Gene technology and GM plants
The Australian Academy of Science supports the responsible and ethical use of gene technologies to produce genetically modified (GM) plants for use in Australian agriculture and works with governments, scientists, NGOs, international organisations and the community on all GM-related issues.
Australian science has a key role to assist in global food security. There are already immediate urgent needs in the developing world to secure yields and to reduce the impact of pests, diseases and environmental degradation. In the mid to longer term, there is likely to be a need to improve food security in developed countries like Australia, as water, climate change impact and land degradation limits the capacity of agricultural production. Gene technology can play a role in the alleviation of malnutrition, enhancing sustainability and securing yields worldwide. Its potential must be harnessed. Sometimes, the lack of full certainty, in an environment of manageable risk, should not be used as the reason to postpone measures where genetic modification can legitimately be used to address environmental or public health issues.[1], [2]
The industry
Plant science and plant gene technology will be critical activities of the nation’s response to many challenges it faces in the coming decades. These activities include adapting to, and mitigating climate change, the production of food products with preventative health functions, the production of bioenergy, biofuels and biomaterials from renewable resources as fossil fuels diminish, maintaining efficient and sustainable use of our natural resources while feeding a growing global population, and meeting the increasingly sophisticated market demands as economies emerge in our region.
Biotechnology is a key industry sector in the economy, receiving significant support from government and the private sector. It has the potential to deliver new consumer goods, employment opportunities and benefits to the environment. This sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by rapid advances in gene technology, especially genomics research.
Potential benefits
Gene technology is integral to biotechnology and an essential tool in modern plant biology. Australia has a strong position in global plant science and is a significant contributor to advances in plant gene technology. The technology is being harnessed to gain fundamental insights into the molecular basis of life and has enabled the production of genetically modified (GM) cotton, the first broad acre GM crop to be released commercially in Australia. Coupled with existing breeding and production systems, gene technology and scientific innovation can deliver commercial GM crops offering improved financial and environmental outcomes for the agricultural sector. While gene technology is not a panacea in agriculture, it is an important enabling technology that has already proven its place globally with 102 million hectares of GM crops grown in 2006.[3]
It is important to consider the wider context in which gene technology may be used. The adoption of GM cotton in Australia has reduced pesticide use, and the adoption of herbicide-tolerant cotton allows the use of more environmentally benign weed management than was previously used in the conventional cotton production system.
There are many other potential uses of GM other than herbicide tolerant crops, including some that can deliver direct health benefits to consumers, such as important drugs, healthier food oils, removal of allergens from food, as well as environmental benefits, for example bioremediation and feral pest control. There is a significant body of research being undertaken to develop the next generation of products that could have significant consumer benefits.
Regulation and safety in Australia
The impact of current adverse consumer reaction by some citizens to GMs and the science system, more broadly, has the potential to negatively impact on innovation and with the flow-on risk of discouraging investment in research and development[2], harming Australia’s progress. The rapid uptake of GM technology in the Americas contrasts with Europe and indicates that the benefits are being actively pursued by those countries with experience of GM traits. Future Australian governments will need to address issues relating to business ethics in GM canola and other genetically-modified organisms.
There is a need for more effective dialogue between scientists and the mainstream environmental movements to establish common ground and identify areas for future research. The Academy supports a strong and robust public debate as an important component of the introduction of any significantly new technology into society. The Academy emphasises the fundamental importance of peer-reviewed quality science and substantive evidence in assisting public debate.
Gene technology can deliver benefits to human health and agricultural sustainability, as already evident in GM production of human insulin as well as the overall changes to more benign pesticide use in soybean, corn and cotton. As with other new technologies being introduced into society, identification of any risks with GM products and their management is essential.
The Academy strongly supports public scrutiny and safety of genetic research. Scientists catalysed the formation of the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee, and supported the establishment of the independent Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) and the current risk-based, transparent and national approach to regulation by the OGTR and Food Standards Australia New Zealand. These stringent national regulatory mechanisms are in place to ensure rigorous risk assessment on human health and the environment for new GM products. State-based legislation should be consistent with the national system and needs to be based on rigorous science and be transparent.
GM products have been in several foods for many years and consumed without any substantiated evidence of ill effects on health, and their safety confirmed by many peer-reviewed studies world-wide.[4], [5] The regulatory system in Australia is designed to enable unexpected, undesirable effects, such as the production of toxins or allergens, poor nutritional properties or serious environmental damage, to be identified during the laboratory phase or during the several seasons of field trials that precede commercial production. The Academy supports labelling of food, in particular where it assists consumers making deliberate dietary choices; but such labelling must be scientifically based.
All crop and pasture plants have the potential to impact negatively on natural or agricultural systems, whether GM or not. As with any modification of plants, whether by traditional breeding or through the use of gene technology, the Academy supports a thorough scientific evaluation of potential environmental impacts before their commercial release.
Prepared by TJ Higgins (Chair) on behalf of the National Committee for Plant and Animal Science. Endorsed by Council 6 December 2007.
Footnotes
[1] Food and Agriculture Organization (2004). Agricultural biotechnology: Meeting the needs of the poor? The State of Food and Agriculture 2003–04.
[2] Nuffield Council on Bioethics (1999). Genetically Modified Crops: the ethical and social issues.
[3] James, Clive (2006). Global status of commercialised biotech/GM crops. International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, Brief No. 35.
[4] UK Government GM Science Review Panel (2003).
[5] International Council for Science (2003). New genetics, food and agriculture: Scientific discoveries – social dilemmas.
Curious
- More food, cleaner food—gene technology and plants (Nova: science for curious minds, Australian Academy of Science)
Gender equity: current issues, best practice and new ideas
If we are to make use of the talents of women in the scientific and technological workforce, actions that encourage gender equity are required now.
This document, published by the Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum, puts forward a platform of initiatives which have been used in universities, research institutes and laboratories.
The initiatives accommodate for all choices and styles of work, regardless of gender or circumstance.
They are designed to play to the strengths and needs of every individual, are consistent with family needs as well as other carer roles, and work well in a value-based workforce where judgments are based on merit.
The document outlines workplace-level initiatives, ideas for targeting women with young children and other carer roles, and national-level actions. These include flexible work hours, mandatory gender equity committees, and mentoring.
Scientists’ freedom to work
NB: As of 16 August 2023, this position statement has been superseded by Position statement – Freedom and responsibility of science.
The Australian Academy of Science is firmly of the view that the interests of the community and the advancement of knowledge is best served by an environment where researchers can put forward views and present data for discussion and scrutiny free from threats of personal or professional harm.
The more controversial the area (such as climate change, evolution, gene technology, stem cells or nuclear power), the more important that any researcher should feel free to argue a case based on evidence without fear of reprisal. We know of examples where prominent researchers have been personally and professionally threatened by individuals and organisations that disagree with their findings and conclusions.
We reiterate our common defence of the principles of academic freedom: any researcher has the right and duty to argue a case based on evidence, because only public discourse and experimental challenge can advance understanding.
Read more: The universality of science and the International Council for Science's (ICSU) Statute 5.
Consensus statement on climate change
On 12 March 2018, the Commonwealth academies of science, including the Australian Academy of Science, released a consensus statement on climate change.
The world’s climate is changing, and the impacts are already being observed. Changing agricultural conditions, ocean warming and acidification, rising sea levels, and increased frequency and intensity of many extreme weather events are impacting infrastructure, environmental assets and human health.
The consensus view of the global climate science community based on current evidence is that avoiding the worst impacts of climate change will require concerted global action to reduce atmospheric carbon.
The Commonwealth academies of science call upon Commonwealth Heads of Government to use the best possible scientific evidence to guide action on their 2030 commitments under the Paris accord, and to take further action to achieve net-zero greenhouse gases emissions during the second half of the 21st century.
Download the statement in French/Français
Lloyd Rees Lecture
Award highlights
- The lectures recognise the contributions of the late Dr A L G Rees FAA to science, industry and education.
In 1990 Council agreed on the proposal of Sir Alan Walsh FAA to initiate a series of lectures by distinguished researchers in chemical physics, to recognise the contributions of the late Dr A L G Rees FAA to science, industry and education.
Nominations are not sought for this award. The Lloyd Rees Lectures Awards Committee recommends the Lecturers to the Council of the Academy.
Past awardees
- 2025—Lloyd Hollenberg (University of Melbourne: Quantum computers approaching fast)
- 2022—Dmitri Golberg (QUT: Unique possibilities of modern electron microscopy for physical property exploration of nanomaterials)
- 2020—Chennupati Jagadish (ANU: Semiconductor Nanowires for Optoelectronics Applications)
- 2018—Paul Mulvaney (University of Melbourne: Excitons In Nanocrystals – To Blink or Not to Blink)
- 2016—Keith Nugent (La Trobe: X-ray lasers: the new wave in diffraction)
- 2014—Cathy Foley (CSIRO: How superconductivity has changed your life)
- 2012—Joanne Etheridge (Monash: 101 things to do with an energetic electron)
- 2010—S.W. Wilkins (CSIRO: Riding the X-Ray wave: some personal observations)
- 2008—M. Simmons (UNSW: Atomic electronics – when will scaling reach its limit?)
- 2006—J. Varghese (CSIRO: Using synchrotron science as a probe for biological research)
- 2004—P. Hannaford (Swinburne: The golden jubilee of atomic absorption)
- 2002—D. Cockayne (Oxford: Exploring the nanoworld – adventure or investment)
- 2000—P.M. Colman (Biomolecular Research Institute: New drugs for influenza and other things – the role of physics, chemistry, biology and business)
- 1998—R.A. Lee (CSIRO: The optically variable device as an anti-‐counterfeiting feature)
- 1996—W.R. Blevin (CSIRO: Australian science made to measure)
- 1993—W.E. James (James Optics: Making optics for astronomy)
- 1991—J.M. Cowley (Arizona: The Lloyd Rees legacy)
Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings
Program highlights
- Attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting and connect with Nobel laureates, and a global cohort of exceptional early career researchers.
- Apply through a competitive, institution endorsed pathway, with Academy assessment and nomination to the Lindau Council.
- Take part in the full Academy supported program, including virtual briefings and a structured research and innovation tour alongside the meeting.
Each year, the Australian Academy of Science, in conjunction with the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF), welcome applications from young researchers to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Each research institute or university is permitted to submit applications for only two young researchers. An expert panel from the Academy then reviews all of the applications and selects 10 candidates to be nominated to the Lindau Council (15 candidates in interdisciplinary years).
Applications for the 2026 SIEF–AAS Fellowships to the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting will be considered by an Academy selection panel, and a maximum of 10 short-listed applicants will be recommended to the Council for Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings (Lindau Council).
Applications must be approved by the ECR’s institute research office (or equivalent) and each institute is limited to supporting two applications. Submissions from ECRs without research office approval will not be considered.
The final decision regarding attendance at the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting will be made by the Lindau Council. Decisions are based on the assessed competitiveness of the application. The Lindau Council Review Panel has previously rejected applicants who did not put sufficient effort into completing their online profile and in providing information for the reviewers.
The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons why an application is successful or not.
Key dates
Below are the key dates for the application process. While we aim to keep to this schedule, some dates may change depending on circumstances.
GUIDELINES
The following guidelines provide important information about eligibility, submission requirements, and assessment processes. Please review them carefully before submitting an application.
Applications are open to eligible Australian-based early-career researchers (ECRs) who are studying/doing research at the intersection of at least two Nobel disciplines (physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine) or at the intersection of one Nobel discipline and another discipline from the social or natural sciences, and have not previously participated in the meetings. Specifically:
- Doctoral students enrolled at an Australian university, who
- have performed excellent research, documented, for example, by publications, conference presentations, grants or other academic awards.
- Postdoctoral scientists working in an Australian university, Australian publicly funded research organisation or research-focused institution, who
- are at an early career stage (up to 5 years of postdoctoral experience) and do not yet hold a research group leader position
- have presented their work at international scientific meetings, preferably as (invited) speakers
- have published excellent research in refereed journals as first, last and/or corresponding author.
The above must be current at the date of the start of the Lindau Meeting, i.e. 28 June 2026.
Prior to applying, ECRs must get approval from their institute’s research office (or equivalent). Each institution is limited to supporting two ECR applications.
Successful candidates for the 2026 SIEF–AAS Fellowships to the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting will receive a grant-in-aid from the Academy valued at approximately AUD12,000 (GST exclusive) towards the cost of:
- an international return economy airfare from Australia to Germany (up to AUD4,000) organised by the Academy
- accommodation in Berlin from 20/21 – 27 June, organised by the Academy, as part of the SIEF Research Innovation Tour
- travel from Berlin to Lindau by train
- the registration fee to participate in the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (valued at approx. AUD5,500). The registration fee includes accommodation from 27 June – 4 July inclusive.
All successful SIEF–AAS Fellows are expected to attend the full program of events, including the SIEF Research Innovation Tour. This tour, funded by SIEF and organised by the Academy will include visits to relevant research institutes and organisations in or near Berlin, related to the delegates' diverse fields of study starting on Monday 22 June and concluding on Friday 26 June 2026.
Successful candidates are expected to attend virtual briefings organised by the Academy, and to complete a written report of their experiences within one month of the meeting closing.
Applications are to be submitted online through the application portal. Applicants should review the sample application form in advance of the application deadline and provide the following attachments:
- Curriculum vitae (maximum two pages).
- Recent publication list, including conference presentations (maximum two pages).
A detailed recommendation letter in English by an academic advisor and/or internationally renowned scientist, who knows the applicant well. - Strong letters of recommendation that highlight achievements such as academic excellence, conference publications, tutoring experience, awards received, print/online publications, extra-curricular activities and any other items of note specific to the applicant is essential.
Please note that the contact details of the research office need to be included in the application form, as the Academy may contact them to discuss the application.
Applications are to be completed through an online form found by clicking on the Apply button on the top right of this web page when the round is open.
Past participants
- 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 29 June – 4 July 2025
- 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 30 June – 5 July 2024
- 72nd Lidau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 25 June – 1 July 2023
- 71st Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 25 June – 1 July 2022
- 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 26 June – 2 July 2021
- 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 30 June – 5 July 2019
- 68th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 24 June – 29 June 2018
- 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 25 June – 30 June 2017
- 66th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 26 June – 1 July 2016
- 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, 28 June – 3 July 2015
Important note regarding diversity of the Australian Lindau delegation:
The Australian Academy of Science is committed to championing and supporting diversity and equity in science and considers both scientific excellence and a range of diversity issues including gender balance in the selection of the SIEF-AAS Fellows. However, the final selection of attendees is at the discretion of the Council for Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. To learn more about the Academy’s efforts to address gender equity in the STEM sector, please visit the Academy website.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowships
Program highlights
- Live and work in Japan for 12 to 24 months, undertaking full-time, uninterrupted research at a JSPS-affiliated institute under the guidance of your Japanese host.
- Receive a structured support package, including a monthly maintenance allowance of ¥362,000, a settling-in allowance of ¥200,000, a round-trip air ticket (per JSPS regulations), and overseas travel insurance coverage.
- Immerse yourself in Japan’s research culture and everyday life, building lasting professional relationships through sustained collaboration in a world-class host environment.
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), in association with the Australian Academy of Science, offers postdoctoral fellowships for Australian researchers to undertake collaborative projects with Japanese host researchers at JSPS-affiliated institutes in Japan for between 12 and 24 months.
The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan provide the opportunity for Australian postdoctoral researchers to conduct cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions, under the guidance of their Japanese hosts.
The program aims to help such researchers advance their own research while contributing to the advancement of research in Japan and the counterpart countries.
To facilitate a smooth process of research in Japan, sufficient consultation should be made in advance between the candidate and their prospective host researcher. Mutual agreement regarding the research plan, conditions at the host laboratory and the candidate’s status under the fellowship should be established prior to application.
As a rule, the fellowship awardees (Fellows) shall stay in Japan continuously during the tenure of their fellowships and concentrate on their research at the host institution. Fellows must not engage in other work, either paid or unpaid, during their tenure.
Key dates
Below are the key dates for the application process. While we aim to keep to this schedule, some dates may change depending on circumstances.
GUIDELINES
The following guidelines provide important information about eligibility, submission requirements, and assessment processes. Please review them carefully before submitting an application.
Candidates must be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens with a Special Category visa (subclass 444) and must be living in Australia at the time of application.
Australian permanent residents need to be citizens of countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan. People of Japanese nationality, or dual nationality where one is Japanese, are not eligible to apply.
Candidates who have permanent residency in Japan are not eligible to apply.
Candidates must hold a PhD degree, which must have been received on or after 2 April 2020 or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the proposed fellowship commencement date.
As per section 5 (note 3) of the JSPS application guidelines, maternity or parental leave can be deducted from the time since receiving the PhD degree, should this reduce the time to less than the eligible period of within six years. For this career interruption to be included, please note that a different application form may need to be completed. This can be requested through the Academy’s Programs Officer (grants@science.org.au).
If the PhD degree has not been conferred at the time of application, the candidate must obtain a letter from their institution stating that, at the time of application, the applicant has met all the conditions required for completion of the degree.
The letter must also include the specific date on which the degree will be conferred, which must be before the proposed fellowship commencement date.
Please note that specific completion requirements may vary between institutions. Candidates are strongly encouraged to clarify the requirements with their awarding institution prior to submitting the fellowship application. This may involve seeking advice from the institution's Office of the Registrar, for example.
Candidates who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard – P, and Pathway to University positions in Japan – PU) are not eligible.
If it becomes known before or after selection that a candidate does not meet the application eligibility, their selection may be cancelled, or the fellowship terminated. If the fellowship has already commenced, the candidate may be required to reimburse the JSPS any paid allowances.
Host researchers in Japan must be employed full time or classified as being employed full time at a listed research university or research institution (see eligible hosts in the PDF download below).
Applications are invited in any field of the physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, technology and medicine.
Proposals that address one or more of Australia's National Science and Research Priorities will be given preference. The priorities are listed below, with research subfield examples included.
- Transitioning to a net zero future.
- Research subfields include renewable energy, energy storage, decarbonisation, sustainable agriculture and environmental science.
- Supporting healthy and thriving communities.
- Research subfields include Indigenous health, mental health research, health information, biomedical engineering and medical science.
- Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems.
- Research subfields include Traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous land and water management and environmental management.
- Protecting and restoring Australia’s environment.
- Research subfields include climate science, Indigenous land and water management, marine biology and oceanography, urban ecology, forestry and biodiversity conservation.
- Building a secure and resilient nation.
- Research subfields include AI, quantum, robotics and machine learning, cyber security, supply chain resilience, disaster risk reduction and management and critical infrastructure protection.
Please note that although the JSPS accepts applications in the humanities and the social sciences under its broader program, the Academy is unable to accept applications in these two areas for this current round.
Fellowships are awarded for a period of between 12 and 24 full months (minimum 365 days; maximum 730 days). Fellows must start the fellowship in Japan between 1 May and 30 November 2026.
The amounts indicated below are subject to change.
- A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS regulations).
- A monthly maintenance allowance of ¥362,000.
- A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000.
- Overseas travel insurance coverage.
If the Fellow is located in Japan on the date their award letter is issued, the air ticket to Japan and settling-in allowance will not be provided.
A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grants-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Applications for this grant are made by the host researcher in Japan through their institution. For details, please see the application guidelines for the Grants-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows.
Using the templates provided below, applications are to be submitted online and must include the following attachments as PDF files:
- completed JSPS application form. Read the JSPS application guidelines and instructions for the application form below prior to completion.
- copy of doctoral degree certificate, or if not yet awarded, a letter from candidate’s institute as outlined in the ‘Eligibility’ section above
copy of the signed letter of invitation from the candidate’s prospective host researcher. See sample letter template below.
referee report from current or previous supervisor. Read information for referees below.
Note: all documents must be in English.
Applications are considered carefully against the selection criteria by a committee of scientists with diverse expertise. The decisions of the committee are based on the assessed competitiveness of the proposal.
The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons an application is successful or unsuccessful.
Applications will be assessed by a multidisciplinary selection committee convened by the Australian Academy of Science. Selection is based on academic merit, the quality and feasibility of the proposed research project, and the strength of the collaboration with the host researcher in Japan. The Academy will nominate the highest-ranked applicants to JSPS, who will make the final selection decisions.
The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons an application is successful or unsuccessful.
Number of fellowship nominations
The Academy’s quota for nominations this round has not yet been confirmed by JSPS and is expected to be advised in October 2025. However, in the previous round, the Academy was able to nominate 12 postdocs from Australia to the JSPS.
The Academy will assess and rank the applications and provide the JSPS with a nomination list of recommended applicants, but the final selection of successful applicants will be made by JSPS.
Notification of outcome
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by late December 2025. Final selection decisions will be made by JSPS approximately three months before the nominated departure date.
Please take this period into consideration when arranging your proposed travel dates.
The Fellow and their host researchers must submit a final report to the JSPS within one month of the completion of the fellowship tenure. A copy of the Fellow’s report to the JSPS must also be submitted to the Academy, together with an additional report to the Academy within three months of completing the fellowship.
The Academy will provide a template to the Fellow for the second report. Awardees will be asked to participate in surveys aimed at improving the fellowship program.
Applications are to be completed through an online form found by clicking on the Apply button on the top right of this web page when the round is open.
Past participants
Falling Walls Lab Australia
Award highlights
- The Falling Walls Foundation invites emerging researchers and innovators to pitch their breakthrough in three minutes, in a fast paced format designed to spotlight the next big idea.
- Progress from a state lab to the national final, with the top three presenters sponsored to attend the Falling Walls Conference in Berlin each November.
- Join a globally recognised program hosted by the Australian Academy of Science since 2016, in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canberra and supported by EURAXESS since 2020.
The Falling Walls Foundation is a non-profit organisation in Berlin, dedicated to the support of science and the humanities. It was established in 2009, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. At its heart is the question ‘Which are the next walls to fall?’ as a result of scientific, technological, economic and sociological breakthroughs.
Each year, the Foundation supports scientific organisations around the world to host a Falling Walls Lab. This international forum promotes interdisciplinary connections between aspiring academics, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and professionals, known for their excellent work. Participants are given three minutes to present their research work, business model or initiative to a broad audience from science and industry, including a distinguished jury who selects the most innovative and promising idea.
Falling Walls Lab is a challenging and inspiring format for emerging bright minds, giving them a unique chance to become the next big success story in innovation. Each year, nearly 100 international Labs are held with more than 1000 presenters, 100 of whom make it to the final in Berlin.
Details
The Australian Academy of Science has been hosting the Falling Walls Lab Australia competition since 2016 in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canberra. EURAXESS has partnered with the Academy on this event since 2020.
A jury of distinguished academics and businesspeople select the winners of Falling Walls Lab Australia. The top three presenters of Falling Walls Lab Australia receives sponsorship from the Academy to participate in the Berlin Falling Walls Conference in November each year.
Eligibility
Finalists in the Falling Walls Lab Australia are selected from State Labs. Candidates should be active researchers in any field of the natural sciences, including technology, engineering and medicine, or arts, humanities and social sciences.
Past Australian finalists
The following researchers were named winners of the Falling Walls Lab Australia and participated in the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin.
- Dr Jacob Martin, Curtin University
- Dr Natasha de Alwis, University of Melbourne
- Mr Pratyush Ravichander, University of Queensland
- Dr Emma-Anne Karlsen, University of Queensland
- Dr Alex Griffin, Cerebral Palsy Alliance and The University of Sydney
- Ms Hemanshi Galaiya, University of Queensland
- Ms Merryn Fraser, Australian National University
- Dr Clara Jiang, University of Queensland
- Ms Mars Buttfield-Addison, University of Tasmania
- Dr Jiao Jiao Li, University of Technology Sydney
- Mr Chamikara Liyanage, Queensland University of Technology
- Dr Lokman Norazmi, University of Tasmania
- Mr Chamikara Liyanage and Dr Lokman Norazmi, Joint People's Choice award for 2021 Falling Walls Lab Australia
- Dr Jessica Hamilton, ANSTO
- Mr Alan Robertson, ClearSky Genomics
- Mr Andrew Law, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
- Dr Dashen Dong (People's Choice award), RMIT
- Dr Elena Schneider-Futschik, University of Melbourne
- Ms Kate Secombe, University of Adelaide
- Mr Rhys Pirie, University of Queensland
- Rhys Pirie was named 2019 Young Innovator of the Year at the Falling Walls Lab Berlin Finale. Rhys is the first Australian to win the global Lab. Find out more about the 2019 Falling Walls Berlin Finale here.
- Ms Samantha Wade, University of Wollongong
- Ms Hayley Teasdale, University of Canberra
- Dr Mortaza Rezae, Curtin University
- Dr Vini Gautam, The Australian National University
- Dr Kim van Netten, The University of Newcastle
J G Russell Award
Award highlights
- The J G Russell Award is aimed at financially helping talented younger researchers in the basic sciences as a token of the community’s regard for them.
- It recognises the costs involved in experimental research, and can be used towards the costs of equipment, maintenance, and travel.
- Awardees are chosen from the recipients of the Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards.
The J G Russell Award is aimed at financially helping talented younger researchers in the basic sciences as a token of the community’s regard for them. It recognises the costs involved in experimental research, and can be used towards the costs of equipment, maintenance, and travel.
Applications are not sought for this award. Highly ranked recipients of the Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards will be contacted by the Academy and invited to apply.
These top-up funding awards are valued at $7,000 each and are supported by the generosity of the late Miss J Russell.
Funded activities are normally expected to have been undertaken within two years from the date of award. Awardees may apply for extensions due to extenuating circumstances or to apply for variations to remove or adapt to barriers encountered to their planned research or travel.
Supporting institutes and awardees are required to ensure that any research they undertake that is funded by the Australian Academy of Science adheres to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of research, severe breach of these codes may result in the withdrawal of current and refusal of future funding support. Research involving Indigenous Australians must comply with the Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies.
Past awardees
- Dr Marcus Giansiracusa - Dr Marcus Giansiracusa’s molecular advances aim to enhance efficiency by reducing material quantities and lowering energy costs. Receiving the award will enable him to explore new applications for rare-earth minerals from a chemical design perspective.
- Dr Morgan Li - Dr Morgan Li seeks to enhance the understanding of microplastic transport in natural environments and raise public awareness about this pollution issue through scientific publications and engagement with the Australian microplastic assessment project (AUSMAP) platform.
- Dr Sarah Piper - Receptors are crucial proteins that transmit external information across the cell membrane to the cell interior. Using innovative structural biology approaches, Dr Sarah Piper’s project will investigate the molecular details on how the PAC1 receptor, an important G protein-coupled receptor, is activated and how different variants of this receptor change its shape and function.
- Dr Alexandre Siqueira - Marine biologist Dr Alexandre Siqueira investigates the forces shaping coral reef biodiversity through history. His research aims to uncover the key features of ancient reefs that drove reef fish productivity, a vital ecosystem service for human nutrition.
- Dr Laura Williams - Dr Laura Williams’s research aims to understand the causes and consequences of the diversity of eucalypt trees in Australia. She combines spectroscopic data analysis with vegetation modelling to investigate how this diversity arose and its impact on ecosystem function.
- Dr Mareike Dressler - Dr Dressler is using mathematical methods to make optimal decisions for real-world problems. She will use the award funding to travel to Germany and France, visiting mathematical institutions to expand her knowledge, build networks and bring large-scale optimisation technologies back to Australia.
- Dr Mirindi Eric Dusenge - Dr Dusenge’s research aims to enhance our understanding of how climate change impacts key plant carbon metabolic processes, including leaf respiration and photosynthesis, on a global scale. This funding will support his field research at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment and contribute to hiring equipment that is essential to his research.
- Dr Emily Roycroft - Evolutionary biologist Dr Roycroft will use the funding from this award to travel to work with colleagues in Germany. She will be trained by experts in the application of a newly developed genomic sequencing method that provides an efficient and cost-effective way of generating higher resolution genomic data compared to current approaches.
- Dr Chen Zhao - Dr Zhao’s research is dedicated to unravelling the intricate puzzle of how Antarctica’s ice sheets contribute to rising sea levels. The award will contribute to her travel to the COP29 conference, where she will organise a side event to showcase the Australian research on Antarctic ice sheets and sea level rise projections.
- Dr Damien Esquerré - Dr Esquerré is using venom as a tool to understand fundamental processes in evolution, using a novel method he developed for characterising venom profiles from preserved museum specimens. His award will go towards the cost of producing isotopically labelled peptides for mass spectrometry analysis, which is necessary for precise quantification of the toxins in a venom sample.
- Dr Rachael Lappan - Dr Lappan is a microbiologist investigating the role of atmospheric microbes in global processes and their impact on human and environmental health. She will use the award to purchase homogeniser equipment for DNA extraction, which will be housed in a dedicated clean laboratory and significantly improve the accuracy of her research.
- Dr Giorgio Poggesi - Dr Poggesi is a mathematician studying partial differential equations, a cutting-edge area of mathematics used to understand real world phenomena such as the way fluids flow, temperature changes and sound moves. He will use his award to fund his travel for several international scientific visits, strengthening existing relationships and forging new ones.
- Dr Kaitlin Cook - Dr Cook is a nuclear physicist working to understand the mechanics of nuclei fusion and fission. Her DECRA project focusses on taking novel measurements of the reaction dynamics of the first instant (one zeptosecond) of nuclear collision, and measuring the full evolution of the nuclear system to re-separation. She will use her award to purchase a new gas pressure controller and connecting components for the gas handling system of the detector.
- Dr Scarlett Howard - Dr Howard is investigating the impacts of higher temperatures on cognition in native bees. Reduced bee cognition could have implications for food production, native plant reproduction, and the function of ecosystems. She will use the award to purchase a portable temperature-controlled apparatus, allowing her to conduct learning and memory experiments with native bees in remote field locations.
- Dr Yaoxin Hu - Dr Hu is a chemical engineer who is improving the energy efficiency of heating large structures through the development of new construction materials. She will use the award to purchase an additional air-based cooling apparatus to investigate cooling performance of the materials.
- Dr Amandeep Kaur - Dr Kaur develops new chemical tools to provide super-resolution imaging for the study of biological nanostructures and biochemical mechanisms relevant to food security, antibiotic resistance and viruses. She will use the award to establish new capabilities for her research group’s current super-resolution imaging microscope.
- Dr Zhiliang Wang - Dr Wang researches ways to improve the generation of energy. He develops materials to convert sunlight into hydrogen-based energy sources, helping to address clean energy challenges. He will use the award to visit a top research group in the United States to discuss ways to incorporate artificial intelligence tools into his research.
- Dr Xiaoxiao Zhang - Dr Zhang investigates disease resistance in cereal crops. Her aim is to reduce waste in global food production and address the environmental impact of toxic pesticide use. She will use the award to fund attendance at a conference of synthetic biologists, and to provide additional lab materials for gene editing and protein structure determination.
- Dr Blanca del Rosal Rabes - Dr del Rosal's research aims to develop a contactless method based on near-infrared (NIR) light to get real-time maps of the temperature of the nervous system in living animals, to reveal the links between local heating and neural function. She will use the award to improve and expand her spectroscopy system to use laser sources, allowing her to study different fluorescent nanomaterials for use in research.
- Dr Annie Colebatch -Dr Colebatch's research focuses on using liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), which can release energy on demand and be “refuelled”, to meet the challenge of clean energy. She will use the award to purchase a second pressure reactor to facilitate multiple students conducting experiments concurrently, allowing flexibility in project design and improving productivity.
- Dr Laura Grogan - Dr Grogan's research aims to model the relationship between tolerance, and resistance of, chytridiomycosis (an infectious disease that affects amphibians worldwide) in Fleay’s, Great and Giant Barred frogs. She will use the award to genetically sequence the tissues that are involved in immune response, allowing her to examine a greater range of genes related to immunity.
- Dr James Baker - Dr Baker studies soil erosion driven by flowing fluids with the aim of predicting, and ultimately preventing, intense soil loss or problematic build-up of sediment. He will use the award to fund a two-day collaboration of Australian researchers, as well as for new X-ray equipment.
- Dr Giulia Ghedini: towards their DECRA aimed at resolving how entire ecological communities respond to global warming and identify the mechanisms that drive these responses.
- Dr Yu Heng Lau: towards their DECRA investigating bio-compartmentalised chemistry to control selectivity with bacterial encapsulins.
- Dr Tatiana Soares da Costa: towards their DECRA identifying novel and smarter herbicide development strategies for effective weed management to sustain our fauna, flora and agricultural industry
- Dr Qi Wu: towards their DECRA to develop an Artificial Intelligence agent that communicates with humans on the basis of visual input, and can complete a sequence of actions in environments by combining computer vision, natural language processing and reinforcement learning.
- Dr Lara Malins: to develop a new synthetic approach to valuable amino acid derivatives and their rapid incorporation into peptide analogues, including promising new antibiotic candidates
- Dr Tara Clark: to determine the timing and associated drivers behind dramatic changes in coral communities on reef flat environments since European settlement.
- Dr Jussi Lehtonen: to reconcile and unify alternative methods in social evolution theory.
- Dr Nengkun Yu: to develop fundamental technology for analysing the big data that arises from quantum physics.
- Dr Nicole Rijs: to develop ion-mobility mass spectrometry methods to observe the molecular evolution of model self-assembly reactions with high temporal and structural resolution, and interrogate the intrinsic gas phase functionality of the assemblies themselves, including aggregation, inclusion and disassembly behaviours.
- Dr Pengyi Yang: to map and model ‘trans-omic’ networks that cut through omic layers using machine learning and multi-omic data integration.
- Dr Tong Wang: to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength.
- Dr Brett Hallam: to understand hydrogen passivation mechanisms in silicon solar cells.
- Dr Kristine Crous: to investigate how, and how much, rainforest tree species will adjust to warmer temperatures.
- Dr Guohua Jia: to develop innovative colloidal nanocrystal heterostructures to provide the basis for eco-friendly optoelectronic devices and photocatalysis as well as other advanced applications.
- Dr Jean-Baptiste Raina: to unravel microbiological processes in the ocean to help quantify the ecosystem services carried out by microbes that support our economy and environment.
- Dr Andrea Giuliani: to study melt inclusions to provide new understanding of the constraints on melting processes and recycling of crustal material in the deep mantle.
- Dr Sean Hodgman: to develop a quantum simulator using ultracold helium atoms in an optical lattice.
- Dr Sasha Tetu: to design and validate novel, rapid environmental stress assays, based on gene expression profiling.
Graeme Caughley Travelling Fellowship
Award highlights
- The purpose of the Fellowship is to enable ecologists resident in Australia or New Zealand to share their expertise by visiting scientific centres in countries outside of the Fellow's own country to deliver lectures.
- The Fellowship commemorates the work of Dr G.J. Caughley, FAA in ecology and wildlife management.
The Fellowship commemorates the work of Dr G.J. Caughley, FAA in ecology and wildlife management.
The inaugural Fellowship was in 1996. The Fellowship is offered every two years. Up to $10,000 (GST exclusive) is offered.
The purpose of the Fellowship is to enable ecologists resident in Australia or New Zealand to share their expertise by visiting scientific centres in countries outside of the Fellow's own country to deliver lectures.
Fellowships are normally expected to have been undertaken within two years from the date of award. Awardees may apply for extensions due to extenuating circumstances or to apply for variations to remove or adapt to barriers encountered to their planned travel.
Key dates
Below are the key dates for the nomination process. While we aim to keep to this schedule, some dates may change depending on circumstances.
GUIDELINES
The following guidelines provide important information about eligibility, submission requirements, and assessment processes. Please review them carefully before submitting an application.
The Fellow will be an ecologist resident in Australia or New Zealand. Preference will be given to an applicant who indicates an interest in population ecology of wildlife and its scientific management.
The Australian Academy of Science encourages nominations of female candidates and of candidates from a broad geographical distribution.
Fellowships are tenable for tours of not less than two weeks and not more than three months. Funding may be used towards direct economy class airfares, a daily allowance, and other costs relating to the tour.
The Academy does not, in general, have the resources to offer support to partners and children to accompany an awardee of a travelling fellowship or scholarship, but will on a case by case basis and subject to the availability of funds, consider support for a carer to accompany an infant if this allows the carer to accept the award.
Fellowships are normally expected to have been undertaken within two years from the date of award. Awardees may apply for extensions due to extenuating circumstances or to apply for variations to remove or adapt to barriers encountered to their planned travel.
Applications must include the following:
- Brief curriculum vitae. Maximum of three pages using size 12 font.
- Evidence of scientific achievements and honours (max. 150 words).
- Evidence of lecturing capabilities (max. 100 words). Provide a summary of lecturing capabilities, including the ability to communicate with scientific and lay-audiences.
- List of 5 of the most significant publications (of most relevance to this Fellowship), each including up to 50-words on why they are significant. Each must have an outline the candidate's specific role in the research and indicate percentage contribution.
- Aims and benefits of the tour and an outline of the planned itinerary.
- Itemised budget with brief justification for each item. Up to $A10,000 is available to cover travel and living expenses. Daily allowance rates followed for this scheme are listed in table 1 of the ATO Tax determination ruling. They can also be found through contacting the awards team at awards@science.org.au
- Contact details of two referees.
Applications are assessed by a committee of scientists with diverse expertise based on the assessed competitiveness of the proposal. The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons why an application is successful or not.
- It is the responsibility of the grant-holder to nominate and contact hosts for the arrangement of both public and scientific lectures in the various centres to be visited.
- This grant does not provide funds for bench fees, managerial, visa, insurance, infrastructure costs, or salaries.
- Applicants can only receive funding from the same research or travelling research award once in a three calendar year period.
- Applicants may apply for more than one award but can only receive one Academy travelling or research award per calendar year.
- Supporting institutes and awardees are required to ensure that any research they undertake that is funded by the Australian Academy of Science adheres to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of research, severe breach of these codes may result in the withdrawal of current and refusal of future funding support. Research involving Indigenous Australians must comply with the Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies.
A report is due after the completion of travel. The report should include the purpose and outcomes of the tour, along with details of venues, approximate attendee numbers (with specifics on EMCR attendee numbers), and expected vs. actual expenditure.
Applications are to be completed through an online form found by clicking on the Apply button on the top right of this web page when the round is open.
Past awardees
2026—Dr Lil van Eeden: To travel to India, Germany and the United Kingdom
2024—Richard Kingsford: To travel to South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, the UK and Europe
2022—Peter Caley: To travel to New Zealand and Sweden
2020—Benjamin Allen: to travel to Sri Lanka, Nepal and South Africa
2018—Graham Nugent: travel to Canada, Mexico, Spain and the USA
2016—Mike: Letnic: to travel to the University of California, Los Angeles, Oregon State University, the University of Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park Center for Resources
2014—R. van der Ree
2012—A. Byrom
2010—D.M.J.S. Bowman
2008—D.P. Armstrong
2006—D.M. Forsyth
2004—R. Shine
2002—J. Parkes
2000—P. Rismiller
1998—J. Hone
1996—D. Choquenot
