Earth provides humanity with a vast array of services on which our survival and prosperity are critically linked. From the water we drink, to fertile soils, energy and minerals deposits, to the stable crust on which we live. Nowhere is this more evident than in Australia where so much of our historical prosperity has been linked to primary industries including mining and energy production. Australian scientists have been instrumental in scientific discovery in these and other fields of Earth Sciences.
The National Committee for Earth Sciences (NCES) has developed a wide-ranging decadal plan. The previous decadal plan was released in 2003 and brought about a period of significant scientific advance in our sector built on well-funded research programs and underpinned by significant investment in research infrastructure through the NCRIS and EIF schemes. The new (2018) decadal plan looks towards the challenges and opportunities likely to present themselves over the next 10 years.
NCES has developed the new decadal plan to ensure Australian geoscience research continues to be world leading through sustained support for this innovative and integrated field of endeavour. The plan is intended to drive future research to impact positively on Australian life: improving the safety, security and well-being of Australians while contributing positively to the nation's prosperity and management of environmental challenges.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
