The art of science communication: building public support for a scientifically engaged Australia
How should scientists, technologists and engineers engage with government? What is the best way to communicate with politicians and their advisors effectively? And how do we champion evidence-based decision making based on scientific research?
Hear from ATSE Fellow and former Senator for Victoria Professor The Honourable Kim Carr FTSE FAHA, and panellists CSIRO Chief Scientist Professor Bronwyn Fox FTSE and La Trobe University’s Professor Susan Dodds FAHA on the importance of ongoing communication with policymakers and their advisors, building relationships and offering expertise to build public support for STEM in Australia.
Speaker
Professor The Honourable Kim Carr FTSE FAHA
Former Senator for Victoria
Professor The Honourable Kim Carr FTSE FAHA was a Senator for 29 years. A former tech-school teacher, he was drawn to politics by the transformational possibilities of science and education. He was elected as a Senator for Victoria in 1993 and retired at the end of his term in June 2022.
Kim was appointed Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research in 2007, a cabinet post he held for most of Labor’s previous six-year term in government. He also served as Minister for Manufacturing, Defence Materiel, Human Services, and Higher Education. He is currently a Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow at Monash University.
Kim made a significant national contribution to policy in these areas, through the important reforms he introduced while in government, his scrutiny and incisive questioning of government policy while in opposition, and the unparalleled longevity of his close engagement in these issues.
In 2022, Kim was made an Honorary Fellow of both the Academy of Technology Science and Engineering (ATSE), and the Academy of the Humanities (AHA). He was also awarded the Academy of Science Medal – only the second politician to receive this honour.
Panelists
Professor Bronwyn Fox FTSE
Chief Scientist, CSIRO
Professor Bronwyn Fox FTSE is Chief Scientist of CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst. Professor Bronwyn Fox joined CSIRO in October 2021 and became CSIRO’s fourth female Chief Scientist. She is known globally as a leader in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and industry 4.0 technologies, and is passionate about bringing together multidisciplinary teams for collaborative research.
In her former role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, she built extensively on Australia’s Industry 4.0 strategy. As founding Director of Swinburne’s Manufacturing Futures Research Institute, she led several significant initiatives and global research partnerships, including the establishment of a world first Industry 4.0 Testlab for additive manufacturing of carbon fibre composites, in collaboration with CSIRO.
Professor Susan Dodds FAHA
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Industry Engagement) and Vice-President of Research and Industry Engagement, La Trobe University
Professor Susan Dodds FAHA is the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Industry Engagement) and Vice-President of Research and Industry Engagement at La Trobe University. She is also a Professor of Philosophy, specialising in applied ethics and political philosophy and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
Professor Dodds was recently appointed to the ARC’s Advisory Council by Education Minister, Jason Clare and will form part of a new panel to review the ARC Act. This follows her appointment as the Chair of UA’s DVC Research Committee.