Australian Academy of Science facts for kids
Academy Coat of Arms
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location of the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra
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| Formation | 1954 |
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| Headquarters | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
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Membership
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≈500 Fellows |
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President
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Professor John Shine |
| Website | www.science.org.au |
The Australian Academy of Science is a special group of top Australian scientists. It was started in 1954 by many famous Australians, including some who were already part of the important Royal Society of London. The first leader of the Academy was Sir Mark Oliphant.
The Academy works like the Royal Society and has a special permission from the King or Queen, called a Royal charter. This means it's an independent group, but the government supports it. The main office of the Academy is in Canberra, at a building called the Shine Dome.
The main goals of the Academy are to help science and science education grow. They do this through many activities, focusing on four key areas:
- Celebrating great scientists: They recognise people who have made amazing discoveries in science.
- Learning about science: They create programs to help everyone, especially young people, learn more about science.
- Science advice: They give advice to the government and public on important science topics.
- Working with other countries: They connect with scientists and academies around the world.
The Academy also runs 22 National Committees for Science. These groups bring scientists together to talk about important issues in different science fields across Australia.
Contents
How it Started
Before the Academy, there was a group called the Australian National Research Council (ANRC). It was set up in 1919 to represent Australia in international science discussions. The ANRC stopped existing in 1954, and the Australian Academy of Science took its place.
The Shine Dome
The Shine Dome is a very famous building in Canberra. People often call it "The Martian Embassy" because of its unusual round shape. It looks like something from another planet! Sir Roy Grounds, a well-known architect, designed it. When it was finished in 1959, its huge dome, which is about 45.75 metres wide, was the biggest in Australia.
The building's design committee chose the plan for the dome in 1956. It's made of 710 tonnes of strong concrete and is held up by 16 thin supports. The concrete is about 60 centimetres thick at the bottom and 10 centimetres at the top. The dome holds itself up without any inside walls. It cost about £200,000 to build. The first stone for the building was laid on May 2, 1958, by the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. This stone was actually a piece of a very old telescope from 1869!
The building was first named Becker House in 1962, after a generous supporter named Sir Jack Ellerton Becker. In 2000, it was renamed The Shine Dome to honour John Shine, who gave a lot of money to help fix it up.
Inside the Shine Dome, there are three floors. On the ground floor, there's a main hall called the Ian Wark Theatre, which can seat 156 people. There are also rooms for meetings and offices. Upstairs, there's a viewing area for the theatre and the Adolf Basser Library, which stores important science books and papers. The basement holds historical records about science in Australia.
In 2016, the Shine Dome was featured in a TV show about Australian buildings called Streets of Your Town. Sadly, in January 2020, a big hailstorm damaged the dome, breaking skylights and denting its copper roof.
Science Education
Helping people learn about science is a very important part of what the Australian Academy of Science does. They have many projects to support science education, including:
- Primary Connections
- Science by Doing
- Nova: science for curious minds
- reSolve: Mathematics by Inquiry
- Science booklets
- Brain Box
Fellows of the Academy
The "Fellows" of the Australian Academy of Science are about 500 of Australia's most important scientists. To become a Fellow, scientists must be chosen by other Fellows because they have made amazing discoveries in their field. Up to 20 new Fellows can be chosen each year.
Sometimes, a few Fellows are chosen for their great work in science, even if it's not through their own research. Also, a small number of famous scientists from other countries who have strong links to Australian science can become "Corresponding Members."
When you see the letters FAA after a scientist's name, it means they are a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
First Fellows
When the Academy started in 1954, there were 24 first members, known as the Foundation Fellows. Some of these included:
| Name | Field |
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| Frank Macfarlane Burnet | Virology and immunology (won a Nobel Prize!) |
| John Eccles | Neuroscience (also won a Nobel Prize!) |
| Mark Oliphant | Physics |
| Douglas Mawson | Geology |
Leaders of the Academy
The Academy has had many important scientists as its President over the years. Here are some of them:
- Sir Mark Oliphant (1954–1957)
- Sir John Eccles (1957–1961)
- Professor Suzanne Cory (2010–2014)
- Professor John Shine (2018–2022)
- Professor Chennupati Jagadish (2022–present)
Awards for Scientists
The Academy gives out many awards to celebrate great scientific work. These awards recognise scientists at different stages of their careers:
- Early career awards: These are for scientists who are just starting out and have already done excellent research. Examples include the Fenner Medal for biology and the Pawsey Medal for physics.
- Mid-career awards: These awards recognise scientists who are further along in their careers. An example is the Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science.
- Career awards: These awards celebrate scientists who have made amazing contributions to science throughout their entire lives. Examples include the Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture for biological sciences and the Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture for physical science.
There are also other special awards, like the Academy Medal for people who help science in ways other than research, and the Selby Fellowship, which brings famous scientists from other countries to Australia to give talks.
Other Australian Academies
Australia has three other important Academies, similar to the Academy of Science:
- The Australian Academy of the Humanities (for studies about human culture and history)
- The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (for studies about how society works)
- The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (for technology and engineering)
These four Academies work together through a group called the Australian Council of Learned Academies, which started in 2010.
Images for kids
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The Coat of Arms of the Australian Academy of Science. It shows symbols like a black swan, an atom, a kangaroo, and a white hound, representing different aspects of science and the Academy's history.
See also
In Spanish: Academia Australiana de Ciencias para niños
- List of Australian organisations with royal patronage
