The Academy’s audience on social media continues to grow, attracted by engaging videos, compelling articles and eye-catching images.

Here are some recent highlights of fantastic science content.

The rediscovery of the world’s biggest bee, Megachile pluto, took the internet by storm. The Academy’s video was embedded on the Guinness World Records website and reached media as far afield as Brazil, Hungary and the USA.

(From left): Dr TJ Higgins, Professor Tarmo Soomere and Director International Programs Nancy Pritchard.

The President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Professor Tarmo Soomere, visited the Academy in April. He met with the Academy’s Secretary Biological Sciences, Dr TJ Higgins, and also learnt about the Academy’s Early- and Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) Forum as the Estonian Academy has an interest in supporting young researchers.

Dr Nicole Lawrence (University of Queensland, left) and ABC’s Professor Robyn Williams at the Queensland Museum’s After Dark event as part of the World Science Festival Brisbane.

The Academy injected a dose of chemistry into Queensland Museum’s After Dark event, part of the World Science Festival Brisbane in March. The sold-out event attracted 600 people to the Queensland Museum for a night of music, interactive science entertainment and expert talks.

In February and March of this year, the Primary Connections professional learning team delivered three fully-subscribed design and technology workshops in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Ninety-three primary school teachers across 48 schools from state, catholic and independent sectors attended the workshops.

Photo: Mark Dadswell

It is tricky to make metal-containing electronics stretch and flex like skin—but it is a challenge that Professor Madhu Bhaskaran from RMIT University has taken on with gusto.

Claudette Bateup (left) and Nicola Dziadkiewicz, Australian Academy of Science Education team members.

Representatives from the Australian Academy of Science’s Education team attended the STEMEd: Future ImpACT Conference 2019 in April.

The conference allowed ACT P–12 classroom teachers and school leaders to learn about leading practice in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and innovative futures learning.

Academy opportunities Honorific awards

Nominations are now open for the 2020 honorific awards, including career, mid-career and early-career awards.

Nominations close 1 May 2019.

See all honorific awards

Research awards

The Academy supports awards for research. Close to $270 000 will be offered by the Academy in 2019 to support research in:

A coat of arms is a visual representation of identity that has existed since Medieval times. So, what does the Academy’s coat of arms represent?

The seven-pointed silver star represents the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Shine Dome is a throwback to the ancient practice of including a picture of your own castle on your coat of arms or herald.

Honours and awards to Fellows

Professor Akshay Venkatesh FAA FRS—elected a Fellow of the Royal Society

Obituary Professor Scott Sloan.

Professor Scott Sloan AO FAA FREng FRS FTSE

2 July 1954 to 23 April 2019

Professor Jenny Graves and Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski have been elected to the US National Academy of Sciences.

Australian Academy of Science Fellow Professor Jenny Graves AO is one of 125 scientists recently elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS), and the only Australian scientist to be elected this year.

© 2025 Australian Academy of Science

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