The Australian Academy of Science 2020 Annual Report covers 1 January to 31 December 2020.
The Academy’s responses to COVID-19 are among the many achievements highlighted in the report.
Major achievements included providing leadership and support for the Rapid Research Information Forum (RRIF) to produce expert reports; collaborating with government departments to communicate pandemic-related information; creating an online database to enable public access to more than 1800 experts; supporting teachers and parents with emergency remote teaching; and initiating Global Science TV in partnership with the International Science Council.
The Academy created a COVID-19 news and resources hub and focused strongly on supporting Australia’s response to the pandemic by:
providing leadership and operational support for the Rapid Research Information Forum (RRIF), contributing to and publishing 13 expert reports based on the best available evidence
creating the COVID-19 public database to enable access to more than 1800 experts across relevant disciplines
developing and adapting education resources for teachers, parents and students to support emergency remote teaching
publishing 43 videos and 6 articles explaining the science of the pandemic to a broad audience on social media, and freely sharing them with mainstream media
initiating Global Science TV in partnership with the International Science Council, producing videos on the pandemic and giving voice to global experts to help address the big questions
commencing a series of international webinars on COVID-19 in collaboration with the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
publishing 43 videos and 6 articles explaining the science of the pandemic to a broad audience on social media, and freely sharing them with mainstream media.
At the same time, we responded to other major events by:
producing a series of evidence briefs on the 2019–20 bushfires
clearly stating the link between the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and climate change
publishing multiple videos for a broad audience on climate science, bushfires and extreme weather
providing advice to government inquiries and consultations, including appearing at parliamentary hearings.
We supported scientists and encouraged diversity in science by:
announcing 2 new career honorific awards to start in 2021
awarding $20,500 to 18 honorific awardees, and committing nearly $360,000 to 21 research awardees, 2 conferences, 5 travelling fellowships and 1 prize
holding 21 development and networking opportunities for early- and mid-career researchers and practitioners and recording how COVID-19 had affected them
hosting the finale of Falling Walls Lab Australia
delivering 2 NAIDOC Week events
hosting the Catalysing Gender Equity conference in collaboration with Science in Gender Equity (SAGE)
further developing the STEM Women online directory, connecting women to resources and opportunities
welcoming new Women in STEM Decadal Plan champions
supporting the Athena SWAN Awards and SAGE's transition to an independent organisation.
We brought science to a broad audience by:
recording more than 95 million impressions on social media
welcoming more than 5.4 million visitors to our websites
publishing nearly 90 videos that were embedded in online mainstream media stories 732 times and mentioned or quoted 3489 times including media syndications
developing the capability to deliver multiple online events, including 3 in National Science Week
holding a photo competition for school students to ‘spot the maths’.
We responded to severe hail damage to our two historic buildings in Canberra by:
saving our historic science archives from damage during the storm
commencing the installation of a new copper roof on the Shine Dome and making the building more sustainable
commencing roof replacement and renovation of Ian Potter House for better energy performance and access.
