Bequest leaves lasting legacy of quality education
A bequest is a special gift; a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the Academy remains a part of the lives of future generations.
Professor David Craig’s bequest of $50 000 which, at his request was directed to Primary Connections, will directly support the publication of four new Student Science Journals for Year 5 students to be published in January 2017. These journals support each curriculum unit and allow students to record all their work for a unit, lesson by lesson. The journals become a valuable record for both students and teachers and are a key component of the inquiry-based teaching and learning model which underpins Primary Connections.
Student Science Journals years 5 and 6
New PrimaryConnections Student Science Journals for years 5 and 6 are currently being trialled and will be published in early 2017.
- Each ready-made, Student Science Journal allows students to record all their work for each unit, lesson by lesson.
- The journals support the teaching of the corresponding curriculum unit, and provide scaffolding to support students’ journalling while including opportunities for adding further notes and ideas. Guided questions are also included.
- All resource sheets are included so teachers can assess students’ understanding throughout the unit. Students are also encouraged to evaluate their own progress and understanding.
- The journals are produced in full colour with added illustrations to engage students. (Trial teachers report increased student motivation to record their thinking and to take greater pride in their work.)
- Literacy skills are supported with a student appendix of literacy focuses which are cross-referenced throughout the text.
- PrimaryConnections Student Science Journals will save teachers time and make classroom management easier. No more photocopying and handling of individual resource sheets
Professor Craig was a former Australian Academy of Science President and prominent Australian Chemist. The Australian Academy of Science acknowledges this valuable support in contributing to making Primary Connections a valuable part of science education in Australia.
For a confidential discussion about naming the Academy in your will, please contact the Bequests Manager:
Australian Academy of Science
GPO Box 783, Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone 02 6201 9400
email philanthropy@science.org.au
The new Max Day Fellowship
A major donation from Dr Maxwell Day AO FAA, is being used to establish the annual Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award of up to $20 000, which will help PhD students or early-career researchers meet costs associated with their research or to supplement PhD scholarships.
The award is named in honour of Dr Maxwell Frank Cooper Day AO FAA who is the longest serving Fellow of the Academy and who has spent a lifetime championing entomology, conservation and forestry, and helping other scientists. Elected to the Academy in 1956—just two years after the Academy was founded—Dr Day still clearly remembers the 1958 ceremony at which then Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies officially laid the foundation stone of what is now known as the Shine Dome. Dr Day said recently that the most satisfying achievement of his long career was the work he did with the late Professor Frank Fenner AC FAA FRS on developing the myxomatosis virus which played a major part in controlling Australia’s rabbit problem. Dr Day is also proud of his work establishing the Division of Forest Research within CSIRO, which led to Australia’s international recognition for its contribution to forest research.
As for the future, Dr Day would like to see more diversification and collaboration across disciplines.
I’d like to think that scientists of the future can also think broadly and put their specialisation into a broader context.Dr Maxwell Day AO FAA
Dr Day and his family are generously funding this Fellowship to support scientists early in their careers, acknowledging the support that Dr Day himself received as a young researcher to travel overseas to gain his PhD at Harvard.
We sincerely thank Dr Day for his generosity.
A special thank you to Doug Hooley for his generous support to the Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award. Mr Hooley has pledged his ongoing support of the award.
New partnership with University of Melbourne for women in science
When microbiologist Professor Nancy Millis passed away in September 2012, some of her colleagues at the University of Melbourne came up with the idea that, by donating sufficient funds, they would enable a medal to be struck in her honour—and thus began the Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science.
Major support from the University of Melbourne to act as a partner in underpinning the award of the Nancy Millis Medal in perpetuity was announced earlier this year. The university’s donation will allow the Academy and the university to work together in fully celebrating each recipient of the medal through joint recognition by both organisations.
President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Andrew Holmes, said what began with a small group of Prof Millis’ colleagues coming together to create an award to celebrate her work, has now become one of the organisation’s most popular awards.
“More than 100 remarkable women have already been nominated for the Medal in its short life span,” said Professor Holmes.
“This is the second Medal awarded by the Academy to acknowledge leading women in STEM, and we hope that we can work harder to support many more through our Awards. The Academy is very proud to be a partner with the University of Melbourne in celebrating and nurturing these leaders, and it is extremely grateful for the strong financial support of the award.”
Prof Millis was a wonderful scholar and a great character. The obvious traction the Medal, named her in honour, has for women in STEM would have made her both proud and humble.Professor McCluskey
Founding donors
The Academy would like to thank the following founding donors for their generous support of the Nancy Millis Medal:
- J A Angus
- E S Dennis
- S Cory
- I D Gust
- E Hartland
- A B Holmes
- P Y Ladiges
- J A Pittard
- R Roush
Reef research places Australian scientist in Nature’s top 10
Academy Fellow Professor Terry Hughes
Academy Fellow Professor Terry Hughes has been named one of the Ten people who mattered in 2016 by science journal Nature.
Professor Hughes is the only Australian to have earned a spot on the list this year, in recognition for his work documenting and alerting the world to the worst-ever coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef.
He is joined on the list by other science and technology leaders including Demis Assabis, co-counder of the artificial intelligence company Deep Mind whose computer program AlfphaGo beat the reigning Go world champion; Celina Turchi, who instigated the global response to Zika virus; and Guillem Anglade-Escudé who discovered the nearest known planet outside the solar system orbiting Proxima Centauri.
As Distinguished Professor at James Cook University and Director of the ARC Centre for Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Professor Hughes led aerial and underwater surveys of over 2,300 kilometres of the reef in 2016, finding that 67% of coral in the northern section of the reef had died. He did 35 interviews with journalists on the day that interest in his story peaked.
Professor Hughes recently authored an article for ‘The Conversation’ on the findings, predicting long-term impacts in the northern corals, with higher levels of disease, and slower growth rates and rates of reproduction. Researchers expect the replacement of these dead corals to take at least 10 to 15 years, depending on conditions.
‘The message to people should be that we’ve got a closing window of opportunity to deal with climate change,’ he told Nature.
The Australian Academy of Science is conducting a review of Australian climate science capability and future requirements, looking to understand the expertise and infrastructure needed to shape Australia’s responses to changes in the climate.
Australian scientists head to India
Dr Md Shahriar Hossain | Photo courtesy of Paul Jones, University of Wollongong
The Academy has just announced the four Australian scientists travelling to India in 2017 to undertake ground-breaking research at some of that country's leading research institutions.
The Australia–India Strategic Research Fund Fellows have been selected by the Australian Academy of Science from a competitive field of applicants, and will receive a combined amount of $88,000 from the Australian Government to undertake their research.
A reciprocal fellowships scheme funded by the Indian Government will support Indian scientists to visit Australia from early 2017.
About the reseachers
Dr Md Shahriar Hossain from the University of Wollongong will investigate superconductors for low-cost fusion power for a sustainable future, with the Institute for Plasma Research.
Dr Vicki Thomson of the University of Adelaide will work with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research to study the disease risk from black rat species in India.
Dr Samia Toukhsati from Austin Health, Vic will research the effect of relaxing music on the autonomic nervous system in heart failure patients, with Manipal University and Kasturba Medical College and Hospital.
Dr Mike Williams of CSIRO Land and Water, SA will look at identifying antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance in the Moosi River near Hyderabad using chemical and biochemical markers, with the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.
Full details of the successful Australian Fellows
More information about the Australia–India Strategic Research Fund
Have your say on the future of agriculture
The Academy's National Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is looking for comments and feedback on the final draft version of the Decadal Plan for Agricultural Sciences.
Email your suggestions by 19 December 2016 to have your say on the future of agricultural sciences in Australia.
Decadal plans are 10-year strategic plans for science disciplines. The Decadal plan for Agricultural Sciences will shape priorities and guide the research direction for the future of Australian agriculture.
The purpose of the plan is to identify and define responses around the likely major scientific and technological advances occurring over the coming decade.
It will also look at changing trends in the management of agriculture enterprises and aim to encourage processes that ensure decisions around research targets and funding are effective.
Input and feedback from the scientific community is an important part of this process.
More details on other decadal plans are available on the Academy’s website. If you would like to know more about plans currently in development, please contact the Academy.
Australia strengthens science ties with Indonesia
The first Australia–Indonesia Science Symposium brought together more than 100 leading researchers and emerging scientists to find out how science and innovation can meet shared challenges.
Held over four days, scientists from the two nations shared their research, looking for solutions to some of our most pressing challenges in health, marine science, climate change and agriculture.
On track to become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2050, Indonesia is undergoing massive economic and social change. Poverty is declining, health is improving, and the nation is urbanising.
Indonesia is keen to develop energy, health, water and food security, with Indonesians being early adopters of new technologies.
Using social media to inform scientific policy, developing drought-tolerant crops, breeding dengue resistant mosquitoes, working with big data and managing marine and coastal health to address climate change were just a few of the topics covered at the symposium.
The event was jointly organised by the Australian Academy of Science, the Indonesian Academy of Sciences, the EMCR Forum, and the Indonesian Young Academy of Sciences with the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Indonesian Ministry of National Development and Planning (Bappenas) and the Knowledge Centre Initiative.
Transforming Indonesia and Australia with science and innovation
Australia and Indonesia to improve scientific collaboration
Australian and Indonesian scientists have come together in Canberra this week to encourage better scientific cooperation between the two countries.
Hosted at the Australian Academy of Science’s Shine Dome, the Australia-Indonesia Science Symposium will be attended by Senator the Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Dr Bambang P. S Brodjonegoro, Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning.
Indonesia is on track to become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2050. It’s undergoing massive economic and social change. Poverty is falling, health is improving, the nation is urbanising. The nation is hungry for energy, health, water and food security. Its people are early adopters of new technologies from social media to big data.
Australian and Indonesian scientists are working together to find solutions for some of the most pressing challenges facing both nations in health, marine science and agriculture. The Symposium will also offer scientists an opportunity to look at the innovations that can arise from the use of big data and other disruptive technologies.
President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Andrew Holmes, said the Symposium would run over four days, and lead to enhanced collaboration and cooperation on innovative research.
“Leading researchers from both countries will start the Symposium by sharing their work, celebrating successful joint
projects between scientists in Australia and Indonesia,” Professor Holmes said.
Highlights of the four-day symposium include:
- A new drought-tolerant sugar cane for Indonesian farmers (Professor Bambang Sugiharto, Universitas Jember)
- Golden bananas and other crops to reduce vitamin deficiencies (Professor James Dale, Queensland University of Technology)
- What do the people want? Harvesting social media to inform policy (Diastika Rahwidiati, Pulse Lab Jakarta)
- Managing Indonesia’s coral reefs (Professor Jamaluddin Jompa, Universitas Hasanuddin)
- The future of mangroves—and why they’re essential for fisheries and coastal health (Professor Catherine Lovelock, University of Queensland)
- Breeding mosquitoes to fight dengue (Professor Adi Utarini, Universitas Gadjah Mada)
- Why is it hard to acquire immunity to malaria, and what does that mean for vaccine development? (Dr Diana Hansen, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)
Professor Holmes said the Symposium would build on these successes and provide opportunities to discuss career pathways in science and the challenges in linking science to policy.
“There will also be workshops and opportunities for Australian early- and mid-career researchers to establish working relationships with their Indonesian counterparts.”
“By supporting this work, we can move forward together to achieve great results for research in Australia and Indonesia.”
Professor Holmes said the event was a culmination of the hard work of the Australian Academy of Science, the Indonesian Academy of Sciences, the Australian Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum, and the Indonesian Young Academy of Science. The event is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Knowledge Sector Initiative.
Full program and more speakers atwww.ksi-indonesia.org/aiss/agenda
Scientists from Australia and Indonesia will be available for interview throughout the event. For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
- Toni Stevens on +61 401 763 130, (03) 9398 1416, or toni@scienceinpublic.com.au
- Michelle Kovacevic on +61 439 444 762.
Sustainability focus for new program launched by Academy
The Future Earth Program, which brings together thousands of researchers and billions of dollars of sustainability research from across the world, was launched in Australia today.
The Academy has appointed Dr Imran Ahmad to lead this ambitious program following support from CSIRO, the University of Queensland, Macquarie University and the University of Sydney.
Future Earth will take a uniquely holistic approach to address some of humanity’s most complex problems, such as climate change, food security and water supply, by integrating physical sciences with the social sciences and humanities.
Dr Imran said an example of how this would work would be tackling the challenge of sustainable urban and agricultural development in areas with reduced rainfall by bringing together experts from diverse fields such as agricultural science, urban planning, behavioural economics and history.
The launch of the Future Earth program follows an initial 18-month consultation and planning process involving each of Australia’s learned Academies that was funded by the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA).
More information and a copy of the Future Earth Australia strategic plan can be found on their website.
Sustainability science initiative to safeguard Australia’s Future
The Future Earth Program is being launched in Australia. Future Earth is a global initiative of the International Council for Science that brings together thousands of researchers and billions of dollars of sustainability research programs across the world.
“Future Earth is a significant international research framework, and its focus on social, economic and environmental sustainability is of particular importance to our region,” said Professor Andrew Holmes, President of the Academy of Science.
“The Academy of Science will establish an Australasian node of this important program to ensure that Australia and our neighbours have an opportunity to realise the full benefits of the sustainability work that’s being undertaken across the globe.”
The Academy has appointed Dr Imran Ahmad to oversee this ambitious program following support from the CSIRO, the University of Queensland, Macquarie University and the University of Sydney. Dr Ahmad has extensive experience in international sustainability research, programs and policy through senior roles with the Global Green Growth Initiative, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
He said that the unique aspect of the Future Earth Program was the integration of physical sciences with the social sciences and humanities to achieve a truly holistic approach to some of humanity’s most complex problems.
“Australia faces unique sustainability challenges, and in many cases we don’t yet have good ways to address these,” he said. “Future Earth Australia will allow us to begin tackling challenges such as sustainable urban and agricultural development in parts of Australia that will have reduced rainfall by bringing together experts from fields such as agricultural science, urban planning, behavioural economics and history, for example.”
The launch of the Future Earth program follows an initial 18-month consultation and planning process involving each of Australia’s learned Academies that was funded by the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA).
More information and a copy of the Future Earth Australia strategic plan can be found at www.futureearth.org.au.
Media contact: Dion Pretorius | 0418 281 777 | dion.pretorius@science.org.au