Publications

With the energy transition well underway, it is pleasing to see increased and substantive actions by governments, industry and individuals across Australia. But there is still much uncertainty, including in our research needs, from critical technologies to social and cultural change. The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) is pleased to announce a refresh of…

Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is long overdue. The research sector, alongside the wider community, should progress and support recognition, truth telling and reconciliation. The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA), the convenor of Australia’s five Learned Academies, is proud to publicly state its support for the referendum to give the Government…

The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) welcomes the release of the Australian Government Discussion Paper on Safe and responsible AI in Australia today by the Minister of Science, Ed Husic. The last six months have seen the development of new artificial intelligence (AI) products and services, especially those known as Generative AI, accelerate at…

Media Release: October 2022 We can do better: training Australian workers to be more responsive to disability With 18 per cent of Australians living with disability, sectors including education, healthcare, justice and social services are being challenged to respond better to their clients and customers. Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth MP said the Albanese…

Media Release: October 2022 ACOLA puts words into action on disability responsiveness Some of Australia’s leading academics have applied their research results closer to home with the adoption of six key principles and five key areas for action on disability inclusiveness. The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) put four professional sectors under the microscope…

Media Release: September 2022 Achieving Australia’s Energy Transition: Funding and translating knowledge The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) is pleased to release its next set of reports under the Australian Energy Transition Research Plan. The new papers outline the current state of Australia’s funding and translation of Australia’s energy transition research. While recent policy…

Media Release: June 2022 A Data-Enabled Research Future for Australia The pandemic and recent natural disasters have reinforced the importance of rapid access to data to inform timely decision making. Coordinated and integrated data infrastructure is vital to making data available when it’s needed for emergencies, and for answering research questions about the world around…

Media Release: March 2022 ACOLA Statement on Ukraine ACOLA’s members, Australia’s Learned Academies, are deeply shocked and condemn the military operation by the Russian Government towards Ukraine. International disputes should be resolved through the rules-based order, according to the principles of international law and with the utmost respect for human rights and lives, and the…

Media Release: November 2021 Moving from rhetoric to action – a joint statement on COP26 We, the Presidents of Australia’s Learned Academies, recognise that our Academies’ collective expertise and leadership is critical to addressing the widespread and intergenerational impacts of climate change. At COP26 in Glasgow, world leaders convened with a singular goal – to…

Media Release: October 2021 Indigenous knowledge – a collaboration between AIATSIS and ACOLA to drive better policy Following a number of successful engagements and a growing relationship, the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) and the Aboriginal Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) are excited to announce we have entered into an…

Media Release: August 2021 Australian research leaders commit to truth telling and a journey of change Today the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) has outlined its support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, alongside its commitment to a journey of change between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the research sector for…

Media Release: June 2021 The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) welcomes the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences as Australia’s newest Learned Academy. ACOLA welcomes the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) as Australia’s fifth and newest Learned Academy, as defined under the Higher Education Support Act. This decision by the…

Media Release: 4 November 2020 2020: A year of rapid digital change How the Internet of Things builds on this momentum to support safer, healthier and more connected lives The Internet of Things (IoT) – devices with sensors enabled by connectivity and enhanced by artificial intelligence and data analytics – presents significant opportunities to improve…

Media Release: 29 September 2020 Australia’s agricultural future: growing with technology Drought, climate variability, biosecurity, global competition and consumer preferences are some of the greatest challenges facing Australian farmers, their impacts threatening our position among the most efficient primary producers in the world. However, Australia’s primary producers have a long history of embracing innovation and adopting…

Media Release: September 2020 Research investment will be vital to Victoria’s economic recovery Victoria’s recovery from a year of crisis will rely on continued commitment to research and innovation – both key drivers of economic growth. A report released today by the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) shows that past investments in research have…

Media Release: Tuesday, 18 August 2020 What will it take for you to trust artificial intelligence? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping to improve our society, enhance Australia’s wellbeing, improve environmental sustainability and create a more equitable, inclusive and fair society. But as we work to reshape government delivery with AI, are we asking the right…

Media Release: 30 June 2020 Download: ACOLA statement in response to the higher education reforms [pdf] Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) statement in response to the Australian Government Higher Education reforms Securing Australia’s pipeline for interdisciplinary expertise and research Research and innovation are key drivers of economic growth and improved quality of life. Major…

Image adapted from: Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on Unsplash Media Release: April 2020 Australia’s learned academies launch a public access database of experts to guide our national response to COVID-19 The learned academies of Australia represent over 3,000 of the nation’s best and most eminent scientists, researchers scholars and practitioners. Our Academies and experts…

Media Release: 13 February 2020 Download: ACOLA Consensus Statement on the Australian Bushfires [pdf] The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) Consensus Statement on the Australian Bushfires ACOLA expresses our deepest sympathy and support to all Australians affected by the recent and ongoing bushfires, particularly those who have lost loved ones. The recent rain has…

Media Release: August 2019 The Board is pleased to announce that Mr Ryan Winn will be joining ACOLA as our new Chief Executive Officer Starting 2 September 2019 Ryan has held various executive roles across the Australian Government over the last decade, including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He will be joining…

In 2018, the Australian Council of Learned Academies transitioned through a governance restructure and is now a recognised Australian Research Institute, a registered Charity and is an endorsed Deductible Gift Recipient organisation. As part of this transition, ACOLA welcomed a new Board of Directors comprised of the Presidents of ACOLA’s Member Academies and the ACOLA…

ACOLA farewells CEO, Dr Angus Henderson ACOLA farewelled Chief Executive Officer, Dr Angus Henderson on 2 November 2018. During his time at ACOLA, Angus played a critical role in the success of the organisation as it transitioned from completing the Securing Australia’s Future program to establishment of the Horizon Scanning Series. He also helped guide through restructure of the organisation’s governance arrangements.…

Australia’s Learned Academies respond to current ARC grant issues Australia’s Learned Academies have voiced their concerns over highly-recommended Australian Research Council (ARC) applications that were revealed recently as being subject to non-transparent Ministerial veto under former Education Minister Simon Birmingham. Australian researchers face many hurdles in establishing a stable career in their field, including the…

Cars and trucks are choking Australian cities costing billions of dollars in traffic congestion, harming human health and adding to greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report from the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA). The report, Delivering Sustainable Urban Mobility, warns that Australia is heading down the wrong path and a new approach…

New technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for economic growth and community wellbeing, but only if Australians are ready to adapt and learn, according to a new report from the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA). Technology and Australia’s Future explores what it takes to win in the technology race and manage the human costs of disruptive…

The value of Australia’s agricultural exports could double in real terms by 2050 in response to surging global demand, according to a new report from the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA). The report, Australia’s Agricultural Future, explores the choices and challenges the sector faces on the path to sustainable growth in a changing market.…

The rise of Asia requires vision and action in Australia, according to a new report from the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA). Smart Engagement with Asia provides new insight to the complexities of our relationships in the region, and a blueprint for the bridges Australia can build.

On Wednesday 20 May 2015, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP Minister for Education and Training announced that the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) has been commissioned to undertake a review of Australia’s research training system, to ensure that it meets the country’s research needs in the 21st-century. The review will form the final project…

ACOLA today launches a new report, which for the first time confirms the importance of innovation, science and research to Australia as critical drivers of productivity and the building of future industries. The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity makes 25 key findings about Australia’s current performance and outlines opportunities to…