2021 Annual report
The Australian Academy of Science 2021 Annual report covers 1 January to 31 December 2021.
The Academy’s responses to COVID-19 and climate change are among the many achievements highlighted in the report.
Major achievements included collaborating with government departments to communicate pandemic-related information; calling for an RNA manufacturing capability in Australia and convening a national RNA roundtable of experts; calling attention to the risks to Australia of a warmer world; and the publication of a hub of climate change resources.
2021 highlights
COVID-19
This year, on the topic of COVID-19 the Academy:
- developed and distributed a new version of our popular booklet, ‘The science of immunisation’
- created eight videos, six articles and two infographics explaining the science of COVID-19, sharing them widely with Australians and internationally
- delivered five webinars to encourage international collaboration during COVID-19.
We thank the Australian Government Department of Health and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources for supporting these activities.
See our COVID-19 resources hub
Climate change
On climate change science, the Academy:
- released a landmark climate change report on the risks to Australia of a 3°C warmer world
- created a digital hub featuring all its articles, reports and videos on climate change science and solutions
- published six media releases, including three statements on COP26 and climate change
- released a national 10-year strategy for sustainable oceans and coasts.
See our Climate change hub
Advancement and celebration of science
To advance and celebrate science in Australia and internationally, we:
- published a report identifying opportunities to advance data-intensive research in Australia
- supported the call for Kathleen Folbigg’s pardon and release from prison based on recent strong scientific evidence
- launched a Champions of the Decadal Plan program to support the implementation of the 2019 'Nourishing Australia: A decadal plan for the science of nutrition' by the National Committee for Nutrition
- hosted a national RNA roundtable that supported Australia becoming a leader in RNA science and technology
- called on the NSW Government to remove all feral horses from Kosciuszko National Park
- provided advice and submissions to government inquiries and consultations, including appearing at parliamentary hearings
- re-roofed and improved the sustainability of our heritage-listed building, the Shine Dome, following severe hail damage in 2020.
Support for scientists and diversity in science
We supported scientists and encouraged diversity in science by:
- recognising 24 leading scientists with honorific awards, and announcing support for more than 40 scientists with grants, fellowships and conference funding
- welcoming 22 new Fellows for 2021, the cohort made up of 41% women and 59% men
- publishing a report about gender inequity in the STEM workforce across the Asia–Pacific
- launching the STEM Women Asia database to raise the profile of women in STEM
- hosting the finale of Falling Walls Lab Australia for early career researchers
- participating in NAIDOC Week, and shining light on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scientists
- joining with Australia’s other learned academies to respond to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Science for a broad audience
We brought science to a broad audience by:
- recording more than 18 million impressions on social media
- welcoming more than 4.4 million visitors to our websites
- publishing over 70 videos, many of which were embedded in online mainstream media stories 615 times, and articles that were mentioned or quoted 122 times (across all media syndications)
- delivering 37 online and hybrid events for audiences across Australia and around the world, including the Academy’s annual flagship event ‘Science at the Shine Dome’
- holding ‘scienceXart’, a photo competition about food and nutrition for school students across Australia.
