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Federal Budget 2015 - science funding cuts on the horizon

Today’s Federal Budget shows that while there is a welcome reprieve for science funding in 2015-16, further cuts of around $290 million to key Australian science and research programs lie on the horizon.

Despite immediate relief for the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure scheme (NCRIS) and an ongoing commitment to establish a Medical Research Future Fund, overall funding for science in Australia will continue to decline.

Read the Academy's response to the Budget

Ticks and crosses for the 2015 science budget:

Future Fellowships get the go ahead

The Australian Academy of Science today welcomed the continuation of the Future Fellowships scheme for mid-career researchers.

The scheme will offer four-year appointments to 50 researchers in 2015.

The Future Fellowships scheme, established in 2008 by the Australian Research Council, is aimed at supporting and retaining the best and brightest mid-career researchers in Australia.

Education minister Christopher Pyne is expected to announce the opening of the 2015 Future Fellowships in the coming weeks.

Cooperative Research Centre program to continue

The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program will continue, after the Government accepted all 18 recommendations made in the CRC review by lawyer and innovation expert David Miles AM.

The future of the program had been under question and the 2014 round closed to new applications after the National Commission of Audit recommended that the CRC program be abolished and rolled into the ARC Linkage Program.

Applications open for stem cell think tank

The Australian Academy of Science is inviting early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) to apply now for this year’s Theo Murphy Think Tank—‘The stem cell revolution: Lessons and imperatives for Australia’.

Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tanks are an opportunity for EMCRs from a diverse range of science and social science disciplines to take stock of recent scientific developments. The Think Tanks consider political, regulatory and ethical issues, and culminate in the publication of an influential policy report.

Academy announces new Fellows for 2015

The Australian Academy of Science today announced the election of 21 new Fellows for their outstanding contributions to science and scientific research.

Australia's top scientists meet for Science at the Shine Dome

Australia's science leaders are gathering in Canberra today for the Australian Academy of Science's annual celebration, Science at the Shine Dome.

Science at the Shine Dome this year celebrates 100 years since the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to the father-and-son Bragg team for their work in crystallography.

Academy president presents vision for Australian science

The Australian Academy of Science President Professor Andrew Holmes today presented his vision for Australian science during a presidential address at Science at the Shine Dome in Canberra.

In the wide-ranging speech, Professor Holmes said Australia is undergoing a shift in how the Australian public, business and politicians view the importance of science, and that Australian scientists and the Academy are becoming increasingly vocal on policy matters.

Academy announces new Council members

The Australian Academy of Science today announced new members of its Council during the Science at the Shine Dome celebrations in Canberra.

Leading researcher in plant gene technology Dr TJ Higgins will join the Academy Council as its Secretary of Biological Sciences, taking over from Professor Marilyn Renfree, an expert in marsupial reproductive biology.

Fellows awarded Queen's Birthday honours

Two Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science were among more than 700 Australians who received Queen's Birthday honours yesterday.

Professor Stephen Simpson has been appointed a Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia for his pioneering work in obesity and Dr Marelyn Wintour-Coghlan was appointed Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for her work in medical science.

The Queen's Birdthay honours recognise Australians at a national level for their valuable service to the community.

EMCR Forum launches new research video competition

The Academy's Early- and Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) Forum has helped to launch a new video competition for young scientists this week.

The Inspire Research in Australia competition was launched in conjunction with Thinkable.org to support early- and mid-career scientists and showcase innovative research being performed in laboratories and universities across Australia.

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