Dear Marie-Louise,

What an inspiration. Seeing the profound contributions to humanity made by the winners of the 2021 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science was cause for such pride. How fitting to see the top prize go to evolutionary biologist Professor Eddie Holmes - the Sydney University scientist who shared the genome sequence of the COVID-19 virus freely online so the world could develop tests and vaccines. It was a game changing moment in the pandemic.

The eyes of the world have been on the COP26 climate summit this week. "It will be our scientists, our technologists, our engineers, our entrepreneurs, our industrialists and our financiers that will actually chart the path to net zero - and it is up to us as leaders of government to back them in,” the Prime Minister told the gathering.

Science & Technology Australia is about to release our STEM sector election priorities statement. This major piece of work will frame our shared advocacy heading into an election year. Thanks to all who joined the leadership dialogue at STA’s annual President and CEO Forum to shape the framework.

We are pleased to announce a webinar for STA members to deepen your knowledge of intellectual property. Presented by staff from IP Australia, the session will be a practical guide to understanding IP rights and how to secure them. At the event registration page you can also shape the content of this session by choosing the top topics you want the presenters to cover in detail.  

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible online for the 2021 STA AGM on November 25. The meeting notice and agenda went out yesterday. Please register now if you are the delegate for your member organisation.

Until next time, 

Misha Schubert 
CEO, Science & Technology Australia 

NEW REPORTS AND POLICY CHANGES OF INTEREST TO STA MEMBERS

Reports of interest:

• All eyes were on Glasgow and COP26 this week.
• The Australian Government released The Australian Way, its plan to meet net zero by 2050.
• It also released the 2021 Low Emissions Technology statement and a National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy. 
• The PM’s address to the summit highlighted the key role of scientists, technologists and engineers to meet the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. 
• CSIRO released a report examining the need for critical metals in the energy transition. 
• STA CEO Misha Schubert chaired a National Press Club address by climate scientists Professor Mark Howden, Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, and economist Professor Frank Jotzo.
• Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley signed a joint statement with global counterparts calling for climate change action and highlighting science and technology’s role in transition. 
• The Grattan Institute released its take on The Australian Way.
• The Royal Australian College of Physicians called on the Australian Government to act on climate change on human health, after an MJA–Lancet Countdown paper on health and climate change.  
• The Australian Academy of Science launched a Climate Change Hub – a repository of scientific and policy content covering all aspects of climate science.
• The Australian Strategic Policy Institute called for sovereign capacity in quantum science.
• The Environment Minister announced new Great Barrier Reef protections on live coral harvesting. 
• The Invasive Species Council released a report on The Native Plant Communities of Norfolk Island.
• The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists announced a new Chair, Dr Ian Pollard, AM. 
• The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences announced 26 new Fellows.  

Opportunities for submissions:

• The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and the Clean Energy Regulator are conducting consultations under the Emissions Reduction Fund:
• • Biomethane method package - submissions close 30 November.
  • Blue Carbon method - submissions close 10 November.
  • Plantation forestry method - submissions close 22 November.
• The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences wants to better enable research to be conducted in the health system. Contribute through the online survey or make a submission.

Further information: STA Director of Policy and Advocacy Sarah Tynan - sarah.tynan@sta.org.au