Australia’s science and research priorities: conversation starter

3 April 2023

Dr. Cathy Foley
Office of the Chief Scientist
Industry House
ACT 2601, AUSTRALIA

Dear Dr. Foley,

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to revitalising Australia’s Science and Research Priorities and the National Science Statement. Astronomy Australia Limited (AAL) is responsible for the NCRIS program for astronomy, and this submission reflects that perspective. The National Committee of
Astronomy and the Astronomical Society of Australia have provided astronomy-specific submissions.

Some of the greatest challenges facing Australia, such as climate change and global health emergencies, are global in nature. Aligning Australia’s science priorities with these challenges will require being part of a global effort to find solutions. This often includes contributing to large, multi- national science teams, and partnerships in billion-dollar research facilities. Astronomy has successfully transitioned to a model underpinned by large-scale international facilities, and such an approach may be relevant to other scientific disciplines. Participation in multiple billion-dollar scale facilities requires a portfolio approach, especially as Australia is often a minor ‘shareholder’ in such facilities. It also requires an additional degree of sub-specialisation, long-term funding certainty, and a shift from thinking of ‘assets on a balance sheet’, to ‘partnerships with access rights’.

Australian astronomers operate in a globally collaborative manner and have significant involvement in multi-jurisdictional, billion-dollar science infrastructure projects such as the Square Kilometre
Array, European Southern Observatory, and Giant Magellan Telescope. These partnerships include participation in the full value chain – from design & construction to supporting software and instrumentation development through to delivering significant research outcomes. There is an opportunity to maximise learnings from these experiences and apply them more broadly across the science landscape.

AAL also recognises the importance of First Nations astronomy, and scientific knowledge more broadly, and seeks a genuine and deep engagement with this knowledge. With respect to facilities that are being built on the lands of Indigenous peoples, we can learn from the community and cultural engagement that is embedded in the acquisition of the SKA site in Western Australia.

To tackle our greatest challenges, AAL recommends viewing Australia’s national science priorities through a lens of international interdependency. When considering successful models for engagement with major international facilities, Australia has significant experience within its astronomy portfolio that could be shared.

Yours sincerely,

Mark McAuley
Chief Executive Officer
PO Box 2100, Hawthorn, VIC 3122
Telephone: +61 3 9214 5854; Fax: +61 3 9214 4396
ACN: 124 973 584; ABN: 19 124 973 584
www.astronomyaustralia.org.au