In a time of risk and opportunity, science is critical
The President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, said the Australian Government cannot build a stronger, more resilient nation with a stagnant research and development system that relies on decades-old settings.
Over the past two decades, a significant drop in R&D is leaving Australia more exposed to external pressures and shocks, as well as increasing sovereign vulnerability. There are serious consequences for national well-being, security and prosperity.
“Good intentions, just-in-time measures, ad-hoc interventions, politics and overlapping state and Commonwealth priorities have led to a research system spread over 176 programs and 14 federal portfolios,” Professor Jagadish said.
“We are left with an incoherent system band-aided to slow the bleeding but not to fix the problem. The lack of a coherent and strategic approach is yielding negative impacts.”
The Academy’s pre-budget submission published today recommends the Australian Government urgently commission a cross-portfolio, cross-sectorial review of Australia’s R&D system.
Professor Jagadish said while the University Accord final report is expected to recommend structural reform across the higher education system, Australia also desperately needs a holistic review of the fundamentals that underpin the science and research system.
“Such a review would inform a 10-year roadmap to enable R&D to power Australia’s economy and meet Australia’s ambitions,” Professor Jagadish said.
The Academy’s submission highlights some of the impacts of Australia’s poorly functioning science and research system, including:
- declining productivity – in 2020, Australia’s productivity growth was the slowest in 20 years, and Australia’s investment in R&D declined to a new low point over the same period
- a lack of understanding of whether Australia has the right scientific capacity and capability to meet national and global challenges
- a services and resource-focused economy which makes us vulnerable to economic shocks and volatile international conditions.
“Reversing the downward trend of government investment in R&D is not the work of any single budget. All levels of government, industry, universities, the research sector and philanthropy must play their part,” Professor Jagadish said.
“But a national strategy, a roadmap, and a decade of commitment to boost investment in R&D is an essential start.”
Quantum photonics pioneer tours Australia as Frew Fellow
The Academy’s 2023 Frew Fellow, Professor Jelena Vuckovic, toured and lectured in Australia recently as a recipient of the Academy’s Geoffrey Frew Fellowship. The Fellowship brings distinguished overseas scientists to Australia to participate in Australian spectroscopy conferences and to visit scientific centres, and was initiated in 1970 through a personal donation from Mr G S V Frew.
Since 2015, the Australian Optical Society has generously matched the Academy’s funding support for the Geoffrey Frew Fellowship. This collaboration underscores a commitment to enhancing global scientific exchange and facilitating interactions between international scholars and their Australian counterparts.
Professor Vuckovic is a pioneer in experimental and theoretical research in nanophotonics and quantum photonics, which have found widespread use in chemistry, physics, medical imaging and manufacturing. She leads the Nanoscale and Quantum Photonics Lab at Stanford University and was the inaugural director of the interdisciplinary Q-FARM initiative. This brings university researchers from different fields together to study quantum science and engineering and to train the next generation of scientists.
Embarking on the Frew Fellowship tour, Professor Vuckovic visited key academic hubs in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra.
Insights into scalable quantum photonic systems
The tour started in Sydney, where Professor Vuckovic engaged with the academic community at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the University of Sydney. The ARC Centre for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS) colloquium at UTS focused on scalable quantum photonic systems. At the University of Sydney, the Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS) seminar explored the theme of unlocking the power of photonics through inverse design and heterogeneous integration. Engaging with researchers and exploring state-of-the-art optics labs and nanofabrication facilities added depth to the tour.
Quantum photonics lecture
Professor Vuckovic then visited the University of Queensland, delivering a lecture on quantum photonics and inverse design. This visit offered an opportunity for discussions with colleagues and a chance to explore advanced research labs, fostering connections and collaboration.
ANZCOP-AIP plenary talk and Academy interaction
The tour concluded in Canberra, where Professor Vuckovic delivered a plenary talk at the Australian and New Zealand Conference on Optics and Photonics and the Australian Institute for Physics summer meeting hosted at the Australian National University. Addressing an audience of more than 500 physicists and optics scientists, the lecture provided insights into the forefront of quantum photonics. Discussions with Australian Academy of Science leaders were then held at the Shine Dome.
Reflecting on the journey, Professor Vuckovic was grateful for the warm reception and the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues. The visit, reminiscent of her past research in Australia, fostered scientific discussions and paved the way for future collaborations. The Frew Fellowship proved to be a remarkable chapter in advancing quantum photonics and strengthening Australian scientific ties.
Fellows celebrated in Australia Day honours
Six Academy Fellows have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to science by being named on the 2024 Australia Day honours list.
Emeritus Professor David Boger and Ms Catherine Livingstone are two of just four people to receive the highest honour, appointed to the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) recognising their “eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large”.
Emeritus Professor David Boger AC FAA FTSE FRS
Professor Boger is an internationally recognised expert in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics.
He is responsible for the discovery of constant viscosity elastic liquids, now known as Boger fluids, and was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science in 2005 for this pioneering work in fluid mechanics.
Professor Boger’s discovery of these ‘perfect non-Newtonian’ fluids has been used in varied research, from solving problems in large-scale mining projects to the use of fluids in nanotechnology.
Elected to the Academy in 1993, Professor Boger served as a Committee Member (1995 – 1998) and as a Council Member (1999 – 2002) of the Australian Academy of Science.
He received the Mathew Flinders Medal in 2000, an award recognising scientific research careers of the highest standing in physical science.
Professor Boger receives his AC “for eminent service to chemical engineering as a scientist, academic and researcher, particularly in the field of non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, and to the environment”.
Ms Catherine Livingstone AC FAA FTSE
Ms Livingstone, elected to the Academy in 2014, is passionate in her belief that science and technology have critical roles in the future development of Australia.
Current Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney, her career in leadership spans science, technology, innovation and arts.
Ms Livingstone champions the technology that drives any company where she is in the leadership team.
Ms Livingstone, who was previously recognised as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2008, now receives the highest honour “for eminent service to business, particularly through governance and strategic reform, to tertiary education, to science, technology and innovation capability development, and to the arts”.
Professor Sarah Robertson AO FAA FAHMS
A world-renowned reproductive biologist, Professor Robertson was elected to the Academy in 2016.
She is a champion of reproductive health. Her research shows that the immune system plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of embryo development.
As a research leader at the University of Adelaide, her team continues to improve practices in reproductive medicine, developing applications for treating infertility and providing insight into early-life origins of child health.
Professor Robertson receives her AO “for distinguished service to medical research, particularly reproductive biology and immunology, and to professional societies”.
Distinguished Professor Louise Ryan AO FAA
Professor Ryan is an internationally recognised statistician for her methodological contributions to statistical methods for cancer and environmental health research.
Elected to the Academy in 2012, she is well known for her leadership ability and passion for mentoring young scientists.
Currently a Council Member of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Ryan blends statistical research methods with applications in the real world, particularly in the health and environmental domains.
Professor Ryan receives her AO “for distinguished service to biostatistical research and methodology, to environmental science, and to professional societies”.
Professor Joseph Trapani AO FAA FAHMS
Professor Trapani is an immunologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, researching the interaction between the immune system and cancer.
Elected in 2018, Professor Trapani is interested in harnessing the power of the immune system to devise new ways of treating cancer.
Professor Trapani receives his AO “for distinguished service to medical research, particularly immunology and the development of immune-based cancer therapies, and to the community”.
Professor Alexander McBratney AM FAA
Professor McBratney, elected to the Academy in 2016, has made major contributions to soil science and agriculture through his research on understanding the properties of soil (pedometrics), digital soil mapping and precision agriculture.
He is passionate about the sustainable use and management of the soil system.
From the University of Sydney, Professor McBratney made expert contributions to the Academy’s evidence brief on Soil conditions after bushfires, providing recommendations to governments on helping our soil recover from bushfires.
Professor McBratney receives his AM “for significant service to soil science through research and education, and to the development of digital mapping techniques”.
Australian Government’s interim AI response a sensible first step
The Australian Academy of Science supports the Australian Government’s interim response to the discussion paper for supporting responsible artificial intelligence (AI), including its plans to ensure AI is designed, developed and deployed safely and responsibly.
The Academy contributed advice to the National Science and Technology Council in March 2023 on the opportunities and risks of generative AI.
The Academy is pleased the government has built on the advice of the research sector in the interim response and identified legal, regulatory and governance measures that are needed across a range of portfolios.
The interim response is a sensible first step and the Academy welcomes a focus on avoiding unnecessary or disproportionate burdens for the research and development (R&D) sector, the community and regulators, as well as the express desire to balance innovation and competition with community safeguards that protect privacy, security and online safety.
The interim response identifies the need for Australia to continue to engage internationally to help shape global AI governance, and to identify opportunities to support the safe and responsible deployment of AI technologies in our region.
Australia has the opportunity to support regional efforts to strengthen AI governance and capability via the International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, hosted by Australia via the Academy.
Via this network, Australia can build regional momentum behind the Bletchley Declaration, which affirms that AI should be designed, developed, deployed and used in a manner that is safe, human-centric, trustworthy and responsible.
The Academy continues to call on the Australian Government to take leadership in:
- developing a national strategy for the uptake of AI in the science sector
- investment in sovereign high-performance computing facilities to ensure Australia’s AI capability doesn’t rely on other nations
- implement the UNESCO recommendation on Open Science (since AI is trained on available data, keeping scientific data and peer-reviewed publications behind paywalls impacts the ability of these systems to leverage the most reliable information).
The Academy looks forward to continuing to convene experts and provide advice to assist the Australian Government to maximise Australia’s contribution to, and benefits from, AI.
Appropriate AI regulation coupled with strong government support for development of local technology and companies will see Australia prosper.
2024 Max Day Awards: restoring ecosystem engineers and protecting marine environments from microplastics
The 2024 Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship awardees, Ms Aviya Naccarella from Deakin University (left) and Dr Elvis Okoffo from the University of Queensland. Photos: supplied.
Two early career researchers have each been awarded a 2024 Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award for their interdisciplinary research on protecting the environment.
Ms Aviya Naccarella, Deakin University
The contribution of mycophagous mammals to ecosystem services and restoration
Ms Aviya Naccarella is assessing how digging, mycophagous mammals contribute to ecosystem function in Victoria. Photo: supplied
Digging, mycophagous (fungus-feeding) mammals were once common throughout many parts of coastal Australia, providing a range of essential ecosystem services, including improving soil health, providing a habitat for other species, creating germination niches for plants and dispersing fungal spores.
Now, due to habitat loss and the introduction of invasive species such as cats and foxes, populations of these mammals have reduced and so has the ecological services they once maintained.
Ms Aviya Naccarella, an early career ecologist at Deakin University with an interest in restoration ecology, will use translocations in Victoria to assess how digging, mycophagous mammals contribute to ecosystem function and what role these mammals can play in restoration.
“Mycophagous mammals are ecosystem engineers,” Ms Naccarella said in her application.
“My project will test the benefits of reintroductions for the restoration of ecosystem services.”
Ms Naccarella will use her Max Day grant to conduct DNA analysis on soil samples before and after translocation to increase our understanding of the influence they have on fungal community dynamics and soil health.
Dr Elvis Okoffo, University of Queensland
Unmasking the hidden threat: Investigating microplastic pollution in Moreton Bay for a sustainable future
Dr Elvis Okoffo is researching the extent of microplastic pollution in Moreton Bay, Queensland. Photo: supplied.
While the sight of plastic on a beachfront is distressing, the presence of microplastics goes unnoticed due to their microscopic size. These tiny plastic particles can have immensely negative impacts on the environment, from disrupting the food chain and endangering marine life to threatening human health.
Dr Elvis Okoffo from the University of Queensland is researching the extent of microplastic pollution in Moreton Bay near Brisbane, home to a vast biological diversity which many animal and plant species rely on for survival.
Dr Okoffo’s research will be used to evaluate the exposure and risk to the marine organisms within the bay and inform management plans to help protect this environment.
“It is imperative that we develop a comprehensive understanding of the types and distribution of microplastics in Moreton Bay to effectively address this pervasive issue,” Dr Okoffo said, in his application.
“By doing so, we can protect the health of our ecosystems, safeguard human well-being, and preserve the natural beauty of this precious marine environment.”
Dr Okoffo will use his Max Day grant to continue sample collection from the waters of Moreton Bay, developing novel sampling approaches and analytical techniques for monitoring plastic residues in these environmental samples.
Highly commended
Another two researchers and their projects were highly commended for their 2024 Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award applications:
- Mr Christopher Keneally, University of Adelaide: ‘Predicting methane emissions and ecosystem function from salinity and microbial communities in a hypersaline coastal wetland’
- Dr Jiaying Li, University of Queensland: ‘Combating the antimicrobial resistance threat: understanding antibiotic exposure and antimicrobial resistance spread in urban water systems’.
Max Day: a champion of environmental research
The Max Day Award provides up to $20,000 for early career researchers working on the conservation of Australia’s flora and fauna, the ecologically sustainable use of resources, and the protection of the environment and ecosystem services. It is named in honour of Academy Fellow, the late Dr Maxwell Frank Cooper Day AO FAA, who spent a lifetime championing entomology, conservation and forestry, as well as helping other scientists.
Applications for the 2025 award round will open on 15 February 2024. Learn more about this award.
Academy Fellows receive prestigious International Science Council Fellowship
Three Academy Fellows and an EMCR Forum member are among several distinguished researchers appointed a Fellow of the International Science Council – the international body for convening global scientific expertise on issues of major scientific and public importance.
Professors Brian Schmidt AC FAA FTSE FRS, Cheryl Praeger AC FAA, and John Church AO FAA FTSE have been appointed in recognition of their “outstanding contributions to promoting science as a global public good,” the ISC said in their announcement today. Computer scientist and member of the Academy’s EMCR Forum, Associate Professor Andreea Molnar has also been appointed a Fellow.
“The ISC Fellowship recognises individuals who are ambassadors and advocates working tirelessly for science internationally and for the vital importance of evidence-informed policymaking,” Chair of the ISC Fellowship Council Professor Terrence Forrester said.
“ISC Fellows hail from wide-ranging geographies, sectors, disciplines and career stages, and we look forward to working with them all in multiple capacities in the coming months and years.”
Award-winning mathematician, educator, and science diplomat, Professor Cheryl Praeger said she was thrilled to hear the announcement, particularly given the international significance of the Council. “I saw the role of the ISC in action during my term as member of the ISC’s Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science, and I am very pleased to see the ISC’s role this year in supporting the formation of a Pacific academy for the sciences and humanities,” Professor Praeger said.
“Currently I have the privilege to serve on the National Science and Technology Council providing science advice to the Prime Minister and other Ministers, and I look forward to this new opportunity to contribute through the ISC,” Professor Praeger said.
Professor Praeger has more than 40 years of experience in scientific engagement and leadership in Australia and overseas. She served as adviser and executive on numerous Australian science bodies, including the Australian Academy of Science, as well as the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia, International Mathematical Union, and ISC Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science. She was the first pure mathematician to win an Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship, and in 2019 she became the first pure mathematician to be awarded the Australian Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.
Nobel Laureate and world-renowned astrophysicist Professor Brian Schmidt’s research has led to unlocking fundamental mysteries of our Universe. He has been the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University since 2016 – a position he will relinquish in January 2024 – and has won major accolades including the Shaw Prize in Astronomy in 2006, the Gruber Prize in Cosmology in 2007, and the Academy’s Pawsey Medal in 2011. He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2013.
Professor John Church is the pre-eminent authority on the rate of 20th century sea-level rise. He was a pioneer in what is now a standard approach to the use of observations to detect climate change in the ocean, and his research has played a significant role in international planning for climate change research. He was co-convening lead author on the IPCC 3rd and 5th Assessment Reports and is a member of the Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Programme.
Associate Professor Andreea Molnar’s research is focused on computing for good. Her research has applications in health, education, and governmental services, and she is also the Senior Editor for Information Technology and People. Associate Professor Molnar is also a member of the Global Young Academy.
Other prominent Australian researchers including conservationist Professor Peter Bridgewater, Emeritus Professor of modern history Roy MacLeod, and cognitive scientist Professor Anina Rich have also been appointed to the ISC Fellowship.
“The election of these researchers and scientists to the fellowship of the International Science Council is a fitting acknowledgement of their excellence and years of service to advancing science as a global public good. We are thrilled for them and offer our warmest congratulations,” President of the Academy Professor Chennupati Jagadish said.
ISC Fellows serve as experts and advisers for the ISC’s governance, scientific initiatives and partnerships, and as ambassadors and advocates for science for the global good. They are nominated by stakeholders including ISC Fellows, members, and affiliated bodies, and must demonstrate relevant expertise in their field as well as a track record of contributing to science policy and science for society, in addition to having a global or regional influence.
75 years of the Australian Journals of Scientific Research celebrated
This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Australian Journals of Scientific Research (AJSR) which represent a remarkable archive of more than 70,000 articles.
CSIRO Publishing and the Australian Academy of Science celebrated the anniversary at a gathering at Ian Potter House in Canberra on Thursday 7 December.
The event marked the long-running collaboration between the Academy and CSIRO, which publishes 1,000 articles every year under 14 AJSR titles.
The growing archive reflects Australia’s rich history of science as well as Australian scientists’ continuing impact on international research. Communicating the outcomes of that science in journals creates building blocks for future learning and understanding.
The origins of AJSR
Development of science journals started to gain momentum early in the 20th century, but was halted by World War II. There was a shortage of resources, and printing equipment needed to be prioritised for government requirements.
Much of the research that might have been published in peacetime was also paused for security reasons, so by the mid-1940s there was a considerable backlog of work waiting to be published and not enough journals or local publishing capability.
In 1946, the CSIR (now CSIRO) proposed the establishment of an Australian Journal of Scientific Research—Series A, Physical Sciences and Series B, Biological Sciences—to capture the best of Australian research findings.
In 1948, Dr N.S. Noble from the Linnaean Society of New South Wales was appointed as editor and published the first volumes of the Australian Journal of Scientific Research. An editorial board was developed, and submissions were refereed by a broad range of specialists.
Through the following years the rules of conduct for the journals were established in collaboration with the Australian National Research Council (precursor to the Australian Academy of Science).
Demand for publishing services continued to grow and in 1950 three new journals were started: the Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, the Australia Journal of Applied Science, and the Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research.
The expanding suite of journals became known as the Australian Journals of Scientific Research (AJSR) governed jointly by CSIRO and the Australian Academy of Science through the Board of Standards. By 1988 the AJSR comprised 11 titles.
AJSR goes online
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the winds of economic rationalism buffeted the journals. CSIRO directed its publishing operation, including the journals, to adopt a commercially sustainable business model, so CSIRO funds might be targeted at directly supporting research. CSIRO Publishing was created, and the business unit took on the task of adapting to a new publishing channel: the internet.
All AJSR titles were available online by the end of 1997, making them more easily discoverable and speeding up the publication processes.
Digital journals quickly led to the idea of making articles available online for free, or ‘open access’. The scholarly and publishing communities wrestled with the open access concept for the first two decades of the 21st century, trialling various business models that would allow for free distribution of the articles, but which would also sustain the work of editors, publishers, and journal brands.
AJSR today—and into the future
Today the number of journals in this collaboration sits at 14 and they publish more than 1,000 articles per year. Given the collaborative nature of science, many articles are now co-authored by researchers around the world.
All volumes are now digitised, accessible online and owned by the Australian public through CSIRO. This content will continue to contribute significantly to the landscape of trusted literature that informs decision-making and future research.
In 2023, as we reflect on the enormous changes in knowledge transfer, the significance of trusted research that has been peer-reviewed and published following ethical processes is greater than ever.
In the most recent agreement between the Academy and CSIRO, the focus is on moving towards open science and ensuring the integrity of the journals in an increasingly complex environment.
Many challenges face the editorial boards, reviewers, and publishing teams that support our journals. However, these dedicated teams value the role they play facilitating the application of research and collaborating to publish outcomes that will help solve societies biggest challenges.
Summer stories: Fellows share their top books, podcasts and TV shows
Professor Malcolm Sambridge and Professor Susanne von Caemmerer are two of the many Fellows who have shared their recommendations for summer reading, listening and viewing.
Are you curious about how germs have shaped human history?
Perhaps you’d rather be swept away in the retellings of Greek mythologies, follow aged care residents solving murder mysteries, take a close up view of the life and work of George Orwell’s wife, or walk with an author exploring the brutal truths about his ancestors and their part in the colonisation of Australia.
In the eighth annual Fellows’ reading, listening and viewing list, our Fellows reveal the broad array of topics—across books, podcasts and TV—that have captured their attention in 2023.
See the Fellows’ reading, listening and viewing list
Below is a snapshot of this year’s recommendations.
Books
Wifedom, by Anna Funder
Recommended by Professor Tony Basten AO FAA FTSE: A must-read for all fans of George Orwell (Eric Blair). Wifedom speaks to the unsung work of women everywhere today, while offering a breathtakingly intimate view of one of the most important literary marriages of the 20th century. It is a book that speaks to our present moment as much as it illuminates the past.
Recommended by Professor Robyn Williams AO FAA: The book is about the ‘invisible’ wife of George Orwell. Anna is a magnificent writer who investigates the seemingly unreachable evidence like the true daughter of a great scientist that she is.
The Arbornaut, by Meg Lowman
Recommended by Professor Barbara Nowak FAA: This is an amazing book about forest canopies and their biodiversity and the woman who pioneered this research and did everything she could to do this, including sampling from a cherry picker bucket while pregnant. From researcher and explorer to storyteller, educator and mentor, [Meg Lowman] is now active in global forest conservation, promoting sustainability and forest stewardship. While many of her life stories will be very familiar to women scientists, the scientific content of the book and the fieldwork adventures will excite all readers.
Rock Star: The story of Reg Sprigg – an outback legend, by Kristin Weidenbach
Recommended by Emeritus Professor David Smyth FAA: This is an absorbing biography of South Australian geologist and entrepreneur Reg Sprigg (1919–1994). He was the first to report Australian fossils of multi-cellular organisms now known as members of the Ediacaran fauna, defining a new period of geological time—the Ediacaran (635–538.8 my ago), with the base marked by a golden spike in the northern Flinders Ranges. Never a conventional geologist, he published his Ediacaran record in the Transactions of the Royal Society of SA in 1947 (current impact factor 0.8), only ever received an honorary doctorate, promoted oil and gas exploration including the Gidgealpa/Moomba gas field, and contrarily established the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges.
Children’s books
My Aunt is a Protein Crystal Scientist. That's RAD!, by Jennifer Martin, Brian Doyle, Rachele Andrews
Recommended by Professor Jennifer Martin AC FAA who writes: Yes, I'm spruiking my own book! Well, it was a big hit at the public lecture I gave in Melbourne this year. If protein crystals aren't your thing, the That's RAD! SCIENCE series has another four science books, all written for children, by women scientists. And they'll soon all be available for free online.
Audio and TV shows
Matters Microbial, by MicrobeTV—Dr Mark O Martin (podcast)
Recommended by Professor Cynthia Whitchurch FAA: Matters Microbial is a podcast that discusses the wonders of microbiology with the microbiologists that study them. It provides remarkable insights into the latest microbiology research and the enthusiasm of the scientists for their work.
Slow Horses (TV series)
Recommended by Professor the Honourable Barry Jones AC FAA FTSE FAHA FASSA: A third series of Slow Horses, a series about intense and dirty competition among spy agencies, starring Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott-Thomas, both at the top of their form, began in November 2023 on Apple TV+. Fortunately, rivalry and dirty tricks are unknown in the Australian scientific community, but, nevertheless, don’t miss it!
Previous recommendations
Hungry for more? See what our Fellows recommended in:
Press conference transcript: Kathleen Folbigg's convictions quashed
Please note: this transcript has been slightly edited for clarity.
Anna-Maria Arabia:
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes today's decision by the Court of Criminal Appeal to squash the convictions of Kathleen Folbigg. But make no mistake, that without law reform, these sort of miscarriages of justice will continue.
Although, there was evidence in 2019, new scientific evidence, basic scientific principles were not adhered to from the time of trial. There were at least six occasions on which this occurred from 2003. There was no medical or pathological evidence for the smothering of Kathleen Folbigg's children. Yet she was convicted of smothering them.
Circumstantial evidence was given more weight than scientific evidence. There was pathological and medical evidence that explained the death of the children at the time of the trial.
No trauma, journalling, or grief experts were brought before any legal proceedings until 2022.
The International Calmodulin Registry was inappropriately and wrongly interpreted, and that evidence was admitted into the inquiry in 2019. There is ample evidence that scientific principles have not been upheld in this case since her trial in 2003.
We must absolutely use this occasion in Australia to bring about law reform. Firstly, there is no jurisdiction in Australia that has a reliability standard. You and I and our liberty rely on reliable evidence being admitted into courts of law. There is no way to check that in Australia at the moment. That is a first form of law reform.
A Criminal Case Review Commission or some sort of independent post-appeal mechanism must be introduced in Australia so miscarriages of this kind do not happen again.
And finally, the Australian Academy of Science acted as an independent scientific adviser to this case. That was rare, unique ... but it ought not to be.
We must find mechanisms to enable independent experts from the right disciplines, wherever they reside, to be brought before our courts so that they can be cross-examined by all parties.
Without law reform, we will continue to see miscarriages of justice across our country and across the globe. Thank you.
Journalist:
[paraphrased] What more would you like to see specifically from the New South Wales justice system?
Anna-Maria Arabia:
The New South Wales justice system, the New South Wales Government, must absolutely, as a matter of urgency, look at their current justice system and ask whether it is delivering justice to the people of New South Wales. I would go further and say that every jurisdiction in Australia needs to ask the same question.
There is significant law reform that needs to happen in Australia if we are to create a more science-sensitive legal system. It does not exist at the moment, unreliable evidence is routinely admitted into courts. And there is no post-review appeals mechanism to deal with mistakes when they are made.
Is New South Wales behind other jurisdictions on this, or are they all behind?
All jurisdictions need to look at the legal system but here in New South Wales, we've just seen the quashing of the convictions of Kathleen Folbigg after 20 years in jail.
If a case of this magnitude does not trigger law reform, I'm not sure what does. It is time for Australia to review its legal system to ensure it can be more scientifically informed, particularly given the pace of change of scientific discovery and technological advances.
Thank you.
More information
Read the Academy's media release on the decision by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal to quash Kathleen Folbigg’s convictions.
Australia must seize nuclear science opportunities to meet challenges on the horizon
Maintain the health of Australians through medical research and its translation into care. Defend Australia. Meet our space ambitions. None of this can be achieved without increasing Australian nuclear science capabilities.
That is the conclusion reached by experts at a national nuclear science roundtable hosted recently by the Australian Academy of Science.
The roundtable determined that Australia’s nuclear science sector needs a national strategy that leads to new knowledge and infrastructure and equips Australians for jobs in this expanding sector.
The online forum brought together multidisciplinary experts from fields including nuclear physics, nuclear medicine, radiation science, space, nuclear waste management, environmental science, and nuclear regulation and diplomacy.
The roundtable was chaired by Emeritus Professor Lawrence Cram.
“Basic research is key to Australia’s ability to have a successful applied nuclear science sector and to be able to benefit from new technological developments and mitigate sovereign risk,” Emeritus Professor Cram said.
“There is also a critical need for informed debate and respectful deliberation to inform decision-making and improve public understanding of nuclear science and the benefits it can bring to Australia.”
The experts concluded that new technologies and hands-on experiences would inspire students and improve nuclear science literacy in schools. Nuclear science will provide new careers across Australia, requiring additional undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
A survey of experts conducted prior to the roundtable found 74% believed that if Australia’s core nuclear science capabilities were not strengthened, there is a high risk of increased misinformation about nuclear science.
The participants of the national roundtable called for:
- an independent knowledge broker between academia, industry and government to advise on national needs and opportunities that require nuclear science in all its dimensions
- a national strategy that:
- identifies opportunities to grow education pathways in nuclear science, including the potential to expand existing programs
- details the infrastructure required to train nuclear scientists, conduct novel foundational and applied research, and promote multisector collaborations
- outlines a communications plan to help the Australian public to engage with nuclear science.
The Academy’s President, Professor Chennupati Jagadish said the AUKUS agreement has increased awareness of critical gaps in Australia’s fundamental and applied nuclear science capabilities.
“A scaling up of nuclear science capabilities is needed to transform our ageing nuclear science infrastructure and to plug the current deficits in our knowledge and skills so that we can meet our national ambitions,” Professor Jagadish said.
The Academy will publish a summary of the roundtable in 2024.
Roundtable participants
Roundtable Chair: Emeritus Professor Lawrence Cram, Visiting Fellow, Research School of Physics, Australian National University
Dr Miles Apperley, Group Executive Nuclear Safety, Security, and Stewardship, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Dr Stephen Bayer, Director Safeguards Policy Section, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office
Dr Paul Bertsch, Science Leader Environment BU, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Professor Eva Bezak, Centre Director, Centre for Translational Cancer Research, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute
Dr Greg Clark AC FAA FTSE, The Australian National University
Ms Michelle Durant, Managing Director, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering – AINSE Ltd.
Dr Jacinda Ginges, Senior Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland
Associate Professor Susanna Guatelli, School of Physics, University of Wollongong Centre for Medical Radiation Physics
Dr Mohammad Haskali, Chief Radiopharmaceutical Scientist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Professor Anthony Hooker FARPS, Director, Centre for Radiation Research, Education and Innovation, University of Adelaide
Professor Mihail Ionescu, Leader, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Professor Matther Kearnes, Deputy Head of School, School of Humanities and Languages, University of New South Wales
Professor Tomas Kron, Director of Physical Science, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Professor Greg Lane, Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Australian National University
Dr Russell Leslie, Visiting Fellow, Australian National University
Professor Anna Moore, Director, ANU Institute for Space (InSpace)
Dr Thomas Payten, Managing Director, NovaTerra
Distinguished Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld, Director, Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong
Professor Tim Senden, Director, Research School of Physics, Australian National University
Dr Ed Simpson, Fellow, Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Australian National University
Professor Nigel Spooner, Prescott Environmental Luminescence Laboratory, University of Adelaide
Dr Kath Smith, Chief Nuclear Officer, Australian Submarine Agency
Dr Ivan Williams, Chief Medical Radiation Scientist & Branch Head, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency