Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)

At ACOLA we take the statistic to ❤️   ▪️ 19% – The gender pay gap costs Australian women an average of $18,461 per year. ▪️ More hours, less pay – Women aged 15 to 64 work 2 hours more per week than men on average. ▪️ STEM still isn’t equal – Women make up only 27% of STEM-qualified workers. ▪️ First Nations women face deeper inequality – Their median income is 23.7% less than non-Indigenous women and 47.8% less than men. ▪️ Who’s leading? – Only 9% of ASX300 CEOs are women. ▪️ Where does Australia rank? – 26th globally for gender equality, trailing New Zealand (16th) and Canada (19th)*   We know that research and science thrive when diversity is championed. But the data tells us we have a long way to go. This International Women’s Day, let’s move beyond recognition to real change. We’re calling for action – to close gaps, break barriers, and build a future where gender equality isn’t an ambition but a reality. #IWD2025 #GenderEquality #WomenInSTEM #BreakTheBias #AccelerateEquality *Source: Australian Government, Status of Women Report Card, 2024 Prerana Mehta, Lauren Palmer, Louisa James-Pearson, PhD

Now more than ever, Australia needs its brightest minds working together to drive research, science, and innovation—key pillars in strengthening national resilience and productivity. Over the past two days, ACOLA had the opportunity to attend #UASolutionsSummit25 and hear insightful discussions on the critical role of collaboration between universities, industry, and government in shaping Australia’s future. Key takeaways from the summit: ▪️ Strengthening Collaboration – Building stronger partnerships across sectors is essential to tackling national challenges and ensuring research delivers real-world impact. ▪️ Accelerating Innovation – Speeding up the translation of research into practical applications will enhance national resilience, boost productivity, and support emerging industries. ▪️ Building Capability – Investing in workforce development and infrastructure is critical to preparing Australia for future opportunities in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, AI, and beyond. A thriving research and innovation ecosystem is fundamental to Australia’s prosperity. It was inspiring to see so many leaders engaging in this conversation, and we look forward to continuing to work towards a stronger, more resilient future. #Research #Innovation #Collaboration #Productivity #Resilience #ACOLA #UASolutionsSummit25 Luke Sheehy, David Lloyd, Christine Holgate, Jeff Connolly, Alex Zelinsky AO FAA

Open up to a world of science and technology enterprise! 🌏🔬 Applications are now open for Round 2 of the Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund grant scheme, offering $100K to $1 million in funding to support Australian researchers and businesses collaborating with global partners. The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering in partnership with the The Australian Academy of Science, will distribute $6.3 million in grants to drive cutting-edge science and technology partnerships with our regional neighbours. This initiative is part of the Australian Government’s $40 million #GlobalScienceandTechnologyDiplomacyFund, designed to strengthen international collaboration and innovation. If you’re working on pioneering research or breakthrough technologies, now is the time to expand your global impact! 📅 Apply now: www.glodip.org.au/home #ScienceDiplomacy #GlobalCollaboration #Innovation #FundingOpportunity #ATSE #ResearchImpact #Technology

What a fantastic evening celebrating 25 years of Science Meets Parliament! ACOLA was proud to attend the Gala Dinner, joining leading scientists, policymakers, and industry experts to highlight the crucial role of science in shaping Australia’s future. From thought-provoking discussions to inspiring speeches from national leaders, the night underscored the power of evidence-based decision-making and the importance of strong connections between research and policy. Congratulations to Science & Technology Australia for bringing together such a dynamic and engaged community. As we look ahead, ACOLA remains committed to advancing collaborative, impactful research that drives innovation and informs the policies that will shape Australia’s future. Here’s to another 25 years of meaningful engagement between science and parliament! #ScienceMeetsParliament #SMP2025 #Innovation #Policy #STEMLeadership #EvidenceBasedDecisionMaking 📷 1. Brett Sutton AO, Sharath Sriram 📷 2. Leah Mitchell, Angeline Achariya FTSE GAICD FAIFST 📷 3. Ed Husic MP, Anna-Maria Arabia, Cathy Foley,Ryan Winn, Sharath Sriram, Catriona Jackson, Brian Schmidt, Jeremy Brownlie, Mark Hutchinson

We are pleased to share the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering's latest report, "Boosting Australia's Innovation." Released today, this comprehensive blueprint outlines strategic actions to enhance Australia's innovation ecosystem, aiming to foster a resilient and prosperous economy. Key recommendations are aimed at: ▪️ Enhancing Collaboration: Implementing programs for intellectual property development and structured industry engagement within research institutions. ▪️ Increasing Investment: Setting a national R&D investment target of 3% of GDP by 2030, with a focus on boosting industry contributions. ▪️ Improving Impact Measurement: Developing robust mechanisms to evaluate the outcomes of innovation initiatives. ACOLA supports these initiatives and encourages stakeholders across government, industry, and academia to engage with the report's findings to drive Australia's innovation future. For more details, read the full report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gVbhTe4s

Nominations are now open for The Australian Academy of Science's 2026 Honorific Awards for scientific excellence. The awards celebrate scientific excellence across career stages, recognising outstanding contributions to the advancement of science. With 20 prestigious awards on offer, these awards highlight the achievements of Australia's brightest minds. New for 2026 is the inaugural Brian Anderson Medal — honouring exceptional early-career researchers in information and communications technology (ICT). Know someone making a difference in science? Nominate them today! 📅 Nominations close 1 May 2025. 👉 science.org.au/awards #ScienceExcellence #STEM #HonoringInnovation #AustralianAcademyofScience

📢 Have your say on the future of Australia’s R&D! Despite growing investment from SMEs, overall business investment in Australian R&D has declined drastically over the past 15 years. Today, local R&D investment sits at just 1.66% of GDP, far below the OECD average of 2.7%. The Australian Government’s Strategic Examination of Research and Development is a vital opportunity to shape the future of innovation, productivity, and economic growth. The recently released discussion paper is a key step in identifying what Australia does well—and where we can improve. The panel is now seeking informed views from interested parties on the discussion paper. Feedback will help develop advice to build a path forward for Australia’s R&D system. 🗓️ Consultation is open until 11 April. Join the conversation and share your ideas and insights about Australia’s R&D system now 👉 https://lnkd.in/dEDsx_JZ #RandD #Innovation #ResearchInvestment #FutureOfScience #Policy #Australia Department of Industry, Science and Resources Australian Academy of the Humanities Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences The Australian Academy of Science Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia

Exciting leadership updates at ACOLA! 🥳 We are delighted to announce Professor Louise Baur FAHMS as the new Chair of ACOLA and Professor Kate Darian-Smith FASSA as our new Director on our Board! Professor Baur brings extensive experience as an internationally recognised paediatrician and researcher, with a deep commitment to improving health outcomes through interdisciplinary research and policy engagement. Her leadership in the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and broader contributions to public health make her an outstanding choice to guide ACOLA into the future. Professor Darian-Smith, as President of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, is a distinguished researcher in Australian history, heritage, and cultural studies. She has played a key role in shaping how research informs public policy and societal progress, making her an invaluable addition to ACOLA’s leadership. We are excited to harness their expertise as we continue to drive collaboration across disciplines and advance Australia's future. Learn more about our Board of Directors here: https://lnkd.in/g7h2vf2F #Leadership #Research #Innovation #Collaboration #ACOLA

Curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world around us? Check out The Australian Academy of Science AI in science series — the promise, perils and path forward’ to explore the current and future implications of AI. Event one brings together the expert panel of Toby Walsh FAA FTSE FRSN, Jeannie Marie Paterson, Sarah Carney and Anthony Murfett who look at what AI means, how it is being used in our everyday lives, and how it is likely to impact us in the future. The panel also delve into the risks, limitations and ethics of AI use in science and society. Watch it now! #AI #AIinScience

Do you know an inspirational person, team, or community group that practices and preserves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems? Nominations are now open for the new Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems. The $250,000 prize recognises the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems to science, our nation and humanity. Nominations close 18 March 2025. Get nominating today 👉 industry.gov.au/PMPrizes