Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, and Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, today announced a number of reforms to the Council to ensure it remains relevant and able to facilitate the best connection between scientific advice and policy.

The changes follow an examination of the Council’s operations seeking to ensure that it is nimble, relevant and able to facilitate the best connection between scientific advice and policy.

Key features of the new PMSEIC include a smaller membership and more frequent meetings (three times per year), with the capacity to deal with both short term as well as over-the-horizon topics requiring independent scientific advice to Government.  A key objective is to ensure that the PMSEIC agenda is relevant to the needs of Government, by providing scientific advice on issues which require the development of a policy response, either in the short term, or over longer term horizons. 

Commenting on the changes, the Minister advised that the Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb AC, will continue to play a key role as the Executive Officer to PMSEIC.

“As in the past, PMSEIC will continue to offer advice and provide expert scientific opinion on policy challenges across the whole of government, including health, the environment, education, IT communications, agriculture and international relations,” Senator Evans said.

Professor Chubb said in the past, PMSEIC’s focus was primarily on issues facing Australia’s long term future, looking five to 30 years ahead, rather than on issues immediately affecting the country.

“The role of foresighting is still an important part of PMSEIC’s work, but we cannot ignore the fact that the Government also needs scientific advice on immediate issues like nanotechnology, immunisations, industrial waste and stem cell therapies,” Professor Chubb said.

Under the new model, long-term issues requiring a scientific response will be referred to the Australian Council of Learned Academies, representing the four Learned Academies, to undertake in depth, interdisciplinary research and report to the government through the Chief Scientist.     

PMSEIC’s revised membership will include:

• Prime Minister (chair);
• Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research (alternate chair);
• Minister for Industry and Innovation;
• Other Ministers relevant to the meeting, at invitation of the Prime Minister;
• Australia’s Chief Scientist;
• CEO of the Australian Research Council;
• CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council and;
• Six individual standing members, chosen for their contributions to science and research:

                         Dr Megan Clark;
                         Dr Cathy Foley;
                         Dr Ben Greene;
                         Professor Robert Saint;
                         Professor Fiona Stanley; and
                         Professor Graeme Turner.

PMSEIC will convene in early 2012. 

Read the media release here.

Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, is leading a review by his Office of Australia’s science education, research and development outputs set for publication in the first quarter of 2012.

The review will profile the strengths and vulnerabilities of Australia’s present science capabilities. Australia’s capacity to capture the benefits of emerging science areas and the increasing internationalisation of science will be particular focus areas.

The project will consider the physical (including engineering and technology) and life (including biomedical, agricultural and veterinary) sciences undertaken by government, university and industry sectors.

Key questions include:

1. What is the breadth and quality of Australian science?
2. What disciplines are vulnerable due to training, workforce or funding issues?
3. How reliant is each discipline on Government, Higher Education or Industry?
4. How do various disciplines compare internationally?
5. What are emerging science areas and does Australia have the necessary skills to develop them?

The aim is to ensure that Australian science has the skills needed for the future. This will ensure that Australian science can continue to drive innovation throughout the economy, deliver health and well-being outcomes for all citizens, inform defence capability, and provide the objective evidence required for sound decision-making across government, business and the community.

For this important project the Office of the Chief Scientist is collaborating with numerous government departments and agencies, the Australian Academy of Science and Universities Australia. To view the recent Universities Australia report on STEM and Non-STEM First Year Students click here 

To coincide with the 22^nd meeting of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC), two impact statements for the reports Australia and Food Security in a Changing World and Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections, have been released.

The impact statements address the key themes and outline critical goals for each report.   

Both reports will be discussed today (4 February 2011) with the full Council.

A presentation on the reports will also be delivered at a public forum in the Parliament House Lecture Theatre from 2pm – 3.30pm on the same date.

The impact statements can be downloaded here:

Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections Impact Statement

Food Security in a Changing World Impact Statement

Copies of the full report can be downloaded here:

Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections Report

Food Security in a Changing World Report

Two Expert Working Group reports were released today on topics key to the sustainable future of Australia and its people: Australia and Food Security in a Changing World and Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections.

The reports were developed at the behest of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council which provides independent advice on major national issues in science, engineering and technology and their contribution to the economic and social development of Australia.

While developed independently of each other, the two reports do overlap on a number of issues, including the impact of climate change, the importance of water, and the need to build a resilient Australia.

“We charged the cross-disciplinary, expert groups that authored these reports to take a holistic approach, to look at the big picture, and not just a single piece of the science-society interface.

“The independent, scientific reports they produced are ground-breaking and vital to the future of the nation.  I am delighted that they have been released today so that they can inform not only government decision-making, but also public discourse,” Australia’s former Chief Scientist and Executive Officer of PMSEIC, Professor Penny Sackett said

Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections

The interplay between energy, water and carbon in human activities has been made more complex and more pressing by the need to mitigate climate change risk through reducing carbon emissions, whilst continuing to supply energy, water and nutritious and affordable food to a growing population.

“Our energy systems use water; water systems use energy; current energy generation is greenhouse gas (GHG)-intensive; and land uses for food, fibre and energy production all require water.

“Solutions in any one area must take into account implications for the others.  Ideally solutions, whether on the scale of national governments, cities, or rural areas, would be developed integrally. 

“For example, traditional desalination to increase urban water supplies may significantly add to GHG emissions, which can exacerbate climate change, “Professor Sackett said.

A key recommendation of the PMSEIC energy-water-carbon report is to implement consistent principles for the accounting and pricing such as water, energy and carbon emissions into the atmosphere.  

“Consistent accounting and pricing principles are required to ensure our finite resources are used effectively, efficiently, and in ways that are consistent with long-term sustainability and resilience. 

“The implementation of integrated smart networks for energy and water, which is also recommended in the report, will go a long way in enabling the application of these principles,” Professor Sackett remarked.

Another set of recommendations put forward in the report describes positive steps to achieve enhanced resilience and sustainability of our built environments and landscapes. 

“Essentially what this means is that Australia, as a nation composed of individual communities linked by common challenges of water, energy and climate, should develop the ability to recover from shocks such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, while adapting through learning and innovation, and undergoing transformation as required,” Professor Sackett explained.

Australia and Food Security in a Changing World

Australia is currently a net exporter of food, with considerable expertise in food production under resource constraints and in the face of climate variability. However the PMSEIC report suggests increased challenges to this important Australian industry including: land degradation, population growth, long-term climate change, competition for arable land, scarcity of water, and nutrient and energy availability.

“Food security does not just mean having enough food in a typical year.  It means having reliable and sustainable access to acceptable, nutritious, and affordable food at all times.     

“Australians expect this security, and about 40 million non-Australians internationally rely on our country to secure their food as well.”

“The food security report recommends a visionary approach that brings together regulatory and funding agencies, research organisations and industry, to achieve strong outcomes in economic growth and population health centred on food.

“These steps include urgent new investment in food science and technology that will spur future transformational change in healthy and efficient food production; increasing our human capacity to provide a suitably skilled workforce for the food sector; and translating community awareness of food into better food choices,” Professor Sackett said.

Both expert reports address long-term, transformational issues for Australia that affect the whole nation and thus will require a whole-of-government response.  They will be discussed further with the Prime Minister and other Council members at the next PMSEIC meeting, scheduled for 4 February 2011.

Read Australia and Food Security in a Changing World

Read Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections

The report focuses on the fundamental questions that influence our ability to learn and highlights the opportunity for Australia to transform its practices related to learning, with the aim of enhancing life-long learning outcomes for all Australians.

It also uses science to challenge a number of commonly held beliefs about how the brain functions, learns and ages. 

The central recommendation of the report is the establishment of a Science of Learning Program, to be delivered through a number of interdisciplinary and inter-professional Science of Learning Centres.

Further detail on the Science of Learning Program can be found in the short  impact statement.  Click here to download the statement.

In describing the Science of Learning Centres, Australia’s Former Chief Scientist, Professor Penny D Sackett said “the Centres would have a transformational impact on learning by advancing the scientific understanding of effective learning techniques; generating knowledge to inform education policy and practice; and by testing innovative approaches in real world environments to maximise learning outcomes.

“It is expected that the research findings from these Centres could lead to improvements in equity, educational practice and practitioner development.  All of which, should narrow the achievement gap and maximise Australia’s economic productivity.

“By adopting the recommendation from the report to establish Science of Learning Centres, we can deliver a society of effective life-long learners who have the ability to engage in the rapidly developing knowledge society that is the global future.”

The Centres, if established, would cover Australia geographically and socio-economically; and would build on the work already being conducted across Australia by Departments of Education, researchers and other educational groups. 

It is also expected that input into the Centres would be harnessed from parents, carers, learners, community leaders, formal and informal educators, and researchers from different disciplines.

Click here to download a copy of the full report.

The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) was established under the former Government in 1997 as the Government’s principal source of independent advice on issues in science, engineering and innovation and relevant aspects of education and training.  The precursor to PMSEIC was the Prime Minister’s Science Council established by the Hawke Labor Government in 1989.  This was then followed in 1992 by the Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council.

Given the appointment of a new Chief Scientist in 2011, the Government took the opportunity to consider the arrangements for the future conduct of PMSEIC.  The revised arrangements, announced on 20 January 2012, aim to ensure that PMSEIC remains relevant and able to maintain the best connection between scientific advice and policy. 

New membership structure

The new structure will:

• Make membership more streamlined.
• Meetings will be more regular at three times a year.
• The work program will include short term and long-term projects requiring disinterested scientific advice to government.

The new arrangements will ensure that the work program is more relevant to the needs of government, especially when considering longer-term policy outcomes.

Short-term projects

The Chief Scientist will draw on expert advice to provide further scientific advice to government on an immediate or short-term policy response. The relevant Minister will assist in an advisory role. The Chief Scientist would normally report back to PMSEIC within the next meeting cycle.

Long-term projects

The Chief Scientist will commission the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACoLA) to undertake in-depth, interdisciplinary research and produce a report on long-term issues requiring further research and advice. The relevant Minister will provide advice and the Chief Scientist will report back within 12 months.

Please visit the PMSEIC website to find further information including who the current members are, as well as reports and presentations that have been produced by the Council.

At the twentieth meeting of the Prime Minister’s Science Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) held on June 5 2009, an Expert Working Group presented a report titled Epidemics in a Changing World.  This report considered the factors that prompt the emergence of infectious diseases, and that alter the frequency, location and spread of disease in a changing global environment.  It was noted that humans are the key contributor to this change, through population growth, climate change and associated environmental impacts.

The report also identified that the infectious agents that cause such diseases constantly evolve. This makes the prediction of future threats very difficult — so we must expect to be surprised. The report identified several key ways for Australia to strengthen its capabilities to prevent and manage epidemics.

The Expert Working Group members came from a wide range of scientific disciplines and organisations.  Many of the members had been previously or were currently actively engaged in operations or research associated with animal or human epidemics in Australia and overseas.  They drew heavily on their extensive scientific knowledge and expertise in considering the topic, in fields including virology, entomology, epidemiology, medical science and veterinary science.

The recommendations

Science and innovation will provide the key to safeguarding Australia’s future. The report focused on ensuring that Australia is well placed to deal with the effect of global changes on the occurrence and spread of human and animal epidemic diseases.

The Expert Working Group noted that Australia’s current operational response to disease control is effective — and has been in recent times for disease events which have not resulted in major global epidemics.  The recommendations presented were seen as providing Australia with the preparedness and agility to cope with the unknown challenges of a future world that may provide a substantively different environment for epidemic disease.

In order to underpin Australia’s preparedness to deal with emerging epidemic diseases the Group recommended that:

1. Australia possesses the human capacity to combat potential epidemics

The nation must be prepared and sufficiently agile to deal with unexpected epidemics. This requires that we develop, maintain and retain skilled people through:

• conducting ongoing national workforce planning for expertise in human and animal epidemic diseases; and
• boosting higher education and research training in areas of need.

In order to provide early warning of the emergence of epidemic diseases the Group recommended that:

2. Australia possesses a long term biosecurity information collection, analysis and interpretation capability

Capability must be developed and maintained to collect, analyse and interpret disease surveillance information.   This must be secured by:

• creating an ongoing, effective national human and animal disease information system; and
• integrating this system with similar systems operating overseas.

In order to enhance Australia’s wider ability to deal with emerging epidemic diseases the Group recommended that:

3. Australia develops forward regional engagement to mitigate potential epidemic.

Australia needs to commit human and other resources to engage our region on disease surveillance, preparedness and mitigation, through capacity building and collaboration.  This requires that we develop political, scientific and technical relationships with our neighbours, at multiple levels, to reduce human and animal disease risk to Australia and the region by:

• establishing an active ongoing cross portfolio mechanism involving PM&C, DFAT, DoHA, DAFF, DIISR, DEEWR and other relevant agencies dedicated to managing and supporting effective regional engagement; and
• assisting regional countries to meet their obligations under the WHO International Health Regulations and the World Organisation for Animal Health requirements through:
  • supporting development of collaborative regional surveillance and early warning systems; and
  • developing regional expertise through professional training and higher education in Australia and in the region.

In order to secure the front-line defences needed to deal with emerging epidemic diseases the Group recommended that:

4. Australia has a self-sufficient vaccine development and production capacity

Australia needs to retain and enhance its onshore development and production capacity for vaccines. This is essential for domestic preparedness and, as importantly, to enable access to the latest overseas expertise and technology in this field.  The focus should be on the onshore development and production capacity for:

• contemporary influenza vaccines; and
• niche vaccines, particularly in the context of future Australian needs.

In order to better coordinate our ability to deal with emerging epidemic diseases the Group recommended that:

5. The Government establishes the cross-portfolio arrangements essential for effective implementation of Recommendations 1, 2 and 3 as a matter of immediate priority.

Please visit the PMSEIC website to view the full report.