FASTS Feb 2001

REPORT ON FASTS, FEBRUARY 2001

by Mike Smith, Geoscience Representative on FASTS.

The Prime Minister's statement of 29 January shows that science and technology is moving towards centre stage in debates about Australia's future. Professor Sue Serjeantson, President of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), recently said "scientists and technologists have to work more closely with Parliamentarians, to help them construct Australia's future over the next decade. Climate change, public health, genetically-modified food, information technology, salinity, energy, disposal of nuclear waste are all unresolved issues on the public agenda". Note that the last three of these issue have a strong geoscience component.

FASTS' typically takes a broad view of science with statements such as "Ultimately, science means new industries and new jobs. It's the way forward - an improved environment, better health care, enhanced economic competitiveness, solutions to the problems that drag our society back. Science doesn't have all the answers, but it is always part of the solution." These comments apply equally to geoscience.

FASTS is represented on the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council and many decisions on national policies originate at PMSEIC. During the presentation on 29 January, the PM stated that "chairing PMSEIC has been a very stimulating experience, always immensely rewarding, has taught us a great deal, and has assisted government in formulating policy". The AGC membership of FASTS allows access to the PM for geoscience issues.

The dramatic turnaround in the policy of the current government on funding science and technology is a response to the Labour Party's "Knowledge Nation" position. However it can be at least partly related to the large number of politicians who spoke to scientists at the "Science meets Parliament" Days organised by FASTS and attended by many geoscientists. The SMP encounters provide a new conduit for information, and it is apparent that parliamentarians and scientists find this event both useful and enjoyable."

Members of AGC reasonably ask "Does AGC get value for the subscription fee of $15,000?". Several achievements in 2000 can be contrasted with results of previous years of involvement, largely as a result of initiatives by AGC President and FASTS Vice-President David Denham. FASTS has organised meetings with Warren Entsch in May 2000 (Denham, Cousins, Smith) and with Martyn Evans (ALP S&T spokesman) in Nov 2000 (Denham, Smith) and again with Entsch and advisors in Nov 2000 (Denham, Smith). We now have a very easy mechanism for meeting with key politicians to present our case on key issues. This opportunity will be used again in 2001, once the AGC has chosen the issues it wants to discuss. Many other geoscientists participate in Science Meets Parliament each year, and hammer issues such as Native Title, CRC support, R&D funding for universities and industry, Sustaining a national approach to geoscience, Support for AGSO, Returning the management of water back to AGSO and others.

Gaining value for money from FASTS depends on what we put into the organisation. Mathematicians have done very well in 2000 through the publication of the FASTS Occasional Paper "Mathematical Sciences in Australia: Looking for a Future". Of course FASTS did not fund the writing of the document. The author, Jan Thomas, is the Executive Officer of the Australian Mathematical Society Inc., and also happens to be a Vice-President of FASTS.

The AGC needs to identify what issue needs support by FASTS, and then needs to prepare the documentation on that issue. Access to land for exploration could be such a topic as identified at the Canberra AGC planning meeting. The following are the Top Ten Issues identified by the Board of FASTS (in black text), with my comments of the relevance to geoscience in bold blue italics. The most direct way to stimulate FASTS to push forward on a geoscience issue is to choose one or more of the "Ten Top Issues" and identify the desired geoscience outcomes for that/those issues. I look forward to AGC advice of which geoscience topic should be advanced ed at the next FASTS Board Meeting, which is scheduled for Friday 23rd February.

FASTS HAS NOMINATED "TEN TOP ISSUES" FOR 2001 (Black Text)

1. INCREASE THE NATIONAL INVESTMENT IN SCIENCE
Australia needs a new national approach to science, beginning with a substantial increase in our national investment. The recommendations of the final Batterham Review document should be implemented as a package, as the first stage in rebuilding our national investment. Benefits all geoscience research efforts, both academic and private. Increasing the national investment in geoscience starts with AGSO; the AGC needs to acquire a direct role in formulating policies for AGSO - Could this be our key goal for 2001? Discussion with Neil Williams on 29 January indicates that AGSO is implementing a policy equivalent to AGC's May 2000 proposal of "National Geoscience Online" and is working towards linking with state surveys on a common portal.

2. BUILD ON OUR CAPACITY TO COMMUNICATE SCIENCE
Australians need a greater awareness of the possibilities and limitations of science if they are to make sensible decisions about how science will serve the national interest. A strong and confident ABC Science Unit will be a flagship in bringing science into Australian homes. Geoscience issues have to fomulated, and packaged succintly for the media and public to understand. No-one will do this for us. Sarah Belfield and I met with Robin Williams briefly on 29 January and reinforced David Denham's letters of support for the ABC.

3. HELP PARLIAMENTARIANS TACKLE THE ISSUES
Science needs a stronger presence in Parliament to assist MPs make decisions on highly technical areas like greenhouse, IT and gene technology. Appoint young scientists as interns to MPs. FASTS has organised meetings with Entsch in May 2000 (Denham, Cousins, Smith) and with Evans (ALP) in Nov 2000 (Denham, Smith) and again with Entsch and advisors in Nov 2000 (Denham, Smith). Many other geoscientists participate in Science Meets Parliament each year, and hammer issues such as Native Title, CRC support, R&D funding, National approach to geoscience, Support for AGSO, Water back to AGSO etc. What are the issues AGC wants presented to parliamentarians during 2001?

4. SCIENCE AND THE BOARDROOM
Adopt a "Science and the Boardroom" program, to bring science and industry together at the highest levels to assist in the transfer of technology and good ideas. AGC could nominate geoscience industry executives to participate in this program. See item 10 below.

5. SELLING AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE OVERSEAS
Australia is an attractive place to do science business, but our international profile is low. Each major overseas embassy should have a
science attache to sell our science expertise, and to stimulate collaborative research and development activity. The science attache should have a list of ready access to geoscience experts, as well as to data sheets promoting Australian investment opportunities and Australia's competitive business capabilities all around the world. Austrade provides significant assistance to the mining industry. AGSO also has a national role in "selling" Australian geoscience overseas.

6. PROVIDING A START: SCIENCE AND TEACHERS OF SCIENCE
Science can inspire, but only when it is taught by highly-trained, well-qualified teachers working in modern laboratories with good textbooks. We need HECS relief and a vigorous national program to recruit and train science graduates, with refresher programs to keep their science up to date. The AGC has sought government assistance for teaching resources to enable new courses in geoscience to be maintained within the secondary school curriculum. The AGC recommendation for a "National Geoscience Online" capability maintained by AGSO would include educational components.

7. COHERENT POLICY ON MAJOR NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES
Australia should work out the best way to run big science infrastructure. Establishing large national and international facilities requires regular funding and a systematic approach. AGC representatives have argued for support for geoscience CRCs and for AGSO, on the basis that many critical resources (water, petroleum) are hosted by geological formations which transect state boundaries. The national geoscientific organisation (AGSO) should not be constrained to an offshore focus simply to save expenditure.

8. SCIENCE FOR THE BUSH
Coordinate Australian science to create jobs, improve existing industries, solve environmental problems and improve digital communication in regional and rural Australia. The mining industry contributes substantially to employment and development in remote areas, with an important flow on of investment to small towns. Engineering, groundwater studies, salinity mapping and natural hazard monitoring are other geoscience applications in the bush. High standard telephone lines are important for digital communication to remote areas where geoscientists live and work.

9. BRAIN DRAIN BECOMES EXPRESS TRAIN
Australia is in danger of losing a generation of scientists and technologists overseas. Invest more in higher salaries, better career
paths, and improved research funding to retain our best and brightest. Maybe this is not so critical. There is some loss of geoscientists overseas, but there is also world-wide export of Australian geoscientific expertise by geoscientists who prefer to live in Australia and travel to international work destinations.

10. BENCHMARKING FOR BUSINESS
Australia must be more agile in attracting overseas companies to base R&D operations here, by offering competitive incentives and moving quickly to
adjust our regulations and incentive schemes. This could apply equally to geoscience research as to biotechnology or ICT research. Lower operating costs and high quality personnel in Australia should make R&D facilities her very attractive. In fact majors such as BHP and Rio Tinto have shut down or severely cut their R&D divisions. AGC should appeal directly to those companies to reinstate R&D in Australia.