The Academy's Early- and Mid-Career (EMCR) Forum has announced changes to its executive team. 

The EMCR Forum is the national voice for Australia's emerging scientists, representing scientists who are up to 15 years post-PhD.

Executive leadership

The new team includes Dr Nikola Bowden as committee chair, along with Dr Adrian Carter and Dr Michael Crichton who will each take on the role of deputy chairs.

The government’s national innovation and science agenda announced today puts science and innovation at the centre of Australia’s future, with 20 initiatives to boost research and innovation, including in education, research infrastructure, and international collaboration in science and business.

The Australian Academy of Science’s Secretary for Science Policy Professor Les Field said: “This new agenda represents a turning point. It means we can grow an economy based on our outstanding science, and which makes the best use of our significant scientific capital.”

A game-changing program that aims to improve the gender balance in Australian science has been given a welcome funding boost by the Federal government.

The Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program will receive new funding as part of a $13 million package targeting women in science in the government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda announced today.

The Academy today welcomed the government’s national innovation and science agenda as a turning point for science in Australia.

Secretary for Science Policy Professor Les Field said: “This new agenda means we can grow an economy based on our outstanding science, and which makes the best use of our significant scientific capital.”

The national innovation and science agenda includes:

The Australian Academy of Science will fund new research to help the survival of some of Australia’s endangered species, help prevent hospital readmissions in central Australia, and apply cutting-edge ecology and evolutionary biology to model climate change adaptation.

The Academy today announced $190,000 worth of funding for scientists, including to support international travel and scientific conferences.  

Scientists who are leading the world on solar energy efficiency, helping to develop one-shot flu vaccines, and making portable biosensors to detect viruses are among the winners of the Australian Academy of Science’s annual honorific awards. 

Each year the Academy presents awards to recognise scientific excellence, to researchers in the early stage of their careers through to those who have made life-long achievements.

Leadership by the Australian Government and global cooperation at the Paris climate talks will be essential in avoiding the worst effects of global climate change, according to the Australian Academy of Science.

Representatives from more than 190 countries are heading to Paris this week in an attempt to reach an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit human-induced global warming.

The Academy’s President Professor Andrew Holmes urged world governments to take note of the scientific evidence and the implications of inaction.

Scientists working on new materials to meet the challenges of the 21st century are gathering in Melbourne today for the annual Frontiers of Science conference.

Materials for the 21st Century: From design to application is the latest in the Australian Academy of Science’s Theo Murphy Frontiers of Science series which brings the best young Australian scientists together with leaders in their fields.

Thank you for visiting the Australian Academy of Science online. If you’ve visited us here before, you’ll notice that our website has had a make-over. 

A position paper released today by the Office of the Chief scientist brings a welcome focus on the importance of improving primary school science education. 

The paper’s suggested goals are improving the prestige of teachers, creating a national science professional development program for teachers and the creation of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Education Leadership Taskforce to act as a focal point for national engagement on science education. 

© 2025 Australian Academy of Science

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