Fellows update—December 2022

Honours and awards to Fellows

Professor Tom Calma AO FAA FASSA—ACT Senior Australian of the Year

Professor Tom Calma AO FAA FASSA—Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia

Professor Alan Cowman AC FAA FRS—CSL Florey Medal

Professor Trevor McDougall AC FAA FRS—Prime Minister’s Prize for Science (find out more)

WA events connect Fellows and Academy partner with EMCRs

The Academy held three events in Western Australia recently, bringing together WA Fellows, the Forrest Research Foundation and Minderoo Foundation. During the pandemic, Minderoo Foundation partnered with the Academy to support our science advice capability. With other philanthropic partners it supported our rapid research reports and the trialling of our concept of policy roundtables. 

Academy Secretary for Education and Public Awareness Professor Lyn Beazley and Director Policy Chris Anderson participated in the events at Forrest Hall at the University of Western Australia. The events sought to connect WA Academy Fellows with the Forest Research Foundation Fellows, who are EMCRs working at the five WA universities.

The three events were:

• a panel hosted by Forrest Research Foundation (FRF) Director Professor James Arvanitakis, introducing the FRF Fellows to the activities and role of the Academy
• a workshop on research integrity conducted by Mr Anderson
• a panel on the science and policy interface with Professor Beazley and Mr Anderson.

The afternoon was attended by several WA Fellows, including the new WA Chair Professor Stephen Powles. Feedback from all participants—EMCRS, partners and Academy Fellows—was positive, and we hope to use it as a pivot to create collaborative relationships between WA Fellows and the Forrest Research Foundation—especially to promote the EMCR Forum and to foster connections.

State Memorial for Professor Derek Denton

The Victorian Government will hold a State Memorial for Emeritus Professor Derek Denton AC FAA FRS FRCP FRACP LLD (Hon). In a statement, the Premier said that Professor Denton was the founding director of Victoria’s internationally renowned brain research centre the Florey Institute, and a pioneer in medical research. Under his leadership, the institute became one of the largest and most highly respected brain research centres in the world. A date for the memorial is yet to be announced.