Welcome to the October Newsletter.
We were glad to see several significant investments in science included in the budget handed down by the Australian Government this month, including $10.3 million to establish the International Science Council (ISC) Asia-Pacific regional presence at the Academy. As a long-standing and active member of the ISC, we look forward to fostering engagement with the diverse nations across the Asia-Pacific region and working on our shared goal of championing science as a global public good.
Earlier this month, the Academy was delighted to host the CEO of the NHMRC, Academy Fellow Dr Anne Kelso, as she announced the recipients of the Investigator Grants and the introduction of measures to address systemic disadvantage faced by female and non-binary senior researchers via the NHMRC’s Investigator Grant scheme. This intervention sends a strong message to women and girls that they can pursue a successful and fulfilling career in research, and we applaud it.
I was fortunate enough to be part of the S20 Summit, coordinated in Jakarta, Indonesia as part of the G20 conference, with the theme ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’. I congratulate the group, on behalf of the Academy, for agreeing on the importance of science and the importance of people-centric solutions in their recommendations to G20 governments.
The prestigious Academy Medal is awarded every three years to a person outside the Fellowship who has significantly advanced the cause of science and technology in Australia, or who has made a substantial contribution to the Academy, by means other than research. This year the Academy Medal was awarded to former Senator the Hon Kim Carr. Mr Carr committed much of his political life, in government and in opposition, advocating for and defending public good research, science and technology, and education, and is a worthy recipient of the medal.
Over the past year we produced several series of videos showcasing the outstanding outcomes achieved through international collaborations, and our latest series features longstanding scientific relationships between Australia and China. I encourage you to watch these examples of the trust and the common interests that underpin the world’s advances in science.
We are glad that Academy staff – who support and administer all the work Fellows do – are back in our historic headquarters at Ian Potter House following repairs and refurbishment triggered by the severe hail damage from 2020. The Academy is very fortunate to be the custodians of this unique example of Canberra’s built heritage, adjacent to our famous Shine Dome. We have sympathetically renovated the building to respect its heritage values whilst providing a modern and flexible working space that is accessible, sustainable and energy efficient.
I hope to see you at Science at the Shine Dome next month, and please enjoy the October newsletter.
Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FTSE
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
