Professor Chennupati Jagadish, President of the Australian Academy of Science, has welcomed the commencement of the Australian Government’s Strategic Examination of Research and Development (R&D) hailing it as an opportunity to position Australia in an era of intense global competition and build a system that is fit for purpose.

“If we get this right, the Strategic Examination of Research and Development will give us a roadmap to position and power our R&D system so it delivers maximum economic and social benefits,” Professor Jagadish said.

“My expectation is that the Strategic Examination will make recommendations to bring strategy and coherence to R&D measures and funding across government, industry and higher education that are essential for jobs creation, productivity, national security and competitiveness.

“If we get the R&D settings right, every single Australian is a winner,” he said.

Current Australian Government investments are spread across 14 portfolios and 151 programs – diluting their impact and effectiveness. R&D investment by government and business are no longer globally competitive.

“Australian R&D investment places us close to the bottom of OECD countries, which is no place to be for a nation that needs to accelerate decarbonisation, digitise, protect its borders and upskill its people.”

Since 2018, the Australian Academy of Science has been calling for a review of the nation’s research and development  system because the complex web of policies, funding instruments, institutions and incentives currently in place are not serving our national interest.

The broad terms of reference and diverse membership of the independent panel appointed to oversee the Strategic Examination highlight the need for both the business and research sectors to work together. 

The independent panel is made up of the Chair Robyn Denholm, and panel members Professor Ian Chubb AC FAA FTSE, Professor Fiona Wood AO and Dr Kate Cornick.

“The Academy is especially pleased to welcome the appointment of Professor Ian Chubb – a Fellow of the Academy and an experienced and knowledgeable adviser to governments who has a comprehensive understanding of R&D systems in Australia and abroad,” Professor Jagadish said. 

The Academy will support the independent panel with data and insights from Australian Science, Australia’s Future: Science 2035. This initiative independently being conducted by the Academy is evaluating the capacity and capability of the Australian science system to meet our national ambitions.

Opinion: We cannot supercharge Australia’s economy without fixing this major inefficiency

The Academy’s Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture recognises scientific research of the highest standing in the physical sciences and honours the contributions of Australia’s early scientific researchers.

Captain Matthew Flinders was the first person to circumnavigate Australia in 1803 and gave Australia its name.

More than 100 places and landmarks are now named after Flinders including the Flinders Ranges, Flinders Street Railway station, Flinders Island and Flinders River. 

Earlier this year 2021 medal awardee and former Academy President Professor Andrew Holmes AC travelled to Donington village in Lincolnshire, England, with his wife Jenny.

There, they witnessed the reinterment of Matthew Flinders’ remains at his birthplace. The remains were discovered beneath London’s Euston train station in 2019, 205 years after Flinders’ death.

This is their account of the historic ceremony.

It was a grey overcast day as we set off with our Cambridge friend on the approximately one-and-a-half-hour drive from Cambridge to the village of Donington in Lincolnshire.

The purpose of our visit was to attend the reinterment service of the mortal remains of Matthew Flinders in a crypt in the village Church of St Mary and the Holy Rood in Donington, near Spalding, where he was baptised, and where many members of his family are buried.  

Flinders left the village to join the British Royal Navy when he was 15. His talent as a cartographer was spotted whilst he was sailing to Tahiti on the breadfruit expedition with William Bligh! Ten years after enlisting he was appointed Commander of the HMS Investigator and in July1801 sailed to what the Europeans called ‘Terra Australis’ to begin a careful and comprehensive survey of the coast. 

On his second journey, he completed the circumnavigation of the continent, established that Tasmania was a separate island, named the country Australia (much to the chagrin of Joseph Banks, who perhaps for this reason abandoned support for him) and created maps of the coastline that are valued to this day for their accuracy. 

There were adventures (one involving a shipwreck off the coast of Queensland and a long journey in an open rowing boat back to Port Jackson to secure help), but finally in December1803 he was returning to London when he put his small, unseaworthy ship (HMS Cumberland) into port at Ile de France (now Mauritius), being quite unaware that England was again at war with France.

The French Governor promptly imprisoned Flinders, and his incarceration ended only after six-and –a-half long years of negotiations on his behalf. He returned to London in poor health, surviving just long enough to have his bound journal, A Voyage to Terra Australis, placed on his deathbed in 1814. 

His funeral service was held at the church St James’s Piccadilly, with a a burial ground in Camden, close to what became Euston Station. During an expansion of Euston station westward in the 1840s, the identities of up to 40,000 graves were lost in perpetuity.

His daughter, Anne Petrie recalled:

“Many years afterwards, my aunt Tyler went to look for his grave, but found the churchyard remodelled, and quantities of tombstones and graves with their contents had been carted away as rubbish, among them that of my unfortunate father, thus pursued by disaster after death as in life” [1].  It transpired that Flinders had in fact been buried in an area untouched by Euston’s expansion, but unfortunately there was no headstone marking the grave.

Some two hundred years later, in January 2019, an exciting discovery was made.  During the construction of a new platform for the HS2 railway, in the vicinity of Euston Station, the excavations were closely monitored by archaeologists who wanted to take advantage of “an extraordinary opportunity to study contemporary life and death in London” from an earlier era.

Led by Robert Hartle, the archaeologists made use of the City of Westminster Archives to locate plot 2 J 70 (second ground, lot J, number 70) as the site of Flinders’ grave. They kept a very close watch on excavations in that area and their vigilance was rewarded when a breastplate was revealed bearing the name Captain Matthew Flinders RN. 

As a captain in the Royal Navy, Flinders had been entitled to a lead breastplate that then stood the test of time for over 200 years. Hartle set about building a new coffin with his own hands for the reinterment ceremony in Donington, and the full story is recounted (with excellent photographs) in his article on the web [2]. 

As one of the archaeologists remarked, it was an honour to be following in the footsteps of Flinders’ grandson, the Egyptologist Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie, credited as being the ‘father of modern archaeology’.

Donington was the birthplace of Matthew Flinders and following the discovery of his remains in London, the citizens of Donington rallied. A committee was formed headed by a redoubtable lady called Jane Pearson, and work began on the campaign to bring him home!  

One of the unexpected consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic was that it gave the team time to raise significantly more funds to hold an even grander ceremony.  On Saturday 13 July 2024 in the village church, that is exactly what happened.  We went, expecting to find the proceedings interesting, but what we found went far deeper—it was a highly moving ceremony.  

Although it was a grey day, the village of Donington was anything but grey!

Australian flags and Union flags were everywhere—bunting lined the streets, and a craft market sporting several kangaroos filled the market square, guarded as ever by a statue of Flinders and his little cat, Trim. If you’ve not read the story Flinders wrote about his cat Trim whilst a prisoner of the French, we recommend it wholeheartedly.

Every local man, woman and child seemed to be out, on car parking duty or nudging strangers from far afield towards the church, pointing out landmarks like his birthplace or selling postcards to support the event!

The air hummed with festivity and goodwill.  The church was full. There were lots of Australians (South Australia was represented by their Governor, the Hon Frances Adamson) and all around were men in suits, women in hats, brass and braid glinting everywhere.  

South Australia was fortunate to receive the gift of the original lead breastplate from the Flinders family.

Special music, a gun salute, the Bishop of Lincoln in all his finery and, unforgettably, young naval ensigns, solemn faced, marching slowly as they carried the coffin into the nave, then later lowered it into the prepared burial vault.  

If you are interested in watching the service, you can do so on YouTube [3].  We suggest you fast forward to here which is just before the naval pallbearers enter the church. That moment took many of us by surprise; it was incredibly moving. But so was most of the service [4].

After the service we wandered around the church—like so many English village churches, it was filled with fascinating displays—before joining the great and the good outside for afternoon tea, South Australian wine, general mingling and a few speeches. Three great granddaughters of Flinders Petrie were present and a great grandson, John Flinders, read a poem that began, “I saw the name Flinders when I was in Australia/ It was a street in Melbourne …” 

As Peter Fitzsimons noted in his article in the Sydney Morning Herald entitled, A Hero’s Welcome for Flinders, Two Centuries Too Late, it was strange that neither the Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles, nor the Australian High Commissioner, the Hon Stephen Smith, both of whom were in the UK at the time, were present at the ceremony.

Finally, on Sunday 14 July, after viewing the Magna Carta in Lincoln Castle, we went next door to Lincoln Cathedral, for an evensong service specially dedicated to the guests from the previous day.

It too was a very special experience, followed by delicious home-baked treats and wine which we enjoyed in the cathedral cloisters. We had opportunities on both days to meet Flinders family members, local supporters of the ‘Bring Him Home’ campaign, learn from Robert Hartle about that thrilling moment of discovery, and reflect on the life of a most remarkable man.

References

1. Ernest, S. (2011 (1914)) The Life Captain Matthew Flinders, Cambridge University Press, p.396.
2. Robert Hartle – the Recreation of Flinders’ Coffin – matthewflinders.net
3. MFBHH YOUTUBE
4. Order of Service for the Re-interment of Matthew Flinders’s Mortal Remains.

The Australian Academy of Science has over the past months contributed to discussions on urgent global challenges via the Science20, a working group comprising national learned academies of the Group of 20 (G20).

This year’s S20, coordinated by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), focused on the theme ‘Science for Global Transformation’. The resulting S20 Communiqué, which will be delivered to the G20 in the coming months, set out specific recommendations and implementable actions on the topics of:

• Artificial intelligence: ethics, social impact, regulation and knowledge sharing
• Bioeconomy: shaping the world toward a sustainable planet
• Energy transition process: renewable energies, social and economic considerations
• Health challenges: quality, equity, access and preparedness for epidemics and climate change
• Social justice: promoting inclusion, ending poverty and reducing inequalities.

The Academy endorsed the Communiqué following discussions at the S20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last month, attended by Academy Fellow Dr Surinder Singh.

Academy President, Professor Jagadish said, “This annual forum highlights the crucial role of science in furthering the G20’s agenda to achieve the economic growth required to pull millions of people out of poverty with inclusive – and I highlight the importance here of inclusive – and sustainable development.”

Science and international scientific collaboration serve as key mechanisms to reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goals within the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. This year’s S20 Communiqué also draws attention to the need to grasp each nation’s social and demographic trends – essential for anticipating technological requirements and driving innovation.

Recommendations

Recommendations outlined in the Communiqué include:

• AI: Invest in data infrastructure, high-performance computing, and training to use AI effectively in fields of application.
• Bioeconomy: Build robust international and multilateral cooperation: The G20 nations should reach a consensus on the role of the bioeconomy as one of the strategies for tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, and human and non-human health. Formulate a joint policy framework that enables countries to implement bioeconomy programs, invest in social and technological innovations, share critical knowledge, improve the quality of life, and safeguard natural resources.
• Energy transition process: Social and economic considerations should include job creation, technological advancements, equitable access to energy, public engagement and environmental justice.
• Health challenges: Address climate and environmental changes impact on communicable and non-communicable diseases by research and environmental management and improved surveillance.
• Social justice: Enhance scientific literacy: Cultivate scientific literacy and awareness of science as a self-correcting process; equip societies to meet future technological challenges through better scientific understanding.

Read the full S20 Communiqué

The Academy congratulates the ABC for its vibrant coordination of this year’s meetings and for producing a valuable statement that will provide evidence-informed scientific advice to G20 Heads of State and Government.

Next year’s S20 meetings will be coordinated by the Academy of Science South Africa under South Africa’s G20 Presidency. 

Eleven of Australia’s brightest early-career scientists have attended the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, this year dedicated to physics.

The event, held from 30 June to 5 July in Germany, is a highly prestigious annual gathering of Nobel Laureates and approximately 600 young scientists from around the world.

It provides a unique opportunity for the young scientists to share their research, experiences and ideas, and gain inspiration from fellow emerging scientists and Nobel Laureates.

As well as meeting their heroes, the Australian delegates held their own at the event. Grace Tabi from the Australian National University (ANU) presented her research on perovskite solar cells, while Claire Yung, also from ANU, gave a presentation on turbulent fluid dynamics in Antarctic ice shelf melt predictions.

Posting about their experiences via Academy communication channels, the delegates shared in their final X (formerly Twitter) thread: “Reflecting on the experience, #LINO24 was truly enriching. We carry with us new ideas and perspectives, empowered by the shared knowledge of Nobel Laureates and fellow young scientists. Together, we will use these insights to shape a brighter future!”

Research innovation tour

As part of the group’s travel, the Academy organised a research innovation tour in Berlin in the lead-up to the Lindau meeting.

The tour enabled the young scientists to visit a range of prestigious research institutes connected to their fields of studies, including:

• Humboldt University’s Fraunhofer Institut  
• Ferdinand Braun Institut 
• AIP Observatory 
• Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics 
• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt 
• IGB Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries.  

They met the Australian Ambassador, Ms Natasha Smith, at the Australian Embassy in Berlin and learnt about the role of science in Australia and Germany’s bilateral relationship.

Dr Barnali Das of CSIRO said the Lindau meeting filled her with a new sense of responsibility to society and strengthened her love for physics.

“Overall, the whole trip, including the Berlin Innovation tour, has provided me with a positivity that, I hope, will stay with me forever."

About the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

The Australian delegation was led by astrophysicist and Academy Fellow Professor Elaine Sadler and supported by optical physicist and Academy Fellow Professor Hans Bachor.

Participation in the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings is proudly supported by the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF) and administered by the Australian Academy of Science.

Next year’s 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, which is dedicated to the discipline of chemistry, will be held from 29 June to 4 July 2025.

Applications for the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting will open in August 2024.

The Academy welcomes the Australian Government’s recognition of Australia’s RNA potential in the blueprint released this week, as an important step in building Australia’s RNA capacity.

Building sovereign RNA capacity means Australia can draw on essential health technologies, address our unique environmental needs, and strengthen our research capabilities for the future.

It is of note that fundamental RNA science was identified by this blueprint as a strength for Australia. Patient investment in fundamental RNA science research will be critical to delivering applications for the future.

The Academy has previously recommended a national mission for the whole RNA science and technology pipeline in Australia, driven by strategic investment and prioritisation across funding schemes and providing sustainable, long-term funding for projects from fundamental research through to translation.

The Academy hosted a roundtable in 2021 to identify Australia’s RNA science and technology priorities. In 2022, the Academy provided advice to the Department of Industry Science and Resources (DISR) on RNA science drawing on the expertise of our Fellowship and insights from the National RNA Science and Technology Roundtable. This advice informed Australia’s RNA Blueprint.

Overview of Academy’s RNA work

2021 – Academy hosts National RNA Science and Technology Roundtable

Statement—National RNA science and technology priorities

Proceedings—National RNA Science and Technology Roundtable

News and media releases

Can Australia build a world-leading RNA science-based biotech industry?

Proceedings of National RNA Science and Technology Roundtable released

2022 – Academy provides science advice on RNA via unpublished report for DISR

In 2022, the Academy provided advice to DISR on RNA science drawing on the expertise of our Fellowship and insights from the National RNA Science and Technology Roundtable. This advice informed Australia’s RNA Blueprint.

2023 – Academy responds to discussion paper

Academy responds to ‘Understanding our RNA potential: discussion paper’, a consultation that led to the blueprint published this week.

Two early career researchers will receive further financial support to continue their primary care research thanks to the 2024 Douglas and Lola Douglas Scholarship in Medical Science.

The scholarship from the Australian Academy of Science assists with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or primary health care research, and this year’s scholarship recipients are Dr Johanna Birrell and Dr Richard Kha.

Dr Johanna Birrell, University of Sydney

Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer function adequately on their own, requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT) to help people survive.

The number of people with kidney failure receiving KRT more than doubled between 2000 and 2021, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Dr Johanna Birrell is conducting epidemiological research into kidney failure across Australia and New Zealand to improve patient access to kidney failure services.

“There are inequities in access to treatment for kidney failure in Australia,” Dr Birrell said.

“Detailed health service planning is required to improve prevention and patient access to kidney failure services, and to prepare for future demand.

“The results of this research will deliver new insights into which communities across Australasia are most affected by kidney failure, face the greatest difficulties in accessing care, and the contributing factors.”

Dr Birrell will dedicate some of the funding to develop her skills in geographic information system mapping as well as travel to remote communities to ensure that the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with kidney failure are represented in the research.

Dr Richard Kha, Westmead Institute for Medical Research

Vision impairment has a profound impact on wellbeing and greatly reduces quality of life, and according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare the burden of eye diseases in Australia is expected to increase rapidly.

Dr Richard Kha’s research is identifying the current prevalence, risk factors and impact of vision impairment and major eye diseases responsible for vision loss. This information will assist in the development of cost-effective, long-term and sustainable solutions for the prevention of vision impairment.

“The increasing burden of eye diseases is due to the rapidly ageing population, and age is a major risk factor for the primary eye diseases responsible for vision impairment,” Dr Kha said.

According to the results from a national eye health survey, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience higher rates of vision impairment, blindness and vision loss than non-Indigenous Australians.

Dr Kha aims to close the gap in blindness and visual impairment by explicitly quantifying the disparities in visual impairment and access to care to inform disease- or location-specific eye care initiatives.

“This data will be critical to planning and delivering treatments and support towards saving sight, as well as tracking progress towards eliminating avoidable vision loss.”

The Douglas and Lola Douglas Scholarship in Medical Science

The Douglas and Lola Douglas Scholarship in Medical Science is made possible through a generous bequest by philanthropist Lola Douglas, who had a wish to support young researchers. This bequest enables the Academy to help to fulfil this wish.

The scholarship provides up to $14,000 over two years to cover costs of small items of equipment, materials, travel, or assistance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or primary health care research.

The funding is offered as a ‘top up’ to PhD candidates awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Postgraduate Scholarship.

Dr Michelle Bootcov is the recipient of the 2023–24 Mike Smith Student Prize for her original research into the history of Australian science.

She has brought her passion for science and history together in her essay titled ‘Robert Kirk: Blood, genetics, race and rights in the mid to late twentieth century’.

Dr Bootcov has an interdisciplinary background, with a science and an arts degree, and a PhD in molecular immunology.

Now a PhD candidate again at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Dr Bootcov’s essay investigates the mid-twentieth century transformation of viral diagnostics, through developments in hepatitis research.

The essay was highly commended by the judges for the creative topic, strong analysis and skilled presentation, with Dr Bootcov regarding her selection to receive the Mike Smith Prize an “extraordinary honour”.

It has been published as an open access article in the Academy’s journal, Historical Records of Australian Science.

The intersection between human population genetics and virology in the 1960s

Dr Bootcov said her essay examines mid-twentieth century blood collecting, the ‘undoing’ of race, and the progressive politics of British-Australian population geneticist Robert Kirk.

“This history of Robert Kirk is particular to Australia but engages with universal themes.

“It spans the 1950s to 1980s, which was a transformative period for genetics, social justice and Indigenous politics, and includes the repercussions that followed in the genomic era.”

Kirk collected historically significant blood samples from Indigenous Australians, one of which was found to hold a protein that has proven vital in our understanding of viral hepatitis.

This prompted Dr Bootcov to research Kirk’s scientific practices and social influences in her essay, and she explains the intersection between human population genetics and virology in the 1960s.

“It is not without justification that the collecting of blood for genetic analysis is frequently associated with race science, but it is not solely or inevitably so,” Dr Bootcov said

About the prize

With a first prize award of $3,000, the Mike Smith Student Prize recognises the work of students in the history of Australian science or Australian environmental history.

It is awarded by the Academy’s National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science in partnership with the National Museum of Australia once every two years.

The judging panel also includes an Editor of Historical Records of Australian Science.

President of the Australian Academy of Science Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC has been inducted into the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as a Foreign Member at a ceremony in Beijing on 23 June 2024.

Professor Jagadish is one of 180 Foreign Members elected to CAS. Foreign members are people who are not Chinese citizens but have been recognized for their distinguished scientific or engineering work.

He joins three other Australian Academy of Science Fellows, Professor Bill Compston, Professor Max Lu and the late Professor Chris Christiansen as CAS Fellows.

Professor Jagadish said he was humbled and grateful for the honour of being elected as a Foreign Member.

“All the credit goes to my group members and collaborators, past and present for this honour.”

CAS is a merit-based academic society that brings together scientists and engineers from China and around the world to address both theoretical and applied problems using world-class scientific and management approaches.

Speaking at the 21st General Assembly of CAS Members on 23 June, Professor Jagadish said fostering collaboration and partnerships with international scientific organisations and researchers is a key pillar of the Academy's strategic plan. 

“International scientific cooperation is essential for addressing global challenges.

“By combining resources, expertise, and efforts across borders, the global scientific community can develop more effective, inclusive, and sustainable solutions to the pressing issues facing humanity.

“This cooperation not only advances science but also fosters global solidarity and peace. 

“My research in nanotechnology and semiconductors has been made possible because of some 30 collaborations I maintain across the world, including with China, working together to build basic science knowledge. 

“Collaborations between China and Australia have grown in recent decades, and China is now among one of Australia’s most important international partners.”

This is an abridged version of the speech delivered by Australian Academy of Science Chief Executive Anna-Maria Arabia at the launch of the Academy’s Primary Connection and reSolve resources on Tuesday 25 June 2024.

Hello, Hughes Primary School! Thank you for hosting the Australian Academy of Science this morning and for being with us bright and early on this crisp Canberra morning. 

We are delighted to be launching our all-new resources for primary science and mathematics teachers.

I don’t need to remind the people in this room that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are at the heart of almost everything we do and how we advance as a nation and a globe, from solving major global problems to creating new businesses and jobs we haven’t yet imagined, STEM is a fundamental foundation in our lives and our future. 

The stronger the grounding we all have in problem-solving and critical thinking, the more equipped we will be to navigate life, lead change and shape a future that is both sustainable and prosperous. And one that enables all Australians, regardless of where they grow up, to participate in and benefit from the opportunities before us. 

Our ability to problem solve and think critically starts with a strong foundation in science and maths, with students in classrooms able to explore multiple ways of thinking, learning and working.  

The Academy has a long-standing and deep connection with, and commitment to, school STEM education in Australia, dating back to 1967 with the groundbreaking Web of Life textbook, which was hailed as the most successful curriculum development project of its time in the world. Developed right here in Canberra!

The STEM education programs of the Australian Academy of Science have at their core, teachers—the beating heart of schools across Australia. 

We are driven by a desire to invest in teachers. 

To support them to nurture and develop students’ curiosity and to lay the foundations for successful investigation, knowledge building and problem solving.

Our approach always has been and always will be guided by the best available evidence—it’s the Academy way. 

For over 20 years, our Primary Connections program has been a favourite among primary school educators. Together with our reSolve mathematics program, these resources attract over half a million visits and nearly 400,000 downloads annually. 

But time rolls on and things change.

The digital transformation: from content creator to capability builder 

With shifts in the education environment—amplified by the pandemic—and the introduction of Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum, we have taken the opportunity to completely rethink how our programs are designed and delivered in contemporary ways for teachers.

We have again consulted the evidence—the Academy way—and rather than simply converting our existing products and services into a digital format, the new digital resources being launched today are a complete reimagining of how professional learning is delivered to support teachers in building their practice capability and confidence. 

This work is led by listening to experts, to evidence, and importantly to teachers. 

We have gained deep insights into their needs and operating environments and this has enabled us to create tools and resources that are purposeful and useful to them, in today’s teaching environment.

Our experience is that when teachers are involved in the development and evaluation of programs, they provide invaluable perspectives, experience and knowledge. 

May I publicly thank every single teacher who has assisted us in getting us to today, so that we can give back to you. 

Summary of key features 

What we are launching today is the beginning of a new system of professional learning. 

Our new interactive resources support teacher practice. They integrate the latest research and explain the design thinking behind each decision in a teaching sequence.

The Primary Connections and reSolve pedagogical toolboxes are full of research-based strategies to build teachers’ practice for teaching science and mathematics. 

They build teacher capability to adapt and mobilise resources and experiences to meet the needs of all learners in their class.  

They recognise that learning is a process, not an event. They recognise that teachers are time-poor but vocation-rich.

They recognise that learners—and teachers—come in all shapes and forms and that they learn differently.

Our resources allow teachers to prepare not just what students need to know, but how students learn best.

They are also fully aligned to the Australian Curriculum Version 9 and include achievement standards to support adapting for local curriculum or syllabus needs.  

They are teacher informed.

And they are evidence based—it’s the Academy way.

On behalf of the Australian Academy of Science may I extend my thanks for the Australian Government funding for being our partner in this endeavour. 

Your commitment means that all of our resources are available free of charge to every single school and teacher across Australia. This lifts us all. It is priceless and we thank you. 

Learn more about the launch of these resources in the Academy's media release. 

The President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, said it would be a missed opportunity for Australia not to join Horizon Europe, the world’s largest funding program for research and innovation, valued at over ninety-five billion euros. 

“The global challenges we are facing require global solutions, requiring researchers and countries to work together. International scientific collaboration is a matter of strategic national interest and something Australia cannot do without," Professor Jagadish said. 

“Australia’s association with Horizon Europe would also assist in mitigating some of the current geopolitical risk in Australia’s scientific enterprise; and deliver scientific and economic benefits to Australia.”  

Read more about international scientific collaboration.