Chemistry for a better life

Contents
Foreword ............................................................................1
Executive summary ...........................................................3
Purpose of the decadal plan ..................................................3
Winds of change—opportunities and threats
for the global and Australian chemistry industry ....................4
Barriers to success .................................................................5
Plan for success: the Decadal Plan
for Chemistry strategic goals .................................................6
Recommendations ................................................................6
The way forward ...................................................................6
Chapter I: Background and introduction ..........................7
Chapter II: Why chemistry matters ....................................9
The importance of the discipline of chemistry .......................9
The global chemicals industry ...............................................9
Chapter III: Grand challenges ..........................................13
Winds of change—global megatrends and threats ..............13
Other global game changers, threats and risks .....................14
National research priorities ..................................................14
Opportunities for Australian chemistry
research in the 21st century ................................................16
Challenges for the 21st century ...........................................16
Chapter IV: Current state of chemistry in Australia ........19
(1) Private sector .................................................................20
(2) Public participation and perceptions of chemistry ...........22
(3) Education ......................................................................22
(4) Higher education ...........................................................23
(5) Government research sector ...........................................26
Summary—Connecting industry,
academia and research providers ........................................27
Chapter V: The key requirements
for the chemistry discipline .............................................29
Industry value chain requirements .......................................29
School education requirements ...........................................29
Higher education requirements ...........................................29
Academic research requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Government research requirements ....................................31
Large research infrastructure requirements ..........................31
Industry requirements .........................................................31
Chemistry public image requirements .................................31
Chapter VI: The way forward and strategic
direction of the Chemistry Decadal Plan .........................33
Strategic goal 1: Raise chemistry knowledge and skills .........33
Strategic goal 2: Improve the capabilities
of the research sector ..........................................................34
Strategic goal 3: Raise the level of research
and innovation efficiency and improve the
translation of research outcomes .........................................35
Strategic goal 4: Improve the image of chemistry .................35
Strategic goal 5: Implement the decadal plan ......................35
Chapter VII: Implementation ...........................................37
The way forward .................................................................37
The next steps ....................................................................37
Appendices ......................................................................39
Appendix 1: National Committee for Chemistry ...................40
Appendix 2: Chemistry Decadal Plan Terms of Reference ......40
Appendix 3: Decadal Plan Working Group ............................41
Appendix 4: Australian universities offering
bachelors degrees in chemistry ...........................................41
Appendix 5: Decadal plan process .......................................42
Appendix 6: Individuals interviewed and
consulted during the interview process ...............................50
Appendix 7: Locations and dates of town hall meetings .......51
Appendix 8: Organisations consulted ...................................52
Appendix 9: List of requirements .........................................53
Appendix 10: Considerations and guidelines
for a decadal plan implementation plan ..............................55
Appendix 11: Pilot scheme for R&D
project mentorship for chemical SMEs .................................57
Appendices 12 to 15: in Part 2 of the
Chemistry Decadal Plan ......................................................59
List of Abbreviations ............................................................60
Contents
THE DECADAL PLAN FOR AUSTRALIAN CHEMISTRY 2016–25 iii