News and views

Australia should enhance and capitalise on its existing skills and expertise in geographic information systems (GIS) and big data to address thesocial, economic and environmental challenges of our region and the emergence of the ‘China Century’.

Regional and remote students are underrepresented in higher education—particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Academy welcomes the Australian Government acting to improve access and equity through new scholarships and support for regional universities. However, the Academy is very concerned at the Minister’s comments on radio this morning that he intends to fund these new measures by reallocating research support funding for universities. University research plays a critical role in developing the knowledge and skills that benefit all Australians. Australia cannot afford to let our intellectual edge slip as we prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the coming decade.

The Australian Academy of Science expresses its concern that Ministerial veto has been made on eleven grant applications recommended for funding by the Australian Research Council (ARC).

The Australian Academy of Science has joined with the Australian Department of Health to launch a series of videos, articles and images to dispel vaccination myths and to promote the benefits, safety and science of immunisation.

The importance of soils to food and nutrition security was the focus an international summit of scientists held in Argentina recently.

The Australian Academy of Science has welcomed Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham’s statement about the importance of qualified science and maths teachers in Australian schools.

The Australian Academy of Science has launched an award to recognise research in the natural sciences by outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD students and early- and mid-career scientists.

Academy Fellow and world leader in field robotics Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte has been appointed the next Chief Scientist and Engineer for New South Wales.

An Australian scientist who has revealed the hidden world of ants has become the first person from the Northern Territory to be elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.