The Academy’s response to COVID-19 remains strong and highly focused to where it will benefit most.
The newly-created news and resources hub makes it easy to find a range of expert material and contacts, and information for the community.
[Note: The link to the expert database in this paragraph was removed when the Academy closed the database in August 2022.]
The Academy recently launched a COVID-19 Expert Database, which provides governments, the business sector, the research sector and other decision-makers easy access to the expertise they need across many fields. There are now more than 1500 experts listed on the database.
The Academy is also supporting the Rapid Research Information Forum, formed under the leadership of Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel AO FAA FTSE FAHMS. The Academy has led the development of two rapid research reports for the Minister for Health on the impact of winter on the spread of COVID-19 and the feasibility of monitoring wastewater for the early detection and monitoring of COVID-19 in the population. A third report, on reinfection with the COVID-19 virus, was led by the Australian Academy for Health and Medical Sciences with support from the Academy. Further reports are in the pipeline.
The Academy has produced 27 videos and four articles full of up-to-date information that have been widely viewed and shared on social media and by news organisations. Videos vary in length and include a series of in-depth interviews with experts, called ‘The latest from science’. The aim is to reach a wide audience, helping people to understand the changing situation and make decisions based on facts.
The first COVID-19 related feature in the Academy’s Science for Australians initiative is Open Science: after the COVID-19 pandemic there can be no return to closed working, by Professor Virginia Barbour and Mr Martin Borchert. The article explores how research relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to open access, which has enabled a unified and rapid global scientific response.
The Academy's school education programs in science and mathematics continue to support a strong foundation in STEM teaching and learning in Australia. Find out more about how we are extending our support of education in Australia.
The Academy’s Early- and Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) Forum is currently hosting webinars and virtual catch-ups for EMCRs. These online opportunities aim to provide a sense of community and connectedness to EMCRs, as well as tools to deal with the uncertainty created by COVID-19. Find out about the first event.
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