Hardy Reef in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Photo by Yanguang Lan on Unsplash

Australian experts are calling for the challenges of climate change to be used as a catalyst for positive changes to help conserve the world’s most precious heritage places.

(L to R): Zach Ghirardello, Dr Petra Lundgren and Andrew Hood. Photos: supplied.

The Australian Academy of Science is pleased to welcome three new appointments to senior roles: Dr Petra Lundgren, Director of Future Earth Australia; Zach Ghirardello, Director, Diversity and Inclusion and Andrew Hood, Chief Information Officer.

 

As the year draws to a close, I would like to thank you all for your continued support of the Academy, whether that is by your generous donations, sharing the work of the Academy, or simply by staying aware of what we are doing by subscribing to this newsletter.

Academy opportunities Japan Society for the Promotion of Science fellowships

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowships for Foreign Researchers provides opportunities for Australian postdoctoral researchers to conduct, under the guidance of their Japanese hosts, cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions.

Applications for JSPS Fellowships for 2022 are invited from researchers in any field of the physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, technology and medicine.

Honours and awards to Fellows

Distinguished Professor Ivan Marusic FAA FTSE—Elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering

Dr Graeme Moad FAA FTSE—Elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering

Professor Mathai Varghese FAA FaustMS—2021 George Szekeres Medal, Australian Mathematical Society

Scientia Professor Richard Bryant AC FAA FAHMS FASSA—Leadership in Innovation in NSW, Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering

Throughout 2021, the Australian Academy of Science has again sought to place science at the service of the nation and to make science available to everyone. Here is month-by-month a snapshot of the year that was.

January

 

The agreement reached between the Victorian Government, the Commonwealth Government and Moderna will significantly grow our sovereign capability to respond to future pandemics. Image by Thirdman on Pexels.
 

Traditionally, Science at the Shine Dome is an annual three-day event in May where Australia's most influential scientists gather at the Shine Dome in Canberra to celebrate science and to honour outstanding achievements in science.

Academy President Professor John Shine

The Australian Academy of Science says political interference in the selection of research grants is eroding Australia’s international reputation and the integrity of Australia’s research system. Of the four known occurrences of political interference, three have occurred in the last three years.

The Australian Academy of Science is aware of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute’s research misconduct findings against former employee Professor Mark Smyth.

Professor Smyth has resigned from the Australian Academy of Science and is no longer a Fellow of the Academy.

© 2025 Australian Academy of Science

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