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New chemical male contraceptive could stop STIs

A discovery that oxidation causes damage to sperm has led to work on a chemical male contraceptive that can block sexually transmitted infections, and a new technique to address male infertility, according to Professor John Aitken, a new Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Professor Aitken’s team has received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their work on a family of compounds that can block male fertility by rendering sperm immotile, while preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as Chlamydia.

Anticancer compounds from the sea

Marine molluscs are a potential source of new anticancer drugs and other medicines, according to Dr Kirsten Benkendorff of Southern Cross University.

Dr Benkendorff is the winner of the Australian Academy of Science’s 2011 Dorothy Hill Award for young female researchers in the Earth sciences, including reef science, ocean drilling, marine science and taxonomy.

As part of their defence against marine pathogens, molluscs produce small bioactive molecules that Dr Benkendorff has found to have potential for development as antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer medicines.

Venomous dragons combat high blood pressure

Venom from the Komodo dragon could lower your blood pressure according to Dr Bryan Fry, winner of the Australian Academy of Science’s 2011 Fenner Medal, which honours the late Professor Frank Fenner. “Previously it was thought there were only two lizard species in the world with venom,” explained Dr Fry. His work has shown that in fact there are hundreds of venomous lizard species, including all Australian goannas and even the iconic Komodo dragon.

Scientists pose solutions for a Big Australia

Australians will have to work harder for longer to cope with a population squeeze, the world-renowned Australian former UK Chief Scientist, Professor Lord Bob May, said today.

Professor May is to speak at the Australian Academy of Science’s annual Symposium, Australia 2050: population challenges to sustainability, at the Shine Dome in Canberra today.

“Our population is growing, and it is also growing older. Keeping a fixed retirement age and increasing migration to maintain pensions is not going to work,” he said.

Steady science budget shows lack of inspiration

The Australian Academy of Science today welcomed the Government's decision to protect science research funding in the 2011 Federal Budget but said it was disappointed there will be no increase in the research budget and no ongoing support for scientists to collaborate internationally.

"The Academy is pleased that proposed funding cuts for medical and other research have not occurred," said Academy Secretary for Science Policy, Professor Bob Williamson.

"But far more could be done to secure a prosperous and technologically advanced future for Australia.

Australian Academy of Science Fellows elected to Royal Society

Four Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science have been elected to the prestigious Royal Society of London, the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.

Professor Ian Frazer, Professor Alan Cowman, Professor Mark Randolph and Dr Patrick Tam join 40 other scientists to be elected in 2011 to the Royal Society, which celebrated its 350th anniversary last year.

Australian Academy of Science President Professor Suzanne Cory congratulated the four on their election.

Australian scientist shines new light on Europe

As part of an Australian Academy of Science Speaker Series, Professor Tanya Monro is visiting Europe to spread the word about new Australian science that will allow humans to probe our world in ways that have never before been possible.

The research has implications for applications in medicine, defence, the environment, agriculture and many other areas of science and engineering.

"A lot of the challenges we come up against in solving pressing problems in these critical areas simply cannot be solved using existing sensing technologies," Professor Monro said.

Science Academy welcomes decision to drop ERA journal rankings

The Australian Academy of Science welcomed today's decision by the Government and the Australian Research Council to end the system of ranking academic journals as A*, A, B and C.

The ranking system was a highly controversial component of the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment of university disciplines.

Science Minister Kim Carr today announced that the rankings system will end, giving more authority to the panels that examine and assess research activities undertaken around Australian universities on a discipline-by-discipline basis.

Fire, felling and carbon storage

"The ecologically sustainable management of native forests cannot be achieved without also managing fire in an ecologically sustainable way," says Australian Academy of Science Fellow, Professor David Lindenmayer.

In the fourth of the Australian Academy of Science's popular public lectures dedicated to the work of Professor Frank Fenner, Professor Lindenmayer will explore one of Australia's most controversial forms of land and resource management.

Science Academy condemns threats to scientists

The Australian Academy of Science today condemned threats to climate scientists and called on community leaders to defend intellectual freedom.

Academy President Professor Suzanne Cory said the Academy is deeply concerned about the threats being made to scientists.

"Today the Academy's Executive Committee of Council issued a public statement defending the right of researchers to do their work free from abuse, acts of intimidation and threats of violence," Professor Cory said.

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