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News & Views item - January 2011 |
Physics Today Invited to Interview Australia's Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. (January 20, 2011)
Physics Today is a publication of the American Institute of Physics which represents 10 member societies and 25 affiliated societies.
According to an online article published on January 18, 2011, at the beginning of last month, the Australian government "invited four North American journalists—including Physics Today's editor-in-chief Steve Benka—to visit Australia and learn about the country's many efforts, initiatives, and successes in scientific research and innovation... [T]he journalists were given the opportunity to submit written questions to Australia’s Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science, and Research, Kim Carr".
Physics Today has now published five of the list of questions submitted by Mr Benka to Senator Carr and the answers provided. Below we reprint one of them:
Mr Benka: How do the government and the scientific community interact?
Senator CARR: The scientific community is a source of knowledge and expertise that the Australian government regularly draws upon.
Our consultation with the scientific community spans many activities from projects like the upcoming 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure, to leveraging support for the Square Kilometre Array.
We regularly interact with diverse groups including federal government agencies like the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS); state and territory agencies; and nongovernment groups like academies, universities, and research institutions.
The way we consult varies depending on the issues at hand and includes
discussion papers for comments and written submissions,
forums and conferences,
and individual meetings and workshops.
We also engage the scientific community through our advisory structures by having representatives from across the sector sitting on scientific advisory boards like the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) and the National Research Infrastructure Council (NRIC).
Collaboration is the key to innovation. By drawing on the best minds from across the research community, industry, and government we achieve the best results.
We also recognize that collaboration should not be limited to program design; this is why we interact with the scientific community broadly and continuously when undertaking our policy development and evaluation activities.
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However, TFW doesn't believe it is unreasonable to ask:
How often does the Prime Minister consult the Chief Scientist when crucial decisions involving science are made?
How often do members of Cabinet consult the Chief Scientist when crucial decisions involving science are made?
What resources have been provided to the Chief Scientist to allow her to adequately advise the Prime Minister and Cabinet (to say nothing of parliament as a whole and the Australian public) when crucial decisions involving science are made?
One of the ex officio members of PMSEIC is the president of the Australian Academy of Science, currently Dr Susan Cory. What additional programs should the AAS undertake to address the approaches Professor Alberts suggests and what resources need to be provided within what time frames? [See: Some Pieces of Unsolicited Advice.]