From testing out a cyclotron to sampling hemp cookies, Academy President Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE and Chief Executive Anna-Maria Arabia have had an opportunity to engage with the impressive research and innovation Academy Fellows are undertaking across Australia.
The pair have been meeting Fellows on their home turf, so far visiting Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
“It’s been wonderful, and so fascinating, to connect with our Fellows and learn more about their cutting-edge research,” says Professor Jagadish.
“Our Fellows are at the forefront of their fields, advancing knowledge and innovation of critical importance to society.”
Left to right: Professor Lyn Beazley AO FAA FTSE, Anna-Maria Arabia, Professor Jagadish and Professor Caroline McMillen AO FAHMS in Adelaide.
“We are grateful for the hospitality extended by our Fellows and their institutions,” says Ms Arabia.
“Our conversations have been immensely valuable, enabling us to understand advances in science and the barriers to further advancement.
“We’ve learnt about the immense benefit of multidisciplinary research and how important it is for Australian researchers to access infrastructure to support their scientific endeavours.”
The tour kicked off in May in Brisbane. At Griffith University, Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria met with the Earth Commission team led by Professor Stuart Bunn FAA—a global team of scientists working to define the boundaries for a safe and stable planet Earth.
This was followed up by a tour of the Centre for Quantum Dynamics with Director Professor Howard Wiseman FAA, exploring the new frontier of technologies like the quantum internet.
At Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria visited an interactive exhibition, Climate Futures: Air, displayed at the Cube, inspired by the work of QUT researchers and led by Professor Lidia Morowska FAA. They also discussed the power of data to benefit the world at the Centre for Data Science with Director Professor Kerrie Mengersen FAA.
Day two in Brisbane was spent at the University of Queensland (UQ). Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria tested out the cyclotron at the UQ Radiochemistry and Cyclotron Facility, where a robotic arm is used to undertake work inside the radioactive unit.
Further tours explored the trailblazing science led by Academy Fellows. At the Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, director Professor Christine Beveridge FAA is leading research to enable a sustainable and productive future for plants.
Professor Andrew White FAA directs the Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems, solving challenging research problems at the interface of basic quantum physics and engineering.
At the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, director Professor Alan Rowan FAA showcased “purposely disruptive” research that merges bioengineering and nanoscience.
Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria met with the director of the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, Professor Phil Hugenholtz FAA FAHMS, who collaborates on research projects to strengthen our understanding of Australia’s vital microbial communities.
They also heard from quantum researchers, led by Professor Halina Rubenstein-Dunlop FAA, who shared their journey from quantum lab to start-up, including many successful spin-out companies.
Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria were delighted to tour the state-of-the-art RV Investigator with Dr Steve Rintoul FAA.
Owned and managed by the CSIRO through the Marine National Facility, the research vessel can accommodate up to 40 scientists on voyages 60 days long, serving as a research base for fisheries, geology, climate and deep-sea exploration.
Another highlight was visiting the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania.
Here, Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria learnt about IMAS researchers’ innovative work on the sustainability of our oceans and fisheries, climate change, and Antarctica, including the world-leading Australian Antarctic Division’s ‘million-year ice core project’—a quest to find the oldest ice on Earth, to find clues about our climate past and future.
Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria were fortunate their visit coincided with a talk by two legendary science communicators—and Academy Fellows—at the Beaker Street Festival. Professor Tim Flannery FAA and Robyn Williams AO FAA discussed how to change minds in a world of denialism, disinformation, and deep fakes.
Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria appreciated hearing about the concerns and work of the Academy’s Tasmania-based Fellows, including presentations from the state’s two newest Fellows, plant evolutionary physiologist Professor Timothy Brodribb FAA and ecosystem modeller Dr Beth Fulton FAA.
Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria also heard about science and technology efforts from Tasmanian government representatives.
Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria celebrated honorific awardees and Fellows elected in 2023 who are based in Victoria at a special symposium and dinner held at Monash University. Research showcased by awardees and new Fellows spanned areas as diverse as quantum materials, Bayesian statistics, and bacterial ‘superbugs’.
The visit also offered opportunities for networking with mid-career researchers, and in-depth discussions with Fellows.
Professor Trevor Lithgow FAA and Professor Jian Li FAA gave illuminating insight into their research to tackle a global health challenge at the Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria viewed the Scanning Tunnelling Microscope with Professor Michael Fuhrer FAA at the New Horizons Centre and heard about innovative new ammonia chemistry with Professor Doug Macfarlane FAA FTSE. Professor John Carroll discussed the pioneering work of the Biomedicine Discovery Institute.
Professor Jagadish and Anna-Maria met with Deputy Premier and SA Minister for Science, The Hon Susan Close MP, as well as South Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Caroline McMillen AO FAHMS.
Professor Jagadish was pleased to introduce the Stanhope Orator at the Australian Science Teachers Association Awards.
The tour included a stop at the Hickinbotham Roseworthy Wine Science Laboratory, which is also a functional winery, and the Wine Innovation Centre.
The futuristic theme continued with a presentation from the Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space.
More innovative plant science was on show at the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, where a state-of-the-art plant accelerator enables non-destructive, high throughput phenotyping for crop improvement.
Academy Fellows Professor Sarah Robertson FAA and Dr Maria Makrides FAA also showcased their innovative medical facilities.
The Academy thanks Professors Peter Koopman FAA, Barbara Nowak FAA, Geoff Fincher AO FAA FTSE and Jamie Rossjohn FAA FAHMS FRS for coordinating the visits.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
