News and views
National Research Infrastructure crucial factor in research pipeline
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the release of the Australian Government’s 2021 National Research Infrastructure (NRI) Roadmap. The Academy thanks the Expert Working Group for its contributions and guidance, particularly Academy Fellows Dr Ziggy Switkowski, Professor Barbara Howlett and Dr Cathy Foley.
Academy urges science advice to government must continue post-pandemic
Australia was well served by policymakers being able to access scientific evidence during the pandemic, and mechanisms that now bring science to the heart of government should not be lost during or after our recovery, the Academy’s submission to the 2022–23 Federal Budget reads.
Diaries of Australian virologist who helped eradicate smallpox now available online
On 8 May 1980, Australian virologist Professor Frank Fenner stood before the World Health Assembly in Geneva and declared smallpox, an ancient disease thought to be responsible for more than half a billion deaths during the last hundred years of its existence alone, had been eradicated.
Positive measures and missed opportunities in University Research Commercialisation action plan
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the Australian Government’s University Research Commercialisation action plan which contains a range of targeted and positive policy measures to further stimulate the commercialisation of research.
Independent selection of research grants essential for integrity of Australia’s research system
The Australian Academy of Science says political interference in the selection of research grants is eroding Australia’s international reputation and the integrity of Australia’s research system. Of the four known occurrences of political interference, three have occurred in the last three years.
Academy Fellows among ARC Linkage Project recipients
Eight Academy Fellows are among the recipients of 67 collaborative research projects funded under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme, bringing together higher education and industry to conduct research into pressing issues facing Australians.
Can Australia build a world-leading RNA science-based biotech industry?
Australia has led the world with several RNA research breakthroughs that have changed humans lives. Think: The discovery of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, enabling high yields of cloned medicines such as insulin and growth hormone, or CSIRO/Peter Waterhouse’s RNAi technology to shut down or turn off genes to protect plants and animals from diseases.