Whilst the Academy has been celebrating its 70th anniversary all year, this month has been a true bonanza of scientific excellence! During Science at the Shine Dome we were treated to the stellar work of Academy Fellows elected in 2023 and 2024 and the work of Academy awardees. The event saw the participation of more than 100 early- and mid-career researchers from across Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region. We were honoured that the Governor General of Australia Her Excellency the Hon Sam Mostyn AC and Industry and Science Minister the Hon Ed Husic MP both delivered significant addresses at our Gala Dinner. If you missed it, you can read the highlights from each day , read speeches, or watch each recorded session in full, and as always, you can watch all new Fellows’ videos on their Academy profile pages.
We are also immensely proud to have launched our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan detailing the practical steps the Academy will take to achieve our vision for reconciliation: that the contributions to scientific knowledge from Australia’s First Nations peoples are respected and celebrated, and that we draw on diverse knowledges to build a stronger, more innovative, and sustainable nation and world.
In September, the Academy bestowed the Academy Medal to Lisa Paul AO PSM for advancing the cause of research and higher education in Australia. This medal honours the extraordinary contribution made by Lisa Paul over her career to the cause of science and technology and to the Academy.
In terms of government policy developments, the Academy welcomed recognition of the need for greater coordination across the national science system outlined in Australia’s Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy in order to accelerate innovation to support our national security. We were also pleased to see the next steps the government proposes to take to provide guardrails for artificial intelligence in high-risk settings and safety standards. These safeguards are critical to enable the myriad opportunities offered by AI whilst managing the risks.
Finally, my warmest congratulations to the three early-career researchers who won first, second and third place at the ninth Falling Walls Lab Australia event and who will now go on to represent our country at the global summit in Berlin: Dr Jacob Martin, Dr Natasha de Alwis and Pratyush Ravichander!
My congratulations also go to Academy Fellow Professor Geordie Williamson, who this month became the first Australian to receive the Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award; and for the five Fellows recognised for excellence in research, innovation and leadership at the 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes: Professor Gordon Smyth, Professor Surinder Singh, Professor Kate Jolliffe, Professor David Keith and Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond.
Please enjoy reading more about these achievements, and other significant activities across the Academy in this September edition of the newsletter.
Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
