Australian Council of Learned Academies

Evidence-based Interdisciplinary Research

ACOLA is established to benefit Australia by developing and supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, research and scholarship in humanities and the arts, social sciences, natural and physical sciences, and technological and engineering sciences to address issues of national and regional importance utilising the expertise of the Member Academies.

This is achieved by supporting our objectives with our current priorities:

OUR Objectives

  • Policy

    • To deliver evidence-informed interdisciplinary advice to support and guide policy decision making processes
    • To engage and contribute interdisciplinary perspectives to public debate and awareness raising on emerging national and regional issues;
    • To promote an appreciation within the community and among decision makers of the value that interdisciplinary research and scholarship provides as an evidence-base for public policy

  • Research

    • Engaging disciplinary experts to advance research and scholarship
    • Promoting the application of interdisciplinary expert knowledge
    • Declaring and disseminating interdisciplinary expert knowledge
    • Advocating standards of research and scholarship to encourage excellence

  • Development

    • To collaborate with the Learned Academies, professional institutes, other Learned societies and educational institutions in matters of mutual interests; and
    • To establish and maintain cooperative relations between the Company and overseas bodies having similar objectives in the disciplines represented by the Company’s members

OUR current priorities

  • Visibility

    Visibility through strong communications, engagement and outreach

    • Enhancing ACOLA’s approach to external engagement
    • Develop accessible products for our different audiences
    • Work with potential partners to provide targeted workshops and presentations on studies

  • Trusted Adviser and Thought Leader

    A key trusted adviser and thought leader on complex issues

    • Further build ACOLA’s role as a trusted advisor for interdisciplinary advice
    • Establish a proactive program of short ACOLA-initiated issues briefs to showcase our capabilities and leadership

  • Robust Partnerships

    Robust partnerships across the research community, domestically and internationally

    • Explore relationships with research organisations and bodies who can bring new capabilities to ACOLA studies
    • Establish relationships with international ACOLA-like organisations, to share experiences and learnings, and potential joint projects