In what is likely to be just the beginning of very turbulent times for the research and development sector due to be unpredictability of the Trump administration, the Academy has been calling on the Australian Government to systematically assess our reliance on US-funded R&D capability, rather than take a wait-and-see approach.
The US is Australia’s largest research partner, and the benefits of collaboration are mutual. US-Australian collaborations enable us to share information on vaccines so everyone will benefit from a flu shot next winter; they enable the exchange of weather data to monitor adverse weather events like cyclone Alfred; they allow us to access earth observation data for our GPS functions; and advance our strategic defence capability that gives us the best chance of staying safe in a technologically advanced world.
It is easy to see how embedded R&D capability is in our everyday lives. It is for these reasons we have been calling for a coordinated, cross-portfolio assessment of risk should collaboration with the US weaken, so we can be as prepared as possible for an uncertain future.
You can read more about the measures we are calling for in this month’s newsletter.
As the nation prepares to cast their vote at the 3 May federal election, the Academy has been calling upon the major parties to respond to major shifts in our economy – like rapid technological advances – by investing in supercomputing. Our supercomputing capability is a vital infrastructure that is as necessary as roads and rail to equip our nation for the 21st century. But we don’t have sufficient supercomputing capability to meet the needs of industry and researchers, thereby limiting innovation and economic growth.
Supercomputers process data that provide farmers with the information they need to improve agricultural yields, lowering food prices in supermarkets; they provide climate intelligence to prepare for natural disasters, which keep insurance costs in check; and they enable health care, reducing suffering and loss.
Another challenge facing the globe is the pervasive and harmful nature of disinformation. The Academy will be participating in global discussions on this matter in April at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit. Our Chief Executive Anna-Maria Arabia will be amongst global thought leaders who will convene to discuss science-based approaches to interventions to combat disinformation.
In spite of these challenging times, I’m sure you will be inspired by the work of our many award recipients for 2025. Dr Mitchell Gibbs and Associate Professor Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch are the two recipients of the Academy’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award for their work on the environmental restoration of Gamay (Botany Bay) and reducing the ecological footprint of concrete construction respectively.
Applications for the Academy’s 2026 awards and funding opportunities are now open and I encourage scientists at all career stages to apply or to nominate others.
There are several nation-defining issues in this month’s newsletter – I hope you gain deeper insights into how vital R&D is for our nation and why the Academy is acting to strengthen it.
Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE
President, Australian Academy of Science
© 2025 Australian Academy of Science
