ANNUAL REPORT - Australian Academy of Science

In the afternoon presentations and discussions focused on science policy and outcomes from a survey
of national committee priorities. This led to agreement to extend the annual reporting cycle to include
applications for support of specific initiatives. A summary of the proceedings is available on the
Academy’s website from www.science.org.au/natcoms/
Committee reports
Reports have been received from the following committees:
Antarctic research
Chair: Professor Robert Vincent FAA
Australian scientists, including members of the National Committee for Antarctic Research (NCAR),
continue to play prominent roles in the international programs of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic
Research (SCAR), with good representation on a wide range of committees. Activities covered include
Antarctic climate processes, biodiversity, change and ecosystem response, and the geological evolution of
Antarctica. Whenever possible, new appointments to various SCAR and other relevant international bodies
were proposed during 2009. Further members will be proposed during the 2010 XXXI SCAR Open Science
Conference in Argentina.
One of the main activities of the committee was to provide input into the Australian Antarctic Division’s
five-year strategic plan, which is to set the science strategy for Australia’s Antarctic science program.
However, there was a considerable delay in the development of the plan, which has been reviewed before
ratification and implementation in mid 2010. NCAR members provided input through the chair, who is exofficio
a member of the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee, which is responsible to the Minister for the
Environment.
The International Polar Year (IPY) came to an end in March 2009. NCAR worked with the IPY Australian
Education Outreach and Communication Committee, hosted by Antarctic Tasmania, to publicise IPY activities.
To celebrate the end of a very successful program a series of Australia-wide lectures by both senior and young
scientists involved in Antarctic research commenced in late 2009. The first lectures were given by Professor
Ian Allison (Australian Antarctic Division) and Dr Mark Stevens (South Australia Museum) in November at the
newly opened Royal Institution of Australia, and proved very popular.
Astronomy
Chair: Professor Matthew Colless FAA (until end 2009), succeeded by Professor Elaine Sadler FAA
During 2009 the National Committee for Astronomy (NCA) oversaw substantial progress towards the goals of
the New Horizons: A Decadal Plan for Australian Astronomy 2006–15. The NCA worked on the implementation
of the plan in conjunction with Astronomy Australia Limited, which manages those aspects supported by
National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy funding for radio and optical astronomy. Astronomy
was very strongly supported in the 2009 Australian Government budget, which provided $88 million for
Australian participation in the Giant Magellan Telescope, $80 million for a Square Kilometre Array Science
and Supercomputing Centre in Perth, and $40 million to support the Anglo-Australian Observatory’s
transition into the Australian Astronomical Observatory (which occurs on 1 July 2010). In the coming year the
NCA will be conducting a mid-term review of the decadal plan in order to review progress and update the
implementation plans.
The 2009 International Year of Astronomy (IYA) was coordinated in Australia by the NCA under the auspices
of the International Astronomical Union. The Anglo-Australian Observatory and the Australia Telescope
National Facility were the joint ‘national node’ for IYA activities. There were more than 500 IYA activities around
Australia, including international events such as the 100 Hours of Astronomy and Dark Skies, celebrations of
NATIONAL COMMITTEES FOR SCIENCE
ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2009–MARCH 2010 35