The video’s opening image was adapted from the 2022 National NAIDOC logo (CC BY-NC-N4 4.0), with the addition of text and images relevant to the event.

The Australian Academy of Science celebrated NAIDOC Week recently by hosting a virtual webinar on 7 July. In a Q&A format, four Indigenous STEM professionals shared their journeys in STEM and discussed their experience embracing Indigenous Knowledges in STEM and the ways in which they foster a more inclusive and diverse STEM sector.

The webinar was hosted by Indigenous health champion and Academy Fellow, Professor Tom Calma, Aboriginal Elder from the Kungarakan tribal group, and Chancellor of the University of Canberra (UC). He was joined by Associate Professor Bradley Moggridge, Kamilaroi man, also from the University of Canberra, Susan Beetson, Ngemba/Wayilwan and Wiradjuri woman, from the University of Queensland, and Vanessa Sewell, Worimi woman, from the University of New England.

Professor Calma led the panellists through a lively and informative discussion. He spoke about the UNSECO Indigenous Declaration, which focuses on the independence and self-determination of Indigenous people across the globe and their right to express and share their knowledge and history.

“The government should work with us to develop measures that ensure these rights are recognised and protected,” Professor Calma said.

Associate Professor Moggridge is investigating how traditional knowledges can influence and support Australia’s water management systems.

He said over the last 20 years there is evidence of Indigenous people’s knowledge being increasingly valued in resource management strategy and STEM research more broadly.

“But as the system continues to use more Indigenous Knowledge there needs to be a guarantee that Indigenous Knowledge is protected and used with permission from the community."

“I started a PhD because I got tired of other people telling our stories, tired of being the researched. I thought it was time to become the researcher, flip that whole paradigm.

“The aim was to do it by Kamilaroi for Kamilaroi, on Kamilaroi country,” he said.

Vanessa Sewell is working to create more sustainable and effective vaccines to prevent internal parasites in sheep. 

“I’m a First Nations woman excelling in a white western science and I’m bringing my First Nations passion for animals into it as well,” Ms Sewell said.

She said her interest in STEM comes from her family and those who have supported her along the way. Ms Sewell also spoke about the significance of finding people who backed and encouraged her along her scientific career.  

Professor Calma and Ms Sewell spoke about the need for non-Indigenous scientists to help guide and encourage Indigenous scientists.

Susan Beetson from the University of Queensland spoke about her work establishing research collaborations and knowledge centres in urban and remote Indigenous communities.

The knowledge centres bring together cultural knowledge and science and technology to connect with those in the community. They use both knowledge from Elders and modern technology like drones and artificial intelligence.

Ms Beetson wants to create effective solutions to appropriately represent Aboriginal data that is interpreted, stored and published by non-Aboriginal people.

“The need for cultural hubs is incredibly important; they connect Indigenous people to their country and culture but also closer to their technology and sciences,” she said.

“Cultural hubs provide a place where Indigenous people can access and interpret their own information and build partnerships; by doing this it ensures that Indigenous cultural intellectual property is maintained by the communities.

“Cultural knowledges, for me, is about knowledge sovereignty and it’s absolutely critical that we as Aboriginal people start to recognise our individual kinship and our community knowledge,” she said.

The trio is part of a newly established national Indigenous STEM professional network (NISTEMPN) to facilitate the success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Twelve of Australia's brightest young scientists attended the 71st annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to the discipline of chemistry from 26 June to 1 July in Germany. This event is a highly prestigious annual gathering of Nobel Laureates and emerging scientists from around the world.

The Australian delegation was led by mathematician and Academy Fellow, Emeritus Professor Cheryl Prager. She was joined by renowned Australian quantum physicist and Academy Fellow, Emeritus Professor Hans Bachor.

The group joined 600 other young scientists from all over the world. The meetings provided an opportunity for the young scientists to share their research, experiences and ideas, and gain inspiration from fellow emerging scientists and Nobel Laureates. The Nobel Laureates shaped the scientific program, and the delegates were given the opportunity to find out more about both the professional and the personal side of the Laureates. 

The Academy organised a Research Innovation Tour in Berlin the week before the Lindau meeting. The tour enabled the young researchers to visit the science museum FUTURIUM, laboratories at the Humboldt University and Technical University, and companies such as leading chemical company BASF to learn about research and industry links in Germany and network with counterpart German researchers.

The annual Lindau event is generously supported by the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF). Seven researchers were selected by the Academy to attend the event this year. They were joined by five researchers who were selected in 2020 to attend the virtual 70th Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting and were given the opportunity to participate in person at this year’s meeting.

More about the Australian Lindau participants

More about the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

As an island nation, Australia is lucky to have geographically isolated borders to help to protect us from imported pests and diseases. But we still need a strong biosecurity system to ensure that we prevent threats to agriculture, natural environments and human health from entering Australia.

The Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) supports the Australian and New Zealand governments to protect their nations from biosecurity threats. The Australian Academy of Science recently worked with CEBRA to produce a series of videos which describe how the research behind biosecurity and its practical implications are so important.

Current major biosecurity threats include xylella plant infections, the brown marmorated stink bug, foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, varroa mite, African swine fever and red imported fire ants. These threats could cost billions to our economy, harm on our native ecosystems and even threaten our way of life.

“We’ve got a really long history of being able to remain free of all sorts of different harmful pests and diseases, and that’s why we operate such a comprehensive biosecurity system – because we want to keep it that way,” Deputy Director of CEBRA, Dr Aaron Dodd, says in the first video in the series, which provides an overview on the need for biosecurity systems.

Small insect with a big appetite

The second video uses the example of the brown marmorated stink bug, a small insect with a big appetite. This stink bug is a voracious eater, and there are around 300 plant species currently grown in Australia that are at risk if the brown marmorated stink bug finds its way into Australian crops.

Super-pest

The final video explains how Australia is currently struggling with a super-pest, the red imported fire ant. It has the potential to drive some native plant and animal species to extinction, if not appropriately controlled. Monitoring and detection techniques are crucial for keeping the fire ant populations down.

The three videos in partnership with CEBRA are part of the Academy’s ‘Research Focus’ series, which creates unique digital video content to show the depth and breadth of Australian research that is sometimes unknown to the public and decision-makers.

The benefits of sharing research include the potential for further support and funding, and to encourage better understanding within the community about the benefits of public investment in research. The Academy has more than 2.5 million followers on social media – one of the largest social media followings of any Australian science organisation. It produces accurate, trusted and engaging science content that is read and shared by millions across the globe.

Find out more about partnering with the Academy on video production.

Dr Georgina Gurney from James Cook University has been nominated as Australia’s nominee for the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) Prize.

The prize, valued at US$25,000, recognises young scientists from Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in innovation, research and education.

Dr Gurney’s research in conservation and sustainability science not only pushes the envelope scientifically but also has produced innovations that have advanced tropical marine sustainability across its three pillars of economy, society and environment. To ensure her work informs real-world management, she works closely with scientists, communities and other decision-makers from many APEC member economies.

Dr Gurney’s research on conservation’s social and ecological outcomes has led to the development of a social-ecological monitoring program that has been applied in over 150 coral reef sites in eight countries in the Pacific, Asia and Africa.

Co-developed with conservation scientists and practitioners, the framework combines ecological and social indicators – from coral cover and fisheries livelihood dependence to perceived decision-making fairness – to help ensure benefits for both people and nature from the conservation of coral reefs, one of the most at-risk ecosystems in the APEC region.

Dr Georgina Gurney was nominated for the award by the Australian Academy of Science and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

On being nominated Dr Gurney said she felt honoured to be chosen as Australia’s nominee.

“This recognition extends to my collaborators from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. It’s exciting to see collaborative approaches that bring together diverse people being recognised as critical to the innovative and impactful research we need to address the world’s sustainability challenges.”

The winner of the 2022 ASPIRE Prize will be announced in August at an award ceremony at the APEC PPSTI meeting in Thailand.

The three previous Australian recipients of the prize are: CSIRO’s Dr Jessica Bogard (2021), for developing healthy and sustainable foods for vulnerable people in low- and middle-income countries; RMIT University’s Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran (2018) for her work on electronic devices and sensors; and Associate Professor Carissa Klein (2013) for her work on sustainable ocean development.

Two Australian runners-up for the 2022 APEC ASPIRE Prize nomination have also been recognised:

Dr Rebecca Runting, a spatial scientist at the University of Melbourne, is recognised for her work using innovative spatial planning methods to help reconcile economic, social and environmental goals on limited land areas.

Professor Qilin Wang, an expert in sewage treatment and bioenergy recovery at University of Technology Sydney, is recognised for his work using his patented technology to transform sewage treatment plants into carbon-neutral energy generators.

Learn more about the ASPIRE Prize.

The ASPIRE Prize is an annual award which recognises young scientists from APEC economies who have demonstrated a commitment to both excellence in scientific research, as evidenced by scholarly publication, and cooperation with scientists from other APEC member economies.

The theme chosen for this year is ‘Innovation to achieve economic, environmental, and social goals’ and will showcase impactful research created to transform the whole of society to become more balanced and sustainable. This may include research that encourages biological advances, promotes sustainability, or achieves better understanding of agricultural systems.

Associate Professor Bradley Moggridge received the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Travelling Research Award from the Australian Academy of Science in 2019.

The award supported Associate Professor Moggridge, a PhD candidate at the University of Canberra, to visit Aotearoa/New Zealand to learn how they have incorporated Māori culture and knowledge into their water management practices.

As a result of the award and the visit to Aotearoa, Associate Professor Moggridge recently published a paper (as first author) about Indigenous Methodologies and engagement in water management in the journal Wetlands Ecology and Management.

The Academy spoke with him for NAIDOC Week.

In 2019 you were among the first people to receive the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Travelling Research Award [now the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award]. How did this help achieve your research goals?

“That was a great honour, especially getting that little blue tube with a certificate in it, with the Academy’s logo on it – that was cool. The presentation and the celebration of that, you sort of think, well after all the challenges and all the setbacks you’ve had, you know, this journey’s been worth it, just by winning such an award. And then obviously the cash component helped me travel to New Zealand.

“[The award] allowed me to talk to Māori on both the South and North Island, and it was amazing to see them and be with them on country, and there were little things – I was talking with one of the Iwi on the South Island and I said, ‘I’ve got this ethics document, you need to sign it’. She said 'I invited you to my bloody house. I'm not signing no ethics document.’

“A lot of their challenges are still the same as Aboriginal people in Australia. I think I talk about it in the paper, they’ve got their [treaty] settlements and they’ve got land and their compensation, but when it comes to water, [for example] the Waikato River is fully allocated, and the Waikato Tainui are restricted in entering the water market as it’s fully allocated, it’s a real challenge for them. The Te Arawa in Rotorua, they got the rights to seven or eight lakes, but they only got the rights to the lake beds. So, they don’t actually have the rights to the water.

“Connecting and [establishing] those networks for me are … Well, I try and maintain them, and I hope they’re forever. We help each other, we learn off each other and we share.”

What inspired you to study water management?

“[I found] connecting with water in general and science was exciting, because really what I was finding was that Indigenous knowledge – some of the oldest water stories on the planet that have been shared and passed down from generation to generation – have survived colonisation and policy and invasion and everything else.

“Water is always going to be very topical in Australia […] those thousands of generations of existence and survival wouldn’t have been possible without the knowledge of water, especially around where to find it, what time of year it was available, what were the indicators that suggested water was in the landscape on your country.

“Those stories existed, like the stories of moving to higher country when the sea level was rising at the end of the last ice age – those stories survive – stories of volcanism in Western Victoria – and they are stories of observation and experience.”

Your research explores those principles of co-designed science land and water rights and data sovereignty, which are hugely important for Australian science. How can other researchers apply those principles?

“Trust should be at the core – building that trust with communities, especially if you are going to engage in a research activity. And as you move through that partnership, protocols and the research agreement come out, you’ve got to go through ethics, but it’s then when you get down to the nitty gritty – how are you going to protect their intellectual property and what’s in it for them if they engage with you?

“So many researchers have got PhDs and masters and higher degrees by research from Aboriginal knowledge, and the Aboriginal people don’t get acknowledged. They’re not a co-author – they might get in the acknowledgement section or a personal communication as part of the research, but it’s their knowledge, but they’re not actually acquitted that right. You know what I mean?

“Because that’s what past generations got tired of, they’d tell their story and then all of a sudden, they lose the intellectual property to it. And now it’s a PhD, or it’s a story in a book, and I think modern-day researchers will find that those barriers are there.

“So, they’ve gotta break down those barriers to start those conversations. And my tip to a lot of researchers is the three Ts: TIME to build TRUST over lots of cups of TEA. And I have been advised that there is a fourth and fifth, you’ve got to have TIM TAMS.

“And then get to the point where your research might be able to answer their questions. No one’s ever asked them, ‘what are your questions you want answered?’ No one’s asked that […] that’s why I wanted to write this [Indigenous] research methodology paper.

“Climate change is a great example, or fire ecology, a great example of knowledge coming together with traditional knowledge, with Western science, and you’re getting a positive outcome because of that. In that regard you hope it’s either Indigenous led or co-led, and then you start seeing the benefits.”

You are on the Academy’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group, and have been involved in other institutions work around reconciliation. What successes have you seen, and what would you most like to see next in the journey?

“Seeing Tom [Calma] as a Fellow of the Academy was exciting. And Jason Sharples is a Fellow of the Academy of Technology and Engineering, and Marcia [Langton] is an honorary Fellow. So those changes just there are significant. And then obviously seeing the Academy of Science’s Reconciliation Action Plan, it’s advancing and it’s doing good things. Having the [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award] increase in value, and some of the Fellows contributing to that and wanting longevity into the future is exciting. And that’s a real change.

“We’re seeing things happen, it’s starting to become normal. And that’s the aim of it is that you don’t have to be pushed to do it, you just do it. And I think that’s where the Māori are at because a lot of things just happen now: dual language is always everywhere and non-Māori people, Pākehā, they actually have a connection to a mountain and a river as well – the Māori story. So that’s where you want to be.

“I think the next one for me is for a number of years trying to push an Indigenous STEM network […] We’re hopefully going to have a gathering at the end of the year (2022). Eventually, we’ll build up and have support from universities and the academies, to actually network, get together, share support, mentor – all of those things that other networks do. There’s an Aboriginal dentist society – how have they got one and scientists don’t? But that’s all volunteering: It’s all after hours and behind the scenes on top of your work. Leaving our effort in demand and business unfinished, help a brother out Get up! Step up! Stand up!”

To hear more from Associate Professor Moggridge and other Indigenous scientists, join our special NAIDOC Week webinar ‘Embracing Indigenous Knowledges in STEM’, hosted by Academy Fellow Professor Tom Calma AO FAA on Thursday 7 July. Register for the NAIDOC Week event.

The 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award will open in early 2023.

The Australian Academy of Science is committed to supporting excellence in science and empowering the next generation of scientists. This includes advancing reconciliation, creating opportunities to work respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, supporting their contribution to scientific activities, and increasing understandings of Indigenous knowledge. Learn more about our progress towards reconciliation.

The Australian Academy of Science has launched a new report: Australia’s Data-Enabled Research Future: Science calling for action to support the future of scientific research across the nation. The report presents the findings from consultations within the science community on data-related needs to ensure the continuity of scientific research in Australia.

Improved collection, management, access and sharing of quality data are fundamental to support all areas of science. For example, biomedical researchers are seeking to analyse larger genome sets to detect correlations between genes, lifestyle, and disease. And geoscientists could better analyse Earth’s systems to enable the discovery of critical mineral resources.

Research and data are fundamental for evidence informed decision making. Data allows governments to make timely, informed decisions on complex issues or to rapidly respond to societal challenges and crises such as pandemics and natural disasters.

Key findings of the report:

• There is a need for greater coordination and integration so that data is easily accessible across Australia’s research disciplines, government, and industry. Development of an integrated system of repositories and clear strategic data priorities are needed.
• The development of consistent and enforceable data policies and standards to facilitate responsible sharing and reuse of data is required.
• There is an imperative to invest in people and infrastructure to manage data and make data FAIR.
• Expanding volumes of data and data-intensive research activities, such as moving and analysing large amounts of data, data storage and retention, are key challenges for scientists, the private sector and governments
• Developing a digitally skilled research workforce to support effective data infrastructure and data-intensive research is an urgent national need.

The report provides important considerations for implementing the 2021 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap. The findings from this report also reinforce the Academy’s Advancing data-intensive research in Australia report launched in October 2021. It also highlights the need for greater research data infrastructure, policies, and standards and the need to build a more equipped workforce to drive data-intensive research.

The report is one of five from Australia's learned academies – the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), Australian Academy of the Humanities (AAH), Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA), Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) – each exploring data-related needs to support research in their domains. Read the synthesis report examining the common themes and inter-disciplinary opportunities and needs. 

These reports are the result of a partnership between the Australian Research Data Commons, Australia’s five learned academies and the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) to ensure Australia can undertake excellent data-enabled research across all fields. The partnership sought to help build a more coherent data policy and strategic data planning environment.

The Australian Academy of Science congratulates its four Fellows recognised in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List with appointments to the Order of Australia for their outstanding service and exceptional achievements.

This year the awardees include Professor Tanya Monro AC FAA FTSE, Professor Jennie Brand-Miller AO FAA, Professor Warren Ewens AO FAA FRS, and Professor David Gardner AM FAA.

Professor Tanya Monro received the Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC). Professor Monro received the award for eminent service to scientific and technological development, to research and innovation, to tertiary education, particularly in the field of photonics, and to professional organisations. She is acknowledged for her eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.

Professor Monro is currently Chief Defence Scientist after her appointment in 2019. Prior to this she served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of Research and Innovation at the University of South Australia. Throughout her career Professor Monro has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion and championed the Science in Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative. In 2019, she was commended for her contributions to the advancement of gender equality across Australia, receiving the Australian Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership. In 2012 she became one of the youngest living Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science. And in 2011 she was named South Australia’s Australian of the Year.

Academy President Professor Chennupati Jagadish said that he was delighted to see four of the Academy’s scientists recognised this year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In 1954, the Academy’s first President Sir Mark Oliphant received the Academy’s founding document, the Royal Charter, from the hands of Queen Elizabeth II herself.

“It is a very special occasion and I congratulate all the recipients for their innovation and scientific excellence,” Professor Jagadish said.

“Science continues to provide answers to the world’s greatest challenges. It is fantastic to see scientific success recognised here today as it is a benefit to all Australians.”

Companion of the Order of Australia

Professor Tanya Monro AC FAA FTSE is recognised for eminent service to scientific and technological development, to research and innovation, to tertiary education, particularly in the field of photonics, and to professional organisations. She is acknowledged for her eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large. She is Australia's Chief Defence Scientist.

Officer of the Order of Australia

Professor Jennie Brand-Miller AO FAA is recognised for distinguished service to the field of human nutrition and for her role as an advocate for people with disabilities. Professor Brand-Miller has championed the role of the glycaemic index (GI) in health and disease and transformed the way carbohydrate foods are considered by scientists. She has held the Presidency position at the Glycemic Index Foundation since 2009.

Professor Warren Ewens AO FAA FRS is recognised for distinguished service to biology, data science and for his work in tertiary education. He has made major contributions to mathematics, statistics and population genetics. He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1981 and of the Royal Society of London in 2000.

Member of the Order of Australia

Professor David Gardner AM FAA is recognised for significant service to reproductive medicine and to education. His work has laid the foundations for the creation of the world’s first human embryonic stem cells. Professor Gardner was head of the School of BioScience at the University of Melbourne 2008–14. He’s now the Scientific Director at Melbourne IVF.

The results of the first national survey to investigate research integrity in Australia, a collaboration between the Australian Academy of Science and publisher Springer Nature, indicate broad support for mandatory research integrity training. The survey found that whilst 68% of respondents stated that their institution offered research integrity related training and 50% stated it was mandatory, 73% felt that such training should be mandatory for all those holding a research position.

Key findings from the survey include:

• When asked to describe Research Integrity, including practices related to it, 86% of the responses focused on positive research traits, the most popular being ethical, honest and transparent. Under 10% of responses made statements related to research misconduct.
• 68% of respondents indicated that their institution provided training on research integrity, with 88% of institutional management responding in the affirmative, as compared to 72% of senior researchers, 69% of mid-level researchers and 65% of early-career researchers.
• Current training has a greater focus on policy and guidance than practical skills, yet eight of the top ten subjects that respondents felt would be most beneficial related to practical data-related topics such as data storage and management.
• A quarter of those surveyed felt that there was a research integrity problem in their field, but this concern was disproportionately distributed, with many more researchers from the life sciences indicating concern than those from the physical sciences. 

Read a full summary of the results. 

Professor Ian Chubb AC, Secretary for Science Policy at the Australian Academy of Science, said it is vital that research in Australia and globally is conducted ethically and with integrity, so that the public and government can have confidence in its outcomes.

“Greater consistency in the provision of research integrity training along with a greater uptake among those working in the sector, particularly among early career researchers is one way to meet that objective.”

Dr Ed Gerstner, Director of Research Environment Alliances at Springer Nature, added: “A smaller scale survey from 2019 that looked across multiple countries suggested that Australia was a world leader when it comes to delivering research integrity training at research institutions. These results look to support that, with both surveys finding around 68-69% of Australian institutions providing such training. Whilst these numbers are encouraging, it’s notable that awareness is lower for early career researchers, and that more detailed training focussed on specific needs would be welcomed.” 

The survey was conducted between December 2020 and November 2021 and aimed to investigate perceptions of research integrity and good research practices and training at Australian research institutions. Questions were addressed to both institutional management and researchers/faculty members to deliver a baseline review of perceived levels of training in research integrity and good research practices at research institutions, including training in statistics, data management, data sharing and mentorship. Almost one thousand responses, including from 35 universities, representing 85% of universities in Australia, were received and analysed. 

Chris Graf, Research Integrity Director at Springer Nature concluded: “It’s interesting to note that 73% of respondents support mandatory training on research integrity, yet only 26% felt that there was a problem with lack of research integrity in their field. This very much supports our position that  training in research integrity is absolutely about embedding good responsible research practices.

“This survey continues Springer Nature’s work to support good practices internationally by understanding research integrity training and needs through national surveying. We hope to launch similar surveys in other countries soon to add more data to the evolving picture of training in research integrity globally.”

The Australian Academy of Science has welcomed the new Albanese ministry, in particular the appointments of Ed Husic (Industry and Science), Chris Bowen (Climate Change and Energy), Mark Butler (Health and Aged Care), Jason Clare (Education), Tanya Plibersek (Environment and Water), and Murray Watt (Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).

Professor Chennupati Jagadish, who last week began his four-year term as President of Academy, congratulated the new ministers on their appointments.

“The Academy looks forward to working with the newly elected Albanese government to assist in securing Australia’s future economic and social prosperity through a stronger focus on and investment in science,” said Professor Jagadish.

“Bringing science to the service of the nation was critical to Australia’s response to the pandemic and will be critical to Australia’s economic recovery too. 

“Turbo-charging productivity growth will be needed for economic recovery and we know that stimulating R&D is the most promising source of future productivity growth.

“Given the decline in immigration during the pandemic and the uncertain outlook for international mobility, Australia will be even more reliant on sovereign R&D to drive productivity growth.

“The Academy stands ready to assist with that task and will provide independent and authoritative scientific advice to the new government and the parliament,” Professor Jagadish said.  

“As Australia looks for solutions to decarbonise our economy and transform traditional industries, science will play a vital role in developing the ideas, technologies, systems and processes needed,” he said.

“This government can also look to science to deal with future risks – like national security threats, major health challenges such as anti-microbial resistance, climate adaptation, advanced digital technologies like AI and quantum computing, and future pandemics.

“The Academy looks forward to working with the newly elected Albanese government and with the whole of the Australian parliament as we continue to bring science to the service of the nation,” Professor Jagadish said.

The Academy’s recommendations for the new government to secure Australia’s future are securing the scientific base through a long-term investment strategy for science; establishing a Parliamentary Science Office; undertaking a national, whole-of-government review of the science and research system; and advancing a cohesive, national approach to secure jobs through the translation of science to industry.

Improving Australians’ understanding of the benefits of immunisation is one of the many achievements highlighted in the Academy’s recently published annual report for 2021.

To support vaccination and other COVID-related health messages, in partnership with the Australian Government, the Academy created information for broad audiences via print, videos, online articles and infographics across websites, media and social media, and supported the international collaboration of experts through a series of webinars. It also called for an RNA manufacturing capability in Australia and convened a national RNA roundtable of experts.

The Academy’s strong focus on climate change included calling attention to the risks to Australia of a warmer world and the publication of a hub of resources ahead of international climate change meetings in October.

It also focused on improving diversity and inclusion in science, remained very active in international and bilateral science activities, and prepared a decadal plan for space science ready for release in early 2022.

Its three innovative school education programs were awarded multi-year funding from the Australian Government to develop and extend education resources and program reach.  

“Every major issue affecting our society today relies on scientific input. We are a community that promotes international and national engagement in science, supports and celebrates scientific excellence, and we are an increasingly prominent voice for Australian science,” said Academy President Professor John Shine in his introduction to the report.

Academy Chief Executive Anna-Maria Arabia said the annual report demonstrates “how the Academy strives to have science valued and strategically positioned to drive our economy, and inform decision-making in and between government, in our parliaments, our courts, our classrooms, in boardrooms and in the public square”.

Both leaders thanked the Academy’s Fellows for contributions to science and support for the Academy.

“In November, Academy Fellow Professor Eddie Holmes received the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for his outstanding contributions to virology, not in the least his impacts on our understanding of COVID-19. Congratulations to Professor Holmes for this award and for his tireless commitment to research during the pandemic, and to all our Fellows who received external awards and honours,” Professor Shine said.

Other achievements featured in the annual report include:

• hosting an expert roundtable on the World Heritage Convention and climate change
• a call for the pardon of Kathleen Folbigg based on recent strong scientific evidence
• the launch of a champions program to support the implementation of the decadal plan for nutrition
• a call on the NSW Government to remove all feral horses from Kosciuszko National Park
• the launch of the STEM Women database to raise the profile of women in STEM
• holding or participating in 37 events across many scientific fields
• welcoming more than 4.4 million visitors to Academy websites and publishing more than 70 videos, many of which were embedded in mainstream media stories
• making major improvements to the Academy’s heritage-listed buildings.

In 2021 Academy published:

• a climate report on the risks to Australia of a warming world
• an updated booklet on immunisation for a broad audience
• a 10-year strategy for sustainable oceans and coasts
• a report identifying opportunities to advance data-intensive research in Australia
• a summary for policymakers on Australia’s digital future
• outcomes of two expert roundtables
• a report on gender inequity in the STEM workforce across the Asia-Pacific
• a report by Deloitte Access Economics supporting the acceleration of the discovery and documentation of Australia’s remaining biodiversity.

“The work of the Academy continues to be an immense source of pride for me, made possible by the guidance and support of our Fellows and the generosity of our donors,” Ms Arabia said.