A national survey has found that the science literacy of young Australian adults has fallen in the last three years, with just two-thirds correctly identifying the time it takes for the Earth to travel around the sun, compared with three-quarters in 2010.
The popular survey, Science literacy in Australia, conducted by Auspoll on behalf of the Australian Academy of Science, asked respondents questions of basic scientific fact.
Philanthropist, business leader and 2011 Australian of the Year, Mr Simon McKeon AO FAICD, has been awarded the 2014 Academy Medal.
The Australian Academy of Science established the Medal in 1990 to ‘recognise outstanding contributions to science, by means other than the conduct of scientific research, by a person outside the Fellowship.’ Only seven people have received this prestigious award to date.
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes today’s call by the Chief Scientist for Australia Professor Ian Chubb to improve Australia’s approach to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Academy Secretary for Science Policy, Professor Les Field, agreed the plan announced by Professor Chubb at the National Press Club addresses an urgent need.
Professor Ian Frazer is internationally renowned for his work developing the cervical cancer vaccine.
He will give special insights into the journey of discovery and development towards the world’s first cancer vaccine, at a free public talk on behalf of the Australian Academy of Science, at the Shine Dome in Canberra tonight at 6pm.
The lecture is part of The Australian Science: Global Impact series which features Australian superstars of science and their world-changing work.
The launch of Australia’s largest festival, National Science Week, has highlighted the importance of science and maths education and effective science communication, the Australian Academy of Science said today.
Academy President, Professor Suzanne Cory, said: “National Science Week encourages people of all ages to get hands-on with science.”
“National Science Week aims to increase the science literacy of all Australians. Its importance is underlined by recent evidence that Australia’s science literacy is in decline,” she said.
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the policy commitments made by the Greens in their science policy released today, and calls on all parties to articulate a strategic approach to science policy.
“We particularly welcome the Greens’ aim to increase Australia’s investment in research and innovation to 3 per cent of GDP by 2020,” said Academy President Professor Suzanne Cory.
“The Academy has called for sustained investment in its election statement so that Australia can catch up with other OECD nations.
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the focus on improving Australia’s international scientific engagement in the five Country Strategies recently released by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in response to the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper.
The Strategies for Indonesia, China, Japan, India and South Korea all note that better scientific engagement is essential to building relationships.
The Australian Academy of Science today congratulated the Coalition and welcomed the Abbott Government.
“The Academy acknowledges Prime Minister Abbott’s commitment to ‘provide the long term, stable policies and vision that our nation’s scientists and researchers need to excel in their work’,” said Academy Secretary for Science Policy Professor Les Field.
“The world can be more certain than ever that human-induced climate change is a real and serious threat to our planet.”
That's the message from President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Suzanne Cory, in the wake of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The latest findings strengthen the conclusion reached in the previous reports, released in 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2007 - that the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from human activity has caused, and will continue to cause, global warming for many decades.
The Australian Academy of Science is convening an eclectic group of 60 of the country’s most eminent thinkers from a diverse range of disciplines at the Shine Dome in Canberra this week to plan for the future of Australia.
Former politicians, federal court judges and scientists are amongst the participants in a two day workshop, on 23 and 24 October, as part of phase two of the Australia 2050 Project which aims to discuss several living scenarios for Australia and how science can play a role informing these scenarios.
© 2025 Australian Academy of Science
