ANNUAL REPORT - Australian Academy of Science

providers and users of space-based Earth observations in Australia were also members of the committee.The
terms of reference were assigned to the working group by the presidents of the two academies in December 2008,
and following wide consultation both nationally and internationally the report was finalised in September 2009.
The main conclusion of the report is that Australia can no longer meet its growing national needs for Earth
observations through reliance on the generosity and good will of other countries. It recommends that Australia
commit to a much stronger national role in Earth observations from space, and sets out an overall strategy for
ensuring that Australia plays its part in the international Earth observations effort in ways that will optimally
meet our national needs over the next 10 to 15 years and beyond. The report offers nine recommendations
for implementation of the proposed strategy. These include the development of a national policy on Earth
observations from space, and the establishment of a national office and a cross-portfolio advisory council.
The report was launched in October by Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, the Hon Richard
Marles MP, and is available from www.science.org.au/reports/documents/EOSfinal.pdf
Photo: NASA
Earth observations from space were the topic of a joint Academy-ATSE report
Australia’s Renewable Energy Future
In January the Academy released a report, Australia’s Renewable
Energy Future, based on the the 2008–09 public lecture series.
The report was coedited by Professors Mike Dopita FAA and
Bob Williamson FAA who summarised existing and emerging
renewable energy technologies and examined strategies that
can be used to replace power generation based on the use of
coal and oil. The costs, advantages and problems associated with
solar power, wind power, biomass, fuel cells, geothermal energy
and wave energy were compared and analysed.
The deployment of currently available technologies can
decrease Australia’s carbon dioxide emissions and contribute
to meeting the target of 20 per cent of Australia’s energy being
from renewable energy sources by 2020. However, the report
identifies a lack of feasible deployment paths and supportive
SCIENCE POLICY
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