A new biography, Joe Pawsey and the Founding of Australian Radio Astronomy, examines the life and career of an Academy foundation Fellow.

The book follows Dr Joseph Lade Pawsey FAA FRS (1908–1962) from humble beginnings in country Victoria through a unique career shaped by the challenges and opportunities of his generation.

It is freely available online as open access, or can be purchased as a hard copy from the publisher, Springer Nature.

The biography examines Dr Pawsey’s critical role in the development of radar during World War II and his leadership in transitioning the CSIR Division of Radiophysics to peacetime projects. It explores the birth and growth of radio astronomy and explains how an isolated continent with limited resources became a world leader in the field.

The book shows Dr Pawsey’s talent for mentoring young scientists, many of whom became innovators in their own right, and describes his work with Ruby Payne-Scott and Lindsay McCready on the connection between sunspots and increased radio emissions from the sun.

It covers the development of aperture synthesis and the following controversial disagreement with Sir Martin Ryle, who was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974, while exploring the connection between prominent international astronomers and Australian engineers and physicists who developed and advanced the field.

Dr Pawsey received many honours during his lifetime. In 1954 he was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, London, and was made a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He received the Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal from the Australian National Research Council in 1953. In 1957, he was the Academy’s first Matthew Flinders Medal Lecturer, and was awarded the Hughes Medal from the Royal Society in 1960. The Pawsey Medal, recognising outstanding contributions to research in physics, was the second medal struck by the Academy and was named in his honour.

The process of gathering material for the book took almost 20 years—with co-author Dr W M Goss, who was awarded the Pawsey Medal in 1976, having approached Dr Pawsey’s youngest son Hastings around the year 2005 with the possibility of writing a book about his father.

Hastings Pawsey said this was the opening of a ‘Pandora’s box’, prompting him to begin exploring the family archive with the help of his wife Liz.

Dr Goss, Dr Claire Hooker and Professor Ronald D Ekers AO FAA FRS drew extensively from these primary sources, including previously unreleased material in the care of the Pawsey family, building a portrait of as a person as well as a scientist.

The resulting biography is a comprehensive and often personal account of the whole of Joseph Pawsey: his experiences, philosophies, and place in the history of 20th century science.

The research and experience of Australian scientists forms the foundation on which we build our future. It is vital that we capture and preserve their stories. Donations from organisations and individuals are welcome; if you would like more information about supporting the archive project, please contact our Philanthropy Manager at philanthropy@science.org.au

The Australian Academy of Science has hosted the first of three expert roundtables to inform a synthesis report, to be delivered later this year, on the likely impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water engaged the Academy in January to convene the roundtables and deliver a synthesis report to support the Reef 2050 Independent Expert Panel’s advice to government.

The 26 experts at the first roundtable included ecologists, climate scientists, Traditional Owners and oceanographers, among those from other fields of expertise.

The first roundtable focused on the health and functioning of the Great Barrier Reef in the face of current climate impacts and the climate impacts that may be anticipated in the medium-term future (2040 – 2060) under low and high emission scenarios.

Participants discussed the differential impacts of climate change on marine and terrestrial species groups, habitats, ecosystem values and processes in different climate futures.

These impacts were explored to determine which are key to the overall functioning, health and resilience of the Reef, which are most vulnerable and where gaps in knowledge exist.

Traditional and local knowledges are key components of understanding Australia’s ecosystems and a key feature of each of the roundtables.

This holistic approach ensures that the comprehensive ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef is instilled throughout the proceedings.

The second roundtable will build on the issues that arose from roundtable one and will explore the existing and emerging interventions that could be used within these plausible future climate scenarios.

The Academy will invite experts to provide diverse knowledge and relevant expertise to each roundtable.

The final roundtable will collate the findings of roundtables one and two and integrate these with additional social and cultural context. 

The final report will outline the outcomes of the roundtable process to present to the Independent Expert Panel for their consideration. The final report will be made publicly available as a resource for governments and the non-government sector.

More information and the project terms of reference can be found on the Academy website.

Roundtable participants

Chairs:

Chrissy Grant

Dr Steve Morton

Participants:

Dr Ken Anthony

Dr Andrew Ash

Dr Mark Baird

Professor David Bellwood FAA

Dr Wenju Cai FAA

Ms. Sheila Charlesworth

Professor John Church AO FAA FTSE

Mrs Larissa Hale

Professor Michelle Heupel

Professor Andrew Hoey

Dr Cass Hunter

Professor Ian Mcleod

Professor Peter Mumby

Professor John Pandolfi

Professor Morgan Pratchett

Dr Michael Rasheed

Professor Jodie Rummer

Dr Britta Schaffelke

Professor Colin Simpfendorfer

Mr Gavin Singleton

Dr Claire Spillman

Dr Jenny Stauber FAA FTSE

Dr Jess Stella

Mr Josef Syktus

Mr Angus Thompson

Dr David Wachenfeld
 

It has been five years since the IPCC highlighted the unprecedented scale of human-induced climate change from rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Now, it clearly states that we still have an opportunity to secure a liveable, sustainable future for all, but climate action must be mainstreamed, and its pace and scale must be accelerated.

Global action is not ambitious enough. No single action and no single country will achieve the scale of emissions reduction required.

A mammoth effort across the world, including a portfolio of approaches, is essential to stabilise emissions. We must pull every lever available to us: policy, financial, economic, scientific, technological and social.

Australia has direct experience of the loss and damage associated with more frequent and intense climate-induced events such as bushfires and flooding. And no nation can ignore the ravaging climate impact on our Pacific neighbours, which has geopolitical consequences for the world, especially for Australia.

Australia must do something substantial about its contribution to global warming.

We have the tools but lack the necessary ambition.

Emissions reduction and removal

The solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are more readily available than ever before.

But we must expand our toolkit to remove already released emissions from the atmosphere. Scaled removal solutions can bring massive opportunities to our nation and will be essential to reach net zero emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Late last year, I convened experts to determine the scientific capability, research and collaboration needed to support breakthroughs in greenhouse gas removal.

Watch the recording of the event, from 1 March 2023:

Whilst Australia has been active in promoting land-based approaches such as afforestation, reforestation and carbon farming, these approaches can only account for part of the large-scale greenhouse gas removal required.

The roundtable identified a range of novel greenhouse gas removal and storage approaches, including direct air capture methods; ocean alkalinity enhancement; technologies that split CO₂ into carbon and oxygen; mineral carbonation; enhanced mineralisation; blue carbon; and using photosynthetic organisms.

The Academy welcomes informed democratic parliamentary debate on the safeguard mechanism. However, this is just one tool and given our nation’s track record of policy stagnation, it places us at the starting line when we should be halfway through the race.

The safeguard mechanism should be passed into legislation as a priority and every single arm of government, industry and the community sector leveraged to take action to reduce and remove greenhouse gas emissions.

Where emissions reduction or removal technology does not exist, investment in research must be prioritised and scaled up.

With elements of the national science and innovation system under review by the government, there is a unique policy window to elevate emissions removal in the Australian policy discourse.

Greenhouse gas reduction and removal must be part of the Australian Government’s suite of priorities across investment vehicles such as the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the National Reconstruction Fund.

Equitable climate action

The impacts of climate change are already upon us, and often those least equipped to adapt are impacted the most.

But no one is invulnerable to the impacts of climate change and the IPCC tells us that by 2030 every continent on Earth will have felt its impact, if they haven’t already.

Urgency is necessary to enable immediate adaptation from climate harm. In this regard, the Academy welcomes the Australian Government’s early commitments to reduce the impacts of coastal erosion and future-proof communities, and measures to strengthen climate resilience and adaptation in the Torres Strait Islands.

Over the last three years, the Academy, via Future Earth Australia, has done some heavy lifting by convening experts and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds across the public and private sectors.

This has led to the publication of a National Strategy for Just Adaptation designed to disrupt current adaptation thinking and foster recognition, inclusion and capacity building for all Peoples and nature.

This work can give the government a head-start on scoping the recently announced National Climate Risk Assessment capability—a national framework to respond to climate risks.

The National Strategy for Just Adaptation moves us from a focus on strictly technological approaches to one that encompasses social, political and behavioural strategies and systems change. In short, it enhances the adaptive capacities of people, places and ecosystems in all their diversity.

Five Priority Reform Areas are offered to embed justice into climate adaptation, including empowering Indigenous leadership, supporting community groups to drive transformation, and advancing adaptation research.

Historically, we have fought and won our greatest challenges such as victory in World War II and developing vaccines and therapeutics to enable us to emerge from a pandemic because we concentrated our efforts, directed our investments, resolutely focused on our goals, and scaled up solutions that were offered by science.

Addressing global warming is no different. The scale is mammoth, but so were our previous challenges.

Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE
President, Australian Academy of Science

Read more about the Academy’s work on climate science and solutions

After decades supporting Australian science internationally, Nancy Pritchard says her work isn’t done yet—noting there are challenging times ahead with the region’s shifting geopolitics. 

At an event this week to acknowledge Nancy’s 30th anniversary as an Australian Academy of Science staff member and her significant contributions to science, Academy President Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC said the organisation owed Nancy a debt of gratitude.

“With her deft interpersonal and diplomacy skills, Nancy has built far-reaching and productive working relations with public servants, science diplomats and international science organisations over many years,” Professor Jagadish said.

“Her tireless efforts have strengthened scientific links between Australia and the global community.

Science has no national boundaries

“Nancy understands better than most that science has no national boundaries, and that by continuing to work together we can make progress addressing the global problems faced by society and the planet.

“We sincerely thank Nancy for her contributions and look forward to continuing to work with her.”

Nancy began her career at the Academy in 1992. Her first role was with the Academy’s fundraising arm, the Australian Foundation for Science.

“It was during this time that the Academy secured funding to restore the Shine Dome: a $1 million donation from Professor John Shine AC FAA FRS and a $525,000 grant from the National Council for the Centenary of Federation,” Nancy said.

Nancy took on the role of managing the Academy’s international scientist exchange program in 2000.

She continues in that role today, which has expanded to include promoting Australia’s international scientific engagement and overseeing the Academy’s many awards and the work of the National Committees for Science.

The work has seen her travel to many countries to support and promote bilateral and multilateral scientific partnerships, including Mongolia, Nepal, Brazil, Indonesia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, France, England, Turkey and Vietnam.

She said Australia hosting the high-profiile ‘International Day’ for the first time at the annual Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting in Germany in 2014 stands out in her mind.

“It was a great showcase of Australian science, cultural and educational achievements, spearheaded by three of Australia’s Nobel Laureates, to an audience of 600 young researchers from 60 countries.”

Nancy has worked under nine Academy presidents and watched the organisation grow from 18 to 70 secretariat staff.

“It has been an extremely fulfilling role in which I have made great friends. I just love what I do, particularly working with our Fellows and my secretariat colleagues who are amazing people and are all passionate about the mission. That rubs off on you,” Nancy said.

“Just like the Fellowship, the Academy’s secretariat is now a much more diverse workplace than when I started.”

Regional Focal Point a personal highlight

Reflecting on her time at the Academy, Nancy said the establishment of the International Science Council’s Asia-Pacific Regional Focal Point at the Academy, announced late last year, was a personal highlight.

“Another highlight has been my involvement with the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) Women in STEM special committee chaired by Professor Cheryl Praeger AC FAA.

“It has been a privilege to work with outstanding women scientists from the region who have faced major challenges and made sacrifices to get to where they are now. I still stay in touch with them.”

Academy Chief Executive Anna-Maria Arabia said Nancy is a national treasure.

“The Academy and Australian science are so fortunate to have benefited from Nancy’s expertise and tireless commitment to advancing science domestically and internationally,” Ms Arabia said.

“I congratulate Nancy on this significant milestone and very much look forward to continuing to work together for many years to come.”

Looking to the future, Nancy said increasing school science education globally is a common topic of discussion at the international meetings she attends.

“More than anything, the learned academies want more school science education to happen in their respective countries.

“Our Academy does that well—through programs including Science by Doing, Primary Connections and Resolve. That is something the Academy and Australia should be proud of,” Nancy said.

“International science is also changing, in part because of the geopolitical issues facing the region. But you cannot do science without international collaboration. Continuing to build trust between researchers and scientists across the globe, as we navigate these geopolitical issues, is crucial for the future of the planet.”

Quotes attributable to Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE, President of the Australian Academy of Science. 

“Building capability in nuclear science will be central to achieving the aims of the Australian Government in developing a nuclear-powered submarine capability. 

“Even before AUKUS, there was an increased demand for knowledge in nuclear science in Australia. The AUKUS partnership to acquire nuclear-powered defence submarines, the increasing use of radiotherapies in medicine, focuses on quantum technologies, development of materials robust enough to withstand space radiation—all these sectors require a deep understanding of nuclear physics and subatomic interactions to ensure they are safe and effective. 

“Nuclear science in Australia faces a skills crisis. We are significantly behind our peer nations in national nuclear and radiation science capability. 

“Demand for nuclear scientists to meet existing workforce needs, let alone the national capacity to benefit from new developments in nuclear physics, is running well above supply and the capacity of Australian universities to train sufficient scientists. Australia is overly dependent on overseas trained workforce and lacks the capacity to train new nuclear scientists to meet our existing needs.” 

Background 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced details of a nuclear-powered submarine deal with the United Kingdom and the United States under the AUKUS partnership on 14 March 2023.

From investigating the structure of space-time to the inner workings of volcanoes and the genetics of sex—twenty-two scientists are today recognised by the Australian Academy of Science for their outstanding contributions to science.

Leading minds and future superstars

The honorific awards celebrate the achievements of the country’s leading minds and future superstars, spanning early-career recipients to those who have made career-long advancements in their fields.  

In 2023, Professor Lidia Morawska of the Queensland University of Technology is awarded one of the most prestigious career awards of the Academy: the Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture.

Professor Morawska’s 30 years of pioneering work has advanced the multifaceted study of air pollution, including laying the foundation for the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) Global Air Quality Guidelines. In early 2020, she led a group of more than 200 international experts calling for authorities to recognise the importance of airborne transmission in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Jennifer Graves of La Trobe University is awarded the Ruby Payne-Scott Medal and Lecture, another of the most prestigious Academy awards. An international leader in comparative genomics of vertebrates, Professor Graves has shown Australian animals are a powerful source of information for investigating the evolution and mechanisms of sex chromosomes.

Studying kangaroos, dragons, devils and more, she has made fundamental discoveries including how the X chromosome is genetically silenced in female mammals, and that the Y chromosome is decaying and could “self-destruct” in a few million years.

Professor David Craik of the University of Queensland is awarded the David Craig Medal and Lecture, recognising the significant achievements stemming from his discovery of a family of circular plant peptides. Along with becoming a world leader in defining the structures and functions of these cyclotides, he’s spurring innovations to harness their diverse applications—including developing new classes of drugs and eco-friendly pesticides.

The Suzanne Cory Medal is jointly awarded to Professor Catherine Lovelock of the University of Queensland and Professor Terence Hughes of James Cook University. Their achievements include demonstrating the role of coastal wetlands in mitigating climate change, and pioneering exploration of the resilience of coral reefs to pollution, overfishing and climate stressors, respectively.  

Professor Susan Scott of The Australian National University and Professor Nick Wormald of Monash University receive the Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal for outstanding achievements in mathematics and physics.

Professor Scott played a leading role in Australia’s participation in the first direct detection of gravitational waves and has made fundamental advances in our understanding of the fabric of space-time in general relativity, while Professor Wormald’s advancements in random graph theory have led to versatile tools used in network optimisation, underground mine design and genetics.

At the mid-career level, Professor Di Yu of the University of Queensland receives the Jacques Miller Medal, in recognition of his significant immunological discoveries, including the key molecules and pathways for T cell function in health and diseases.

Dr Teresa Ubide of the University of Queensland, one of 11 early-career scientists recognised in this year’s honorifics, receives the Anton Hales Medal.

Dr Ubide is working to forecast volcanic eruptions, for the benefit of millions of people living close to or visiting active volcanoes around the world. By studying the chemistry of tiny crystals in volcanic rocks, she’s working to decipher what triggers eruptions, as well as exploring metals for renewable energy technologies.

President of the Australian Academy of Science Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE said all recipients have much to be proud of and are making tremendous contributions to science.

All recipients have much to be proud of and are making tremendous contributions to science.

“Each year, the depth and breadth of achievements, recognised by these honorific awards, continues to inspire me, as I hope it does other scientists and Australians,” Professor Jagadish said.

“These awardees are working not only to advance their fields, but for the betterment of our communities and the planet—improving our understanding of the world while addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing us.

“I encourage other scientists across Australia to nominate a colleague, especially underrepresented individuals, for a 2024 honorific award.”

2023 award recipients

Premier honorific awards

Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture—Professor Lidia Morawska FAA, Queensland University of Technology

Ruby Payne-Scott Medal and Lecture —Professor Jennifer Graves AC FAA, La Trobe University

Career honorifics (for lifelong achievement)

David Craig Medal and Lecture—Professor David Craik FAA FRS, University of Queensland

Suzanne Cory Medal—Professor Catherine Lovelock FAA, University of Queensland and Professor Terence Hughes FAA, James Cook University

Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal—Professor Susan Scott FAA, Australian National University and Professor Nick Wormald FAA, Monash University

Jaeger Medal—Professor Matthew England FAA, University of New South Wales

Hannan Medal—Professor Richard Hartley FAA, Australian National University

Mid-career honorifics (8—15 years post-PhD)

Jacques Miller Medal—Professor Di Yu, University of Queensland

Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science—Professor Renae Ryan, University of Sydney

Early-career honorifics (up to 10 years post-PhD)

Anton Hales Medal—Dr Teresa Ubide, University of Queensland

Christopher Heyde Medal—Dr Valentina Wheeler, University of Wollongong

Dorothy Hill Medal—Dr Raffaella Demichelis, Curtin University

Fenner Medal—Associate Professor Emily Wong, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

Gottschalk Medal—Professor Si Ming Man, Australian National University

John Booker Medal—Dr Amelia Liu, Monash University

Le Fèvre Medal—Associate Professor Rona Chandrawati, University of New South Wales and Professor Tianyi Ma, RMIT University

Moran Medal—Associate Professor David Frazier, Monash University and Dr Rachel Wang, University of Sydney

Pawsey Medal—Professor Yuerui Lu, Australian National University

More information

Read more about the awardees and their research.

Nominations are now open for the Academy’s 2024 honorific awards. Nominations close 1 May 2023. 

The impacts of climate change are being felt around the world. Limiting global warming requires not just dramatically reducing future emissions but removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere already released.

Today the Australian Academy of Science has published a new report that explores the scientific capability, research and collaboration needed to support new breakthroughs in greenhouse gas removal.

President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, welcomed the report.

“We are pleased to have been able to bring together a broad range of experts to discuss novel greenhouse gas removal approaches for Australia,” Professor Jagadish said.

“This is an evolving topic, with policy frameworks for greenhouse gas removal under development both globally and in Australia.

“Australia can be proactive to create an environment that supports fundamental science and research and development for greenhouse gas removal. We can seize this opportunity as part of our national strategies and international obligations to respond to climate change.”

The report examines emerging technologies, including direct air capture—a technology that mimics trees in the way it can extract CO₂ directly from the atmosphere.

Roundtable participant, Professor Deanna D’Alessandro from the University of Sydney, said the scale of the problem we’re facing with climate change means that we can’t discount any approaches, and that everything needs to be on the table.

“This is going to take a mammoth effort across the world, including a portfolio of approaches, in order to get us to this point where we can indeed stabilise our climate and avoid a climate catastrophe,” Professor D’Alessandro said.

Roundtable participant Professor Mark Howden, from the Australian National University, highlighted the big gap between doing things in a lab and doing them at a real-world scale significant enough to make a difference to climate change.

“That jump brings a whole series of uncertainties, risks and costs but also massive opportunities,” Professor Howden said.

“If done correctly, the portfolio of greenhouse gas removal approaches outlined in this report will both create new industries and reshape existing ones.”

Read the report

Opportunities for the development of negative emissions in Australia can be found on page 27 of the report.

Defining long COVID and understanding knowledge gaps about the condition and its impacts in Australia were among the major themes discussed at a recent expert roundtable.

The Australian Academy of Science in partnership with the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences organised the roundtable discussion on 17 February at Parliament House, to inform the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport’s Inquiry into Long COVID and Repeated COVID Infections.

It was the first time the two Academies have jointly convened a roundtable to provide expert, independent advice to a parliamentary committee inquiry.

The roundtable followed a joint submission to the Inquiry from the Academies. It brought together experts from across disciplines and sectors, such as infectious diseases, epidemiology, respiratory medicine, primary care, allied health and public health, as well as patients with lived experience.  

Key points raised during the discussion included:

Australia needs a suitable and consistent definition of long COVID

Participants discussed whether the current definition of long COVID put forward by the World Health Organization is fit for purpose.

Acknowledging the importance of having a definition, participants discussed how a revised version would need to serve the needs of clinical care, research, public health, policy development and more.

Different requirements of a definition for research purposes were also highlighted, such as laboratory confirmed acute COVID infection. Any definition would need to ensure equity in diagnosis and management of long COVID.

Australia can contribute to and align with international efforts that are underway, but also urgently needs to agree upon an interim definition that can be used now.

Further research is required to address key knowledge gaps

While research on long COVID is taking place in Australia, further research is required to understand issues including:

• the impacts of infections, vaccination and treatments on development of long COVID
• the most effective treatments and management strategies, and evidence-based models of care and support
• the prevalence and impact of long COVID, including on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, CALD communities, people with disabilities and other priority populations
• identifying biomarkers for diagnostics and further research
• long COVID patient access to, and experience within, the health system and longer-term support (e.g., with disability)
• how to equip the health workforce to respond to long COVID.

A national coordinated strategy is required for data collection and research funding

There is a strong need to improve data collection to understand the prevalence, severity and impacts of long COVID on the Australian community, particularly for priority populations. Research systems and infrastructure such as biobanks, extending research networks, surveillance and improved data collection would assist in these efforts.

A national coordinated and targeted research effort could help fill the knowledge gaps outlined above. The committee heard about the potential role for an advisory group of experts and national strategy or knowledge mission for post-COVID recovery to address research priorities. There is also a need to better embed research in the health system.

Education and engagement are essential

Ongoing education and engagement on long COVID will be necessary for the general public, patients and health professionals, including those working in primary care and allied health, among other fields. Equitable access and improved recruitment to research and clinical trials will be an important step towards addressing long COVID knowledge gaps and ensure they are reflective of our diverse population.

List of participants

A full list of participants in the panel is available below.

Roundtable chair: Professor Tania Sorrell AM FAHMS, The University of Sydney

Roundtable participants:

• Professor Craig Anderson FAHMS; The George Institute for Global Health
• Professor Andrew Baillie; The University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District
• Associate Professor Philip Britton; The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney
• Professor Allen Cheng; Monash University
• Professor Brendan Crabb AC FAA FAHMS; Burnet Institute
• Ms Kristy Crooks; Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University
• Professor Maria Crotty; Flinders University, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
• Professor Margaret Hellard AM FAHMS; Burnet Institute, Monash University
• Professor Martin Hensher; Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
• Professor Anne Holland; Monash University and Alfred Health
• Associate Professor Alex Holmes; Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne
• Associate Professor Louis Irving; Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Dr Jen Kok; Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead
• Professor Dennis Lau; Royal Adelaide Hospital, The University of Adelaide, SAHMRI
• Professor Julie Leask; School of Nursing and Midwifery and Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney
• Professor Sharon Lewin AO FAHMS; Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne
• Professor Andrew Lloyd AM FAHMS; Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales
• Dr Sarah Lynar; Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals, Menzies School of Health Research
• Professor Kristine Macartney FAHMS; National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The University of Sydney
• Professor Gail Matthews; Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney
• Professor Jodie McVernon; Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Professor Adrian Miller; Central Queensland University
• Professor Jeremy Nicholson; Murdoch University, Imperial College London
• Miss Michelle O'Brien; Consumer Health Forum, Call For Change Australia, Consumer and Advisory Community Network Committee for Sydney Dental Hospital & Oral Health Services, Sydney Local Health District
• Professor Ingrid Piller FAHA; Macquarie University
• Professor Lena Sanci; The University of Melbourne
• Associate Professor Kirsty Short; The University of Queensland
• Professor Steve Wesselingh PresAHMS; SAHMRI

Learn more about the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport inquiry into Long COVID and Repeated COVID Infections.

Emerging scientists Michelle Hobbs and Stephanie Beaupark are the recipients of the 2023 Australian Academy of Science Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award.

The award recognises research by outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD students and early- and mid-career scientists.

Ms Beaupark, an associate lecturer and PhD student at the University of Wollongong, will use the award to further her research, which combines her passions of chemistry and visual art.

She’s studying the colour chemistry of natural dyes from Australian native trees such as Eucalyptus cinerea and using an Indigenist methodology involving yarning with other Indigenous natural dye artists and weavers.

“I’m looking specifically at the eucalyptus dye used to make artworks and how the colourant compounds interact with the dye mixture to fix onto silk fabric and wool,” said Ms Beaupark, a descendant of the Ngugi people of Quandamooka Country.

“The aim of this project is to define how creative practice can build connections between chemistry and Indigenist ways of being and gaining knowledge.

“I hope the better integration of these knowledge systems will also allow us to better take care of Australia and create a sustainable future for textiles colourants and alternatives to mainstream artmaking materials.”

Ms Hobbs, who’s a Bidjara descendent and associate lecturer and PhD student at Griffith University, will use the award to provide new insights into the management of Australian freshwater ecosystems and freshwater mussels.

Ms Hobbs said freshwater mussels are one of the most imperilled groups of animals.

“Extinctions or population declines of mussels are likely to disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples who use them, yet relatively little has been published about mussels from Indigenous perspectives or regarding the cultural values of mussels,” Ms Hobbs said.

“Current risk assessment methods and natural resource management tend to limit Indigenous involvement to cultural heritage objects or artefacts, while cultural values or uses of biota or landscapes are not explicitly addressed, despite their clear importance to Indigenous peoples.

“I hope this project will fill in some of the knowledge gaps in this area, within the broader context of my PhD research.”

Ms Hobbs will travel to Canada later this year to meet with First Nations researchers and discuss Indigenous uses and management of mussels, and the role of Indigenous values and communities in water management.

About the award

Established in 2018, the award recognises research in the physical and biological sciences, allowing interdisciplinary and sociocultural research straddling the social sciences and humanities.

It aims to support research and the growth of research networks and international knowledge exchange through visits to relevant international centres of research. Awards include up to $20,000, with additional support provided to attend the Academy's annual Science at the Shine Dome event.

The award is also part of the Academy’s work to champion diversity and inclusion in the sciences and empower the next generation of scientists. This will strengthen the voice of science and support scientific excellence.

Applications for the 2024 award open on 16 February. More information about the award.

How can you receive quality healthcare for an illness if there isn’t a clear definition of what that illness is?

This is one of many issues the country’s leading experts will address during a roundtable discussion at Parliament House in Canberra on 17 February 2023, to inform the Inquiry into Long COVID and Repeated COVID Infections.

Following a joint submission to the Inquiry by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS), they will bring together experts in areas such as infectious diseases, epidemiology, immunology, mental health and public health to provide evidence to the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport.

The experts will address topics including: a standard definition of long COVID that considers differences between adults and young people; the most significant knowledge gaps in the impacts of long COVID; which actions to prioritise in addressing those gaps; and how the government, research and health sectors can work to deliver those interventions.

Media and the public can follow the discussion via live stream.

The event will be chaired by Professor Tania Sorrell AM FAHMS, an internationally renowned infectious diseases physician and AAHMS Fellow.

“Long COVID is increasingly recognised as a complex and life-changing illness that could affect many thousands of Australians,” Professor Sorrell said.

“To significantly improve health and wellbeing, we must better understand long COVID itself, as well as its impacts on individuals, their families and carers, and society.”

AAHMS President Professor Steve Wesselingh PresAHMS added that with evidence on long COVID and repeated infections still evolving, the workshop would help direct attention to key gaps.

“Further research in this area, within the Australian context, is crucial to aid decision-making.

“The roundtable is an important opportunity to provide government with expert advice from our research community, which will help improve the national understanding of long COVID and enhance coordinated research efforts and care pathways in the future,” Professor Wesselingh said.

AAS President Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE said the learned academies welcomed the opportunity.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to convene this roundtable, providing parliamentary committee members with direct access to those at the forefront of COVID research and treatment,” Professor Jagadish said.

“This roundtable speaks to the unique roles of the learned academies and their remit to provide independent, authoritative and influential scientific advice to government. We hope this becomes a blueprint for future inquiries.”