Welcome to our first newsletter of 2022, and we have begun the year with much activity in the science sector. Late last year we were disheartened to learn that six ARC Discovery Projects had been rejected using ministerial veto, despite the projects being recommended for funding by independent panels.
We publicly denounced this move – including in a joint statement with the other Australian Learned Academies – and will continue to defend the free and open critical enquiry which our democracy is built upon.
We were glad to see the announcement of investment in the Great Barrier Reef and an action plan for research commercialisation, but we pushed for stronger action to address climate change and improve the research pipeline in Australia, including improved funding and support for basic research.
Space science in Australia now has a roadmap for the next decade, with the long-awaited launch of the 10-year plan written by National Committee for Space and Radio Science and an executive working group.
Our Fellows continue to be recognised as leaders in both science and society, with five Fellows being appointed to the Order of Australia, four as Companions and one as an Officer.
We were also proud to announce the five recipients of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award, as well as our Douglas and Lola Douglas Scholar and we look forward to seeing the outcomes advanced by these early- and mid-career researchers in communities across Australia.
February 11 was the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and the Academy, together with the Diversity Council of Australia, shed light on challenges and successes amongst women in STEM.
Finally, we are glad to report that our campaign to digitise the unique archives of the Academy have achieved a significant milestone, with the diaries of Academy Fellow Professor Frank Fenner being made available for everyone to read via Trove. This preservation of Australia’s science history would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors, and I encourage everyone who is considering supporting our work to get in touch.
I hope you are keeping safe and well and I hope you enjoy reading this month’s newsletter.
John Shine
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
