News and views
Archives reveal how early ‘science communicator’ raised funding for solar observatory
The letters of a British woman who toured Australia and New Zealand raising funds for a southern solar observatory are among the latest pieces of Australia’s science history to be shared from the Academy’s archives.
The Academy’s impact in history: Scientific rigour in the formation of Australia’s National Parks
Australia is famous worldwide for its natural attractions—and for good reason. With more than 700 national parks covering deserts to rainforests and much more, many of our extraordinary environments and their biodiversity are studied and protected.
David Shepherd North Collection now available online
Agricultural scientists today know that sugar cane crops regularly succumb to pests and diseases and need to be replaced by new varieties. A century ago, Australian cane growers were slowly coming to this realisation as one crisis after another led to Queensland and New South Wales becoming a home for almost every known ailment that plagued the plants.
Five anecdotes from renowned Aussie scientists that you probably didn’t know
The Academy's archives hold a sprawling collection of stories from some of the country’s most renowned scientists. While the collections shine a light on their scientific processes and research, they also bring history to life: baring personal triumphs, struggles, and unexpected anecdotes.
Antarctica, geology and the Frank Stillwell Collection
Rare manuscripts and photographs documenting early Australian exploration of Antarctica and its connection to developments in geology and mineralogy have been digitised as part of an ongoing collaborative project between the Australian Academy of Science and the National Library of Australia.
Sir Mark Oliphant archival collection now available online
An Australian Academy of Science collection of papers belonging to one of the twentieth century’s most influential physicists has been digitised as part of an ongoing collaborative project with the National Library of Australia.
Adrien Loir, Louis Pasteur and the Australasian rabbit plague
The Australian Academy of Science’s unique collection of manuscripts describes a strange chapter in scientific history, one that has to do with rabbits, livestock disease and a $10 million reward. To improve access to the collection, the Academy recently published a digital version of the fascinating scrapbooks belonging to a young Adrien Loir, nephew and protégé of famed microbiologist Louis Pasteur.
Significant Macfarlane Burnet archival collection now available online
The Academy’s collection of one of the twentieth century’s most outstanding biologists has been digitised as part of an ongoing collaborative project with the National Library of Australia.
Academy archive digitisation project boosted by generous donation
A $100,000 donation by philanthropist and former pharmaceutical executive David Anstice AO will support the digitisation of the historic scientific collections held at the Australian Academy of Science.