Celebration of Australian science at the Academy showcase

Venom breathing dragons, snails joining the fight against cancer and the population challenges for Australia are just some of the exciting topics on offer at the Australian Academy of Science's annual celebration, Science at the Shine Dome, from 4 – 6 May.

This feast of science research will bring over 300 delegates to Canberra to showcase the achievements of Australia's brightest minds.

Seventeen scientists from all fields of science will be admitted as Fellows of the Academy and will speak on their ground-breaking research, including on:

• Male fertility treatments and contraception
• Catalysts as the key to biofuels
• Plants practicing safe sex

Winners of the Academy's 2011 career and early-career researcher awards will be presented with their medals and speak on their latest work, including on:

• Venomous dragons
• Humans versus apes – the difference is in the genes
• Snails and slugs in anticancer drugs

This year's symposium entitled Australia 2050: Population challenges to sustainability will examine the implications of an increased population in Australia, in terms of impact on agriculture, environment and health. It features international and national guest speakers: Professor Lord Robert May, previous President of the Royal Society of London and former UK Chief Scientist, Sir Peter Gluckman, Chief Scientist of New Zealand, Professor Tim Flannery from Macquarie University, and 2011 Australian of the Year Simon McKeon.

Further information and program: science.org.au/sats2011/

Note to media: Media may arrange to interview speakers through the media contact