Australian Academy of Science

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Australian Academy of Science

Formation	1954
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Canberra, Australia
President	John Shine

The Australian Academy of Science is a learned society established in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australian scientists, including Nobel Prize winner Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet. The Academy is modeled after the Royal Society of London, with a mission to promote, support, and recognize excellence in scientific research and to provide independent scientific advice to the Australian government and community.

History

The Academy was founded in 1954, with its first president being Sir Mark Oliphant, a prominent physicist. The establishment of the Academy was driven by the need for a national body to represent the interests of the scientific community in Australia and to foster the development of science and technology in the country.

Objectives

The main objectives of the Australian Academy of Science are:

• To promote scientific knowledge and research in Australia.
• To recognize outstanding contributions to science through the election of Fellows.
• To provide independent scientific advice to the government and the public.
• To foster international scientific collaboration and exchange.
• To support science education and public awareness of science.

Structure

The Academy is governed by a Council, which is responsible for the overall direction and management of the organization. The Council is composed of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and other elected members. The current President of the Academy is John Shine.

Activities

The Australian Academy of Science engages in a wide range of activities, including:

• Organizing scientific conferences, symposia, and public lectures.
• Publishing scientific journals and reports.
• Administering research grants and awards.
• Providing expert advice on scientific issues to the government and other organizations.
• Promoting science education through programs and initiatives aimed at students, teachers, and the general public.

Fellows

Election to the Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon an Australian scientist. Fellows are elected based on their distinguished contributions to scientific research. The Academy currently has over 500 Fellows, who are leaders in various fields of science.

Headquarters

The headquarters of the Australian Academy of Science is located in Canberra, Australia. The iconic building, known as the Shine Dome, was designed by architect Roy Grounds and completed in 1959. The Shine Dome is a notable example of mid-20th-century modernist architecture and is listed on the Australian National Heritage List.

Related Pages

• Royal Society
• Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science
• Science and technology in Australia
• Shine Dome
• John Shine
• Mark Oliphant
• Frank Macfarlane Burnet

See Also

• List of learned societies
• National academies of sciences