News and views
Interstellar impact
Humanity’s move into space is gathering momentum. It’s widely predicted we could feasibly see lunar settlements as soon as the 2030s and crewed missions to Mars just a decade later. But significant hurdles remain—not least, how to ensure a sustainable supply of many survival essentials: food, water, medicines and minerals. University of Adelaide research is meeting the challenge.
Facial recognition to identify victims
Defence science and innovation is not only critical to maintaining Australia’s military capability but its multi-disciplinary applications are increasingly becoming crucial to the safety and security of the broader community.
Department of Health reaches millions with the Academy
When the Australian Government Department of Health wanted to create a public awareness campaign about immunisation, it partnered with the Academy. Together, the organisations designed a public health message with impact, distributed to an audience of millions.
Professor Mike Dopita FAA pledges bequest to the Academy
Recently the Academy received two bequests – one was directed to a specific activity where the donor had intimate knowledge and commitment to the Academy’s education programs. The other was directed to the Australian Futures Science Fund which supports the future work at the Academy as prioritised by Council.
New partnership with University of Melbourne for women in science
When microbiologist Professor Nancy Millis passed away in September 2012, some of her colleagues at the University of Melbourne came up with the idea that, by donating sufficient funds, they would enable a medal to be struck in her honour—and thus began the Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science.
Awardees meet the donors who support their medals
A special opportunity was made during Science at the Shine Dome for the donors to the following awards to meet the 2015 recipients of those awards: Ruth Stephens Gani Medal, Gustav Nossal Medal, Jacques Miller Medal, Moran Medal and Anton Hales Medal.
The new Max Day Fellowship
A major donation from Dr Maxwell Day AO FAA, is being used to establish the annual Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award of up to $20 000, which will help PhD students or early-career researchers meet costs associated with their research or to supplement PhD scholarships.