FASTS has changed its name to Science & Technology Australia

www.sta.org.au

If you are not automatically redirected to our new website please go to www.sta.org.au

Respect the Science campaign launch

Please visit www.respectthescience.org.au

Welcome to FASTS.

This year FASTS celebrates 26 years of science advocacy in Australia

FASTS is the peak body for science and technology in Australia.  We represent the interests of some 68,000 Australian scientists and technologists. FASTS works to influence science and technology policy for the economic, environmental and social benefit of Australia.

What's New?

FASTS condemns death threats to leading climate scientists (4 June 2011)

Download media release here

FASTS welcomes decision to abandon ERA ranking (31 May 2011)

Download media release here.

FASTS RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION REPORT, THE CRITICAL DECADE

A win for peer-reviewed science download media release here (23 May 2011)

FASTS response to the Federal Budget 2011/12: download media release (10 May 2011) 

Opinion pieces recently published by FASTS

Science confronts a question of dark matter.  Why is it under attack? - The Age - 19 April 2011

It costs more to lose women in science than to keep them - National Times - 15 April 2011

Science; it's not just lab coats and specimen jars - The Punch - 11 April 2011

FASTS welcomes the appointment of Australia's Chief Scientist

Download media release here

Women in Science and Engineering Summit - Monday 11 April 2011

Since releasing the FASTS Report: Women in Science in Australia: Maximising Productivity, Diversity and Innovation by Sharon Bell in 2009, FASTS has been working with the science sector to improve the participation of women in science.  The 2009 report showed the progress of women in senior positions had stalled over the past 15 years despite encouraging improvements in participation at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. There is a renewed focus on women in science in terms of productivity, innovation and social equity.

The report can be downloaded here: report

The media release that accompanied the report at the time of its release can be downloaded here: media release

On Monday 11 April FASTS hosted in partnership with UNESCO National Commission and UN Women Australia the Women in Science and Engineering Summit in Parliament House Canberra.

Download the media alert here

Down load the Communique here  

Climate science must drive reform, not cheap politics

While politicians debate the ins and outs of the proposed carbon tax, FASTS calls on all sides of politics to put peer-reviewed science ahead of cheap political arguments.

Download the media release here.

Fasts welcomes its newest Member the Australian Council of Environmental Deans and Directors

FASTS welcome global honour for Minister Conroy and the National Broadband Network

This morning (Wednesday 15 December 2010) the Washington-based Optical Society [OSA] awarded Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy  the 2011 OSA Advocate of Optics in recognition of his work championing a national broadband network for Australia, a project of international significance.

The NBN is a transformative tool for Australian homes, schools and businesses that would not be possible if it were not for scientific endeavour

This coveted recognition is bestowed by the OSA on an outstanding public official, either domestically or abroad, who demonstrates leadership and efforts in support of the advancement of the science of light.

The NBN is a visionary project contributed to by decades of research by Australia’s optics and photonics scientists. It is a project vital to our international competitiveness.

On 24 November 2010 FASTS celebrated 25 years of science advocacy in Australia.

From humble beginnings we have grown to become a respected voice for scientists among politicians, business leaders and the wider community.

Today we represent more than 68,000 people working across all scientific disciplines, helping to ensure that Australia’s reputation for skilled research and innovation remains a critical driver of the national economy.

Professor the Hon Barry Jones AO delivered the Anniversary Address.  A copy of the audio file can be obtained by emailing This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

SCIENCE & THE 2010 FEDERAL ELECTION

FASTS responds to Coalition science policy announcement

FASTS has issued a response to the Coalition's "Plan for real action on Innovation, Industry, Science and Research" announcement.  Download the media release here. 

Vote 1 for Science this election

FASTS Science & Innovation Federal Election Questionnaire 2010

Responses from the Australian Labor Party, Liberal/National Coalition, and The Greens.

Download the media release here.

Australia’s major political Parties have been called upon to declare their commitment to science and innovation as core drivers of the national economy by 60,000 scientists across the nation.

Eighty per cent of Australians believe science education is absolutely essential or very important to the national economy.

The question is, do our political leaders agree, what will they do about it, and what are their positions on priority science issues identified by FASTS and its members?

Download the FASTS Science and Innovation Federal Election Questionnaire here.

This comparative table allows you to compare and contrast the policies and positions of each Party in response to the 8 priority science and innovation issues identified by FASTS and its members.

Where questions have not been directly answered, an attempt has been made to extract the most relevant information from the statement provided by the Parties.  To ensure you can view the questionnaire responses in their entirety, a link to the complete documents received by FASTS has been provided below.

• The ALP addressed individual questions as provided in the questionnaire.  Their full response can be downloaded here.
• The Coalition addressed the priority issues provided by FASTS but not the individual questions. Their full response can be downloaded here.
• The Greens provided a broad policy response and reference to their policy website which includes further detail.  Their full response can be downloaded here.
  

18 August 2010

FASTS responds to ALP  science policy announcement

FASTS has issued a response to the ALP's "Science for Australia's Future" announcement.  Download the media release here. 

The ALP has also announced new initiatives to boost the number of science and mathematics teachers.  The announcement can be downloaded here.

FASTS looks forward to science policy announcements by the Coalition and the Greens. 

Australia the clever country?  One in three believe humans and dinosaurs coexisted.

Science literacy falls short of expectations and the future needs of our economy.

The press release and results of the nationwide poll conducted for FASTS and the Australian Academy of Science can be downloaded here.  The survey questions can be downloaded here. 

30 July 2010

FASTS welcomes ALP Climate Change Announcement

Consesus is an essential precursor to action: ALP Moving in the Right direction on Climate Change

Download the FASTS Media Release here.

23 July 2010

FASTS welcomes appointment of CSIRO Chairman, Mr Simon Mckeon.

Download FASTS Media Release here.

22 June 2010

Federal Budget 2010/11

Download the FASTS Budget Media Release here

Science meets Parliament 2010

Bringing Australia’s scientific community to the heart of government

Scientists from across the country met in Canberra on 9 & 10 March to participate in

the 11th annual Science meets Parliament.

160 women and men working across all scientific disciplines met face-to-face with Ministers, Members and Senators; interacted with key figures in the scientific community; participated in professional development activities; and participated in a range of forums.

Download the Program and Media release here

Download the SmP 2010 newsletter here

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Tuesday 9 March

Meet the Press - a day in the life of a journalist- what they need to turn your science into news.
MC: Niall Byrne, Science in Public
Presentations from:
•    Alison Carabine, ABC Radio National Presenter
•    James Massola, Canberra Times Political Reporter
•    Mark Riley, Channel 7 Reporter

Policy in the making.  Working with Government Departments
•    Participants were directly involved in shaping the Federal Governement's Research Workforce Strategy

Gala Dinner in the Great Hall (Parliament House) – hosted by Robyn Williams AM  

Wednesday 10 March  

Breakfast Briefing 1:  International Year of Biodiversity:  So what’s biodiversity done for me? Why biodiversity matters: the economic, social and environmental perspectives. Welcome by the Hon Peter Garrett, Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts; and facilitated by Tom Arup, Journalist, The Age.

Breakfast Briefing 2:  Open access: Australian research for whom?

Nationally televised Nation Press Club Lunchtime Address

Chris Mooney, author of The Republican War on Science and Unscientific America

flew in from the USA to address SmP delegates at the National Press Club.

Public Forum – hosted by Dr Norman Swan, ABC Radio National
Innovative health solutions using nuclear techniques – why isn’t Australia keeping up with the world? Panel: 

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FASTS response to the release of the Inspiring Australia Report (8 February 2010)

The Inspiring Australia Report proposes a National Strategy for public engagement in science

Download FASTS media release

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FASTS announces new President and new Board Members

Dr Cathy Foley, an Australian leader in Applied Physics, commenced her two-year term as President at the FASTS AGM on 24 November, the third woman to be elected to this role in FASTS 24 year history.  Dr Foley was recently awarded the National Telstra Women’s Business Award fro Innovation and has been appointed to the Questacon Advisory Board. Dr Foley’s brief biography is available here .

FASTS had been further strengthened with the election of several new executive members:

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Statement by FASTS Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Alliance on the impact of climate change on the GBR and implication for emissions reduction targets (17 November 2009)

download Alliance's statement

download media release

download audio recording of National Media Briefing

download FASTS climate change position statement

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Discussion note: Ken Baldwin, When is Science Valid: A Short Guide on How Science Works and When to Believe It (October 2009)

A brief outline of how scientific ideas are tested and validated download paper

This paper was recently cited by Margo O’Neill from ABC’s Lateline:  “Conspiracies and the IPCC”:

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FASTS Report: Women in Science in Australia: Maximising Productivity, Diversity and Innovation by Sharon Bell (19 October)

This new report shows the progress of women in senior positions has stalled over the past 15 years despite encouraging improvements in participation at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. There are strong arguments for renewed focus on women in science in terms of productivity, innovation and social equity.

download report or download media release