Welcome to our first newsletter of 2024.

This year, we are excited to celebrate seven decades of bringing science to the service of the nation.   

Our history is rich and varied. Over the years, we have established national parks, been critical to landmark Antarctic expeditions and created science education materials that have been used across the globe—to name just a few.

The latest issue of the Academy’s journal, Historical Records of Australian Science, has a historical article, biographical memoirs, a selection of book reviews and the annual bibliography of history of Australian science.

In December 2023, the National Committee for Biomedical Sciences at the Australian Academy of Science published the report Bioscience 2030: Educating Australia’s Future Bioscientists. This groundbreaking effort aims to shape the future of bioscience higher education in Australia.

Honours and awards to Fellows

Professor Sue Coppersmith FAA – 2024 Women in Physics Lecturer, Australian Institute of Physics

Professor Nanda Dasgupta FAA – Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Contribution to the University, Australian National University

Professor Tanya Monro AC FAA FTSE – International Member, National Academy of Engineering (US)

Professor Susan Scott FAA – Peter Baume Award, Australian National University

Academy opportunities 2025 awards and funding opportunities

The Academy offers two types of opportunities for scientists. Our honorific awards recognise outstanding contributions to the advancement of science across the career spectrum. Our funding opportunities support scientists to undertake research projects as well as travel and lectures at a national and international level.

The 2025 honorific awards and funding opportunities are now open.

Nominations for awards close on 1 May 2024.

Joint release: Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and Australian Academy of Science 

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science, will deliver $6 million in grants to strengthen science and technology collaboration with regional neighbours as part of the Australian Government’s $40 million Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund.

From left: Richard Haddock, Chairman of the Board – St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, Professor Louise Emmett, Director Theranostics and Nuclear Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE.

Richard, Anthony, my sincere congratulations on the launch of your campaign. I wish you every success.

The Australian Academy of Science is concerned by the removal of advanced mathematics prerequisites for particular courses by the University of Sydney.

Mathematics is a foundational skill across the sciences. Removing the prerequisite to have studied advanced mathematics for certain degrees will leave students underprepared and ill-equipped to complete their courses.

From the genetics of bacteria that help legumes thrive, to the impact of microplastics in coastal wetlands and the path of sulphur through the sea and beyond—the 2024 Thomas Davies Research Grant for Marine, Soil and Plant Biology is supporting the wide-ranging work of nine early- and mid-career researchers.

The Australian Academy of Science is proud to support scientific research through sponsorship of research conferences that focus on rapidly developing fields of research.

The Academy is pleased to announce funding towards four conferences to be held across 2024 and 2025.

© 2025 Australian Academy of Science

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