To capture some of the opportunities presented by the rapid development of the Indian economy and its strengthening science and technology capabilities, the former Prime Minister on his recent visit to India announced $20 million to establish the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF). The Indian Government also committed to provide matching funding, effectively ensuring a substantial bilateral funding pool for research collaboration between Australian and Indian researchers over the next five years.
The AISRF presents an exciting opportunity for Australian researchers wishing to collaborate with their Indian counterparts, providing funding support for strategically focussed, leading edge, scientific research and technology collaborations.
$12 million over five years will be available for the competitive components of the AISRF to support a range of high quality joint projects and workshops. Successful projects will be decided bilaterally between the Australian and Indian Governments.
The competitive components of the fund are comprised of the Indo-Australian Science and Technology Fund and the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund. Both funds have priority areas for funding, however applications from other research disciplines will also be considered.
Applications will be accepted from eligible Australian organisations (or a consortium of Australian organisations) including tertiary education institutions, Cooperative Research Centres, Australian registered business or industry groups, Australian public sector research agencies and Australian private, not for profit, research organisations.
Funding for the Indo-Australian S&T Fund and Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund grants is made on a competitive basis against specific criteria. Applications are considered in assessment rounds. Round one will open from 25 September 2006 and close on 24 November 2006.
Information and guidelines are available on the AISRF website
or by contacting the International Science Branch by email: aisrf@dest.gov.au or by phone: (02) 6240 9387.
The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes celebrate and reward outstanding achievements in Australian science. The 2006 Eureka prize winners were announced at the 17th annual Eureka Prize awards dinner in Sydney on 22 August. This year, twenty Eureka prizes were awarded across the four categories of Research, Leadership and Innovation, Education and Science Communication.
DEST sponsors three Eureka Prizes through the Science Connections Programme (SCOPE):
- the Australian Government Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science;
- the Australian Government Eureka Prize for Science Journalism; and
- the Eureka “People’s Choice” Award.
The Australian Government Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science
celebrates individuals or groups who effectively promote interest and enthusiasm about science to the general community. The 2006 Prize was won by Dr Fred Watson, Astronomer-in-Charge at the Anglo-Australian Observatory in Coonabarabran, for outstanding success in bringing new developments in astronomy and space science to a wide public audience.
Over the past twelve years, Fred has achieved this through radio broadcasts, television appearances, school visits, books, magazine articles, and even the occasional (highly original!) song. Currently he is probably best known for his entertaining talk-back sessions on ABC Local Radio with James O’Loghlin and Adam Spencer. In his spare time, Fred is leading an international effort to map the orbits of a million Southern Hemisphere stars.
The
Australian Government Eureka Prize for Science Journalism
is awarded to an Australian journalist or communicator whose work is assessed as having most effectively communicated scientific and/or technological issues to the public. This year the Prize was won by Dr Jonica Newby (pictured) and Chris Spurr for a compelling set of three television stories that explored and highlighted the impact of change - in our oil supplies ("Peak Oil"), in the environment (the endangered Kakapo and a new seabird-borne viral threat), and in our minds (young adult brains only finish maturing at age 25; the last area to fully develop is that controlling judgement). All stories were broadcast on the ABC’s
Catalyst programme during the period May 2005 to May 2006.
Both Eureka Prizes, which comprise a mounted and engraved Perspex plaque and a grant of $10,000, were presented by the former Minister for Education, Science and Training, Ms Julie Bishop.
The Eureka “People’s Choice” Award,
offered for the first time in 2005, provides the public, and particularly high school students, with the opportunity to vote online for the scientist or research group of their choice. This award comprises only a Perspex plaque - there is no cash component. In 2006 more than 7,000 people, including students from 382 schools, participated in voting online for their favourite scientist/research group from among a selection of five profiled on the Australian Museum website. The selections are made by staff of the Australian Museum's Eureka Prizes Unit from among all nominees for the seven Eureka Prizes for scientific research.
The 2006 Award went to the research team of Francois Vaillant (pictured, centre) and Mark Shackleton from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research for their ground-breaking work in discovering mammary stem cells in adult women. Their research opens the way for the development of new drugs and treatments for breast cancer. The Award was presented jointly by Nobel Laureate Dr Barry Marshall (left) and Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer (right).
A unique feature of the People's Choice award is that it offers prizes to voters. The major prize, which is DEST-sponsored, is a partial sequence of a voter's DNA. The sequence is determined by scientists in the Australian Museum from a sample submitted by the winning voter, before being mapped onto quality paper and framed and mounted.
For more information about the Eureka Prizes visit the Australian Museum website
The Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) held a Science-based Careers Forum at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra on Wednesday 16 August, to meet a number of objectives:
- To provide a picture of the range of industries requiring students with a science education, at least to Year 12 but also further qualifications including VET / TAFE and university (either science or engineering);
- To discuss ways to reach students, parents, science teachers and careers advisers with information concerning the career opportunities that become available to those who study science beyond Year 10;
- To present the findings of the Science, Engineering and Technology Skills Audit, and to introduce the Career Advice Australia network; and
- To bring together people with a common interest in promoting science-based career opportunities, to create links and extend networks.
The Forum received presentations from people in key sectors of industry and from the education sector, each presenting material around the common themes of:
- Encouraging students to continue with science studies beyond Year 10;
- Encouraging young people to consider entry into science-based careers;
- Dispelling the myth that the only people who do science degrees are people who want to pursue a career in research; or that a science degree is required if you want to work for organisations such as CSIRO and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), or the research arms of our major corporations.
Dr Jim Bright, Professor of Career Education and Development at the Australian Catholic University, Sydney and Partner in Bright and Associates, a career counselling and career management consultancy, delivered the keynote address and was facilitator for the day.
The Forum received presentations from the following further speakers:
| Mr Paul Mills |
Director, Skills Analysis Section, Skills Analysis and Research Strategy Branch, DEST. |
| Ms Lynda Ford |
Executive Director, Defence Skills Institute (SA) |
| Mr Gordon Stone |
Gordon Stone & Associates – Training and careers consultant in the agrifood industry |
| Prof Tim Brown |
President, Australian Council of Deans of Science (ACDS) |
| Mr Bradley Smith |
Executive Director, Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) |
| Mr Alan Lawrenson |
Executive Officer, Science Industry Australia |
| Prof John O’Connor |
Head, School of Mathematical & Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle |
| Mr Mark Chin |
Human Resources Manager, Northrop Engineers; and Canberra representative, Association of Consulting Engineers Australia |
| Ms Dianne Stuart |
Education Officer, the Minerals Council of Australia |
| Ms Valerie van der Winden |
Transitions and Industry Networks Section, Transitions Branch, DEST |
| Ms Sally Naughton |
National Manager – Careers & Industry Education, Australian Industry Group |
| Ms Suzanne Curyer |
Manager, Career Services, education.au |
| Mr Ian Geyer |
NSW careers adviser who recently undertook a placement in a science-based industry (with a DEST Career Adviser scholarship) |
| Prof Graham Macdonald |
External Licensing Coordinator, Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) |
| Mr Leo Hyde |
Research & Development Manager, DuPont |
| Mr John Molenaar |
Executive Director, Manufacturing & Engineering Skills Advisory Body (MESAB) (Vic) |
Almost 150 people attended the Forum. The audience included university Vice-Chancellors and Deans of Science and Engineering; high school science teachers; careers advisers from schools in NSW; members of career associations in States and Territories; representatives from the TAFE sector; industry representatives; representatives of State and ACT Education Departments; and officers from a range of Federal Government Departments and Agencies, including CSIRO and DSTO.
The uniqueness and importance of this event led the Department to arrange for the Hyatt’s media team to produce a DVD of proceedings, which will be available in the near future. DEST will also arrange for Forum presentations to be made available on-line.
Should you have any queries regarding the Forum, please contact:
Mr Philip Diprose
Manager, Science Awareness Section
Science and Technology Policy Branch
ph (02) 6240 5022
e-mail Philip.Diprose@dest.gov.au
The former Minister for Education, Science and Training, Ms Julie Bishop, launched National Science Week at the National Press Club on 9 August 2006. National Science Week is an annual nationwide celebration of Australian achievements and capabilities in science. It aims to increase community awareness and understanding of the role of science, engineering and technology in maintaining and improving our society, economy and the environment.
The 2006 National Science Week poster featured a larger-than-life image of the ulcer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Proving this bacterium was the culprit earned Professors Barry Marshall and Robin Warren a Nobel Prize in October 2005.
DEST plays a key role in enabling National Science Week, in collaboration with the ABC, ASF Limited, the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA), and CSIRO. The ABC supports the National Science Week and National Project websites. The 2006 National Project took the form of an online National Memory Test, which proved extremely popular with the general public and the media. More than 30,000 people took the test! The ABC also participated in numerous events, and undertook promotional activities on radio, television and online.
ASTA coordinated National Science Week activities in schools. It produced a National Science Week Resource Book on the theme of “Our Dry Continent,” which was sent to every school in Australia. ASTA also administered grant funding provided by DEST to support small-scale school activities.
ASF Limited sourced the international talents of Dr Brian Cox and Margaret Wertheim who toured all of the nation’s capitals, presenting engaging talks. Brian Cox, a former pop-star with a PhD in physics, proved particularly popular with younger audience members. ASF Ltd also provided Canberra with a huge hub of science events, the Australian Science Festival.
CSIRO’s Science Education Centres provided financial and expert support to our volunteer National Science Week Coordinating Committees, enabling a range of grass-roots activity including local support for touring events.
DEST provided $500,000 in National Science Week grants to enable organisations and individuals to participate in National Science Week across Australia. 45 projects were grant-funded, many being co-financed by their proponents and further parties. There were several stand-out events:
- CSIRO’s cabaret-style science show the Great Big Science Gig 3 visited seven cities including Darwin and Burnie;
- Sydneysiders experienced the inaugural Ultimo Science Festival, an extravaganza in the heart of Sydney developed by a partnership of the ABC, the University of Technology, Sydney and the Australian and Powerhouse Museums;
- Townsville celebrated science in the tropics, while in Western Australia Shopping Trolley Science took science to a major shopping centre.
DEST also arranged two particular further events:
- The Chief Scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, and Dr Rob Bell, from Channel 10’s SCOPE television programme, delivered science shows in Perth and Canberra;
- Dr Robyn Williams hosted a forum in the Academy of Science Shine Dome, talking to Professor Barry Marshall, Dr Jenny Graves, Dr Penny Sackett and Dr James Bradfield Moody on “Beyond the Breakthrough” – how did these people get to where they are now, and what will they focus their energies on next? The forum interviews will be broadcast on The Science Show on ABC Radio National in September or October 2006.
The real force behind National Science Week is the hard work and creativity of hundreds of people who each year volunteer their time to make the events, activities and programmes happen. Hundreds of public events are held around the country, most of them free. Over 700 events were registered on the National Science Week website.
To find out what is planned for National Science Week 2007, visit the website or email scienceweek@dest.gov.au.
ANSTO's new nuclear research reactor, the Open Pool Australian Light-water (OPAL) reactor, achieved an important milestone when it was granted an operating licence by its nuclear regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), on 14 July 2006.
The decision followed an extensive cold commissioning process which involved testing all reactor systems and equipment without fuel being loaded. During cold commissioning the reactor's designers, INVAP and ANSTO checked that all systems were operating and performing as expected. ARPANSA took account of the results of cold commissioning in reaching its decision to issue the licence. ARPANSA was also advised by overseas consultants, including an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review team – all experts in the field of nuclear reactor engineering.
"The granting of the licence takes us one step closer to the start of a new era in Australian science," said ANSTO Executive Director, Dr Ian Smith. "Not only will OPAL increase ANSTO's capacity to supply Australia and the region with critically important radiopharmaceuticals, it will provide world leading capability for our scientists to apply nuclear research to such areas as biotechnology, food and molecular biology, nanotechnology, health, environmental management processes and engineering. This research will result in tangible social and economic benefits for Australia," concluded Dr Smith.
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OPAL has met the highest possible standards imposed upon the nuclear industry. The granting of the licence allows ANSTO to load nuclear fuel and begin its second commissioning phase, where further testing will take place to ensure OPAL's performance meets expectations. This will be a slow process, with power starting at around one watt, which is less than an average light bulb. The power level will slowly be increased as tests are undertaken and operational safety is demonstrated. As reactor power is increased over some months to full power of 20 Megawatts, testing and measuring will continue to ensure OPAL's performance is consistent with its design.
When hot commissioning is complete in early 2007, ANSTO's current reactor, HIFAR, will be shut down.
Like HIFAR, OPAL will provide Australians with over 70 per cent of the nuclear medicines needed for diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer. When it is fully operational, OPAL is expected to be one of the world's three top national research reactors. It will produce neutrons with a much wider range of energies than can be produced in HIFAR, and the neutron instruments with which it will be equipped will be the best of their types in the world. The neutron instruments are managed under the auspices of ANSTO's Bragg Institute and will enable Australian scientists to use neutrons to undertake cutting-edge research in fields such as materials science, engineering, nanotechnology, the life sciences and biotechnology, and the earth and environmental sciences. OPAL's capabilities will open up new areas of research in these and in other fields including physics and chemistry.
Access to OPAL by university scientists will be facilitated through the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, as the arrangements that have been in place since the 1950s for access to HIFAR will continue.
OPAL will also have a larger capacity to irradiate silicon for the semiconductor industry.
OPAL and its facilities are already attracting interest from eminent scientists around the world, including those who already have or will relocate to Australia to take positions at the Bragg Institute.
Recognising the need to establish a Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Facility (CRWMF) for the safe and secure management of low and intermediate level radioactive waste, the Australian Government has taken major steps in recent years to ensure that Australia has an operational facility by 2011.
On 15 July 2005, Dr Brendan Nelson (the then Minister for Education, Science and Training) announced that the Australian Government has finalised a list of possible locations for the siting of the future CRWMF. These are Defence Department properties at Mount Everard, Harts Range and Fishers Ridge in the Northern Territory.
The process for selecting suitable sites followed the former Prime Minister's announcement on 14 July 2004 that the Government would examine sites on Commonwealth land, both onshore and offshore, for establishment of a suitable facility to manage low and intermediate level radioactive waste generated by Commonwealth agencies.
This decision followed the failure of the states and territories to cooperate with the Australian Government in finding a national solution for the safe and secure disposal of low level radioactive waste.
An initial assessment of offshore territories by the Department indicated they were unsuitable as sites due to the low elevation of most territories, inadequate infrastructure and incompatibility with existing land uses.
In December 2005, the Federal Parliament enacted the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005, which puts beyond doubt the Commonwealth's authority to safely and securely manage the small quantity of radioactive waste produced by Commonwealth agencies.
In addition, the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 provides for an Aboriginal Land Council or the Northern Territory Government to nominate other sites in the NT for consideration of their suitability for the Facility. If a site(s) is nominated and approved under this provision, the Government will investigate the suitability of the site(s) in addition to the above three defence properties in the NT.
In March 2006, the Department engaged Parsons Brinckerhoff, a specialist contractor, to conduct site characterisation studies for the CRWMF. Site investigations are expected to take around twelve months.
The site studies will help determine the suitability or otherwise of the sites for a near-surface repository for low-level waste and an above ground store for intermediate level waste.
Concept designs for Repository and Storage Options
Option 1. Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Facility
Storage Only Design Concept
Option 2. Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Facility
Storage and Repository Design Concept
The Department, supported by ANSTO, has conducted public information sessions and stakeholder consultations throughout the Territory. The Department has been assisted by the Northern and Central Land Councils in consulting local indigenous communities about the proposal.
The Northern Land Council (NLC) has been supportive of the initiative to enable additional sites to be nominated for consideration as a site suitable for the CRWMF. The NLC has indicated that some indigenous communities may be considering nomination of a site(s) via the processes provided for under the Act.
A decision on the preferred site for the CRWMF is expected to be made in mid 2007. The preferred site will be required to undergo rigorous Commonwealth environmental and regulatory scrutiny. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARPANS) Act 1998 and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987, must all be complied with in relation to construction and operation of the Facility.
In May 2006, the Department of the Environment and Heritage and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) agreed to a joint environmental assessment and siting licence process. This is expected to reduce the time required for these processes by around six months. However, there will be no overall shortening of the project time frame because of delays in commencement of site studies from late 2005 to early 2006.
It is estimated that, assuming all regulatory approvals are given, the CRWMF will be ready to accept radioactive waste in 2011.
The diagram below indicates the approximate timeline for development of the Facility.
The Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) met at Parliament House in Canberra on 2 June 2006.
The working group on Asia's Scientific and Economic Growth - Opportunities for Australia, chaired by Mr Hutch Ranck from the Business Council of Australia, were tasked with exploring the implications for Australia from the economic rise of China and India. The working group consulted extensively with leaders from business, higher education and government and recommended fundamental changes to Australia's science and technology system and its structures and researchers to remain competitive with China and India.
The working group proposed a three-pronged strategy to achieve this:
- Capture the opportunities emerging for Australian science and innovation
- Enhance our science and technology linkages with China and India
- Strengthen our science and innovation foundations for competitiveness.
Three early-career researchers, Dr Sebely Pal (Curtin University of Technology), Dr Spencer Williams (University of Melbourne), and Ms Jasmin Craufurd-Hill (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation), spoke to the Council about the challenges they face in doing their research, securing funding, building national and international linkages, and developing their careers.
The working group's report and the three early career researchers' presentations are available from the PMSEIC website.
PMSEIC is the Australian Government's principal source of independent advice on issues in science, engineering and innovation. The Council chaired by the Prime Minister and its membership comprises eight other senior Government ministers, ex-officio members from Australia's science agencies and personal members representing the best of Australia's research and industry communities.
The next PMSEIC meeting is scheduled for December 2006.
The Science Programmes Branch has some new publications and materials that help to explain the programme and to highlight some of its recent achievements.
The CRC Programme aims to actively boost commercially focused research and development for the benefit of Australian business through fostering a close interaction between the research community and businesses. This is helping to turn Australia's scientific breakthroughs into successful new products and services and is also producing industry ready graduates through CRC supported tertiary scholarships, professional development courses and the all important on-the-job experience.
To find out more about the CRC programme, go to the CRC website and to see the new publication materials, check out the News page.
The new materials are:
- the 2006 CRC Directory – this provides brief information on each CRC with essential information like the CRC's core participants, field of research and areas of expertise.
- CRC success stories – these single page fact sheets showcase successful CRCs and their innovative research. There are 24 success stories, four for each of the six CRC sectors: Agriculture and Rural Based Manufacturing; Manufacturing Technology; Environment; Information and Communication Technology; Medical Science and Technology and Mining and Energy;
- two CRC Programme brochures – the first is Business Benefits: the Cooperative Research Centres Programme which is aimed at attracting businesses to the CRC Programme and explains what a CRC is, how it is funded and what’s in it for business. The second brochure is An Introduction: the Cooperative Research Centres Programme which gives general information for all audiences about what a CRC is, their locations, the relationship between CRCs and industry and how CRCs are selected and funded;
- CRC newsletter – the CRC newsletter is a quarterly publication that outlines what is happening in the CRC Programme. The latest issue for May 2006: CRCs – Success Through Innovation looks at issues like pharmaceutical benefits from the CRC Programme and the value of the programme to the economy. It also provides a brief snapshot of a digital technology project by the Australasian CRC for Interactive Design (ACID CRC) that has helped capture Indigenous culture and heritage. ACID CRC received a prestigious award for their efforts.
If you would like any further information, or to obtain hard copies of any of the materials, please contact Belinda Rutledge. Email: belinda.rutledge@dest.gov.au or telephone: (02) 6240 5259.