Prof Mark Hutchinson hands the baton to Prof Sharath Sriram, and save the dates for SMP2024: Your update on science and technology policy and advocacy

The end of 2023 is rapidly approaching – with a flurry of major policy review final reports expected in the coming weeks.

The urgent imperative to grow Australia's STEM workforce will be in the spotlight this Thursday. We'll hold a timely briefing for the?Parliamentary Friends of Science?(PFoS) with a host of STEM sector heavyweights, Industry & Science Minister Ed Husic MP , Members of the PM's National Science & Technology Council, and the PFoS Co-Chairs Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and former Industry and Science Minister The Hon Karen Andrews .

At the upcoming STA?Annual General Meeting (AGM), we'll express our deep gratitude to President Professor Mark Hutchinson as his Presidential term ends. Mark has been a transformative leader of the organisation. He is a powerful advocate for the sector and a superb example of the economy-charging change that can happen when governments and industry invest in research and development. Mark has built a formidable legacy as STA President. We’re delighted he will continue to champion STA’s role as a leading voice on research commercialisation as Co-Chair of our new STA Bench-To-Boardroom Board Sub-Committee with STA Governance Chair Jas Chambers .

We are thrilled that Professor Sharath Sriram will succeed Mark. Sharath is a research rock star and commercialisation champion who will be an outstanding President. STA is?deeply fortunate to have strong breadth and depth of talent across our Board – which ensures a smooth transition of leadership and strong succession planning – and sets?the organisation up to continue to grow through success. At our AGM, we will celebrate a very successful year, reflect on our policy wins, and hear about progress under our Reconciliation Action Plan.

Australia's Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley launched a report commissioned by her office and written by the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) on Modernising Research Assessment. The report looks at how current research metrics affect the careers of Australia's researchers. STA has long advocated for career progression and promotions to be assessed on a broader and more diverse set of measures than publications. Other key measures include industry and community engagement, supervising, mentoring and coaching staff and students, and contributing expertise to policymaking and public discussion.

A short consultation on proposed amendments to the Defence Trade Controls Bill occurred last fortnight. Amid keen media coverage of this topic,?STA has been engaging closely to ensure crucial global scientific collaboration continues to advance Australia's interests.

Congratulations to successful applicants from the latest round of National Industry PhD Program. This important program – which STA supports with expert communications in a consortium led by Campus Plus for the Australian Government Department of Education – is powerfully shifting the dial on links between universities, the research sector, and industry. The next round of applications will open soon, so please join the mailing list for updates.

Congratulations also to our current Superstars of STEM, who celebrated their first year in this game-changing initiative this week. STA's Superstars of STEM is a world-leading program that equips brilliant women and non-binary scientists and technologists to build strong public profiles, develop advanced media engagement skills and support career-accelerating opportunities. We've been thrilled to see the new Superstars rapidly build their media experience and become go-to media commentators. We can't wait to see what they do in year two.

Stand by for BIG NEWS! This week, we will open registrations for Science Meets Parliament 2024 – and we encourage you to get in fast to secure your tickets to the event. The STA staff team has built an outstanding program for the world's best and boldest gathering for scientists and technologists to deepen engagement with policymakers. We're also on the lookout for key partners for the event. Want to get your brand in front of key STEM decision-makers? Get in fast to sponsor SMP 2024.

Finally, thank you for the lovely messages, warmth and kindness following STA's announcement that I would be finishing up as CEO in February to take up an exciting role as inaugural CEO role as the head of the new Super Members Council of Australia – speaking for 10 million Australians with retirement savings in superannuation. I'm so grateful for all of the terrific engagements we've had, and know that the STA staff team – which I have led in partnership with our superb Deputy CEO Sandra Gardam – will continue the brilliant work that STA does with and for our members in its next chapter of success.

Until next time,

Misha Schubert

CEO, Science & Technology Australia

REPORTS AND POLICY

• The Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil?released the 2023–30 Australian Cybersecurity Strategy and its accompanying Action Plan.
• The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the first Executive Cyber Council. ?
• The Minister for Industry and Science?Ed Husic?is visiting Indonesia to build cooperation on battery tech and electric vehicles. ?
• The Minister for Education?Jason Clare?addressed?the ARC Laureate Fellowships Pin Award Ceremony. ?
• The Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland MP addressed the National Press Club and also announced a consultation on the Basic Online Safety Expectations under the Online Safety Act.
• The Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek announced additional funding for the Landscape Repair Program?to protect water quality on the Great Barrier Reef. ?
• The Australian Government released a draft Action Plan for addressing gender-based violence in higher education. ?
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released Is the Paris Agreement Working? A Stocktake of Global Climate Mitigation.?
• The Minister for Industry and Science?Ed Husic?marked AI Month.?
• The Government released its response to the Robodebt Royal Commission.
• The Chief Scientist?Dr Cathy Foley?addressed the 2023 Quantum World Congress. ?
• The Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O'Connor addressed the Ai Group Industry Meets Canberra?event. ?
• The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs?Tim Watts addressed?the Academy of Science Annual Symposium.?Check out a?summary of the event, plus?the Chief Defence Scientist and the Deputy PM in conversation. ?
• The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care published the statement of intent?for the Australian Centre for Disease Control. ?
• CSIRO reported on negotiations for a global plastics treaty and a report on smart homes and energy. ?
• Congratulations to the successful projects awarded?funding?as part of Round 2 of the Department of Education's National Industry PhD Program.?
• Universities Australia released a Charter on sexual harm. ?
• The Australian Academy of Science published a position statement on An Australian system for managing research misconduct. ?
• The Australia Institute published a report calling for an ‘independent research integrity watchdog’.?
• The Australian Signals Directorate ’s Cyber Security Centre published Business Continuity in a Box for businesses restoring systems after a cyber attack. ?
• The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute released Mapping Social Cohesion 2023.?

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBMISSIONS

• The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is calling for comments on?priority areas for a National Biosecurity Strategy – workforce, preparedness and response, sustainable investment and technology, research and data integration. Submissions are due 29 November.
• A draft report from a review of pest risk assessments for spider mites.?Submissions close on 28 January. ?
• The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is calling for input:to a review of carbon leakage risks?–?a?webinar will be held on Wednesday 22 November. Submissions due 12 December.how the next stage of the Future Drought Fund investment should be allocated. Submissions due 6 December.feedback on the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy Consultation paper. Submissions due 31 January.?
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is conducting an inquiry into the ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Facility project. Submissions due 10 January. ??
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand is consulting on:the sale of honey produced by Australian stingless bees. Submissions due 17 January. ?the use of rosemary extract as a food additive. Submissions due 15 December.
• The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is consulting on the Online Safety (Basic Online Safety Expectations) Amendment Determination 2023. Submissions due 16 February.?

GRANTS, FUNDING, AND OPPORTUNITIES

• National Science Week 2024 grants?of up to $20,000 are available for individuals and organisations interested in delivering science engagement activities during National Science Week. Applications close 11 December.
• Dream Big Australia launched its STEAM Ahead program for women and non-binary?university students.
• The Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Law are holding their annual joint symposium with public lectures throughout December (Canberra: 4 Dec; Sydney: 5 Dec; and Melbourne: 6 Dec).?
• Nominations for the Thieme–IUPAC prize?are?now open to scientists no older than 42 years of age whose research has had a major impact in the field of synthetic organic chemistry, the winner receives an award of €5,000 – nominations close 15 December.
• CSIRO announced the India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion Accelerator – a new accelerator program for Australian and Indian SMEs working on circular economy projects. Applications close 7 January.?
• Applications for Maitri Fellowships?are now open for research placements in India and Australia. Applications close 15 January.
• The National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education opened for applications for?Visiting Fellowships until?24 January.?
• The Minister for Industry and Science?Ed Husic?called for nominations for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. Nominations close 8 February. ?
• Applications for Discovery Indigenous?grants for funding commencing in 2025 are now open and close on 21 February 2024.?

MEMBER NEWS

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