From the genetics of bacteria that help legumes thrive, to the impact of microplastics in coastal wetlands and the path of sulphur through the sea and beyond—the 2024 Thomas Davies Research Grant for Marine, Soil and Plant Biology is supporting the wide-ranging work of nine early- and mid-career researchers.

The Australian Academy of Science is proud to support scientific research through sponsorship of research conferences that focus on rapidly developing fields of research.

The Academy is pleased to announce funding towards four conferences to be held across 2024 and 2025.

The amendments to the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill strike a better balance between protecting Australia’s national security and ensuring domestic and international scientific collaboration can continue to serve our national interest, says President of the Australian Academy of Science Professor Chennupati Jagadish. 

“I am pleased the Academy’s sustained advocacy in this area has been heard,” Professor Jagadish said. 

From top left: Mr Mark Watson, Dr W Y Sarah Lau, Mr Simon Weng, Dr Barnali Das, Dr Duy Nguyen, Ms Grace Tabi, Mr Jake Horder, Ms Claire Yung, Ms Emily Kerrison, Dr Eugene Sachkou.

Ten early-career researchers from Australia will be heading to Lindau, Germany this year to attend the prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.

The annual event is expected to bring together 40 Nobel Laureates and 635 young scientists from more than 90 nations.

Parliamentarians have backed a more robust and research-oriented system for the nation by passing reforms to the Australian Research Council (ARC) this week.

President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, said that limiting the use of the ministerial veto is a particularly significant reform supported by Australia’s scientists.

“It will ensure that properly assessed, high-quality research proposals proceed without an ideologically imposed filter, a change advocated by the Academy since at least 2018,” Professor Jagadish said.

 

How is the food on our plates changing? And how are Australian scientific capabilities evolving to meet the future needs of the nation?

Australia’s scientists say the passage of the Defence Trade Control Amendment Bill 2023 today improves the balance between protecting Australia’s national security and enabling the benefits that open scientific collaboration offer Australia and the globe.

Academy opportunities 2025 awards and funding opportunities

The 2025 honorific awards and funding opportunities are now open.

Nominations for awards close on 1 May 2024.

Applications for funding opportunities close on 1 June 2024.

More information on the Academy’s 2025 awards and funding opportunities

Honours and awards to Fellows

Professor Arthur Christopoulos FAA FAHMS – American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 2024 Louis S Goodman and Alfred Gilman Award in Receptor Pharmacology Professor Frances Separovic AO FAA – 2024 Croation Woman of Influence

If Fellows have been recognised for an award, please let us know via fellowship@science.org.au.

This month we saw the Academy’s sustained advocacy and leadership to strengthen and protect Australia’s research system pay dividends, with the introduction and passing of two major pieces of legislation in Australia’s Parliament.

The Senate passed the Australian Research Council Amendment (Review Response) Bill 2023, which will limit the use of the ministerial veto in research funding decisions.

© 2025 Australian Academy of Science

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