Comments from the President of Australian Academy of Science.  (October 20, 2008)

The Australian Academy of Science has released the following "President's Note" from Professor Kurt Lambeck.

October 17, 2008

The much-anticipated Cutler Review of the National Innovation System is now complete, and I agree with the principal conclusions presented in the report Venturous Australia. In my response to the review (www.science.org.au/reports/30september08.pdf) I emphasised that it is Australia’s continuing excellence in science and technology that will underpin our ability to innovate successfully and competitively in the long term and on the international stage. I therefore welcome the many recommendations in the review that work towards these aims.

I would be more concerned about the suggestion to replace the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) with a 'National Innovation Council' if this were to result in a reduced input of science and technology into the deliberation of the Council. There is certainly a place for social sciences and humanities at the table but science and technology underpin the activities of all government departments, either through the provision and facilitation of services and information or through the development of new technologies and material infrastructures. None of these will be unique to any one department and one of the positive features of the Council is that cross-cutting issues can be addressed to the benefit of all departments. Many of the issues faced by the nation have been with us, in one form or another, for many decades but what has changed, and what is continuing to change, is that the solutions have to be increasingly innovative if they are to be useful and that they will have to draw upon expertise from all quarters. I believe that the present structure of a good balance between ex-officio members and members appointed in a personal capacity is a successful one. In particular, the ex-officio members bring to PMSEIC the expertise of the bodies they represent – and this is particularly important when it comes to the Council function of ‘scanning for emerging opportunities or challenges and the avoidance of surprises’ and in the preparation of in-depth emerging-issues reports. I believe that the proposed National Innovation Council of a small number of hand-picked individual experts cannot provide the same breadth and depth of advice and that the long-term usefulness of the Council would suffer.*

It will now be known to all that Professor Penny Sackett has been appointed to the position of Chief Scientist of Australia. She faces a challenging task indeed now that the various review reports are coming in and raising great expectations for Australia’s scientific and technological future. She will take over from Dr Jim Peacock FAA in November. Jim has done a great job in his relatively brief time in the position, ensuring that science and technology was above the horizon across all of government, and through his championing of education in the schools. Australian science and education today is the better for it. Another change at the top of Australian science is the appointment, from January 2009, of Dr Megan Clark as Chief Executive of CSIRO. To say that that will be a challenging task would be my understatement of the week! Also, Professor Robert Clark FAA has been appointed Chief Defence Scientist and head of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). This also is an important appointment at a time when the organisation is reviewing its relationships with the research sector outside of DSTO. I congratulate all three on their appointments and look forward to working with them to the benefit of Australia’s welfare.

This year's Prime Minister's Prize for Science recognised the achievements of Professor Ian Frazer FAA. I am also very pleased to advise that the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools was awarded to Bronwyn Mart. Bronwyn was one of the initial facilitators selected for the Academy's Primary Connections education program, playing a major role in its implementation in South Australia.

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*Note: Back in April Prime Minister Rudd said in reference to the 18^th PMSEIC meeting, the first during his government:

Today I heard from the Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr and Dr Terry Cutler about the progress of the National Innovation System review and the core role this will play in formulating the Government's productivity and social agenda.

Innovation, science and research are central to advancing our agenda for a globally competitive Australia – they are not a marginal interest but a key force in driving our economy.

I presented council members with a number of challenges and asked for their best advice on:

• Getting young Australians excited by science and maths;

• Creating new careers for aspiring mathematicians and scientists, in the academy and industry;

• Building a new science and innovation system that can deal with the rise of giants in our region like India and China; and

• Commercial application of Australians' discoveries.

As of today, the date of the next PMSEIC meeting is yet to be advised. And what will be the results stemming from Mr Rudd's four directives?

We shall just have to wait and see.