A big year ahead, Science Meets Parliament, and the PM's Prizes for Science: Your update on science and technology policy and advocacy

STA CEO Misha Schubert's message

Welcome to 2023! It will be a big year for Australia’s science and technology community.?

Our country and its economy are at a crossroads. The choices and investments we make now will profoundly determine Australia’s future prosperity.?

In our Pre-Budget Submission, to be released publicly this week, Science & Technology Australia sets out those choices - and what’s at stake if we don’t get them right.?

Informed by our vast membership community of 110,000 scientists and technologists, it offers thoughtful advice on how to start to invest to achieve Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s vision of an economic future for Australia “powered by science”.?

This year, a series of major reviews commissioned by the new Government will report. Each of them will have profound implications for Australia’s economic future and our science and technology capabilities.

A sweeping review of the?Australian Research Council?- on which Science & Technology Australia President?Professor Mark Hutchinson serves?- is due to report to Education Minister Jason Clare MP by 31 March. The work of the?Universities Accord Panel?- informed by the?Ministerial Reference Group?on which I serve - will be published this year. Consultation has begun on the proposed?scope and investment mandate?of a new $15 billion?National Reconstruction Fund.?Legislation?has been?reintroduced to the Parliament??to create the new $1.6 billion research commercialisation fund?Australia’s Economic Accelerator. A major review on?Diversity in STEM?will report by the end of the year. New national strategies on?quantum, AI and?robotics?are intended to progress this year. There will be a?refresh?of the?National Science Statement?and Australia’s?Science and Research Priorities. There is much to do - and Science & Technology Australia will ensure our community is engaged at every turn.

If you haven’t already, secure your spot at?Science Meets Parliament 2023! This year’s star-studded event will be held over two dates. SMP ONLINE - three days of world-class training and professional development - will run 7-9 March. SMP: ON THE HILL on 22 March will be a full day at Parliament House in Canberra meeting Members of Parliament, our glittering SMP gala dinner, and a National Press Club Address. Register now to?snare an early-bird discount.

As champions of equity and diversity, applications are now open for?nine scholarships to Science Meets Parliament?- with thanks to our generous sponsors. This is an amazing opportunity for diverse STEM talent to participate - with all of their ticket and travel costs covered.

As we open the new year, Science & Technology Australia is delighted to share the news that our evolution into a company limited by guarantee is now complete. This governance modernisation will set us up for the next chapter of growth and success. More information will come to members shortly on the new structure, and how we propose to gather insights from the membership under the new structure as our systems evolve.

A big callout also for our community to nominate diverse and brilliant candidates for the 2023 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science. These awards turbo-charge science careers and public profiles - so please take a moment to?nominate excellent candidates by 9 February.?

This week, Nobel Prize Winner and science champion Professor Brian Schmidt announced his intention to step down as ANU Vice-Chancellor at the end of 2023 with a desire “to get back to my research and teaching, and a somewhat more balanced life”. Brian is a powerful advocate for Australian science and a generous leader and mentor in our community. His influence on our nation’s science and university sectors has been profound. We are so grateful to him for his friendship, service and leadership contributions in this role and beyond.

Our warmest congratulations to Tony Cook on being named the new?Secretary of the Department of Education. Tony is an outstanding public servant with deep experience in education policy and we look forward to working with him in the role. We're deeply grateful to Dr Michele Bruniges for her superb leadership of the department and a towering 40-year contribution to education in our country.

Finally, everyone at STA was deeply saddened this week to hear of the death of a giant of Australian science -?Professor Will Steffen. He was the?keynote speaker at Science Meets Parliament 2007?- and a generous, kind and powerful mentor. A brilliant climate scientist, skilled science communicator and influential adviser to Governments, he will be greatly missed. We offer our deepest condolences to his loved ones, as our community mourns his loss.?

Until next time,?

Misha Schubert ?

CEO, Science & Technology Australia?

REPORTS AND POLICY

• Congratulations to the 2023 members of the ARC?College of Experts announced on Friday.
• The Government announced?$15.9 million for 17 new grants?under the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship program.?
• The Government announced that from 19 January, teachers who have worked for four years in very remote Australia can?apply to receive a cut to their HELP debt.?
• Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic MP met with the?United States Secretary of Commerce in Washington to discuss strengthening the Australian-American?cooperation and commercial ties.?
• The Minister for Resources Madeleine King released the?program guidelines?for the new grants under the Critical Minerals Development Program.?
• The Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek announced the members of the new?Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group.?
• The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt announced?Cathy McGowan as the new AgriFutures Australia Chair?as well as?$40 million in a new grants program?to support resilient farming practices.?
• The Government has made a formal commitment to?gender equity in the clean energy transition?through the?Equal 30 campaign.??
• The Productivity Commission released its findings from its review of the?National School Reform Agreement.?
• The Government announced that Australia has joined the ‘first worldwide treaty in higher education’ – the?Global Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education.?
• CSIRO announced it is providing a?free online R&D course?for SMEs in the mining and METS sectors.?

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBMISSIONS

• The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations is?calling for submissions?on a?discussion paper?on shaping Jobs and Skills Australia. Submissions due 10 February.?
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand is calling for input on?proposed energy labelling on alcoholic beverages. Submissions due 27 February.
• The Productivity Commission is?calling for submissions?on its?paper?for its Inquiry into Part 3 of the Future Drought Fund Act 2019. Submissions due 3 March.?
• Standards Australia is running?consultation sessions?on proposed updates to the ways it operates.?
• The Australian Government Department of Education has launched?consultations?for its review of the impact of COVID-19 on school students with disability. Consultations will run until 28 March.?

GRANTS, FUNDING, AND OPPORTUNITIES

• The NSW Smart Sensing Network Grand Challenge Fund provides funding of up to $100,000 for projects that promote the development of innovative, collaborative research in the fields of ageing, bushfires, clean tech, water, and smart places & buildings.?Applications?close 20 February 2023.
• The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Grants Round 24 is now open and will close on Tuesday 7 March 2023. Find out how to apply?here.
• Nominate an outstanding scientist for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science 2023.?Applications are open now?and close 9 February.?
• The Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council is open for?nominations for Member positions. Applications close 17 February 2023.?
• Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) is offering partial scholarships for women to undertake a series of professional development programs.?Applications?close 17 March 2023.
• Dream Big! ’s STEAM Ahead Program is open for applications. This program, open to women and non-binary students in STEM, builds career skills and creates opportunities for graduate employment with industry partners.?Applications close Friday 24 February.
• ConnectingUp is a social enterprise that supports the not-for-profit sector to build capability. The organisation offers a?series of low-priced workshops?and webinars on topics including social media, advertising and increasing your influence.?
• The Australian Institute of Company Directors is offering disability scholarships for its Director Course. Scholarship?applications?due by Feb 19.?
• The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is?calling for board members. Applications close 26 February.?
• The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care is calling for?expressions of interest?to join the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Applications close 22 February.?
• Applications for 2023 NAIDOC Week Local Grants are open.?Applications?close 17 February.?
• Applications for?Australia-India strategic research grants?are open. Applications close 15 March.?
• Applications for grants under the Critical Minerals Development Program are open.?Applications?close 20 February.?
• Applications are open for the new Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Grants program.?Applications close 15 March.

MEMBER NEWS?

We are so thrilled to welcome four outstanding research centres at 澳大利亚斯威本科技大学 to the STA membership community. Swinburne is one of Australia’s powerhouse science and technology universities, undertaking leading edge research and providing students a world-class education. Our four new incredible member organisations at Swinburne are the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing ; the Space Technology and Industry Institute; Optical Sciences Centre; and Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences.

STA delivers strong benefits to members, including discounted professional services via our Member Benefits Program.?More details here.

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