ANNUAL REPORT - Australian Academy of Science

Photo: Irene Dowdy
ARC and NHMRC awardee researchers attended Science at the Shine Dome
want from scientists, how to communicate effectively with the media, some dos and don’ts, writing media
releases and other tips. A workshop was run by Professor Simon Gandevia FAA from the Prince of Wales Medical
Research Institute, which challenged researchers’ thinking by pointing out the cognitive errors that humans
make unconsciously. The ARC and NHMRC generously sponsored nine ECRs to attend the event.
Science Meets Parliament
The Academy nominated five E-MCRs to participate in the annual Science Meets Parliament event, held on
9 and 10 March and organised by the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies. The
nominees were: Professor Vanessa Hayes from the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia; Associate Professor
Sally Gras from the Bio21 Institute; Ms Tegan Kelly and Dr Emma-Kate Potter from the Australian National
University; and Dr Ros Gleadow from Monash University.
ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS
The first day was a briefing session on the process of policy making, the competing interests of different
groups, and how to make the science message relevant to journalists, politicians and their advisers. The
second day included a breakfast forum, question time, scheduled meetings with parliamentarians and
attendance at a National Press Club address by Chris Murray, science author and senior correspondent for
The American Prospect magazine. Participants viewed the experience as beneficial to their personal and
professional development opportunity and would recommend it to other early- to mid-career scientists.
Lindau Nobel laureates meeting
Each year a small group of doctoral students are selected to travel to the German town of Lindau to attend
the annual Meeting of Nobel Laureates. For many young researchers, meeting and discussing science with the
Nobel laureates inspires them to excel in their own careers.
This year seven young Australian researchers attended the 59th Meeting of Nobel Laureates, held from 28
June to 3 July, which was dedicated to chemistry. The Academy provided funding support for travel, and the
council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings provided accommodation and registration costs. The program
is structured to provide a range of opportunities for laureates to interact with attendees through formal
lectures, panels, discussion sessions, social events and small informal gatherings over meals.
The Australian Lindau delegates were also supported to attend Science at the Shine Dome from 6 to 8 May. In
addition to participating in the ECR workshops mentioned above, and meeting other young researchers, they
attended a briefing session to optimise the benefit obtained from attending Lindau with the 2009 delegation
leader, Professor Andrew Holmes FAA, and previous delegation leaders.
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THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE