Academy issues $190,000 in funding

The Australian Academy of Science has announced $190,000 to help the survival of some of Australia’s endangered species, help prevent hospital readmissions in central Australia, model climate change adaptation and support international travel and scientific conferences.

According to the president of the academy, Professor Andrew Holmes, the awards have been made possible by “the generous donations of individuals and organisations who have a passion for science”. He added that the funding will “go some way towards expanding the boundaries of our knowledge in … important areas”.

Professor Holmes explained that the travelling fellowships will “allow scientists from Australia and overseas to spread the latest scientific knowledge across international borders”. For example, the Selby Travelling Fellowship will bring Dr Federico Rosei, from Canada’s Institut national de la recherche scientifique, to Australia to discuss his research on advanced nanomaterials to improve energy saving and storage.

The academy will also support three scientific conferences to take place in 2016–2017, covering self-assembly in biological cells; emerging technology for desalination and energy generation; and the origins of the galaxy.

The academy will later this month announce its honorific awards to recognise the early-career, mid-career and lifetime achievements of Australian scientists working in a diverse range of fields. In the meantime, the current list of winners is available here.