Wishing you a safe and happy summer – from all of us at the Australian Academy of Science. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

More recommendations from our summer reading and listening list … @svcaemmerer.bsky.social

With a 70-year record of transforming science excellence into national impact, in 2025, the Academy strived to boldly shape Australian science, research and innovation for decades to come. Read our 2025 in review: a future focus for Australian science www.science.org.au/news-and-eve...

Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia) grant funding! The funding will support 23 activities that provide tangible benefits to early- and mid-career researchers across Australia. Learn more: www.science.org.au/news-and-eve...

The Academy welcomes today's MYEFO announcement of $233m for CSIRO and $40.8m for ANSTO – a necessary first step towards rebuilding our national science capacity. However, more than a decade of R&D decline demands comprehensive reform. Media release: https://bit.ly/4qhz2DK

Geoscientist Dr Phil McFadden AO FAA recommends "The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism" by Martin Wolf – a powerful analysis of why the marriage between democracy and capitalism is unraveling worldwide, and what we can do about it.

Save the date for 'Science at the Shine Dome 2026': 15-17 September Don’t miss one of the only conference in Australia where you can hear about the breadth and depth of Australian science from the very best scientists in our country, all under one roof. Registrations will open in mid-2026.

When structural biology researcher Prof Jennifer Martin FAA isn't discovering how biological machines operate, she's discovering how other scientists operate with the podcast The Life Scientific. This BBC series explores what motivates researchers in 30-minute episodes. @scidocmartin.bsky.social

Vale Professor David Stuart Letham FAA (1926-2025) Stuart was a pioneering plant scientist who discovered cytokinins, transforming our understanding of plant biology. A Fellow since 1983, Stuart spent most of his career at the ANU's Research School of Biological Sciences.

🌊 Calling all ocean researchers! The Belmont Forum has launched its Oceans 2 funding call for international projects on ocean–biodiversity–climate themes. Australia is participating via FEA. 🗓 Info session: Thu 12 Dec, 9:30–10:30 am AEDT 🔗 Register: science-org-au.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Congratulations to Nalini Joshi @monsoon0.bsky.social and team, who have been awarded $35m from the ARC to establish the ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust (MathQuEST) #mathsky

INTRODUCING our new President! Epilepsy genetics pioneer Laureate Professor Sam Berkovic has been elected the 21st President of the Australian Academy of Science, Australia's leading independent voice for science. bit.ly/4oLqKCK

Are you an oceans researcher? The Belmont Forum has launched its Oceans 2 funding call. Learn more: belmontforum.org/archives/ope...

We are hiring a Senior Education Officer – Mathematics, a role focused on developing quality teaching resources for Year 7-10 maths teachers. 📍 Canberra (remote considered) 📅 Fixed term until Dec 2026 Learn more: bit.ly/4oxsf7l

Need a new podcast, TV show or book to devour? Let our Fellows – some of Australia's 'top scientists – guide you in the Academy’s 10th annual reading and listening list. Happy reading, listening, and viewing: www.science.org.au/news-and-eve...

As he approaches the end of his four-year term as President of the Australian Academy of Science, Prof Chennupati Jagadish AC spoke to the ABC’s Robyn Williams AO FAA to reflect on his journey from a village in India to his current role & challenges facing science in Australia. https://ab.co/4iHTGdE

AI is rewriting the rules of scientific discovery – but can we trust what it finds? Next week, our expert panel will examine AI's explosive impact on research, from protein prediction to data analysis. Join our next event: 📆 9 Dec ⏰ 5.30-7.30pm 🏛️ Shine Dome + online (FREE) 🔗 bit.ly/AIsciresearch

National AI plan highlights the critical role of Australian science. Read more: https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/national-ai-plan-highlights-the-critical-role-of-australian-science

Academy President Prof Chennupati Jagadish AC appeared on ABC's 7.30 to discuss CSIRO’s decision to cut 350 jobs after already losing 800 roles in the past 18 months. He highlighted that national R&D spending lags OECD averages, calling for stronger commitment to innovation. https://ab.co/4pJMxMc

For many years, the Academy has provided evidence to demonstrate the catastrophic damage caused by feral horses to our fragile ecosystems and has been calling for the Act to be repealed. The repeal of the NSW Wild Horse Heritage Act is a huge win for evidence-informed decision making.

The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the Government's annual climate statement while emphasising the need for significantly faster action on emissions reduction: www.science.org.au/news-and-eve...

Australia's environment protection laws are being debated in Parliament this week and our full submission to the inquiry is available here bit.ly/envirosub

Today's launch of Australia's AI Safety Institute comes at a critical time. The institute will drive AI safety research, testing, and best practice guidance—issues we'll explore at our next AI in Science event. Join our next event: 📆 9 Dec ⏰ 5.30-7.30pm 🏛️ Shine Dome + online 🔗 bit.ly/AIsciresearch

Emerita Professor @francoisebaylis.bsky.social delivers opening remarks at #Taikura, the second summit as part of the Tri-Academy Partnership for Indigenous Engagement.

The Australian Academy of Science is proud to note that many recommendations from our submission to the PFAS Inquiry have been acknowledged in the recently released PFAS Senate Inquiry Report, chaired by Senator Lidia Thorpe.

🎥✨ We’re thrilled to share the highlights reel from our Safer shared air: Making the invisible visible conference, held earlier this month. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who was able to join us either in person, or online, and helped make the event so successful. youtu.be/-tqfCBrmwe8

Australia's environmental law reform Bills must be strengthened to protect our biodiversity. Academy President Prof Jagadish AC calls on Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator the Hon Murray Watt to embed scientific advice into decision-making and limit exemptions that risk our environment.

The Australian Academy of Science is excited to lead a delegation to Aotearoa New Zealand for Taikura, the second Tri-Academy Partnership Summit on Indigenous Engagement next week. 🎥 Watch Prof Tom Calma AO speaking at the inaugural event held last year in Canada.

Australia is known as a country of innovators, but with a combination of brain drain, continuous cuts, and a loss of critical science projects, is Australia losing its edge?

Congratulations to Academy Fellow Professor Nalini Joshi who has been named NSW Scientist of the Year – the first time a mathematician has received NSW’s highest honour for scientific endeavour! Prof Joshi was elected an Academy Fellow in 2008.

Academy President Professor Chennupati Jagadish, AC told ABC NewsRadio this morning that the #CSIRO job cuts highlight the need to treat research and science as an investment, not a cost. Read the transcript: https://bit.ly/4o5PUfc

What further evidence do governments need? Indoor air quality isn't just a comfort issue – it’s an invisible barrier to access for millions of Australians with chronic health conditions that defines whether they can safely participate in education, employment, healthcare and community life.

Hundreds of millions in Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) funds are sitting idle while labs close and researchers leave. The money is there – release the full MRFF. www.aamri.org.au/mrff #releasethefullmrff

Hundreds of millions in MRFF funds are sitting idle while labs close and researchers leave. The money is there – release the full MRFF. www.aamri.org.au/mrff #releasethefullmrff

Australia is home to extraordinary biodiversity but faces mounting pressures. The Australian Academy of Science has made a crucial submission to government on implementing Australia's Strategy for Nature 2024–2030. Read the submission: https://bit.ly/3Lu5jIB

The Academy endorses the Science20 (S20) 2025 meeting communiqué titled ‘Climate change and well-being’, calling for immediate, science-driven action to safeguard people and ecosystems. https://bit.ly/43nVIZU

We’re proud to lead a delegation to Aotearoa New Zealand for an Indigenous-led research summit, as part of the Tri-Academy Partnership. The events, held with @royalsocietynz.bsky.social & @src-rsc.bsky.social‬, are establishing an int'l, Indigenous-led research agenda. https://youtu.be/R2N-rTD-OAk

Humans are not the only ones drawn to fire and flames. So too is the Australian fire beetle which loves exploring in the immediate aftermath of a bushfire. Our archivist recently discovered notes about the insect, possibly dating back to 109 years, in one of our books in the Basser Library.

From Australian labs to the world stage! Our three Falling Walls Lab Australia 2025 winners joined 97 brilliant innovators from around the world to present bold ideas for reshaping science and society at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin.

From November 24-26, delegates from the Royal Society of Canada will travel to Aotearoa New Zealand to participate in Taikura, the second summit of the Tri-Academy Partnership (@royalsocietynz.bsky.social, @science.org.au) on Indigenous Engagement. Learn more below. 

Today, the Academy’s CEO Anna-Maria Arabia, independent MP Dr Monique Ryan, medical research bodies, and experts at Parliament House called for removing the arbitrary funding cap on the Medical Research Future Fund to support medical research and innovation as intended. #releasethefullmrff

The Academy welcomes today’s announcement by the Greens NSW spokesperson for Health, Dr Amanda Cohn MLC, to hold an inquiry into clean indoor air by a committee of the NSW Legislative Assembly. Learn more: https://bit.ly/49Crw0Q

🚨 A new report we released today calls for enforceable indoor air quality standards in public buildings, starting with monitoring and workplace reporting. Read the report: https://bit.ly/49E1ESl #IndoorAir

You may be breathing in pollutants right now but you wouldn’t know it. That's because Australia doesn't monitor indoor air to scientifically acceptable standards. A new Academy report to be launched today explores the policy pathways to improve indoor air quality. www.science.org.au/news-and-eve...

Yesterday, the Academy welcomed the recipients of the 2025 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science to the Shine Dome for the traditional celebration breakfast. 📸 Recipients of Prime Minister’s Prizes with Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC at the Shine Dome in Canberra.

Tomorrow, a conference on indoor air quality (IAQ) will be held at Parliament House. Don't miss this chance to learn how we can all contribute to cleaner air. 📅 Thurs 6 Nov 📍 Parliament House, online 🕒 9:30am - 4:30pm AEDT 🎥 Register now for the live stream. https://bit.ly/47nIMEu

Congratulations to Distinguished Prof Lidia Morawska FAA FTSE (QUT) for being awarded the prestigious Prime Minister's Prize for Science 2025! 🎉 Prof Morawska was elected a Fellow of the Academy in 2020 and in 2023 received the Academy’s Mathew Flinders Medal.

"A geoscientist shortage could undermine U.S.-Australian deal on critical minerals" reads the headline for a story by Royce Kurmelovs published in Science Magazine. www.science.org/content/arti...

Each year, the National Innovation Policy Forum (NIPF) brings together leaders from gov't, research, industry, and education to shape & coordinate Australia’s innovation agenda across Australia’s innovation ecosystems. 🏛️ National Press Club 📆 Mon 3 Nov http://bit.ly/4qyMrYY

Half the funding. Half the future. The Medical Research Future Fund was meant to deliver $1B each year – only $650M is reaching researchers. Join the call to release the full funds now. www.aamri.org.au/mrff #releasethefullmrff