Melbourne is Australia’s research capital. According to the Nature Index, published overnight in Nature, Melbourne was Australia’s leading city in terms of high-quality science output in 2015, followed by Sydney. The index also shows that Brisbane saw the fastest growth in output between 2012 and 2015, and is home to the highest-placed institution in Australia, the University of Queensland.
The top 10 science organisations in Australia, according to the Nature Index are…
The order hasn’t changed since Nature published their global index in April, but in today’s 2016 Nature Index Australia and New Zealand they’ve delved down into the performance by city, and by field of science.
Brisbane is rising fast up the list due to its strength in the life sciences, and the University of Queensland tops the list of Australian institutions.
Sydney punches above its weight in the physical sciences, especially with the opening of new nanoscience and quantum physics labs this year at UNSW and the University of Sydney.
Melbourne still leads the country, and is one of the top 10 most collaborative cities in the world, according to the index.
There are some funky visualisations of the strengths and connections of Sydney and Melbourne’s research institutes that reveal connections down to Bacchus Marsh (leaders in genetics, but why?).
Last night, the Prime Minister presented the 2016 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science to seven of Australia’s top scientists, innovators, and science teachers.
The 2016 recipients are:
Rick Shine, defending Australia’s snakes and lizards, Prime Minister’s Prize for Science (The University of Sydney)
Michael Aitken, making stock markets fair and efficient, Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation (Capital Markets CRC/Macquarie University)
Colin Hall, creating manufacturing jobs by replacing glass with plastic, the inaugural Prize for New Innovators (The University of South Australia)
Richard Payne, for re-engineering nature to fight for global health, Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year (The University of Sydney)
Kerrie Wilson, conservation that works for government, ecosystems and people, Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year (The University of Queensland/ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions)
Suzy Urbaniak—a geologist by trade—is turning students into scientists, Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools (Kent Street Senior High School, Perth)
Gary Tilley, creating better science teachers, Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools (Seaforth Public School, Sydney/Macquarie University)
L-R: Gary Tilley, Kerrie Wilson, Colin Hall, Minister Greg Hunt, Rick Shine, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Michael Aitken, Richard Payne, and Suzy Urbaniak (Photo credit: Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science)
Indonesia: we’re writing a collection of short innovation stories for the Australia-Indonesia Centre and our brief isn’t restricted to work funded by the Centre. So if you know of any examples of collaborative research between Indonesia and Australia, please let me know.
This is a collection that we hope will be useful to government, business, science and cultural leaders, and that will contribute to a better understanding between our two nations. [continue reading…]
Defence Science and Technology Group needs you. They’re managing a $730 million Next Generation Technology Program to build collaboration with industry and academia.
This week they’re opening their ‘secret’ labs in Melbourne to media, industry and their academic partners. Some of the stories they’re revealing include:
Adding years to the life of Australia’s F/A-18 Hornet fighters
Testing acoustic tiles for Australia’s stealth submarines – present and future
Running Australia’s most flexible Defence flight simulator
Finding out if body armour can be worn in the jungle – with the help of a sweating mannequin
Catriona Jackson is leaving Science and Technology Australia. She’s done a fantastic job advocating for science in the tough Abbott era. But she’s not going far – to Universities Australia as their deputy CEO.
Kylie Walker will take her place, moving from her role as communication director at the Academy of Science. The Academy CEO Sue Meek is also moving on, as is Peter Thomas who drove the SAGE gender equity initiative. He’s going to AAMRI, the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes.
Sue and Kylie have transformed the public and political impact of the Academy.
Fifty young researchers from 30 organisations are performing around the country this month and next.
Thank you to the 17 universities, four museums, and other groups who have partnered with us to deliver Fresh Science 2016.
Now you can see your early-career researchers taking the next step – engaging with the community, media, government and industry around the country. There are still free tickets left for the pub nights in Adelaide (15 June), Brisbane (18 July) and Sydney (26 July) and school forums in Perth (8 June) and Sydney (26 July).
UQ on top, followed by Monash, but Melbourne more collaborative, and Curtin the fastest riser in today’s Nature Index.
The latest Nature Index published overnight in London reveals Australia’s contribution to high-quality scientific research.
The University of Queensland takes out the top spot in Australia (at 89 on the global university list) with the other members of the Group of Eight filling out the top eight positions in Australia.
Monash University is 93 globally, the Australian National University is at 100, and The University of Melbourne at 130. Australia has eleven universities in the top 500 institutions in the Index which tracks over 8,000 institutions worldwide.
CSIRO is the highest placed non-university body on the Index.
Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, nails quantum computing in this press conference that has attracted global attention http://bit.ly/1QgRoLE
I’m told that Barack Obama struggled with gravitational waves, but I can’t find the clip.
How would you and your team do?
A great way to train and test your best scientists is push them into the limelight by nominating them for a prize. As part of the #ideasboom, the Prime Minister has expanded his prizes for science and innovation and there are a host of other opportunities in this bulletin.
Or push your young researchers into Science Week – grants are open in most States.
We offer a service to test and refresh your narrative. Do you talk about additive manufacturing when you mean 3D printing? We can help you review and refresh your pitch.
And we offer media training – if you can guarantee a minimum of six people in a capital city we can organise a course.
This week also sees the opening of Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology at The University of Sydney. More on their launch below, and it’s not too late to join them http://bit.ly/23GrsWJ
And from next month you can meet the 2016 Fresh Scientists in pubs around the country – starting in Melbourne on 31 May.
Both Fresh Science and the $50,000 Metcalf Prizes for Stem Cell Research have been extended to Wednesday 30 March.
So now’s the time to push forward those shy but brilliant early and mid-career scientists.
There’s also a new Prime Minister’s Prize – a $50,000 Prize for ‘New Innovators’, taking the total prize pool to $750,000. Nominations have just opened.
Read on for more about these prizes and others including the Eureka Prizes, Tall Poppies and the BioMelbourne Network’s Women in Leadership Awards.
Congratulations to Melbourne ‘rare geneticist’ Elena Tucker, from the Murdoch. She jets to Paris this week for a L’Oréal UNESCO Rising Talent Award. Read more.
Our media and communication courses for scientists will be in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide over the coming months. More below.
This week we’ve got a host of opportunities for rising stars in science including our own Fresh Science competition and the $50,000 Metcalf Prizes for stem cell research.
In my experience, most award winners were encouraged to nominate by a trusted supervisor or peer. So do Australian science a favour – and push the rising stars you know into the limelight.
Stories of Australian Science – we’re starting to post this year’s stories online, but you can still get into the collection. It goes to print in March.
Help us bring Fresh Science 2016 to every state and territory; and nominations are now open.
It’s prize nomination season with over one million dollars available, including:
Eureka Prizes: for leadership, innovation, leadership, science in schools and science communication—now open
We are a team of science writers, publicists, communicators and editors.
We help you communicate complex ideas simply to the public, media, government and industry.
We work on all platforms from social media, to media, pitches, publications, events and conferences.
Scientists: if you need help with your research communication;
Journalists: if you’re looking for talent for your next story; you’re in the right place.
Media and communication training
Full day hands-on workshops in small groups. Practise interviews with journalists. Find your key messages. Handle tricky questions. Learn how to ensure your research is reported accurately.
Sarah's structure of the course, specific insight and understanding of science, her contacts and common mistakes made in communication were great and furthered my skills in this area.
Anonymous - Sydney Jan 2020
Science In Public
2020-01-28T15:04:28+11:00
Anonymous - Sydney Jan 2020
Sarah's structure of the course, specific insight and understanding of science, her contacts and common mistakes made in communication were great and furthered my skills in this area.
This is one of the best science communication courses I have ever encountered. It teaches all research to think out of box and really simplify their research in lay man's language. I will highly recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about science communication.
Shwathy Ramesh
Science In Public
2020-02-24T09:29:55+11:00
Shwathy Ramesh
This is one of the best science communication courses I have ever encountered. It teaches all research to think out of box and really simplify their research in lay man's language. I will highly recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about science communication.
Sufficient time given to work one-on-one with each participant. TV, radio and newspaper given sufficient weight. Practical, informative and professional
Anonymous - Gold Coast May 2021
Science In Public
2022-09-05T12:59:42+10:00
Anonymous - Gold Coast May 2021
Sufficient time given to work one-on-one with each participant. TV, radio and newspaper given sufficient weight. Practical, informative and professional
Good mix in terms of topics covered, people invited and media coverage. This course will make me more comfortable and I believe it will improve my confidence about myself and how I talk about my work in front of media.
FEnEX CRC, December 2021
Science In Public
2022-09-05T13:01:49+10:00
FEnEX CRC, December 2021
Good mix in terms of topics covered, people invited and media coverage. This course will make me more comfortable and I believe it will improve my confidence about myself and how I talk about my work in front of media.
Sarah is an amazing instructor. She has looked after each of the participants very well. I really like her style. Thank you to all team for a valuable training session.
Seyhan Yazar, Garvan Institute of Medical Reseearch
Science In Public
2022-09-05T13:02:58+10:00
Seyhan Yazar, Garvan Institute of Medical Reseearch
Sarah is an amazing instructor. She has looked after each of the participants very well. I really like her style. Thank you to all team for a valuable training session.
Pushed me to finesse/develop a pitch, find an edge that will facilitate communicating my research findings. The real world experience/opportunity for interviews was exceptionally helpful
Megan Bater
Science In Public
2022-09-05T13:06:38+10:00
Megan Bater
Pushed me to finesse/develop a pitch, find an edge that will facilitate communicating my research findings. The real world experience/opportunity for interviews was exceptionally helpful
The day was a great balance of topics and presented in an approachable and friendly style that was very inclusive. It was a fantastic and informative session that will really help me day-to-day in the communications work I do.
Ben Westmoreland, 2022
Science In Public
2022-09-05T13:07:28+10:00
Ben Westmoreland, 2022
The day was a great balance of topics and presented in an approachable and friendly style that was very inclusive. It was a fantastic and informative session that will really help me day-to-day in the communications work I do.
