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The Australian Academy of Science says political interference in the selection of research grants is eroding Australia’s international reputation and the integrity of Australia’s research system. Of the four known occurrences of political interference, three have occurred in the last three years.

Eight Academy Fellows are among the recipients of 67 collaborative research projects funded under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme, bringing together higher education and industry to conduct research into pressing issues facing Australians.

Australia has led the world with several RNA research breakthroughs that have changed humans lives. Think: The discovery of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, enabling high yields of cloned medicines such as insulin and growth hormone, or CSIRO/Peter Waterhouse’s RNAi technology to shut down or turn off genes to protect plants and animals from diseases.

Nominations are now open for the Academy’s 2022 honorific awards, and applications open for support for research conferences, research awards and travelling fellowships.

Australia’s leading scientists have urged the Australian Government to develop additional vaccine manufacturing capability within the next 12 months. They say without the ability to produce mRNA vaccines onshore, Australia and the region remain vulnerable to supply limitations.

The nation’s peak bodies representing science and scientific expertise have expressed deep concern about Facebook blocking content today from a range of non-news science organisations.

The judges of the scienceXart: spot the maths photographic competition have been announced, with a diverse mix of experts from maths, education and the arts sectors set to bring their complementary perspectives to the panel.