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Report by the President, Dr Bob Day to the Australian
Geoscience Council General Meeting
Brisbane, 1 December 1998
First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the representatives of
the member societies of the Australian Geoscience
Council to this, the first General Meeting of the Council to be held in
Brisbane. I would also like to welcome the representatives from a number of Associate
Members of the AGC, as well as members of the current AGC
Executive Committee. On completion of the formal business of this meeting,
we have a Guest Speaker, Gary Lewis, from AGSO
will talk about issues in geoscience education — a topic which is central to
the interests of this Council and to the future of geoscience generally.
The AGC Constitution provides for General
meetings as a forum for member society representatives to be apprised of key
issues facing the Council and to discuss initiatives by the Executive Committee,
which is responsible for general management and control of the affairs and
finances of the Council.
Since the AGC's Annual Meeting in Adelaide in June
1998, at which a new largely Brisbane-based Executive was elected, four Executive
Meetings had been held, including one held just prior to this meeting. The
main issues addressed by the AGC over this period include:
Development of an AGC Work Plan
On assuming the Presidency at the General Meeting in Adelaide in June, I noted
that the AGC has an essential role in responding to key issues as they arise.
The AGC's inputs to the draft Marine Science and
Technology Plan and the National Tertiary
Education Taskforce's discussion paper on Minerals Tertiary Education are
recent cases in point. At the same time, I indicated that there was scope for
the AGC to adopt a more proactive role in future. A priority, therefore, was the
development of a work plan for the next two years that could provide the Council
with a focus for several key initiatives.
The AGC is not a financially rich organisation. However, it is a very
rich organisation where it really counts, in terms of the expertise that exists
across its membership. The AGC is uniquely placed in that it embraces geoscience
across industry, government and tertiary sectors and reflects the diversity of
its member organisations and the skills and capabilities of those belonging
within these bodies. I believe that the AGC can achieve much by harnessing this
expertise to address major AGC initiatives. This offers an exciting challenge
for me as President and the current Executive during our term office. The
mechanism I have in mind to achieve this is the use of the task force approach,
which would draw on skills and interests of members and be implemented in full
consultation with Member Societies.
The new Executive devoted some time to assessing priorities for Australian
geoscience. Two broad areas of consensus emerged. First, the importance of the
geosciences in education at all levels, particularly secondary and tertiary.
Second, the need to promote a greater public awareness of the role of geoscience
in the community, a prerequisite for which is to identify a national vision for
geoscience.
Census of Geoscientists
In its deliberations, however, the Executive recognised that that it lacked a
clear up-to-date picture of the geoscience community in Australia across the
AGC's member societies. What is the nature of the AGC's client base? Does the
AGC know whom it actually represents? In constitutional terms, the answer is
fairly straightforward — the AGC comprises its eight member societies and
embraces the interests of its associate members and observer bodies. But at
another level, there are the people — the professional geoscientists — who
belong to the member societies. What is the profile of their skills, educational
qualifications, stated expertise, sector and location of employment, and age
groups? I suspect that there is a temptation to assume we know our constituency.
The Executive agreed that Member Societies be approached formally to ascertain
the support for a detailed census based on their membership records. The
Executive saw this as essential if the AGC is to be proactive in identifying
relevant issues and delivering meaningful outputs for its membership and in
particular to devising detailed plans to address the future educational needs of
the geoscience profession.
I wrote to the Presidents of the Member Societies in late September seeking
their in-principle support to the idea of a census of geoscientists that could
draw on membership records. I emphasised that such information made available by
Member Societies to the AGC would be treated in strictest confidence and would
only be used by the Council in an aggregated form in the interests of the
geoscience community. Following the October AGC Executive Meeting, at which the
categories of data to be sought from the census were further discussed and
refined, I wrote again to the Presidents with further details of the proposal. I
also mentioned that the Executive has decided to employ a data base specialist
to do the data analysis and that advice of the format for such data would await
the formal engagement of a consultant which is expected shortly.
I am pleased to say that those societies who have come back to me on this
proposal have been most supportive. It is recognised that the membership records
of some societies do not cover some of the data categories envisaged by the
Executive and that attempts by member societies to capture such information via
surveys and questionnaires will in the short term present some challenges.
However, I am confident that the census, which I hope can proceed early in the
New Year, will provide us will valuable information on the current composition
of the geoscience profession covered by the member societies. Associated with
this initiative is the need to draw on publicly available information from other
sources, such as the Australian Bureau of
Statistics.
Dave Horton recently sent me a copy of an article from the AIG newsletter
which drew on data gathered by the ABS as part of the 1996 Census. It covered
over 5600 people who identified themselves as geologists or geophysicists in the
Census. I found this article, which I have copied to you, a most interesting
contribution to the overall picture of geoscience in Australia. It raises
important questions about just how many geoscientists are not members of
professional geoscience bodies and what proportion are working outside the
profession in other areas, such as in company management, engineering, law,
accounting and information technology.
Survey of Employment Trends for Geology Graduates
The AGC Executive has also discussed the related topic of information on
employment trends for geology graduates. This issue impacts on the future of the
geosciences as a professional group. Information is urgently needed to help the
AGC gain an insight into the proportion of geology graduates who find employment
as professional geoscientists and particularly how many were being 'lost' to the
profession to other areas. A survey of graduates of geoscience departments would
complement the AGC census proposal. I will be seeking the advice and cooperation
of the President of the Australian Council of Chairpersons of Earth Science
Departments in this endeavour. I will also liaise with the Australian College of
Deans of Science which is undertaking a project designed to provide to provide
more meaningful statistics on University Science Course enrolment and
graduation.
National Geoscience Education Taskforce
In relation to the AGC Executive's discussions on the priority of geoscience
education, I received a letter in September from Bill Shaw, the AIG President,
proposing the establishment of a Geoscience Tertiary Education Taskforce under
the AGC umbrella. A copy of this letter has been circulated. The proposed
taskforce would address the role and needs of Australian Geoscience in a review
process similar to that undertaken by the Minerals Council of Australia's recent
National Tertiary Education Taskforce on Minerals Tertiary Education. The
Executive saw much merit in the AIG's proposal, dealing as it does with a major
issue for geoscience in Australia. However, the Executive considered it
appropriate that the Taskforce be broadened to cover secondary education issues
as well, although it is recognised that tertiary education will be the principal
focus.
In the letter I sent out in September to Member Society Presidents concerning
the census, I also raised the proposal for a National Geoscience Education
Taskforce and sought their comments and support. Clearly, such a body can only
be established by the AGC with the active involvement and support of its member
societies. I therefore asked each Society to nominate a member of the Taskforce
who could be Brisbane-based to help minimise administrative costs. I have
received encouraging indications of support for the Taskforce proposal and I am
confident that we will have sufficient nominations to enable the Taskforce to
get underway in the New Year.
A key task is to define the Taskforce's terms of reference. The Executive has
so far identified two major priorities. One is to address gaps in the NTET paper
in relation to the needs of geoscience in the tertiary sector. The second is to
identify opportunities for the AGC as a coordinating body to highlight
initiatives taken by a number of industry, professional and government bodies
around Australia in producing valuable geoscience education resource material
for secondary school teachers and students.
AGC Position Statements
The position statements were an initiative of the previous Executive and were
envisaged as outlines of the AGC's stance on important issues that could serve
as a framework within which specific policies, strategies actions could be
developed to improve the public perception and understanding of the role of the
geosciences in Australia. The intention is to enunciate the AGC's approach
across a range of issues in which geoscience had an important stake including:
primary and secondary education; tertiary education; research; standards and
ethics, which includes continued professional development and registration; the
significance of geoscience in the community, encompassing climate change, the
environment, sustainable development, the economy, geoscience funding and
linkages to other scientific disciplines; government.
Prior to the June 1998 Annual Meeting of the AGC, the AusIMM provided a major
input on the Position Statements and subsequently, Brice Mutton has provided
some useful additional inputs on structuring the draft statements, and the
inclusion of an item on 'Industry and Geoscience'. The revised draft, which has
been circulated, largely takes account of The AusIMM's
inputs which the Executive endorsed, including strengthening the Research
statement to include development, adding a reference to continuing education in
the Tertiary Education statement and redefining the Greenhouse item more broadly
under the heading of Global Environmental Issues. However, I do not think the
position statements should encompass specific actions as has been suggested, as
actions lend themselves more to a companion document to the position statements
in the form of an AGC business plan or work program.
I am keen to see the position statements endorsed as broad agreed principles
for inclusion in the AGC Web site. Further refinement can be made in response to
feedback from a wider audience of interested geoscientists.
FASTS
The AGC is a member of the Federation of Australian
Science and Technological Societies (FASTS) which represents over 50,000
scientists across Australia. AGC's membership of FASTS enables geoscientists to
maximise their access to and influence upon national science and technology
decision-makers, including the formulation of policy and seeking to improve the
overall climate for R&D to bring useful economic, environmental and social
benefits to Australia.
FASTS' prime objectives are to foster close relations between the societies;
to promote public understanding of science; and to encourage scientific dialogue
between industry, government, and the S&T community. The AGC is therefore
uniquely placed to make a significant contribution to helping FASTS identify and
address major national science policy issues.
I attended the FASTS Council meeting in Canberra on 19 November and the
subsequent FASTS Board meeting on 20 November. I found both meetings very
informative and came away impressed by the commonality of issues facing member
societies and the potential for FASTS to influence the development of Government
science policy. Three primary factors contribute to the latter. Firstly, FASTS
membership now comprises some 52 societies covering biological, chemical,
physical, mathematical and earth sciences, which enables a more coordinated and
comprehensive representation of science issues to Government. Secondly,
membership of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and innovation Council
provides a forum for both formal and informal access to Minister's and senior
government officials. Thirdly, the Executive of FASTS is now better resourced to
act as an effective science lobby.
The Presidents address and his report to the FASTS Council provide good
summaries of the operations and issues addressed during 1998. I have tabled
copies of these for information. The Council was also addressed by Dr R H Frater
of CSIRO and the Hon Bob McMullin, the Shadow Minister for Science. Dr Frater,
in a talk entitled "Australian Industry — Charting a Healthy
Future", noted the concentration of Australian industry in the provision of
simple services and production of unprocessed, undifferentiated primary products
and the focus of Australian management on efficiency with cost reduction seen to
be the sole issue requiring attention. The Shadow Minister acknowledged the
significant role for science and technology in the development and
implementation of economic policy and lamented the lack of media interest in
Labor’s electoral policy on this matter. In addition, the Executive Director
of FASTS, Mr Toss Gascoigne, presented a progress report on the
"commercialisation of science" study being undertaken under the terms
of a grant from the Department Industry,
Science and Resources (formerly Industry, Science and Technology).
Matters of interest to AGC dealt with by both Council and Board meetings
included the looming crisis in science education at both secondary and tertiary
levels, R&D funding and tax reform (GST and CGT impacts), the threat to
research funding of reported changes to the Australian Research Coucnil (ARC)
and the development of the Top Ten issues in 1999.
FASTS also initiated the ACT Government-hosted meeting of representatives of
State and Territories last week, which afforded the opportunity to compare ideas
and priorities for science and technology policy for this level of government.
Expansion of the AGC Executive
I would like to record my appreciation of the work of current Executive and
those who have come along to meetings to assist in the work of the committee. It
was however apparent early on in its term that the new Executive would need to
be expanded if it was deliver on its planned agenda. Our situation was made more
pressing more recently when David Alsop, who was a PESA
nominee to the Executive, resigned when he took up an appointment with Woodside
in WA.
In September I wrote to Member Society Presidents inviting nominations of
Brisbane-based members for the Executive. I also mentioned the need for a
nomination for the vacant Vice-President position which was not filled at the
Annual Meeting in June. As a result of my invitation, four nominations for the
Executive were received — Brice Mutton from The AusIMM,
Graeme Mackee from ASEG, Geoff Murphy from
the AEG and Bill Whitaker from the AGIA.
These nominations have been formally endorsed by Member
Society Representatives in a ballot by email and fax. The Executive is now
considerably expanded and enriched by a group of new members who will bring a
range of expertise and experience to the workings of the AGC. I congratulate the
new members on their election to the Executive.
In the last week, Wal Muir, who is currently the Federal President of PESA,
has signalled his willingness to be considered for election to the Executive for
the remainder of the current term to replace David Alsop. Wal is a member of the
senior management team of Petroz with responsibility for new ventures. He has
been very active in ensuring that PESA services its membership effectively. Wal
has a keen interest in the education and development of professional
geoscientists. The contribution of his expertise, experience and enthusiasm to
the AGC Executive will be most welcome. I shall be guided by Representatives
present as to how they wish to endorse his nomination.
I will be pursuing the matter of a nomination for the vacant position of
Vice-President.
AGC's New Web site
One of the most important recent publicity initiatives for the AGC has been the
establishment of the Council's Web site, which came on line
in September. This has been constructed by AGSO on our behalf and provides the
Council with a particularly valuable platform for promoting its role and
activities. I wrote to AGSO's Executive Director,
Neil Williams, thanking him for AGSO's assistance in establishing the AGC
Web site, which now provides the Council with a most valued publicity asset. I
also expressed the Council's continuing appreciation for AGSO's support for the
AGC through the provision of its secretariat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge my indebtedness to Jon Hayes who has
provided invaluable support to me and to the Executive. Together with the
Executive, I look forward to working with you to ensure that the interests of
member societies are well served. At the Annual Meeting, which I expect to be
held in June next year, I hope to report significant progress with our current
initiatives.
R W Day
President
Australian Geoscience Council
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