Win up to $100,000 investment, and Science Meets Parliament On the Hill: Your update on science and technology policy and advocacy

STA CEO Misha Schubert's message

The week’s news cycle has been dominated by the major AUKUS announcement and Australia’s plan to purchase a fleet of next-generation nuclear-propelled submarines.?Reportedly?worth up to $368 billion dollars between now and 2050, and with $9 billion earmarked in the next four years, the AUKUS deal is a major investment in Australia’s defence capabilities, as well as in science and technology skills and innovation. The deal reinforces the importance of doubling down on investing in Australia’s science and technology workforce and infrastructure more broadly as the world tips into a new era to develop technological advantage. Major investments in Australia’s science, technology and research capability are welcome, and Science & Technology Australia will make the case that we must also continue to invest strongly in Australian science and technology beyond the scope of AUKUS.

The first part of our Science Meets Parliament 2023 program was inspirational. Across three days of superb content, more than 400 delegates heard from the?world’s greatest living mathematician Dr Terence Tao?and the?mastermind behind mRNA vaccine technologies Dr Kati Kariko?headlining a program featuring 48 brilliant experts and leaders.

This week, we will convene our membership community in person for the ‘Science Meets Parliament 2023: On the Hill’. In a star-studded day, we’ll have a science leadership dialogue featuring Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley AO, Nobel Laureate and ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC, Quandamooka mathematician and ATSIMA chair Professor Prof. Chris Matthews FTSE , Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams FTSE , and Australian National Fabrication Facility CEO Jane Fitzpatrick , plus some of STA’s superb leadership team - President Professor Mark Hutchinson , President-elect Professor Sharath Sriram , and Vice-President Dr Anita Goh .?

On Wednesday, Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic MP will deliver the National Press Club address outlining the government’s vision for science, and in the evening, more than 450 science and policy leaders will gather in the Great Hall of Parliament House for a Gala Dinner. On Thursday, 250 biotech leaders will stay on for a special event: Advancing the SABRE Alliance to secure Australia’s Defence. This event – a powerful collaboration between Science & Technology Australia and the Department of Defence – will connect our community into exciting new opportunities.

A huge thanks to everyone who has made Science Meets Parliament 2023 the best so far – our superb speakers, delegates, and superstar STA staff team. We can’t wait to see you this week.

Science & Technology Australia is delighted to announce an?exciting competition to win investment of up to $100,000?to commercialise your clean agri-food technology. This incredible prize is being offered by SparkLabs Cultiv8 in partnership with Science & Technology Australia. The competition, offered exclusively to STA members, seeks to identify early-stage, innovative technologies to boost sustainability in agriculture and food production and processing. The winner will get an investment of up to $100,000, plus mentoring, networking and business development support to help bring the next generation of clean agri-food technologies to market. Want to know more? SparkLabs Cultiv8 will host a webinar on Friday, 24 March at 11am (AEDT).?Register here.?

Australia’s Pathways to STEM Diversity review - chaired by the dynamic Sally-Ann Williams of Cicada Innovations - has now?invited submissions?on barriers to participation in STEM. This pivotal independent review will advise the Government on what is, and isn’t working in programs aiming to boost participation in STEM by diverse groups. Science & Technology Australia is a longstanding champion of diversity, equity and inclusion in our sector – particularly through our groundbreaking Superstars of STEM program. We will make a formal submission to the review, and encourage members to have your say too.

Finally, a huge congratulations to our 2019 Superstar of STEM, Associate Professor Teresa Ubide , who last week won the prestigious?Anton Hales Medal??from the Australian Academy of Science for her work on unlocking volcanic secrets. What a rock star!

Until next time,?

Misha Schubert ?

CEO, Science & Technology Australia?

REPORTS AND POLICY

• STA announced?support for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.?
• There was much excitement in and about India over these past few weeks, with visits from Education Minister, Jason Clare MP and then the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese . There was a flurry of announcements of?deeper partnership and collaboration, and?new opportunities?for Australian?universities?and?critical minerals.?
• The Australian Government announced the development of a comprehensive?AUKUS Submarine Workforce and Industry Strategy.?
• The Higher Education Support Amendment (Australia’s Economic Accelerator) Bill 2022, which enables Australia’s Economic Accelerator scheme and the Industry PhD Program?passed both Houses of Parliament?on 7 March.?
• The?Education Legislation Amendment (Startup Year and Other Measures) Bill?2023 was introduced to the House of Representatives on 9 March.
• The?National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2022?passed through the House of Representatives on 9 March, with a?Greens amendment?to ensure investment decisions align with environmental and emissions reduction policies. The Bill is due to go to the Senate next week.?
• Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney , and Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Jenny McAllister, held a roundtable to launch?consultation?on a National Health and Climate Strategy.?
• The Productivity Commission released the latest?update on Closing the Gap.
• ?The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care released:
• Centre for Disease Control?stakeholder consultation report; and
• Mitochondrial Donation Licensing Scheme?Privacy Impact Assessment.??
• Jobs and Skills Australia released a?Labour Market Update. The Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O'Connor ?commented?on gender imbalance in occupations with significant skills shortages.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBMISSIONS

• The Office for Women has commenced the next phase of consultations for the?National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality. This phase of consultation aims to provide an opportunity for the broader community to share their views on gender equality and how these should be reflected in the strategy. A?discussion paper?and?survey?are available online.
• The Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network, the Australian Rheumatology Association and Cochrane Musculoskeletal have?released?An Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis for consultation.?Survey responses?close 30 April.?

GRANTS, FUNDING, AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Applications are open for the?National Industry PhD Program. Applications close 11 April.?
• CSIRO is offering an online learning program –?Innovate to Grow?– to support R&D in small- to medium-sized enterprises in the energy sector. Applications close 10 April.?Small- to medium-sized enterprises can apply for?grants to improve energy efficiency. Applications close 19 April.?
• Nominations for the 2024 The Australian Academy of Science honorific awards?are now open. Nominations close 1 May.?
• There are several?funding opportunities?available from The Australian Academy of Science Academy of Science, including research awards, travelling fellowships and research conference funding. Applications close 1 June.
• Nominations for the 2023 SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards are now?open.?Nominations close 21 April.?

MEMBER NEWS?

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

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