Welcome to FASTS.

We represent the interests of some 60,000 Australian scientists and technologists.FASTS works to influence science and technology policy for the economic, environmental and social benefit of Australia.

What's New

Budget slides: FASTS budget workshops (9 June)

slides from FASTS budget workshops conducted in May and June are now available here

Briefing note: Commonwealth expenditure on science and innovation estimated to rise to 0.73% of GDP (15 May)

FASTS analysis of Commonwealth budget estimates suggest science and innovation expenditure will lift from 0.57% to 0.73% of GDP in 2009/10: A function of real increases in spending and estimated contraction of GDP. 

Download data table and chart 

Media release: Historic budget for science, higher education and innovation (14 May)

This is an exceptional budget for science and innovation, well above expectations. It is pleasing the Government has taken the opportunity to grasp fundamental reforms.

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Opinion: Ken Baldwin, Risk and Research: Maintaining a balanced portfolio, Optics and Photonics News, March 2009

Australia needs a more deliberative portfolio approach to esnure we promote a risk aware not risk averse research culture.

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Science in our lives: New additions on using waste plastics to make steel; eliminating pesticides by using green ants in mango and cashew nut production; novel contraceptive for controlling possums, rabbits and other feral animals (14 May)

New stories posted today in our science in our lives series

Professor Sackett's forthright keynote speech to the Science meets Parliament Dinner is compulsory reading for anyone interested in the implications of what climate science is telling policy makers and citizens. 

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(Penny Sackett addresses Science meets Parliament Dinner) 

Speech: Ken Baldwin, FASTS' President, Science meets Parliament Dinner (17 March)

In this uncertain world, we should not neglect the role that science has to play in understanding uncertainty ... now is the time to invest anti-cyclically in science ... we should not take short term measures that risk our crucial investment in science with its long term payoffs.

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