Australia's Office of Chief Scientist Issues 1^st Annual Review. (October 29, 2010)

The Chief Scientist for Australia, Professor Penny Sackett has issued the first annual review of the office's efforts and accomplishments since its inception just over 20 years ago.

The review provides an overview of the activities of the Chief Scientist and her Office during the last financial year, and in her introduction to the report Professor Sackett notes that a "little over 20 years ago, Australia appointed its first Chief Scientist, Professor Ralph Slatyer, and established his office in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet". In Professor Sackett's opinion: "Perhaps the most important role of the Chief Scientist is to be a strong and continuous advocate of evidence-based decision making in Government."

Indeed, according to the annual review: "The Chief Scientist for Australia provides independent high-level science advice to the Prime Minister and Government." Nevertheless her office currently resides in the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

The executive director of the Office of the Chief Scientist is Antonio Mozqueira and in his introduction to the Annual Review he cites what he considers to be the year's "key milestones".

And the report lists the following as its key activities for 2009-10 within the province of providing independent advice to the government:

• Improved the ability to identify future threats, challenges and needs of Australia and its people by implementing a foresighting process. The new model has proven to be highly successful and is regarded internationally as an exemplar model to assist policy development.

• Provided the opportunity for high-level policy makers to learn more about the science of learning and learning environments at the 21^st meeting of PMSEIC where the Transforming Learning and the Transmission of Knowledge report was presented. The Council concluded that a budget proposal be developed for Science of Learning Centres.

• Contributed to a broad range of science policy discussions through the Chief Scientist’s attendance at a number of meetings in her ex-officio roles, including at the Climate Change Science Framework Group, Rural Research and Development Council and DSTO Advisory Board meetings.

• Began an examination of resources and food security through two PMSEIC reports: Australia and Food Security in a Changing World and Challenges at Energy-Water- Carbon Intersections.

• Promoted the value and role of science in all policy development in meetings with Secretaries of various Australian Government departments.

• Invited policy makers to a Parliamentary Library session on the findings of the 2009 PMSEIC report, Epidemics in a Changing World to disseminate its findings on global health issues.

While overall the Office's highlights are given in the 9 paragraphs quoted below: