The Academy’s Early- and Mid-Career (EMCR) Forum has announced the new Executive for 2021.

Seven new passionate and engaged EMCRs will help advocate for researchers in Australia through the Forum and all its activities. Dr Yee Lian Chew, Dr Timothy Lau, Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar, Dr Michelle Christie and Dr James Gong are continuing their ongoing terms, bringing seasoned knowledge to the Executive.

Meet the new members

Dr Vipul Agarwal is a researcher at the University of New South Wales. He is passionate about addressing stress-related mental health challenges for EMCRs.

Dr Raffaella Demichelis is a Senior Research Fellow at Curtin University. She is passionate about science communication and has co-initiated networks in Western Australia that teach software skills to PhD students.

Dr Mohammad Taha is an engineer and scientist at the University of Melbourne. They are dedicated to the inclusion of gender-diverse, non-binary, queer, intersex and transgender people within Australia and particularly the Australian scientific community.

Dr Mary McMillan is a senior lecturer at the University of New England. She is passionate about supporting regional researchers in Australia, championing STEM equity programs and science communication.

Dr Patrick Taggart is a research officer within the Vertebrate Pest Research Unit (VPRU) of the NSW Department of Primary Industries. He is determined to identify sustainable and achievable career paths for EMCRs.

Dr Vanessa Moss is a radio astronomer working on the intersection of astronomy, telescope operations and data science at CSIRO. She is a passionate proponent of accessible and inclusive digital-first interactions and advocates for the development of effective EMCR career structures.

Dr Maithili Sashindranath is a biomedical scientist at Monash University. Dr Sashindranath maintains a strong community focus and actively promotes STEM to children, with a special emphasis on inspiring young girls as a ‘CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools’ partner.

New leadership team

The EMCR Forum will be guided by the new executive leadership team that includes Dr Yee Lian Chew as chair. Dr Timothy Lau and Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar will each take on the role of co-deputy chairs.

Dr Yee Lian Chew is an NHMRC Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong. She enjoys mentoring young researchers from underrepresented backgrounds and is passionate about creating a stronger, more diverse research community.

Dr Timothy Lau is a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Energy Technology at the University of Adelaide. He is passionate about STEM subjects being more effectively communicated to the younger generation and sees EMCRs as the perfect ambassadors.

Dr Zsuzsa Banhalmi-Zakar is an environmental scientist and lecturer at James Cook University in Townsville. She is an experienced public speaker and a great networker, who can engage with multiple industry stakeholders. She has three children, and is passionate about supporting women, mothers and daughters through their careers, PhD and ECR journeys.

Outgoing members

The Academy would like to sincerely thank the members of the Executive who finished their term in 2020. Outgoing members include Associate Professor Michael Bowen (outgoing Chair), Associate Professor Vanessa Wong (2019 Chair), Dr Emma Beckett, Dr Adrian Murdock, Dr Alexie Papanicolaou, Dr Justine Shaw and Dr Irene Suarez-Martinez.

It was a challenging year for EMCRs. But thanks to the commitment and expertise of these members, the Forum continued to support EMCRs and advance the representation of EMCRs in Australian science through the pandemic.

Five Academy Fellows are among the Australians recognised in the 2021 Australia Day Honours List.

Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger, who was previously recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia in 1999, received the highest honour as one of just four people Australia-wide to be appointed a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC), which recognises ‘eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large’.

Emeritus Professor Praeger from the University of Western Australia is a past Foreign Secretary of the Academy and also sits on the International Science Council’s Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science. In 2019, she was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)

Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger AC FAA—For eminent service to mathematics, and to tertiary education, as a leading academic and researcher, to international organisations, and as a champion of women in STEM careers

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

Professor Graham Goodwin AO FRS FAA FTSE—For distinguished service to tertiary education, and to electrical engineering, as an academic and researcher, and to scientific academies

Professor Helene Marsh AO FAA FSTE—For distinguished service to the biological and environmental sciences, to the conservation of marine mammals, and to tertiary education

Professor Mark Randolph AO FRS FREng FAA FTSE—For distinguished service to geotechnical engineering and science, to tertiary education and research, and to professional organisations

Professor Roger Reddel AO FAA FAHMS—For distinguished service to biomedical research in the field of adult and childhood cancer and genetics, and to tertiary education

More information about the Order of Australia

This week we’ve seen significant misunderstandings and differing views regarding the effectiveness of first-generation COVID-19 vaccines. It is crucial that the distinction be made between a vaccine’s effectiveness at protecting from severe disease versus its effectiveness at stopping transmission.

Australia’s current vaccination strategy is aimed at reducing the severity of disease—put simply, to reduce the number of exposed individuals getting very sick or dying.

Australia has become a pandemic success story. The majority of individual Australians’ willingness to follow public health directions, and a laudable commitment from governments to listen to experts and allow science to guide policy, has been mostly responsible for this success.

Australians can be confident that vaccines approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration will be safe and effective at reducing the risk of developing severe COVID-19.

Australia is in a fortunate position as we are not facing the COVID-19 transmission rates currently experienced by the USA, the UK, European countries, and others worldwide. Our hospitals are not operating at capacity, and death and community transmission rates of COVID-19 are low.

Australia is not experiencing conditions that would require vaccination rollout via emergency use authorisation. As such, our nation will benefit from growing data on vaccine dose and effectiveness as they are implemented in countries with the greatest need.

Vaccinated individuals will be protected from the worst of COVID-19 but will not be protected from becoming infected. None of the vaccines that have been approved for use have demonstrated that they can stop transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)—conclusive data is not available yet.

Importantly, in preventing severe COVID-19 that requires hospitalisation, both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines are equally effective. Accordingly, the Academy supports the current Australian Government vaccination strategy, informed by the best available expertise and science.

Public confusion has arisen around the implications of 62% or 95% effectiveness of first-generation COVID-19 vaccines. These figures represent the AstraZeneca AZD1222 and Pfizer BioNTech BTB162b vaccines’ respective effectiveness rates at protecting an infected person from developing mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Either vaccine is amply effective to prevent severe disease—the outcome we all fear most and the primary goal of Australia’s vaccination strategy.

The approval and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines alone will not bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, public health measures such as practising good hygiene, high levels of testing, contact tracing and physical distancing must continue in 2021.

Australians should get vaccinated. Administering first-generation vaccines will be critical to reducing the number of people infected with COVID-19 who then progress to hospitalisation, intensive care or death. It will allow us to avoid a major wave of illness like that currently being experienced in the northern hemisphere.

Lifting public health measures will only be possible following further research, adequate worldwide vaccination and the control of spread at an international level. In this context, the Australian Government’s commitment to the World Health Organization, COVAX and supporting our Pacific and South-East Asian neighbours to obtain access to vaccines is highly commendable.

Australians are looking for trustworthy information and answers about COVID-19 and vaccination. With much misinformation in the public domain, we urge Australians to continue to consult reputable sources of evidence-based information such as Commonwealth and State Departments of Health, our Chief Medical Officers, the Australian Academy of Science, as well as our other Learned Academies such as the Australian Academy for Health and Medical Sciences.

In this context, Australians with questions about vaccines are encouraged to consult Academy resources, including our COVID-19 Hub, and the Science of Immunisation, which is currently being updated.

Australians can be reassured that the current Australian Government vaccination strategy is informed by experts and the best available science. Only science will solve this.

Professor John Shine AC PresAA FRS
President
Australian Academy of Science

The Australian Academy of Science’s Annual Fellows’ Christmas Book and Podcast List, released today, contains 37 favourite reads (and listens) recommended by the Academy’s Fellows.

As we have for the past four years, we asked our Fellows to provide their top book and podcast suggestions for this year.

Here's a small sample of this year's recommendations:

Books

Wonder, by RJ Palacio

Recommended by Emeritus Professor Frances Separovic AO FAA

‘Wonder’ is a delightful book recommended for children aged 8 to 12 but its themes of identity, bullying and acceptance apply to readers of all ages. It tells the story of a boy born with severe facial differences as he starts school. The power of the book comes from how normal and relatable each character is and the insight into how one person can affect the lives of others.

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup, by John Carreyou

Recommended by Professor Georgia Chenevix-Trench FAA FAHMS

Everyone with an interest in biotech should should read this. It is scary how gullible clever men are when faced with a charismatic young woman, and how many people were fooled. The court case is pending but the author tells a gripping story.

A Water Story: Learning from the Past, Planning for the Future, by Geoff Beeson

Recommended by Dr TJ Higgins AO FAA FTSE

Water is a precious chemical globally and is especially so in Australia. This very accessible book with its excellent illustrations tells of the use and importance of water from ancient times to the present. The focus is on Australia and it covers everything from aquifers to yabbies.

English Pastoral, by James Rebanks

Recommended by Dr Jean Finnegan FAA

A thoughtful account of how the quest for cheap food has changed farming practices and the effect that this has had on farmland in the Lake District. Rebanks tells of his efforts to return to more traditional farming practices and to restore parts of his farm to a ‘wild’ state with benefits for both flora and fauna.

Morality, by Jonathan Sacks

Recommended by Professor Steven Prawer FAA

This book reassesses moral philosophy in the face of a society which seems to have lost its way. We in the Academy believe in evidence and truth as the basis for a society in which we want to live; but this notion is currently under threat in the era of post-truth and fake news. Sacks provides a vision of the moral basis for society in which the values which we hold dear can flourish.

Podcasts

13 Minutes to the Moon, hosted by Kevin Fong

Recommended by Professor Ivan Marusic FAA

Podcast on Nasa's missions to the Moon. Gripping interviews and original audio recordings of mission control, astronauts and partners who made the mission possible. Apollo program revised in a refreshing way with theme music by Hans Zimmer.

Terrible Lizards, hosted by David Hone and Iszi Lawrence

Recommended by Professor Andrew White FAA

This the podcast about dinosaurs that you have been missing your entire life. It brings together each week paleontologist Dr David Hone, comedian and writer Iszi Lawrence, and an expert guest. Using the latest research, they answer listeners’ questions with conversations that are equally entertaining and informative.

The highly successful Rapid Research Information Forum (RRIF), tasked with providing the latest scientific evidence to the Australian Government’s decision makers, will continue and expand with support from Minderoo Foundation.

Australia’s success in containing the COVID-19 outbreak, largely based on an evidence-based response, including the work of the RRIF, is the envy of the world.

In April, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold globally, Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel together with the country’s science, research and innovation sectors, began fielding questions from the Federal Government about the coronavirus, in what was a rapidly changing situation.

Chaired by Dr Finkel, the RRIF’s operations are led by the Australian Academy of Science. The RRIF is an innovative model that provides the best and latest evidence to Government to help drive the country’s response to the pandemic.

The RRIF and its impact on the nation has been publicly recognised by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. Minderoo Foundation’s commitment of $400,000 to the Australian Academy of Science will strengthen the RRIF and help lay the foundations for the model into the future.

Australian Academy of Science Chief Executive, Ms Anna-Maria Arabia, warmly welcomed the commitment from Minderoo Foundation.

“This collaboration demonstrates a shared understanding of the need for evidence-informed decision making,” Ms Arabia said.

“The strengths of the RRIF are its multi-disciplinary focus, independence, and ability to rapidly draw on Australia’s best and most relevant experts on any given policy matter.

“The RRIF has demonstrated the critical value of independent evidence to inform social and economic policy and this has been recognised by the Minderoo Foundation.

“This grant sees the RRIF model strengthened for the immediate term. The RRIF will continue its remit to rapidly provide the scientific expertise needed to answer questions received from Australian Government Ministers during the recovery phase of the pandemic.

“We are also working to encourage the adoption of the RRIF as a policy model in the long term to ensure that decision makers are drawing on the best evidence-base possible whatever the policy question.”

Research Chair of Minderoo Foundation Fiona David said the RRIF is fast becoming one of Australia’s greatest research assets, delivering clear evidence on key policy issues at the speed needed to help the country through crises.

“Now more than ever, Minderoo Foundation understands the importance of quality research which can be used to transform and improve the lives of all Australians,” Ms David said.

“Back in May, the RRIF released a report which outlined COVID-19’s devastating impact on Australia’s research sector. In response, Minderoo Foundation launched a fellowship program at the Forrest Research Foundation, to support some of the best and brightest early career researchers in Australia. Our new Prospect Fellowship Program aims to provide stable funding to Australian researchers during this challenging time.

“Minderoo is thrilled to be working with the Australian Academy of Science to be part of the Rapid Research Information Forum. We eagerly anticipate the publication of the next report.”

Forum member organisations:

The Academy has contributed funding towards two scientific conferences focusing on the Southern Ocean and the conservation of Australian plants.

Elizabeth and Frederick White Research Conference—‘Multiscale Dynamics of the Southern Ocean’

The multiscale dynamics of the Southern Ocean will be the focus of a workshop for the 2021–22 Elizabeth and Frederick White Research Conference.

The conference will accelerate Australian science advances in multiscale dynamics of the Southern Ocean: a crucially important water mass for the Australian climate, economy, environment, and security. The conference will promote knowledge transfer with New Zealand researchers and drive other international collaborations.

Funding for Elizabeth and Frederick White Research Conferences are offered for research conferences in the physical and mathematical sciences related to the solid Earth, the terrestrial oceans, Earth's atmosphere, solar-terrestrial science, space sciences and astronomy. 

Fenner Conference on the Environment—‘Exceptional times, exceptional plants’

This conference will focus on ex situ conservation strategies for Australian plants that cannot be conserved by conventional seed banking methods.

The conference will provide an opportunity for scientists working on the conservation of Australia’s diverse flora to evaluate methods for conserving plant germplasm (seeds, plants and other plant tissues), adding value to guidelines produced by the Australian Network for Plant Conservation. This is crucial to protect some of our most threatened species, particularly in the context of climate change and water scarcity challenges.

Funding for Fenner Conferences on the Environment is offered for conferences that bring together those with relevant scientific, administrative and policy expertise to consider current environmental and conservation problems in Australia, with the aim of contributing to the formation of policies that can alleviate some of these problems.

Both the White and Fenner conferences are funded annually, with applications for the 2022–23 rounds opening in early 2021.

2020: it’s been big.

As we count down the final days of what has been an unexpected year, join us as we reflect on the challenges and successes experienced by the Australian Academy of Science over the last 12 months. And, as we look ahead to a better tomorrow, we will be celebrating science and the leaders who will guide us there.

Keep an eye on the Academy social media channels through December as we share videos and profile articles introducing the 2020 cohort of Fellows elected earlier this year. We will also revisit some of the biggest stories we covered through the year. You can follow the Academy on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

But for now, let’s have a quick look back at the year that was:

January

2020 started with much of Australia on fire, prompting a clear statement from the Academy President Professor John Shine on how human-induced climate change will continue to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather. It wasn’t long before Canberra experienced another form of extreme weather, with a severe hailstorm causing catastrophic damage to the copper roof of our beloved Shine Dome, threatening the Academy’s unique and valuable scientific archives. Ian Potter House, where most of the Academy’s staff work, was also damaged to the point of being unsafe to occupy. For many staff members, this was the beginning of ‘working from home’.

February

In February, the Academy co-hosted the Catalysing Gender Equity conference where hundreds from across the Australian STEM sector, including twelve changemakers from the STEM Women online community, travelled to Adelaide to discuss how to advance gender equity in Australia and how to realise the opportunities described in the Decadal Plan for Women in STEM. The SAGE Athena SWAN awards were also held for the last time while SAGE was in its pilot phase. The Academy stands alongside co-founding partner, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, in wishing SAGE Ltd a strong and successful future.

March

The honorific awardees for 2020 were announced in March, with 18 talented scientists recognised for their significant contributions to Australian science. Keep an eye on our social platforms as we revisit these discoveries and careers over the coming weeks. March also saw the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions nationally, and the Academy responded by making a call for the data underpinning COVID-19 decisions to be made public, and launching of a series of factual videos to support community awareness.

April

In early April, the COVID-19 Expert Database was launched providing access for decision-makers and journalists to key experts relevant to the pandemic. Later that month, along with Australia’s Chief Scientist and other learned academies and partners, we also launched the Rapid Research Information Forum (RRIF) to provide the best available evidence to rapidly respond to pressing questions about COVID-19 thereby supporting government decision-making in response to the pandemic. RRIF has so far provided 13 briefs along with additional updates.

May

May would normally be one of the biggest months in the Australian science calendar with our annual Science at the Shine Dome event. This year we still announced the 2020 cohort of Academy Fellows and Corresponding Members—keep an eye on our social channels during December as we recognise each of the new Fellows individually for their contribution to science and Australia. In May we also warned decision makers that the response to the pandemic risked wiping out many of the hard-won gains for women in STEM.

June

On World Environment Day, the Academy joined 17 other academies to call on world governments to ensure a sustainable recovery from the pandemic. June also saw the launch of a new outreach initiative, Global Science TV, a collaboration with the International Science Council that evolved from the science news capability developed at the Academy over the last three years.

July

In July we revisited the bushfire season, with Fellows providing evidence to Government via senate estimates and evidence briefs on the effect of the fires on soil health, biodiversity and later, the health impacts. A reminder was also issued by the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) that only a low-carbon recovery will provide for social equity, the environment, and human health. The Academy program, Future Earth Australia, also called for local community needs not to be overlooked as we adapt to climate change.

August

During August, we celebrated National Science Week with two online webinar events on saving our oceans and fighting bushfires with science. We also co-hosted a discussion with the Australian Academy of Law on the reception, quality and evaluation of scientific evidence in Australian courts. A satellite selfie was taken from space of the Shine Dome, and we took the opportunity to share more inspiring stories of the Academy’s Fellows. We also took a look back at the past 12 months of championing the vision for women in STEM, applauding the successes and recognising where more work still needs to be done.

September

In September, we made a call for data governance standards in sport, recognising the lack of oversight in how data is being collected and the associated impacts on athletes’ rights and protections. We also held the Australian final of Falling Walls Lab and recognised three winning ideas from early career researchers who then represented Australia in the international finals held in Berlin, Germany.

October

October saw the release of the delayed Federal Budget, which signalled a significant response to the crisis facing Australia’s scientists as a result of the pandemic. The Academy also contributed a policy brief to the parliament recommending the development of an independent national biodiversity agency, or ‘biodiversity BOM’, to be the custodian of biodiversity data in the same way BOM manages national weather data.

November

During November, we celebrated NAIDOC Week with two inspirational webinars that explored how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have knowledge that stretches back thousands of years and have so much to contribute to Australia’s future. We also announced the repair work to the Shine Dome, and a commitment towards net zero emissions at Australia’s home of science. We have also begun digitising the first of many collections in the Academy archives, which have already been accessed by researchers internationally.

December

Finally, during December we will be Celebrating Science. Over the next four weeks we will share videos introducing the 2020 cohort of Fellows elected earlier this year. We will also revisit some of the biggest stories we covered through the year as we prepare for what 2021 will bring.

The Academy has so many to thank for their support throughout 2020. Partners and sponsors from the private, government, science and education sectors, along with many generous donors, have made it possible for the organisation to achieve what it has this year. We will continue to recognise our supporters’ contributions in the second edition of Science Matters in the first half of 2021.

And we acknowledge the hard work of all our Fellows who make the Academy what it is. The Academy’s Fellowship of brilliant minds makes major contributions to the success and prosperity of Australia.

The Academy’s scienceXart competition showcases the talent of our next generation of scientific and creative thinkers.

This year, to mark the 100th anniversary of the International Mathematical Union, the competition theme was ‘spot the maths’. Students were encouraged to snap a photo of the maths they see in the world around them, and these entries came in thick and fast.

Today, we’re announcing the winners of each age-group category. These were selected by a panel of eminent members of the Australian mathematical science and art communities.

Over 850 individual students submitted entries in 2020, and we thank all of the students across Australia who took the time to participate and teachers who supported the competition.

Congratulations to all the winners. They will receive an exciting STEM-related prize pack for themselves and their class.

The winners

Foundation to Year 3

• First prize: Aaron for the photo of a snail on a leaf and spotting geometry in their garden friend.
• Second prize: Samuel for a photo of the terminus of a two-person chairlift and investigative recognition of its maths.

Year 4 to Year 6

• First prize: Setayesh for recognising the maths that causes overlapping concentric circles in rain drops that fall close together.
• Second prize: Eleanor for a photo of a passionfruit vine that they spotted in the shape of a helix.

Year 7 to Year 9

• First prize: Max for recognising that when bubbles merge, they form various shapes to maximise volume relative to surface area.
• Second prize: Niamh for a photo representing the theory of parallel lines meeting at infinity.

Year 10 to Year 12

• First prize: Natalia for a photo of an island reflection, spotting symmetry in nature.

Statistics Prize

• Winner: Otylia for a photo describing a creative display of statistics in nature as the birds occupied boxes made by the fence.

scienceXart: spot the maths was developed in consultation with leading Australian mathematicians, including from the Academy’s National Committee for Mathematical Sciences. It was tailored to align with Australian curriculum learning outcomes under expert guidance from the Academy’s reSolve project.

The competition was supported by the Australian Mathematical Society and the Statistical Society of Australia. The collaboration of experts in mathematics, education and art has made scienceXart successful in showing the inherent creativity of mathematics and science.

See all the winning and shortlisted photographs or find out more about the scienceXart competition.

Two Academy Fellows, Professor Ben Eggleton and Professor Dacheng Tao, have each won a 2020 Australian Museum Eureka Prize.

Professor Tao won the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Data Science. His work on deep learning, which imitates the brain's ability to process data and make decisions, has enabled the design of algorithms for object detection and image enchancement.

Professor Eggleton and his team of Dr Eric Mägi, Dr Moritz Merklein, Dr Alvaro Casas Bedoya, Dr Yang Liu and Associate Professor Stephen Madden won the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia. A microchip produced by the team, which uses the interactions between light and sound, can improve microwave signal processing in performance, efficiency and cost.

Four Fellows were also Eureka Prizes finalists:

• Professor Geordie Williamson, a world-leading mathematician in geometric representation theory, was a finalist for the CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Innovation and Science
• Professor Michelle Coote, regarded as a pioneer in computational chemistry for modelling radical polymerisation processes, was a finalist along with her team for the UNSW Eureka Prize for Scientific Research
• Professor Chris Dickman is internationally recognised for his contributions to our understanding of terrestrial vertebrates. His Cat Ecology, Impact and Management team was a finalist for the Eureka Prize for Applied Environmental Research
• Professor Robert Parton, known for his pioneering work on the plasma membrane organisation of mammalian cells, was a finalist along with the BioNanoVR team for the ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology.

Academy Fellows Dr TJ Higgins and Professor Toby Walsh have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Dr Higgins is an Honorary Research Fellow at CSIRO Agriculture and Food and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2016 for distinguished service to agricultural biotechnology.

A CSIRO researcher for 36 years, he served as Deputy Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry from 2000 to 2009.

Dr Higgins was elected for ‘distinguished contributions to the field of molecular plant science, particularly using gene technology to transfer useful traits to grain legumes for food security’.

Professor Walsh is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence at UNSW and leads the Algorithmic Decision Theory group at CSIRO’s Data61.

He was elected for ‘intellectual leadership and significant contributions to automated deduction, constraint programming, and fairness in artificial intelligence’.

Professor Walsh was the 2019 Chair of Section T of AAAS, covering computer science.

“It is a great honour to join some of the best scientists around the world as a Fellow of AAAS. I especially value the work that AAAS does in promoting evidence-based policy, as well as in encouraging inclusion and diversity in science,” Professor Walsh said.

Professor Walsh is currently is the Chair of the Academy's Data in Professional Sport project, in collaboration with Minderoo Foundation.