FASTS NEWS - Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Soc
Tue, Jun 29 2010

FASTS NEWS

1. Government news

As you are no doubt aware, Julia Gillard is the new Australian Prime Minister. Prime Minister Gillard has been quick to confirm she believes that climate change is real and human induced. An announcement regarding her Government’s proposed course of action is likely in the coming days. This photo of her in a laboratory was taken in early June. Let’s hope we see the Prime Minister visit many more research laboratories.

Prime Minister Gillard announced a minor Ministerial reshuffle today. The Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio remains with Senator The Hon Kim Carr, while The Hon Simon Crean MP has been appointed Minister for Education, Employment & Workplace Relations, Social Inclusion.

2. 2010 FASTS/APESMA Professional Scientist Remuneration Survey

Thank you to those who have already responded to the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA) 2010 FASTS/APESMA Professional Scientist Remuneration Survey.

To ensure an even distribution of participants, I encourage people from the Biological, Geological and Medical and Cognitive Science groups to respond.

APESMA has extended the closing date to Friday 16 July.

The link to the questionnaire is: http://www.apesma.asn.au/vsurveys/sci
The survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete. No identification is necessary and all information will remain strictly confidential and is used by APESMA in aggregate form only.

A summary of the survey results will be available on the APESMA website.

If you require further information or clarification, please contact Dominic Angerame, Director Surveys, APESMA on tel: 03 9695 8835; or via email: dangerame@apesma.asn.au

3. Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper

The Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper was released today. The consultation paper identifies a number of challenges and opportunities for Australia’s research workforce over the decade to 2020 and proposes a set of priority areas for focus to meet those challenges and opportunities.

I have attached a copy of the paper and of the accompanying media release. Further information can also be found at also be found here:
http://www.innovation.gov.au/Section/Research/Pages/ResearchWorkforceIssues.aspx 

And here:

http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/Pages/RESEARCHWORKFORCESTRATEGYHAVEYOURSAY.aspx

FASTS is a member of the Research Workforce Strategy Reference Group and has been involved in the development of this paper.

Please note that the deadline for submissions is Friday 6 August 2010.  I encourage those interested in Australian research and workforce issues to make a submission.

Public information sessions on the paper and submission process will be held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide between 12-20 July. Details are available on the website.

4. House of Representatives Inquiry into Australia's International Research Engagement

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation inquired into and reported on Australia's international research Engagement. In particular, the inquiry examined the impediments to collaborating internationally and ways to address those impediments. The Report makes 18 recommendations and can be read at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/isi/intresearch/report/fullreport.pdf

5. When is Science Valid?

The Optical Society of America has published an Opinion Piece authored by Ken Baldwin, immediate past-president of FASTS. The article is based on Ken’s FASTS publication of When is Science Valid and has been very well received internationally.

The article is attached. Should you wish to extract the text and reproduce it, you can do so provided that the following acknowledgement is made:
"This article was originally published in Optics and Photonics News, Optical Society of America, volume 21 (4), April 2010 pp. 12 - 13."

6. Industry Appointments

FASTS welcomed the appointment of CSIRO Chairman, Mr Simon McKeon. FASTS’ Media Release can be read here:
http://www.fasts.org/images/220610%20welcome%20appointment%20of%20csiro%20chairman.pdf

7. Dates for your diaries

25th anniversary celebration

This year FASTS turns 25 and we will be celebrating 25 years of science advocacy in Australia.

Celebrations will take place on the evening of Thursday 25 November in Canberra. Please mark the date in your diaries as this will be an event you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned for details.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM will be held in Canberra on Friday 26 November, following the 25th anniversary celebrations.

8. Indexation arrangements for higher education

Legislation to provide for new indexation arrangements for higher education has been introduced in the Australian parliament. It will deliver an additional $2.6 billion to universities over five years. This, together with the increased funding for the indirect costs of research, spells a significant recurrent funding improvement.

The new formula for higher education funding indexation will be made up as follows:
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services labour price index (75%)
• Consumer Price Index (25%)

This measure see the implementation of an important recommendation in the Bradley Review. For a critique of the legislation, please see the Parliamentary Library Bill Digest for this Bill: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bd/2009-10/10bd162.pdf

9. Recently released reports of interest:

Senator the Hon Kim Carr has released the first Australian Innovation System Report 2010
http://www.innovation.gov.au/Section/Innovation/Pages/AustralianInnovationSystemReport.aspx

In Powering Ideas, the Australian Government committed to produce annual reports on the impact of Australian innovation and the performance of the Australian innovation system as a whole. The Australian Innovation System Report 2010 is the first of these reports.

This report outlines features and trends of the Australian innovation system as a whole; compares Australia’s innovation performance to other OECD countries; and tracks progress against the Government’s innovation priorities and targets. It highlights baseline performance under the four policy headings identified in Powering Ideas: skills and research capacity; business innovation; links and collaboration; and public sector innovation. The metrics and baselines included in the report will be used to measure and monitor the progress of the national innovation system against the Government’s priorities and targets in coming years.