same.
Not in the least, the Academy, 65 years on, still seeks to influence decision makers so as to ensure the foundations of scientific endeavour are robust and enable and facilitate the work of scientists across the country and across the globe.
And 65 years on the Academy’s commitment to excellence is as strong as it was amongst its founding fathers.
In addition to providing advice on the practice of science, much like in its early years, the Academy continues to provide independent scientific advice on a range of policy matters.
Such matters in the early years were described as ‘political’—issues such as Antarctica, international relations, climate change and preservation of the biosphere.
In early 1970, when nuclear tests in the Pacific were planned by the French Government, Prime Minister Whitlam wrote to the Academy on 12 February seeking the Academy’s advice on the actual and potential harm to Australia from the explosions by France in the Pacific. The report was requested by the end of March—a six-week period.
The full account of this policy request is eloquently outlined in the Frank Fenner-edited book ‘The First Fifty Years’ of the Academy of Science.
I encourage you to read it.
Upon close inspection the policy request challenged the Academy much as similar requests do today.
At the time, the Academy vehemently protected its independence. As it does today.
In the early 1970s, the Academy was powerless to stop the politicisation of the advice it provided but it concluded that injection of the scientific evidence base into the controversial topic of nuclear testing in the pacific was not just necessary but a fundamental role of the Academy.
Today the Academy still seeks to provide independent and influential scientific advice.
For example, I am particularly proud of the scientific advice the Academy was able to provide earlier this year to shed light on the causes of the mass fish deaths in the Darling River in NSW.
This issue was also mired in political controversy, but Fellows of this Academy in collaboration with Fellows of the other learned academies were able to remain focused and provide the necessary independent scientific evidence base in a four-week timeframe that allowed it to inform deliberations and drive policy changes.
Broadly, the principles that guide all advice provided by the Academy are clearly articulated and this advice is always made public on the Academy website.
We are dispassionate, disinterested, apolitical and founded in expertise, and our advice follows standards of excellence, quality, independence and transparency.
I am pleased to say that the Academy enjoys a direct relationship with many ministers in government and across the parliament.
We operate in an environment where evidence and track record are questioned and challenged, institutions are given less credence and individual opinion is amplified more than ever before.
In this often confused and conflicting environment, I would argue that the role of national academies as independent advisers to government and to the broader parliament has never been more important.
Academies must use their convening power to bring to the table the voice and expertise science can and must provide to inform decision making.
There is one aspect of the Academy which I am pleased has evolved significantly—our approach to diversity.
Many accounts of the early years spoke of the need to develop the Fellowship such that it comprised all scientific disciplines in both basic and applied science. The founding fathers were concerned with equipping the Academy with excellence and expertise such that it could adequately represent Australian science.
Today we know that we also make better decisions when the fellowship reflects the depth, breadth and diversity of the scientific sector. Diversity of discipline, geography, gender, culture, and more.
We cannot be excellent if we are not diverse and truly represent the diversity in the broader community.
I congratulate the 22 new Fellows and two Corresponding Members who were admitted to the Academy yesterday evening and who we will hear from this morning.
And I congratulate the award recipients who we will learn more about tomorrow.
Over the past five years, we have focused on diversity and inclusion, looking to ensure barriers and biases are removed and that the Academy applies and models best practice in nominating and electing Fellows and in conferring its awards.
I am pleased that the culmination of those efforts has seen that of the 22 Fellows elected this year, 36 per cent are women. This is a result of a unified and committed effort by all in the Academy, including the Council, the Equity and Diversity Reference Group, and our 20 ‘Champions of Diversity’—Fellows who have identified, encouraged and mentored diverse nominees for Fellowship and awards.
I am also delighted that the Academy will confer the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Travelling Research Awards tomorrow.
Under-representation of senior women in the science pipeline remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges.
And it remains a challenge for the future election of diverse Fellows to the Academy.
But we know that the Academy’s Fellowship can only be as diverse at the science pipeline.
I encourage leaders in this room to do what they can to actively address the under-representation of women and minorities in the science pipeline and to nominate women and under-represented groups for awards and fellowship.
[Diversity video plays]
To focus the efforts of all parts of the science or STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) ecosystem in addressing under-representation of women in STEM, in April this year the Academy delivered the Women in STEM Decadal Plan, a 10-year roadmap for achieving sustained increases in girls’ and women’s STEM participation and retention from school through to careers.
I pause to thank the University of Sydney who once again have supported accessibility, childcare and carer grants to enable participation by all here at Science at the Shine Dome.
We know participants with caring responsibilities, whether they are caring for a young family, elderly parents or indeed managing any other circumstance, benefit from this support. We know because they tell us.
The Academy has had a long and fulfilling association with science education in schools.
From its inception, the Academy had a desire to assist science teachers to carry out research projects. These initial attempts proved to be unsustainable and led to the Academy developing a textbook for year 11 and 12 science students, The Web of Life, which adopted the inquiry approach to teaching.
In its day The Web of Life was the most successful curriculum development project in the world.
It exerted a deep influence on the teaching of secondary biology and at the time was the most significant source of income for the Academy, enabling many of the Academy’s activities.
I recount this history, because today I am thrilled that in our audience we have 10 NSW Science Extension course students and their teachers. The Science Extension course is an innovative NSW course for year 12 students with an interest in scientific research. Many of the students collaborate with practicing scientists and undertake research projects.
Importantly they learn critical problem solving and analysis skills.
The student’s own words say it best. An attending student from Gosford High School, in response to the question ‘Why are you interested in research?’ answered:
“Until beginning year 11 science courses, I was unaware of the full scope of academic and research sciences; however, through undertaking self-guided and self-chosen research, I have developed an appreciation for the process of science. Further, through participating in research I have identified my own curiosity and seen it manifest into a desire to question and understand the unknown.
Asking a question is inspiring but seeking the answer is what motivates me. Research sates curiosity, no matter the nature nor the person.”
The Academy has warmly welcomed the introduction of the NSW Science Extension Course and commends it for adoption by other states and territories.
In many ways, it realises the original education vision of the academy—to assist teachers carry out research projects for their students.
I would like to thank 3M, the STEM Education presenting partner, who has made this initiative possible.
I also welcome international early- and mid-career (EMCR) researchers from Malaysia and Indonesia to this year’s Science at the Shine Dome. In the past year, the Academy has facilitated access to global science and technology and promoted strategic partnerships between Australian and overseas researchers, supported the formation of the International Science Council, and delivered international science activities on behalf of the Australian Government.
Australia continues to play a significant role internationally due to its strong representation on inter-Academy bodies and international scientific societies and unions.
Last month the Academy launched a report outlining the economic and scientific benefits of Australia’s membership of major global science organisations.
Unsurprisingly to many in this room, the direct economic benefits to Australia by hosting scientific meetings is significant, as are opportunities created by international research collaboration.
In the area of scientific literacy, the Academy continues to build public awareness and understanding of science both locally and internationally.
Our digital content is not only engaging and reaching large audiences across social and mainstream media, but importantly all of our content is rigorously fact checked by at least five Fellows.
We are informing the general public about the science that matters in their lives as well as presenting an integral source of information and truth to combat the global fight against fake news.
On Facebook alone, 1.5 million people have opted to follow the Academy as a credible source of scientific information after connecting with our engaging videos, compelling articles and eye-catching images.
I thank the many Fellows who have been crucial to the success of the Academy’s video production capability, with 188 Fellows having either featured in or reviewed Academy digital content.
In closing I would like to acknowledge the contribution made by outgoing member of the Executive Committee, Dr TJ Higgins, Secretary for Biological Sciences, and welcome the incoming secretary Professor Helene Marsh.
I also acknowledge outgoing Council members Professors Sam Berkovic, Steve Rintoul, and the late Scott Sloan who very sadly and suddenly passed away last month, and welcome incoming members Professors Ivan Marusic, Malcolm Sambridge, Carola Vinuesa and Bob Williamson
I also thank Professor Sue O’Reilly and Professor Ian Chubb for their continuing service.
Last but not least I would like to acknowledge and thank all of our partner organisations for this event.
Without their support, Science at the Shine Dome would not be the dynamic meeting of minds that it is today.
One of the unique aspects of this event is the dedicated EMCR program. I would like to thank our EMCR Engagement Partner, UniBank, and the many organisations who have sponsored individual EMCRs to attend.
Partnerships are deeply important for the future of the Academy, with many of our core activities only possible with the support of likeminded, independent organisations and individuals.
That ends my formal 2019 address.
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