Leading Australian scientists have today renewed their call for Kathleen Folbigg’s pardon and release from jail.

Despite conclusive scientific and medical evidence that points to natural causes of death for all four of her children, Ms Folbigg remains incarcerated, almost 18 years after she was sent to jail.

The renewed call comes almost six months after 90 eminent scientists submitted a petition to the Governor of NSW, the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC, who awaits advice from the NSW Attorney-General, Mark Speakman.

In April, the Australian Academy of Science offered to facilitate for the NSW Attorney-General a briefing by scientists with expertise in genetics and statistics, to explain the new genetic evidence that had been uncovered.

The NSW Attorney-General declined that briefing and instead requested the new evidence be submitted via Ms Folbigg’s legal representatives, which occurred in June.

This includes new peer-reviewed genetic findings by an international team of 27 scientists published in a top international cardiology journal, Europace, in November 2020. It showed two of the children had genetic mutations that predisposed them to sudden death in childhood from lethal heart arrythmias. Forensic pathologists had declared natural causes of death for the other two children.

Australian Academy of Science President, Professor John Shine is among the petition signatories and says there is very reasonable doubt about Ms Folbigg’s conviction.

“The NSW Attorney-General now has sufficient medical and scientific evidence before him that provides an alternative explanation for the deaths of the Folbigg children, that carries more weight than the circumstantial evidence used to convict her,” Professor Shine said.

“Our offer to the NSW Attorney-General to facilitate a scientific briefing stands. These matters can appear complex to a non-scientific audience.

“We also call on the federal and state and territory attorneys general to consider legal reform that would empower the judiciary to identify the most qualified expert to provide evidence for any given case.

“To ensure miscarriages of justice like this are prevented in the future, it is imperative that evidence heard by the courts is accurate; is delivered by the most qualified expert; and draws on the most up-to-date science. This is particularly important in rapidly moving areas such as human genetics.

“We urge the NSW Attorney-General to expedite this matter and advise the NSW Governor to pardon Kathleen Folbigg and release her from jail,” Professor Shine said.

Petition signatory Australian Nobel Laureate and Corresponding Member of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Elizabeth Blackburn said it was profoundly wrong to deny justice by denying science.

“Do those who would deny Kathleen Folbigg’s right to scientific evidence deny that the planet Earth revolves around the sun?” said Professor Blackburn.

Watch the 60 Minutes story in which the science behind the case is explored.

Ever heard of a nutritious fish-based chutney tailor-made for pregnant and lactating women? It might not sound that appealing to a Western-based palate, but the product developed by nutrition scientist Dr Jessica Bogard is helping to address widespread malnutrition among women in Bangladesh.

For this and other innovations to increase access to healthy and sustainable foods for vulnerable people in low- and middle-income countries, Brisbane-based Dr Bogard from CSIRO is the recipient of the prestigious 2021 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 Bogard was nominated for the prize by the Australian Academy of Science. The winner was announced overnight at a virtual award ceremony hosted by New Zealand.

As well as the chutney, Dr Bogard has also developed a complementary food for infants and young children aged from 6 to 23 months. Both products were based on traditional recipes and improved using local nutrient-rich ingredients. Testing of the products in a large acceptability and feasibility trial found that such products were an effective and culturally acceptable way to improve nutrient intake.

The products were also deemed suitable for local production and distribution with flow-on benefits for income and livelihoods. The production model has been scaled to other regions in Bangladesh and through WorldFish and other partners the concept has been expanded to other countries in Asia and Africa.

The development of the products are part of Dr Bogard’s broader research on strategies to increase production and consumption of healthy and sustainable diets.

Dr Bogard becomes the third Australian to win the prize since its inception in 2011. In 2013 Associate Professor Carissa Klein won the prize for her work on sustainable ocean development, and in 2018 Professor Madhu Bhaskaran won the prize for her work on electronic devices and sensors.

Since 2011, ASPIRE has recognised scientists under the age of 40 who are working in APEC member economies and have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in scientific research and cooperation with other APEC scientists.

Each member economy was invited to nominate one scientist under the age of 40 to be considered for the 2021 ASPIRE Prize.

Learn more about the ASPIRE Prize, including past winners.

The Australian Academy of Science congratulates Mr David Luchetti, who has been selected as an Honorary Member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for his tireless work championing and facilitating Australian astronomy in the government.

Mr Luchetti has been a key advocate for Australian astronomy and has played a central role in facilitating Australia’s engagement with a number of large scale international astronomy projects.

For the past six years he has directed the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project, an intergovernmental project to build the world’s largest radio telescope. The SKA telescope is one of the largest scientific endeavours in history, with the infrastructure co-hosted between South Africa and Australia.

Mr Luchetti is currently leading negotiations on behalf of the Australian Government on an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Wajarri Yamatji for the location of the SKA telescope in Western Australia. This agreement will better develop cultural ties and bring a wide range of benefits to the Wajarri community. Previously, Mr Luchetti represented Australia on the European Southern Observatory Council and has provided advice to the government on infrastructure needs for astronomy research in Australia.

“Mr Luchetti has worked tirelessly with the astronomy community for many years. He has successfully communicated government expectations to the community in terms of industry and community engagement, and has worked helpfully with the astronomy community in its endeavours to engage with international partners on world-class astronomical projects,” said the Chair of the Academy’s National Committee for Astronomy, Professor Lister Staveley-Smith.

“His endeavours in supporting Australia on the international scientific stage have been first class and have been well beyond normal duties.”

The IAU is an international organisation of leading astronomers from around the world. The Academy is Australia’s National Adhering Organisation to the International Astronomical Union, through the National Committee for Astronomy (NCA). Mr Luchetti was nominated for recognition by the NCA to acknowledge and thank him for his work with the committee and the astronomy community in general.

With many students learning remotely during stay-at-home restrictions, parents, carers and teachers are looking for new ways to keep children engaged in science while learning in the home environment. Looking for something for your primary aged students this month? scienceXart is for you!

To celebrate the UN’s International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, the Academy’s National Committee for Nutrition together with Dietitians Australia are running a science-based art competition for the month of August. scienceXart: food for thought calls all primary school students to think about nutritional science and how the food they eat powers their bodies.

The scienceXart challenge

The challenge: enter the competition by designing a plate of food and writing a description of up to 100 words explaining the science behind the design. What’s even better, by entering students have a chance to win an awesome hydroponic indoor garden for their classroom.

This is a fun and easy activity for children to complete at home with resources they have around the house. Get creative and design a super funky plate!

The Academy has designed a series of activity plans for students from Foundation to Year 6. These plans are suitable for learning at home or can be facilitated in the classroom. Activities address learning to identify fruits and vegetables, exploring the benefits of vitamins, and meal planning.

See all the details at the scienceXart website

Looking for more ideas for learning science at home?

The Academy’s education program, Primary Connections, has curated a selection of tasks tailored for primary students who are engaging in supervised learning while at home. The tasks are hands-on, and address a range of science topics including the physical, chemical and biological sciences, and Earth and space. There’s sure to be something budding scientists will enjoy.

The evidence is overwhelming: human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests, are rapidly changing Earth’s climate in every region and across every climate system.

This is the main thrust of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Working Group 1 report (The Physical Science Basis) prepared by over 200 scientists.

The report also reveals how, as the driest inhabited continent, Australia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of global warming. Recent events, including the scale and intensity of the summer bushfires of 2019–20, and the severe coral bleaching impacting the Great Barrier Reef that occurred in three of five years from 2016, demonstrate just two of the consequences of a warming planet for Australia’s people, economy, and environment.

All countries have to act. Some have, some haven’t. It is in Australia’s national interest for us all to act quickly. We have much to lose if we don’t, and much to gain if we do. The evidence tells us we must move beyond our current commitments and do more. Only through collective real, rapid and large-scale greenhouse gas emission reductions can we lessen the scale of the impacts of global warming.

Whilst the IPCC report is sobering and the Code Red warning is real, the situation is neither hopeless nor insurmountable. But it is urgent. As with the COVID-19 pandemic, science has solutions. As the IPCC report concluded “Every tonne of CO₂ emissions adds to global warming”, we can limit future warming by limiting Australian and global emissions of carbon dioxide from human activity today. Every nations’ actions count.

The Australian Academy of Science in March this year released a report on the risks to Australia of a three degrees warmer world. The Academy’s report shows Australia can become a clean energy exporter and potentially a global renewable energy superpower. It highlights Australia’s relative advantage with its abundant natural resources for solar and other renewable energy generation, as well as significant deposits of new economy minerals critical for developing batteries and other low emission technologies.

Today, Australia must again harvest our investment in science and technology, as we did urgently to fight COVID-19. We have enormous resources for the next wave of innovative technologies. We can and must grasp the exciting economic opportunities presented by the new economy. As a smart and agile nation with a skilled workforce, we can immediately scale up existing technology, and lean on our industrial base and plentiful renewable energy resources to enable greater emission reductions.

I often hear that the challenge of climate change is too hard, too big, too overwhelming, and not immediate, thereby not demanding the same urgency the pandemic has required. These excuses fail to recognise how far we have come, the available technologies, the urgency so clearly manifest in this IPCC Report, the willingness of the voting public to do their bit and their growing expectation that all our leaders do theirs.

Professor John Shine AC PresAA FRS
President
Australian Academy of Science

Today, the Australian Academy of Science proudly adds its name to those endorsing the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

We do so alongside the four other learned academies, as part of the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA), and we recognise the need to do more to acknowledge and understand the deep knowledge held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“As leaders in the research sector, we commit to participating in the creation of a harmonised, national research culture,” said Academy President and Chair of the ACOLA board, Professor John Shine.

“One that removes structural inequity, values diversity, enriches and strengthens our and others' understandings of the world, and takes tangible actions to address the past and create a better future.”

Through this response, we commit to:

• ensuring our processes and activities respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems and perspectives
• appropriate and deep engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and knowledge systems
• our responsibility and leadership role to actively expose, and foster dialogue about, racism and bigotry
• stopping tokenism in research efforts to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are true partners in the conduct of research and benefit from its results
• participating in the creation of a harmonised, national research culture that values diversity, removes structural inequity and delivers benefits
• ensuring our activities, and the research we promote, are conducted under appropriate ethical arrangements, research principles and practices.

We also acknowledge that actions speak louder than words, the importance of reconciliation, and the sustained actions required to move forward—which involves us listening, learning, reflecting and engaging better.

To this end, the Australian Academy of Science has committed to a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which outlines the practical steps we will take to support positive change and facilitate reconciliation.

See our progress on our RAP

See ACOLA’s full response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart

A local leader in nutritional science has been announced as the Australian nominee for the prestigious 2021 ASPIRE prize.

Dr Jessica Bogard from CSIRO has been nominated by the Australian Academy of Science for the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE).

The ASPIRE 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 Bogard’s work incorporates knowledge of local food cultures with management approaches to food production systems, aiming to increase accessibility of healthy and sustainable foods to vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries.

She has adapted traditional recipes with modern processing methods, creating food products that address common nutrient deficiencies among pregnant women and young children. She has also developed partnerships with local producers to supply raw ingredients and local businesses to process and distribute the products.

Two Australian runners up for the nomination have also been recognised: Dr Long Shi from RMIT and Associate Professor Matthew Harrison from the University of Tasmania.

Dr Shi is known for his work towards a sustainable environment. His ‘solar chimney’ passive ventilation technology, which he expanded from its traditional energy-saving function to an easy and cost-effective fire safety solution, also made him a finalist in the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards.

Associate Professor Harrison is renowned for his transdisciplinary work on the sustainability of agricultural systems, especially around climate change adaptation of agricultural systems and on mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Since 2011, ASPIRE has recognised scientists under the age of 40 who are working in APEC member economies and have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in scientific research and cooperation with other APEC scientists.

Each member economy was invited to nominate one scientist under the age of 40 to be considered for the 2021 ASPIRE Prize. There have been two Australian winners of the ASPIRE Prize since its inception in 2011. In 2013 Associate Professor Carissa Klein won the prize for her work on sustainable ocean development, and in 2018 Professor Madhu Bhaskaran won the prize for her work on electronic devices and sensors.

The Academy wishes Dr Jessica Bogard all the best as the Australian nominee for the 2021 ASPIRE Prize. The winner of the 2021 ASPIRE Prize will be recognised at a virtual award ceremony hosted by New Zealand on 25 August. Learn more about the ASPIRE Prize, including past winners.

Co-chairs of the the roundtable (from left) Professor John Mattick, UNSW Sydney; Associate Professor Archa Fox, University of Western Australia; and Professor Trent Munro, University of Queensland.

Australia has led the world with several RNA research breakthroughs that have changed humans lives. Think: The discovery of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, enabling high yields of cloned medicines such as insulin and growth hormone, or CSIRO/Peter Waterhouse’s RNAi technology to shut down or turn off genes to protect plants and animals from diseases.

But how are we positioned to continue with Australian-led innovations of RNA science? Think: personalised RNA medicine to treat cancer and neurodegenerative disease, or delivering RNA to plants to help them adapt to a changing climate.

Leading experts say Australia could deliver these innovations and become a world leader in RNA science and technology by establishing a national mission for the whole RNA science and technology pipeline in Australia, driven by strategic investment and prioritisation across funding schemes.

They made the call on Thursday at a national roundtable hosted by the Australian Academy of Science and the Australia and New Zealand RNA Production Consortium.

The group, comprising 38 experts in RNA biology and biotechnology from the Australian university and research sectors along with industry, called on Australia to play a leading role in the global ecosystem of RNA science and harness the opportunities for Australian industry to develop RNA-based products and services for global markets.

The group also called for the establishment of a local mixed manufacturing ecosystem, including pilot facilities to enable new Australian products to be translated, production of pre-clinical trial components and a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing capability to support clinical trials.

Co-Chair of the Academy-hosted national roundtable, Professor John Mattick from UNSW Sydney, said the considerable potential for RNA based products had in many ways been overlooked up until now.

“However, the success of RNA based technology in the rapid development of safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 has drawn sustained public interest in the technology,” said Professor Mattick, who is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

“With the first commercially approved mRNA-based vaccine products there is now considerable potential for the development of more advanced uses of RNA therapies and technologies, including the treatment of disorders such as arthritis, cancer and malaria and administering RNA to plants and animals to improve productivity and reduce environmental pressures.

“Australia has an opportunity to create an innovative RNA research and development ‘ecosystem’ and become a global player in this disruptive industry, creating and manufacturing high-value RNA-based products here, and exporting them to the world.”

The expert group says Australia faces unique problems that stand to be solved by RNA science, including sensing new biosecurity threats and supporting climate change adaptation in agriculture. The expert group determined the following national research priorities, based on Australia’s strengths and emerging global trends:

• RNA vaccines, including vaccines for people with autoimmune disorders
• RNA therapeutics
•  RNA sensing tools
• The role of RNA in plant and animal development
• The role of RNA in brain function and disorders
• RNA chemistry
• Stability and advanced manufacturing of RNA therapeutics
• RNA delivery technologies.

The rapid report from the roundtable and the list of participants involved is available here. Participation in the roundtable is not an endorsement of this rapid report.

What is RNA science?

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, plays a central role in the function of genes and the regulation of gene expression. RNA controls development in plants and animals, influencing areas as diverse as crop yields in agriculture, and brain function in humans.

RNA is one of the three major biological macromolecules essential for all known forms of life, along with DNA and proteins. For decades RNA has been viewed as the intermediate between gene and protein. It is now evident that many RNAs are not translated into proteins but rather act to control the complex processes of differentiation and development. These RNAs are also subject to modification, particularly in the brain, which connects hardwired genetic information to environmental parameters.

Delegates of the 15th Coast to Coast National Conference have formally endorsed Future Earth Australia’s Sustainable Oceans and Coasts National Strategy 2021–2030 and urged the Australian government to adopt and implement its recommendations.

The strategy provides a national implementation plan to ensure healthy Australian coasts and oceans for a just and environmentally sustainable future. Among the plan’s recommendations is a call for a national agency to coordinate ocean and coastal governance across all tiers of government. Other recommendations include to:

• empower Indigenous leadership
• build resilient communities
• decarbonise the blue economy
• support stewardship.

“The conference delegates were so supportive and enthusiastic about the strategy and its recommendations that they took the initiative themselves to endorse it,” said Emeritus Professor Nick Harvey, co-chair of the Expert Working Group of the strategy.

“Its call to create a national agency, support local grassroots actions, and empower Indigenous leadership has been received and amplified by the coastal community, and we urge the government to take action.”

Over 300 delegates attended the Coast to Coast Conference representing a diverse cross-section of leading marine and coastal experts, spanning government representatives, natural resource managers, community organisations, First Nations peoples, industry members, researchers and consultants. This biennial conference is organised by the Australian Coastal Society, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes knowledge sharing and action in national coastal management.

Future Earth Australia has convened leaders across expertise, sectors, and the nation to prepare the National Sustainable Oceans and Coasts Strategy 2021–2030 to advance the sustainability agenda and forge pathways to a thriving future. The strategy is a bottom-up, cross-sectoral plan that was developed through deep consultation across the country, with strategic oversight from an Expert Working Group composed of leading ocean and coastal researchers and practitioners. It provides a thoughtful and innovative way forward for our federal and state governments and other leaders across the nation, as well as a roadmap for implementing our vision for healthy oceans and coasts for a just and environmentally sustainable future.

Read the Sustainable oceans and coasts national strategy 2021–2030

Future Earth Australia

Future Earth is a global sustainability, research and innovation network. Future Earth Australia is the Australian and Oceania arm of Future Earth. It enables Australian researchers, governments, industry and NGOs to collaborate with each other and with international networks.

Media Enquiries

Nicholas Harvey, National Sustainable Oceans and Coasts Strategy Expert Working Group Co-Chair, nick.harvey@adelaide.edu.au, 0438358624

Tayanah O’Donnell, Future Earth Australia, tayanah.odonnell@science.org.au, 0490 472 687

Eight Academy Fellows are among the recipients of 67 collaborative research projects funded under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme, bringing together higher education and industry to conduct research into pressing issues facing Australians.

The scheme supports collaborative research projects between higher education researchers and partner organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to find practical solutions to problems and challenges in real-world, industry-based settings.

The funding for research partnerships includes:

• $480,000 for Queensland University of Technology to pioneer an integrated solution for stormwater retention, while removing chemical pollutants. Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik and colleagues will design fibre coatings based on a versatile and chemically simple deposition process, incorporate functionalities onto the fibres allowing active stormwater treatment, and investigate these interfaces in-depth by advanced surface and interface characterisation methods.
• $259,379 to the University of Melbourne to increase amphibian immunity to combat disease causing mass extinction. The project aims to increase amphibian survival to combat the devastating chytrid fungus by identifying resistance genes and increasing their frequency in the host population. Associate Professor Lee Berger and colleagues expect outcomes of enhanced international collaborations in comparative immunology, a comprehensive understanding of immunity to chytridiomycosis, and disease resistant amphibians.
• $837,040 to the University of New South Wales to understand the impact of missing family on forcibly displaced people. This project aims to investigate the psychological and social effects of having missing family on forcibly displaced people settled in Australia. With colleagues, Professor Richard Bryant will enlist a longitudinal mixed-method approach to compare those with missing family to those whose connections have been restored on key outcomes and coping strategies.
• $539,137 to the University of New South Wales to develop a long-life, stable, high-performance, and green chalcopyrite solar powered building steel, which is expected to offer a shapable truly green building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) product for building deployment. Within the research team is Professor Martin Green. The project completion will accelerate the transition to zero-emission buildings.
• $607,411 to the University of Sydney for generating new knowledge of climate resilient seed production technology. The project aims to increase productivity and profitability of the Australian sorghum industry in the face of risks imposed by an increasingly variable climate. Dr Anna Koltunow and colleagues expect the project to support profitable and productive businesses, providing Australian agriculture with a competitive, sustainable edge.
• $516,968 to Macquarie University for new biocultural approach to fauna conservation. Professor Craig Moritz and colleagues aim to record endangered Indigenous knowledge of fauna and integrate this with innovative Western science to develop Australia’s first cross-cultural fauna conservation strategy.
• $443,000 to the University of Melbourne to develop a reliable microneedle array for blood collection procedures. Professor Steven Prawer hopes the outcomes of this project will include the development of synthetic diamond-based microneedles through improved and affordable healthcare and the development of new high-tech industries.
• $405,031 to the University of Sydney for the development of a novel technology platform to mediate load transfer between synthetic and biological materials with dissimilar mechanical properties, creating an effective interface mechanism. Professor Hala Zreiqat will work with colleagues to generate new knowledge in materials engineering by combining interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art technologies in computational modelling, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing. This could ultimately benefit Australian industry engaged in developing next-generation synthetic orthopaedic solutions, providing a significant competitive advantage in an expanding global market.

More information about the latest recipients and research partners of ARC Linkage Projects funding.