Grant secured to preserve fragile magnetic tape material in the Archives
Vulnerable reels, cassettes and audiovisual pieces in the Fenner Archives.
The Fenner Archives has secured funding to digitise 19 pieces of rare magnetic tape documenting Australia's scientific heritage, ensuring the voices of pioneering researchers are preserved for future generations.
The Community Heritage Grant (CHG) will enable the preservation of vulnerable reels, cassettes and audiovisual materials at risk of permanent loss due to their uncommon and obsolete format and deteriorating condition.
Securing the preservation of these reels, cassettes and audiovisual pieces is part of a wider initiative to safeguard the Archives’ audiovisual material.
While the Archives maintains an active paper-scanning project and can digitise audio cassettes in-house at the Shine Dome, specialist equipment for older formats is increasingly difficult to source, making external partnerships essential for preservation.
The collection includes rare 1968 film footage from Professor Ronald Giovanelli FAA, which is being digitised by Canberra firm DAMSmart, who specialise in audiovisual material.
The CHG program, managed by the National Library of Australia, supports non-profit community organisations to preserve locally owned collections of national significance and improve public accessibility.
Stay tuned for further updates at the conclusion of the project.
Message from the President
It was an honour to be given the opportunity to deliver the Ralph Slatyer Address on Science and Society. I remember Ralph fondly. He was a true optimist, with a natural inclination to seek out solutions.
Like Ralph, I am also an optimist. In Australia, we have exceptional scientists, world-class research, and the essential ingredients needed for success. What we need now is courage; the courage to position science and technology as a strategic national asset, and the willingness to make necessary investments, even in challenging circumstances.
The Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) presents a vital opportunity to reshape our R&D system to meet the challenges ahead, and the time to act is now. We look forward to the publication of the SERD report by the Australian Government.
This month, I felt immensely privileged to join Indigenous Fellows, thought leaders and knowledge holders from Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada, and Australia at Taikura, the second summit of the Tri-Academy Partnership.
The Academy proudly led the Australian delegation to Aotearoa New Zealand, where we learned and shared approaches to shape Indigenous international research agendas and strengthen engagement with Indigenous knowledge holders.
The Academy looks forward to hosting the third summit at the Shine Dome in November 2026.
We also welcomed the recipients of the 2025 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science to the Shine Dome for our long-standing tradition of a post-awards breakfast. I extend my congratulations to everyone who received an award.
Among the winners was Professor Michael Wear, who received the inaugural Prime Minister's Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems. This recognition of Michael’s extraordinary work reminds us of the value of bringing together diverse scientific, cultural, and traditional knowledge systems so we can build a more sustainable and healthy future.
Academy Fellow Professor Lidia Morawska FAA FTSE won the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science – a fitting recognition of her many years of work to advance clean indoor air for all.
The same week of her big win, the Academy launched a critical report on indoor air quality spearheaded by Professor Morawska as lead expert. This is an issue affecting all Australians, yet largely absent from our public health framework.
As the report states, we have the scientific evidence and the technological solutions to achieve clean indoor air. What we need now is the collective will to implement them – working together across government, industry and academia. Our report sheds light on the policy pathways we can take to create indoor air quality standards.
I take great pleasure in welcoming the 13 leading Pacific researchers and innovators who have been elected as new Fellows of the Pacific Academy of Sciences, marking a significant milestone for the Pacific Academy’s one-year anniversary.
This week, the Academy will host the final instalment of this year’s Public Speaker Series, where panellists will discuss the role of AI in science and research and what this means for society. I hope you will register to join us either in person at the Shine Dome, or online, for the discussion.
The Public Speaker Series has been a calendar highlight this year. From pest-detecting drones used in farming to AI-powered bots that scam the scammers, our attendees have embraced this new knowledge about how AI is changing the way we live and work.
Thank you to all the attendees, speakers, our host Lish Fejer, and convenors Professor Bob Graham AO FAA FAHMS and Emeritus Professor Ian Chubb AC FAA FTSE.
In this edition of the newsletter, you can find the Academy's year in review. This year, we have continued to inform science policy in Australia by mapping our scientific landscape, leading discussions on key science topics, and engaging with people from all levels of government.
Next year, we are looking forward to welcoming you back to our annual celebration Science at the Shine Dome, which will take place from 15 to 17 September 2026. Please save the date!
Finally, the 2025 Fellows’ summer reading and listening list is now available. Find your holiday entertainment with recommendations from some of Australia's top scientists.
Thank you for your interest in and support of the Academy’s activities this year. We look forward to seeing you again in 2026.
I wish you all a wonderful holiday season.
Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FRS FREng FTSE
President, Australian Academy of Science
Australian Science, Australia’s Future: What we found
This initiative analysed Australia’s science capability to meet three national challenges informed by the forces shaping the economy listed in the Australian Government’s 2023 Intergenerational Report.
Drawing on data dashboards, expert workshops, and foresight techniques, the Academy mapped scientific capability and shortfalls across three major challenge areas – technological transformation; demographic change; and climate change, decarbonisation and environment – all three underpinned by sovereign capability and science literacy.
Based on these challenges, the report identifies the following eight science capabilities increasing most in demand over the coming decade:
- Agricultural science
- Artificial intelligence
- Biotechnology
- Climate science
- Data science
- Epidemiology
- Geoscience
- Materials science
Gaps in capability
The findings indicate gaps across all eight capabilities, shown below.
Gaps in capability
Rating scale for the graphic above:
- Green thumb: No trends decreasing. No gap or unlikely to have a gap in capability.
- Amber thumb: Some trends decreasing or no majority of increasing trends. Some gap or likely gap in capability.
- Red thumb: Most trends decreasing. Existing gap or certain gap in capability.
- Question mark: Insufficient data available.
See a detailed text description of this graphic, that aims to improve the accessibility of the graphic for a broad audience.
Findings
The Academy’s analysis found:
We aren't training enough geoscientists
– yet our economy rests heavily on resources, and ‘Critical Minerals’ is a priority of the National Reconstruction Fund
Jobs in artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to surge
– yet only one in four Year 12 students is studying mathematics – the fundamental science discipline
We’re facing national shortages of materials scientists
– and the workforce in process and resources engineering is also projected to decline
The current pipeline and study choices of students is not aligned with the needs of our future workforce
– with declining STEM participation and teacher shortages threatening relevant capability
Read the report
Additional resources
- Media release
- More about the launch of the report at our National Symposium on 4 September 2025
- Full recording of the National Symposium
- Keynote address by the Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP
- Launch speech by Professor Ian Chubb AC, Chair of the advisory panel for the report
- Article in The Conversation by Academy President Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC
- More about the report method
About the Committees
The Australian Academy of Science (the Academy) National Committees for Science (the Committees) are standing committees of the of the Academy Council.
The Committees contribute to the overall mission and objectives of the Academy as set by Council on behalf of the Fellowship. These objectives are embodied in the Academy’s Charter.
The purpose of the Committees is to:
- provide advice to the Academy’s Council on matters relating to emerging and future scientific developments and capability needs relevant to Australia and the region.
- foster scientific disciplines, both in Australia and globally, and ensure Australian science is represented in international scientific unions, multidisciplinary bodies of the International Science Council (ISC) and other international scientific bodies.
- provide scientific advice on behalf of the Academy to public consultations and inform the Academy of relevant policy matters.
You can see reports, decadal plans and guidelines relevant to all the committees, or browse the listings below to find out more about what each of them do, their members, and recent activities.
Strategic plans for science disciplines
The National Committees for Science regularly develop 10-year strategic plans for scientific disciplines and other relevant reports. Published reports and details about reports under development may be found here.
Guidelines for scientific meetings held in Australia
Australian organisations routinely bid to hold congresses and scientific meetings of international scientific unions in Australia. The Academy’s guidelines set out the policy on holding international meetings in Australia for the information of the relevant scientific communities, convention bureaus and other interested organisations and may be found here.
National science news and e-updates
The National Committees for Science provides regular electronic updates from international scientific unions and committees, in addition to news from the local scientific community, relevant funding opportunities, conferences and awards.
Research roadmap for blood cancer – Steering group
The Leukaemia Foundation on behalf of the Blood Cancer Taskforce partnered with the Australian Academy of Science to develop a 10-year Research Roadmap to accelerate blood cancer research in Australia.
Expert steering group
Andrew Roberts
- AM FAA FAHMS
Wendy Erber
- FAHMS
Michelle Haber
- AM FAA FAHMS
Tim Hughes
- FAA FAHMS
Mark Dawson
- FAA FAHMS
Is Australian science ready for AI?
Over the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed scientific research worldwide.
This discussion paper series explores the preparedness of the Australian science sector for AI advances.
It aims to initiate a critical dialogue about how AI will reshape the policies, institutions, legal frameworks, funding models and cultural norms that underpin our national science ecosystem.
Additionally, it considers how the use of AI will have broader implications within Australia’s social fabric, economic stability and critical infrastructure.
These briefs seek to engage scientists, technologists and policymakers in some of the challenges and opportunities that AI’s emergence poses.
Note: these discussion papers were prepared and completed prior to the publication of the National AI Plan.
1. Introduction
AI will fundamentally reshape how science is practised by augmenting scientific capabilities and accelerating discovery. Paper 1 introduces AI, the concept of a national science system, and the role of trust in AI adoption.
2. AI and science
AI is changing the way scientific disciplines approach research. Paper 2 explores these shifts – from methods and practices, to ethical and integrity considerations.
3. Policy and funding mechanisms
Paper 3 covers trends in AI research and invstment and discusses how AI poses challenges to the research funding model.
4. Infrastructure
AI demands serious computational muscle. Paper 4 asks whether Australia has the infrastructure it needs to access AI opportunities, with a focus on national computing infrastructure.
5. Science advice mechanisms
Generative AI tools could speed up science advice, but also come with limitations and reliability issues such as hallucination.
6. Systems to disseminate knowledge
AI poses risks for scholarly publishing. Generative AI can supercharge manuscript preparation, but it can also drown publishers in a tidal wave of submissions, further straining an already fragile peer-review system.
7. Skills and workforce
Paper 7 examines what AI means for science skills and the scientific workforce – including education, data literacy, gender equity and citizen participation.
8. Regulation and law
AI regulation and law must outline clear parameters with enough flexibility to advance novel technologies for scientific, economic and social gains while understanding and managing risks. Paper 8 considers whether Australia's regulations and laws governing science can anticipate the diffusion and adoption of AI.
EMCR Membership form
To apply for membership, please fill out the following information:
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About the Library and Archives
Both the Basser Library and Fenner Archives remain open to researchers and members of the public via appointment. Please contact library@science.org.au to organise a time.
Basser Library
Sir Adolph Basser was an optician, jeweller and philanthropist whose £25,000 donation in 1960 enabled the Academy to establish a library. The Basser Library was officially opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies in 1962. The library includes an extensive collection of books, scientific journals, periodicals and proceedings.
Fenner Archives
With over 240 sub-collections, the Fenner Archives is a vibrant repository of largely unpublished resources donated by Fellows of the Academy, prominent Australian scientists, and scientific organisations. Its estimated page count numbers in the millions.
The Fenner Archives were established in 1962 by then research associate Ann Moyal and is named for the eminent microbiologist Professor Frank Fenner. Just some of the highlights from the Archive include:
Five anecdotes from renowned Aussie scientists that you probably didn’t know
Here are five anecdotes about well-known scientists drawn from their carefully curated collections.
Professor Frank Stillwell nearly died of carbon monoxide poisoning
“Upset today,” writes Frank Stillwell OBE FAA, beginning his account of a near-fatal carbon monoxide poisoning in December 1912.
An Australian geologist, Stillwell was in Antarctica, leading one of six sledging parties that had left the base camp of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition to explore the continent. Stillwell and his colleagues John Henry Close and Charles Laseron conducted two field trips along the coast of Commonwealth Bay.
Sheltering in their tent, the party of three had lit a stove (for warmth and cooking). But Close realised that the stove was filling the enclosed space with poisonous carbon monoxide. While his colleagues laid unconscious, Close punched an air hole in the fabric of their tent with an ice axe—quick thinking that saved the party's lives.
Frank Stillwell OBE FAA and colleagues John Henry Close and Charles Laseron who surveyed the coastline east of Commonwealth Bay as part of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition during the summer of 1912-13.
Sir Douglas Mawson was almost stranded in the Antarctic
“Still no Mawson,” Professor Frank Stillwell writes in January 1913.
While Stillwell, Close and Laseron explored Commonwealth Bay, expedition leader Sir Douglas Mawson OBE FAA FRS led the Far Eastern Shore party to survey the glaciers east of Cape Denison. He was accompanied by Xavier Mertz and Lieutenant Belgrave Ninnis.
Five weeks after setting out, tragedy struck, when Ninnis and six sled dogs fell into a crevasse—along with much of the party’s supplies. Mawson and Mertz immediately turned back but were forced to eat their remaining sled dogs to survive and suffered vitamin A poisoning. Mertz perished just four days after Stillwell wrote of his worry for the party.
Mawson, in a severely weakened state, made it back to base camp just in time to see the Australasian Antarctic Expedition’s ship Aurora, leaving for Australia. A shore party had been left to wait for him, but it was too late for the ship to turn, and Mawson found himself forced to spend a second winter in Antarctica.
Professor Frank Fenner lost his luggage en route to the Nobel Prize lectures
“No luggage yet... we go [to the Nobel Prize lectures] at 1.45 pm so if it doesn’t come before 1 pm I will have to go in what I stand up in!” - Frank Fenner
Frank Fenner AC MBE FAA FRS, best known for his extensive contribution to the understanding of viruses and work with the Smallpox Eradication Program, writes of travelling to Stockholm in December 1996 to celebrate Professor Peter Doherty AC FAA FAHMS FRS and Professor Rolf Zinkernagel FAA, who were being awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine. “Slept in!” Fenner wrote. “Almost missed plane, lost luggage which arrived just in time for the award ceremony [tails and white tie], but not in time for the lectures.” Fortunately, the black pants and blue jacket combination he was wearing while travelling suited the ‘dark suit’ dress code for the lectures, and he was able to blend in seamlessly with the crowd.
Fenner is widely known for his significant role to international public health as Chair of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication. His travel diaries cover five decades of professional life and touch on an extensive contribution to the understanding of viruses and the literature of microbiology. They are also an unexpectedly rich personal archive recording Fenner’s thoughts on the implications of his work, broad-ranging intellectual interests, international collaboration and environmental advocacy.
Frank Fenner before the World Health Assembly in Geneva, 1980 declaring smallpox successfully eradicated.
Sir Ian Wark witnessed the lead-up to Mussolini’s March on Rome that resulted in the takeover of Italy
“Milan is a big place; it has 800,000 inhabitants—but most are on strike.”
Sir Ian Wark CBE FAA observed the leadup to Mussolini’s March on Rome while visiting Milan in 1922. Later, he made a note in the margins of his diary: “the loyalists (fascists) completely took over Italy in November the same year.”
Wark was undertaking an 1851 Exhibition Scholarship at University College London at the time, conducting research in the infant field of mass spectrometry. He took the opportunity seriously: travelling with fellow students, assuming an active role in college leadership, attending meetings of learned societies and spending weeks in the lab with Nobel Laureate Sir William Henry Bragg OM KBE FRS. He returned to Australia in 1924 and became one of the country’s most influential chemists.
Sydney’s Rodd Island was declared a quarantine facility… to house a French movie star’s pet terriers
Adrien Loir, the nephew and protégé of renowned French scientist Louis Pasteur, established a Pasteur Institute on tiny Rodd Island in Sydney Harbour in the late 1880s—initially in a bid to claim the £25,000 reward (A$10 million in today’s terms) offered by the NSW Government for control of the rabbit plague in the state, and then as a place to study and manufacture livestock disease vaccines (to prevent, for example, anthrax, bovine pleuropneumonia and blackleg of cattle). The profits from this venture helped fund the Pasteur Institute in Paris.
two western swamp tortoises
While in Australia Loir kept two massive scrapbooks containing pressed flowers and steamship tickets alongside obscure media coverage, cartoons, letters and journal articles in French and English.
When French actress Sarah Bernhardt arrived in Australia in May 1891, she neglected to go through the quarantine process for her two pet terriers, Star and Chouette, and the NSW Government confiscated both dogs. Bernhardt, the superstar of her age, was threatening to leave the country.
Loir convinced the government of Premier Sir Henry Parkes to declare Rodd Island a quarantine facility and let him care for the dogs while Bernhardt continued her Australian tour.
Finally, while this didn’t make the top five, this snippet from a letter to Sir Mark Oliphant AC KBE FRS FAA FTSE from Sir Robert Menzies FAA FRS in 1957 regarding the Shine Dome is worthy of an honourable mention:
‘“Dear Sir Mark—thank you for your letter and the plan for the headquarters of the Academy of Science. I am very depressed about Canberra architecture. Whether your building will elevate my spirits I do not know, but I doubt it. Anyhow, good luck.”.
While in Australia Loir kept two massive scrapbooks containing pressed flowers and steamship tickets alongside obscure media coverage, cartoons, letters and journal articles in French and English.
Finally, while this didn’t make the top five, this snippet from a letter to Sir Mark Oliphant AC KBE FRS FAA FTSE from Sir Robert Menzies FAA FRS in 1957 regarding the Shine Dome is worthy of an honourable mention:
‘“Dear Sir Mark—thank you for your letter and the plan for the headquarters of the Academy of Science. I am very depressed about Canberra architecture. Whether your building will elevate my spirits I do not know, but I doubt it. Anyhow, good luck.”
