Climate change is a global problem, and yes we need to find a global solution, but we also need to start doing something here in Australia to turn our greenhouse gas emissions around. 

Taking meaningful action here in Australia, where we have the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita of any major country (in 2005, we were edged out only by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Luxembourng), would be a powerful example to the rest of the world about what can be achieved.  I recently explored this thought further in an opinion piece that I wrote for ABC Science and in a speech I gave in Melbourne last week (3 December).

The first step you can make to take action on climate change is to arm yourself with information and ask the questions you need to make sure you understand the issue.  A starting place is a report titled: Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions, from an international science meeting that I attended in March in Copenhagen.  Just last week, the Copenhagen Diagnosis: Climate Science Report was released with the latest findings on climate change science.  Another great place to start is the UK Met Centre.

Other news

Since I’ve last updated this blog, I delivered two invited presentations at the World Science Forum to the world’s top scientists and scientific policy makers.  The forum is held once every two years in Budapest, and is sponsored by UNESCO and the International Council for Science.  The first presentation was on Women in Science and was based on a recent report on the status of Australian Women in Science.  Briefly put, women in Australia are entering most, but not all, areas of science in increasing numbers, but they are under-represented at the top levels of science.  I also reported in Budapest Australia’s foresight activities to help prepare Australia for the future using science.  Follow the links to these presentations to see the slides I showed at the World Science Forum.

On 26 November, I was involved in a discussion about food security and the role of science and research in the agricultural sector at the National Press Club.  Joining me at the roundtable, titled Rural R&D Challenges 2030:Confronting Climate, Food, Water and Productivity were:

• Reverend Tim Costello, AO, Chief Executive, World Vision Australia;
• Dr Brian Fisher, AO, Economist and former head of ABARE;
• Mr Enzo Allara, Chair, Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations Chair; and  
• Ms Barb Madden, Queensland Farmer.

The lively discussion was facilitated by Tony Jones from ABC’s Lateline and you can check out the footage here.

Last Thursday l travelled to Melbourne to present a keynote address on climate change sponsored by Australian Davos Connection, The Victorian Employer’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) and L.E.K. Consulting.  My speech titled Changing the World: Science and leadership before and after Copenhagen is now up on my website for you to read.  You can also view the slides that accompanied my address.

Later this week, I’ll be attending an Advisory Board meeting for the Defence Science and Technology Organisation as well as attending a graduation ceremony for Australians receiving doctorates in science.

Quite a bit is happening over the next few weeks, so don’t forget to check in from time to time.   

In 1995 the Australian government commissioned a report on women in science, engineering and technology in Australia.  The report was groundbreaking for its time.  However, since then the progress of Australian women hoping to make careers in science, engineering or technology related fields has stalled.  The Office of the Chief Scientist in conjunction with the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) is looking at the place and progress of women in science in Australia.  A report Women in science: why waste productivity, diversity and innovation? has been initiated and funded by FASTS. Written by Professor Sharon Bell, it makes for sobering reading.

Although roughly equal numbers of men and women are attaining science degrees at university this is mainly in the “soft sciences”.  In the more gender segregated fields, such as IT and engineering, an increase in involvement by women of between only 1% and 3% has been observed over the period 1995 to the present.  That is, the statistics are “flatlining”. Furthermore the numbers of women being promoted to higher positions in academia or private enterprise diminishes the higher up they progress in these hierarchies.  Academic statistics also show that in Australian science faculties (as in most countries around the world) women are paid less, promoted more slowly, receive fewer honours and hold fewer leadership positions than men.

Promoting the position of women in science is important for more than just equity reasons.  Women now make up more than half the student population in the Australian higher education sector.  They also make up half of the labour force.  With an ageing academic workforce it is essential that we bring young researchers, both men and women into the field so they can continue the vital work our scientists and engineers do.

As Chief Scientist for Australia, I am helping develop and explore options for the government to consider in addressing this problem with the aim for women not only to survive in science, engineering and technology sectors but also to excel.  Women have the potential to bring new ideas and a different perspective to science.  If we don’t take advantage of this we are in fact wasting human capital and lowering our productivity at a time when we are in most need of it.

PRESENTATION SLIDES – Women in Science in Australia: Picking up the pace

Now more than ever we must support scientific effort that is global, collaborative and innovative to deliver a sustainable and prosperous society. Given the complexity of challenges that we face, achieving this sustainability and prosperity is not to be underestimated. ‘Wicked’ challenges, such as mitigation and adaptation to climate change, mean that if we are to make good decisions, we must gather sufficient scientific evidence from all areas of science to inform future policies and provide effective technological and social solutions. We need to plan today to ensure a sustainable tomorrow.

The Australian Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) has chosen to take on this challenge through the use of foresighting in order to develop new approaches to support knowledge generation, health and wellbeing, sustainability, and economic and social development. A formal model has been adopted to “look over the horizon” in order to examine possible transformational futures (5 to 50 years hence) that Australia may face, and then identify ways in which science and innovation may assist in meeting them wisely. The goal is to support long-term, whole-of-government evidence-based policy development.

To assist in implementing this model, four groups called Thematic Foresighting Clusters (TFCs) have been established to assist PMSEIC in providing this strategic advice to Government. The groups consist of broad thinkers who take a strategic and continuous, longer-term view of the key economic and social challenges facing Australia. The four broad foresighting themes for these new clusters are:

1. Climate Change, Energy, Water and Environment: Impact on Australia;

2. Science as an Engine for Innovation in Commerce, Industry and the Arts;

3. National Health, Wellbeing and Security; and

4. Knowledge Generation, Skills and Perception in a Global World.

These themes lie at the intersection of Government portfolios and across traditional disciplines of research, and in many cases involve social challenges resistant to conventional approaches to solving them. Interdisciplinary collaboration, across scientific boundaries and including the Social Sciences, the Arts and Industry, is a natural route to identifying breakthrough solutions to challenges posed in these themes. Hence a range of expertise is sought in cluster members.

The clusters identify potential opportunities and challenges, mapping out gaps in our knowledge required to meet them to assist with supporting, mitigating or adapting to these. Specific topics generated by the gaps in knowledge identified by the clusters are chosen by PMSEIC for further assessment and complete reports. A larger team of experts then develop and suggest possible pathways to fill the gaps in knowledge, producing a scientific report that is presented to PMSEIC. The reports include recommendations for the near term future that will put Australia on the path to the preferred long-term future(s) articulated in the foresighting process.

The outcome of these efforts is the provision of timely, evidence-based advice to Government, enabling them to make decisions today that will ensure sustainable development tomorrow.

PRESENTATION SLIDES – Australia’s foresighting activities: Planning today for a sustainable tomorrow

The Fourth World Science Forum will focus on “Knowledge and Future,” and will be a global platform where scientists and science policy makers can discuss global issues and possible solutions.  Attending will be many of my international counterparts,  and leading scientists in their respective fields from around the globe.

I have been invited to make two presentations at the Forum, one on Women in Science and the other on Australia’s foresight activities and the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.  After I have delivered these speeches, you will be able to find them under the media section on this site. 

The forum will also provide me with a chance to meet individually with key international scientists and science policy makers.  These meetings have the dual purpose of advancing the interests of Australian Science internationally and developing the relevant networks that enable me to provide the most up-to-date and scientifically robust advice to the Australian Government.  

Some of the people I will be meeting with in Budapest include:

• Chuan Poh Lim, Chairman, Agency for Science Technology and Research , Singapore;
• Vaughan Tureikian, Chief International Officer for the American Association for the Advancement of Science ; and
• Dong Pil-Min, Chairman, Korea Research Council of Fundamental Science and Technology .

Following the World Science Forum, I will travel to China for a few days to visit a number of leading research institutes including the National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology , the Institute of Biophysics , and the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion .  I will also meet with Professor Tan Tieniu, the Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Academy of Science.

While I am overseas, my office will continue preparations for the next meeting of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, which will take place on 2 December 2009.  At that meeting an expert report will be delivered to the Prime Minister and other Council members on science that has the potential to transform learning and the transmission of knowledge.

I will check back in after I return from my overseas travel.  Until then, keep exploring the site.