Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns will influence the emergence and spread of infectious diseases in Australia, according to Professor Tony McMichael.

In an Australian Academy of Science public lecture entitled Pestilence, pandemics and climate change, Professor McMichael will describe how the spread of diseases carried by mosquitoes or by contamination of food and water will be affected by climate change.

“These particularly include dengue fever and Ross River Virus as well as the major causes of gastroenteritis or food poisoning,” he said.

The Australian Academy of Science’s Science by Doing professional learning resources for secondary school science teaching have won the eLearning Association of Victoria Excellence Awards in the Lifelong Learning category.

In partnership with CSIRO Publishing, who did the digital development, the digital components of the Science by Doing resources were the winning entry for innovation in design and development, quality of content and audience engagement.

Professor John Dewey, a distinguished geologist at the forefront of tectonics during the last 50 years, will speak at the Australian Academy of Science today as part of his tour of Australia.

Professor Dewey’s work on the evolution of mountain belts has shown how they relate to collisions between tectonic plates at the Earth's surface. He has made major contributions to understanding both the detailed nature and the timing of such collisions.

Australian Academy of Science President Professor Suzanne Cory today said the Government must urgently invest to ensure Australian science remains internationally competitive and relevant.

In a bold new Australian Academy of Science publication released today, Australian science in a changing world: innovation requires global engagement, internationally recognised and connected Australian scientists have developed a plan to ensure Australia’s place on the world stage over the next century.