Science Meets Parliament 2024, end-of-year reports/reviews and a Superstars of STEM podcast: Your update on science and technology policy and advocacy

It’s on! Save the dates – 20–21 March – for Science Meets Parliament 2024.

In coming weeks, we’ll unveil our all-star program of agenda-setting speakers and hugely valuable professional development. And we will formally open registrations soon.

Want to partner with us on this landmark event? Put your brand in front of Australia’s biggest annual event connecting the worlds of STEM and policymaking.

Last week, Science Minister Ed Husic and Education Minister Jason Clare jointly announced the latest funding for facilities under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy. These crucial facilities enable Australia to science – they house tech, tools and talent that is vital to our national research effort. 80 projects shared in $650 million in funding.

As we all start to race towards the end of the year, several major reports and reviews are heading for culmination. The Universities Accord, the National Science and Research Priorities, and the Pathway to Diversity in STEM reviews are due before the end of the year. STA has actively engaged in all three on behalf of our members – our submissions on each are here.

Our Superstars of STEM program is a world-leading Australian innovation. It was a delight to be interviewed about this game-changing program on the Random Sample podcast with Dr Melissa Humphries and Dr Muneera Bano. Check it out!

Recognition is often crucial to career success – and the Order of Australia awards are a powerful vehicle to highlight the work our science community does. Women and diverse talent are always heavily under-represented in the lists of awardees. So the next time you have a spare moment, please consider nominating a star in your orbit.

Our final Parliamentary Friends of Science event for 2024 will be on Thursday 30 November at Parliament House. Organised by STA, the event will brief Parliamentarians on STEM workforce issues. Members are welcome and encouraged to attend – please register here.

Finally, in the wake of the referendum result, STA re-dedicates ourselves and our community to partner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations in STEM to advance the cause of repair, respect and recognition.

We renew STA’s longstanding commitment to support, amplify, and elevate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations in STEM – and highlight the inspiring Indigenous STEM knowledges of this country. You can show your support for STA’s Indigenous member organisations and other Indigenous causes in so many ways.

Until next time,

Misha Schubert

CEO, Science & Technology Australia

REPORTS AND POLICY

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic MP announced the 2023 PM's Science Prizes. ? ?
• The Prime Minister announced Microsoft will invest $5 billion in hyperscale cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Australia over the next two years and spoke about this in Washington.?
• Australia’s Chief Medical Officer has announced that COVID-19 is no longer a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.?
• The Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Interim Report of the Australian Universities Accord) 2023 has passed both Houses of Parliament.
• The Australian Government Department of Education has released a Higher Education Research Commercialisation IP Framework. ?
• The second allocation of successful Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Seed projects?has been released by the Department of Education.?
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Skills and Training?Brendan O'Connor?announced a five-year National Skills Agreement from National Cabinet.?
• Jobs and Skills Australia released its Recruitment Insights Report and Internet Vacancy Index for September.?
• Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley discussed 'The case for more women in quantum' in a speech.?
• Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland MP issued a report from the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group.?
• The Australian Government announced a $2 billion expansion to the Critical Minerals Facility.?
• The Department of Education released the draft guidelines for the Student Support Policy – one of the recommendations from the Accord Interim Report.
• The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry?Murray Watt?announced that Australia has joined the International Drought Resilience Alliance.
• Geoscience Australia released the final data release for the Heavy Mineral Map of Australia project– the National Dataset and Atlas.?
• Independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps MP introduced a bill to the House: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Expanding the Water Trigger) Bill 2023.
• Senator Sarah Hanson-Young introduced the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment?(Expanding the Water Trigger) Bill 2023 into the Senate.?
• The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Embryo Research Licensing Committee presented a report to Parliament.
• The Government announced a new Centre of Excellence to improve employment outcomes for people with disability. ?
• The Australian Research Council announced new appointments to the College of Experts. ?
• The Government released the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce final report. ?
• Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care released the MRFF Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission Roadmap and Implementation Plan.?
• The IEA issued World Energy Outlook 2023.?

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBMISSIONS

• The Paid Parental Leave Amendment (More Support for Working Families) Bill was referred to a Senate Committee for inquiry and report by 5 February 2024. Submissions due 17 November.?
• The Department of Social Services (DSS) released an options paper for comment on the proposed new Disability Employment Centre of Excellence. Submissions due 27 November. ?
• The Medical Board of Australia is consulting on whether rural generalist medicine should be recognised as a new field of practice. Submissions close 12 December.?
• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is seeking feedback on proposed changes to its Climate Active program, which supports voluntary climate action (consultation closes on 15 December), and on a proposed Bass Strait offshore wind area?(submissions due by 31 January 2024). ?
• The Protecting the Spirit of Sea Country Bill 2023?has been sent to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications for inquiry and report by June 2024. Submissions close 19 February.?
• The Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport is conducting an inquiry into Red imported fire ants in Australia?to report by 18 April 2024.?
• The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is calling for comment on the preliminary flight paths and draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Western Sydney International Airport.?
• Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is consulting on several guidance notes, with comments due 20 November, including course design, learning outcomes?and assessment,?and learning resources and educational support.?
• The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has invited comment on a draft report from an import risk review of dehydrated and pre-sterilised microbiological media.

GRANTS, FUNDING, AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Minister for Health and Aged Care the Hon Mark Butler MP has announced $15m for prostate and childhood cancer drug development.?
• The Health Department has announced new funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), including $30.8 million for Indigenous-led research into health issues facing First Nations people and $30 million to improve children’s mental health and wellbeing.
• Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management Murray Watt announced $302m for a Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.?
• Calling architects and designers – and people who understand the needs of our older generations – the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has launched the Reimagining Where We Live competition?to gather ideas on how to build better aged care facilities. Entries close 15 December.?
• The Department of Industry, Science and Resources is seeking up to seven members, including a Chair, to form the Industry Growth Program’s Independent Assessment Committee. Applications close on 7 November.?
• The US $10,000 Amelia Earhart Fellowship – awarded to up to 30 women pursuing PhD/doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences – is open for applications until 15 November.?
• The Doherty Institute announced the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics Foundation Grants are open for EOIs until 29 November.?
• The Great Australian Wildlife Search is on – citizen scientists are needed to help map where threatened species live along the Murray River by collecting water samples.?
• Nominate someone for the Order of Australia. The Order of Australia is particularly interested in recognising more people whose careers are still in the development stages. Nominations can be received at any time throughout the year.?
• The Future Earth Pathways Communication Grants Program is open for 2023 for applications until 31 October.?
• The Shaping Australia Awards?recognise and celebrate the extraordinary ways Australia’s universities and the people within them shape our nation. Individuals and teams from Australian universities are invited to submit entries now.
• Applications are now open for women and non-binary students completing studies in a STEM degree or STEM dual degree with Arts to take part in the STEAM Ahead program.?

MEMBER NEWS

SAVE THE DATE: Science Meets Parliament 20–21 March 2024

Science Meets Parliament will be even bigger, bolder and brighter in 2024.

We’re delighted to announce that SMP2024 will be held on 20–21 March 2024 in person at Australian Parliament House.

Save the dates in your calendar and share them with your network!

Want to partner with us on #SMP2024 landmark event??Check out the partnership opportunities.

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

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