New National Science Statement and priorities released

The Australian Government has today (12 August) released the country’s new National Science Statement and National Science and Research Priorities, seven years after the last lot of priorities were released by the former Abbott government.

Last year, Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley was asked to lead a national conversation to refresh the government’s science framework. As part of an exhaustive nationwide consultation process, Foley spoke to hundreds of people across science, research and industry, as well as everyday Australians, to help shape the new priorities.

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said the updated science framework will better prepare the nation to face future pandemics, adapt to a changing climate and respond to rapid developments in artificial intelligence and automation, while also elevating Indigenous knowledge systems for the first time. It contains five National Science and Research Priorities that will guide government, university and private sector efforts, and these are:

• Transitioning to a net zero future — to develop and adopt next generation technologies, particularly in clean energy and storage, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, quantum and robotics.
• Supporting healthy and thriving communities — so more Australians can enjoy healthier lives from birth well into old age.
• Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems — to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people particularly to have more of a say in advancing research that affects them.
• Protecting and restoring Australia’s environment — to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect our biodiversity, diverse landscapes and ecosystems.
• Building a secure and resilient nation — to strengthen our democratic institutions while addressing economic, social, geopolitical, defence and national security challenges.
   

“I found a remarkable consensus among the Australians I met around the country during the national conversation to develop these priorities,” Foley said.

“It’s fantastic to know that Australians share this ambition for the country we want to be — one that protects our unique environment, moves quickly to clean energy in a way that creates new industries and maintains prosperity, ensures everyone has access to advanced health care no matter where they live and protects the strength of our democracy.

“These priorities are a great starting point, and I hope we can come together as a science and research community with industry and government to bring them to life.”

The new National Science Statement meanwhile lists five imperatives that will shape Australian science investment over the next decade:

• Australian scientists, science institutions and infrastructure shaping Australia’s science future.
• Science at the centre of Australian industry.
• A diverse, skilled workforce to underpin the translation of science into new industries.
• Embracing science to drive Australia’s regional and global interests.
• A science system prepared for future challenges.
   

“Thirty-five years ago, Bob Hawke released his National Science Statement establishing the first national Chief Scientist and the National Science and Technology Council,” Husic said. “This new statement continues his legacy of elevating science.

“The priorities also recognise the breadth of knowledge systems developed over 65,000 years on this continent by First Nations people — and seek to apply that know-how for our economic and social benefit.

“I wish to thank Dr Foley for leading an exhaustive national conversation and consultation process, as well as members of Australia’s science and research system for the time and effort they’ve invested.”

Science & Technology Australia (STA) CEO Ryan Winn — speaking on behalf of more than 225,000 STEM professionals — has commended Foley and Husic for “laying out a pathway to the innovative, prosperous country we want and need to be”, with particular praise for the goal that all research that affects or draws from Indigenous knowledge and knowledge systems be led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“The National Science and Research Priorities and accompanying National Science Statement will help position science as central to government and policy decision-making to secure Australia’s economic future,” Winn said.

“By focusing on key strengths where Australian research and researchers are already excelling, which are also strategically important to the country, the two documents can help guide investment in research.

“We look forward to working with government, industry and the university sector to ensure that research has the support, funding and tools they need to address the challenges facing the nation now and into the future.”

The Australian Academy of Science has meanwhile applauded the government for identifying the new science and research priorities, while warning that previous priorities were ineffective because they lacked implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

“It’s imperative that the priorities are backed by a robust implementation plan that clarifies how ministers across governments, and the industry and research sectors, can use the levers available to them to turn words into action,” said Academy President Professor Chennupati Jagadish.

“If the government is serious about implementing its core industrial policy — Future Made in Australia — it will be serious about implementing the National Science and Research Priorities.”

Finally, Cooperative Research Australia (CRA) has said the refreshed priorities and statement provide a national policy framework that embeds science into government decision-making, and will better align the nation’s efforts and investments in science to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits for all Australians.

CRA CEO Jane O’Dwyer was particularly pleased to see “that collaboration between research and industry, as well as investment in R&D, are acknowledged as crucial to advance Australia’s economic complexity and position our nation as [a] leader in high-value industries”.

It has been noted that the statement fails to acknowledge Australia’s low spend of GDP on research compared to other developed nations, with many scientists feeling overwhelmed and underfunded. O’Dwyer stated that CRA “will continue to advocate for an increase in R&D investment across all sectors as a percentage of GDP from 1.8 to 3%, to signal local and international stakeholders that Australia is backing innovation”.

Image credit: iStock.com/takasuu