Australian Academy of Science Media release 21 June 2013
Academy: Strategic Research Priorities set a basis for a long-term, strategic vision for Australia
The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the release of the 15 Strategic Research Priorities (SRP) today by the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb. The Secretary of Science Policy for the Academy, Professor Les Field, said it was heartening that the process of establishing a long-term, strategic vision that makes the most of our natural talent and helps the nation flourish economically and socially has begun. “It’s very good to see a whole-of-government approach to investing in research,” Professor Field said. “We are pleased with the announcement that work will be undertaken to assess Australia’s current capacity and capability, with a view to looking at fundamental issues such as research workforce, infrastructure, collaboration and business research. “However, we reiterate the need for long-term and sustained investment in research,” Professor Field added. “We also welcome the acknowledgement that within the priority areas, a significant amount of the research will need to be early-stage, basic research”. Details of the priorities can be found at www.innovation.gov.au/StrategicResearchPriorities<http://www.innovation.gov.au/StrategicResearchPriorities>
The Priorities
Living in a changing environment
Research outcomes will identify strategies to develop resilient natural (ecosystems) and human environments (people, communities and their utilities and industry) that can all thrive in a changing environment.
Identify vulnerabilities and boundaries to the adaptability of changing natural and human systems
Research will identify the level of environmental change human and natural systems can tolerate before fundamental ecological processes are irreversibly changed. This includes understanding complex systems, especially human‑natural linked systems, to be able to interpret and predict their behaviour.
Manage risk and capture opportunities for sustainable natural and human systems
Research will identify behavioural, economic, technological, institutional and design options for managing change in the linked human and natural environment (including climate change, extreme events, population growth, consumption and biodiversity).
Enable societal transformation to enhance sustainability and wellbeing
Research will identify areas of highest risk and develop options for the change required to mitigate and/or adapt to environmental change. This priority will focus on urban design, governance systems, decision frameworks and industry policies.
Promoting population health and wellbeing
Research outcomes will help to build resilient communities and achieve a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease, or infirmity, for all Australians in whichever part of Australia they live.
Optimise effective delivery of health care and related systems and services
Research will address policy needs for a practicable and sustainable health care system, including harnessing opportunities and addressing challenges to maximise health impacts.
Maximise social and economic participation in society
Research will identify strategies to maximise social and economic participation, particularly in relation to key life stages, intergenerational disparities and socioeconomic disadvantage.
Improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Research will identify ways to improve access, utilisation and engagement with health, education and social services in partnership with urban, rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Managing our food and water assets
Research outcomes will identify new food production practices and systems that can accommodate competing demands for soil and water while ensuring the long-term sustainability of these assets.
Optimise food and fibre production using our land and marine resources
Research will identify ways to make Australian agriculture and food processing more productive, globally competitive and efficient in producing high quality, innovative, safe and sustainable food while protecting our natural assets.
Develop knowledge of the changing distribution, connectivity, transformation and sustainable use of water in the Australian landscape
Research will study the dynamics of water and its use, patterns of rainfall, water resource distribution, how to retain water in our soils and how to resolve conflicting demands on water resources to maximise the large-scale efficiency of our water usage to meet Australia’s needs.
Maximise the effectiveness of the production value chain from primary to processed food
Research will enable effective planning to meet changing needs of consumers while increasing food production to help meet domestic and global demand in a sustainable and competitive way. Research will therefore identify the weaknesses, vulnerabilities and bottle-necks in food production, and methods for integrating capability in the production value chain.
Securing Australia’s place in a changing world
Research outcomes will identify ways to improve Australia’s capacity to deliver national security and identify the means by which personal security in Australia will be safeguarded. This challenge should be considered in the context of global uncertainty and changes in the Asia Pacific region.
Improve cybersecurity for all Australians
Research will identify ways to improve cybersecurity for individuals, organisations, businesses, government and national infrastructure.
Manage the flow of goods, information, money and people across our national and international boundaries
Research will identify risks and strategies in areas including biosecurity, cybersecurity, international crime, defence and international and transnational legal and regulatory frameworks, in order to understand and manage the flows across our boundaries and respond to the risks they pose to national security.
Understand political, cultural, economic and technological change, particularly in our region
Research will develop a comprehensive understanding of the Asia Pacific region including strategic geopolitical change, changing cultural and political formations, regional partnerships, changing demographics, social cohesion and technological developments.
Lifting productivity and economic growth
Research outcomes will identify the challenges and opportunities in a changing world economy, particularly in the context of the economic rise of Asia, and help to build a resilient new economy so that Australia can thrive, while also identifying the means to enhance the wellbeing of all Australians.
Identify the means by which Australia can lift productivity and economic growth
Research will identify the areas that have the capacity to produce the largest productivity and economic gains for Australia, and the means by which those gains can be realised to the benefit of the whole Australian economy.
Maximise Australia’s competitive advantage in critical sectors
Research will underpin the development of the future supply of reliable, low cost, low emission energy; enhance the long-term viability of Australia’s resources, services and manufacturing industries; and support Australia’s access to new markets and supply chains.
Deliver skills for the new economy
Research will identify the skills profile required as we shift towards an entrepreneurial and innovative knowledge economy fully engaged with our region and the world; and identify the methods and systems needed to develop Australia’s human capital.
For more information Go to www.innovation.gov.au/StrategicResearchPriorities
My thoughts on these priorities are here.
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