The Australia’s draft National Science and Research Priorities consultation document features the following Consultation questions
1. The draft priorities intend to identify specific challenges facing the country that will require multidisciplinary and multisector efforts to address. Do they achieve this objective? How can we improve them?
2. Feedback stressed the need to work in partnership with First Nations people to embed First Nations knowledge and knowledge systems in the way we address national challenges. How might governments and the science and research sector best work with First Nations people to achieve this objective?
3. The draft priorities provide a range of critical research paths. How could we refine these research paths, for example, to address immediate challenges?
4. How would you implement the priorities in your organisation or setting? What mechanisms would support implementation?
5. The National Science Statement will explain the role our science systems will play in delivering the priorities and maximising the benefits from science for Australia. How can the following best support the priorities: a. Science agencies b. Science infrastructure c. Australian government science programs d. Domestic and international science relationships.
The Draft Priorities are
Priority 1: Ensuring a net zero future and protecting Australia’s biodiversity
What we heard
Throughout the national conversation, Australians raised climate change as the most significant challenge facing the planet and the country. We are already feeling acute effects in Australia and our region. In this enormous challenge, Australians identified that science and research are critical to understanding and preventing future climate change. They will also equip us to deal with changes already underway. Australians strongly recognised the importance of First Nations knowledge and knowledge systems in solving this challenge. This included unlocking their potential to make significant improvements to our environmental stewardship through genuine and appropriate partnership. Feedback also identified a need to ensure emissions reduction efforts maximise associated economic and environmental opportunities and manage competing uses of land, air, sky, and sea.
Objectives
Australia’s science and research will develop and deploy the next generation of technologies and practices to mitigate the effects of climate change. These will put us on track to meet and exceed our net zero emissions targets. We will work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to protect and restore terrestrial and marine ecosystems for environmental and human wellbeing benefits.
Our objectives:
Support our pathway to net zero Understand and sustain our environment Protect and restore biodiversity. Aims Australia will reduce emissions at scale by developing emissions reduction and removal technologies that support restoring our environments (Support our pathway to net zero). Australia will understand likely future conditions and risks for our climate and environment and draw on complementary knowledge systems to address and mitigate climate change impacts (Understand and sustain our environment). Australia will protect habitats and biodiversity by applying, maintaining, and sustaining Indigenous knowledge and knowledge systems to improve environmental stewardship (Protect and restore biodiversity). Australia will protect and restore marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats, and their biodiversity by managing them sustainably as holistic systems (Protect and restore biodiversity).
Critical research
These critical areas of research will help achieve our aims: Carbon sources and sinks by soils, vegetation, coasts, and oceans in Australia and neighbouring regions and practical opportunities for managing natural carbon drawdown. Future climate conditions in Australia, our neighbouring regions and Antarctica, including tipping points, shifting weather patterns, extreme events and sea level rise. Indigenous approaches to environmental stewardship across Australia’s diverse habitats. Improved forms of data collection, monitoring and analysis to support environmental and climate-related decision making. Sustainable use of freshwater and ocean resources for food, industry, and environmental and community health. Marine environment response to a changing climate and other human influences, and its impacts on future climate change, biodiversity and communities in Australia and neighbouring regions. Prediction of habitat and biodiversity change and ways to reverse declining biodiversity. Technological solutions for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at the scale required to achieve and exceed net zero goals.
Priority 2: Supporting healthy and thriving communities
What we heard
Australians saw science and research playing a central role not just treating sickness but also increasing wellbeing. Feedback noted our health is closely linked to climate and environmental health, and climate change is negatively impacting it (Ensuring a net zero future and protecting Australia’s biodiversity). We heard that Australians recognise that Indigenous concepts of holistic health and wellbeing – the connections between healthy Country and healthy communities – can deliver benefits to all Australians. Feedback also highlighted challenges like: equitable access to healthcare, wherever someone is based caring for an ageing population and people’s desire to live in their own home for longer intersecting effects of disability and poor health on overall wellbeing preventing disease reducing rates of chronic conditions improving mental health collecting and curating data to support better wellbeing outcomes. Australia’s expertise in healthcare tools and emerging technologies can also further our economic and wellbeing goals (Enabling a productive and innovative economy).
Objectives
Australia’s science and research will support healthy, thriving communities by improving physical, mental, and social wellbeing indicators in all corners of the country and at all stages of life. We will be leaders in preventive health, empowering people to make choices in their care. Each Australian will be able to access the services and support they need. We will be leaders in fit-for- purpose data collection and access and trust to improve health and wellbeing.
Our objectives: Lead on preventive health Support healthy communities Ensure equitable access to care. Aims Australia’s science and research will improve the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of all Australians by developing and adopting integrative, holistic approaches for health and disability (Lead on preventive health). Australia’s science and research will understand the diverse and unique social and environment drivers of health and wellbeing in Australian communities (Support healthy communities). Australians will have healthy brains and improved mental health throughout life (Support healthy communities). Australia’s science and research will develop and adopt tools and approaches to improve access to health and wellbeing services for all Australians. These will be appropriate for peoples’ backgrounds and circumstances (Ensure equitable access to care).
Critical research
These critical areas of research will help achieve our aims: Technologies and techniques that will enable an affordable, inclusive, culturally appropriate, and integrated preventive health system for Australia – one that drives positive behaviour changes and leverages fit-for-purpose data and connections to Country, community, and built and natural environments. Mechanisms of brain function and repair and how to address deterioration of brain function. Social and environmental drivers of ill health and poor mental health and the techniques and practices we can apply to enhance the wellbeing of all Australians at scale.
Priority 3: Enabling a productive and innovative economy
What we heard I
n the national conversation, Australians identified the transition to net zero and low emissions technologies as a huge opportunity and challenge for Australia and the globe. These and other shifts, like our growing care and support economy and geopolitical uncertainty, will shape our future productivity. Australian businesses told us they could see how advances in technology, the digital world and materials science could transform areas like waste management, defence and healthcare. They could help us achieve our environmental and resilience goals. But it was also clear there are barriers holding back Australian invention, development, and adoption, like research translation challenges and accessing a skilled workforce. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples recognise the potential in these opportunities. But they are calling for: stronger partnerships with knowledge holders protections for cultural and intellectual property stronger data access and governance to support decision making. As a mid-sized economy, Australia does not have the scale or population to do everything. International partnerships will be important. The pace of change is accelerating, and Australians expect us to be ready to seize the opportunities on the horizon.
Objectives
Australia’s science and research will help build a more complex and productive economy. It will do this by adding greater value to our natural mineral endowments and translating the knowledge our research generates at sufficient scale to achieve our environmental, wellbeing, and resilience ambitions. We will ensure our small to medium-sized enterprises can take advantage of research breakthroughs. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be able to capitalise on their knowledge and expertise and take advantage of emerging technologies in ways that best suit their communities.
Our objectives:
Lead the transition to net zero Harness emerging technologies at scale Strengthen existing industries by embracing and driving innovation Create future industries. Aims As part of the transition to a net zero economy, Australia’s science and research will develop novel low and zero emissions technologies. This includes new ways to increase value-add in critical minerals and exports, embrace low environmental footprints and develop circular economy approaches (Leading the transition to net zero). Australia will build new industries and accelerate productivity by having sovereign knowledge and access to develop and harness impactful emerging technologies, particularly AI, quantum, robotics, and biotechnology (Harness emerging technologies at scale. Create future industries). Australian businesses will engage in more research and development increasing our global competitiveness (Strengthen existing industries by embracing and driving innovation. Create future industries).
Critical research
These critical areas of research will help achieve our aims: Materials and technologies to develop a secure, affordable, and diverse low emission energy industry for Australia and the Indo-Pacific. New and more efficient renewable energy generation and storage. Materials and technologies to advance our economy in a sustainable manner and at scale. Decarbonisation technologies for hard to abate processes and activities. Australia’s transition to a circular economy amid geopolitical, climate and supply chain uncertainty, noting the scale needed and short timeframe. Causes of Australia’s slow productivity growth and strategies to address them. Understanding the impacts of climate change on Australia’s future productivity and our key markets.
Priority 4: Building a stronger, more resilient nation
What we heard
Throughout the national conversation, people told us they value Australia’s civil and safe society. However, there are complex threats to our democratic values and safety that affect us as individuals, communities, and a nation. People were concerned about the impacts of misinformation and disinformation. They wanted to understand how to manage the technologies that facilitate its spread. They also told us they want to be able to adapt to changes around them by learning and applying critical thinking and new knowledge and skills throughout their lives. Australians were also concerned about the compounding effects of climate change and geopolitical instability on crises that impact key parts of our economy, safety, and way of life (Ensuring a net zero future and protecting Australia’s biodiversity. Supporting healthy and thriving communities. Enabling a productive and innovative economy).
Objectives
Australian communities will be resilient to disruption from natural and human-induced shocks. Our science and research system will provide tools and knowledge that underpin a resilient and informed society.
Our objectives: Support resilient communities Secure food supplies Build climate resilience in our built environment. Aims Australian science and research will support communities to develop the skills, tools and systems that can strengthen Australia’s democratic resilience and enhance trust (Support resilient communities). Australian science and research will increase the climate-resilience, value, trustworthiness, sustainability, and health benefits of our food products by developing new approaches and technologies for their production (Secure food supplies). Australian science and research will develop and apply new technologies and techniques for cities and towns to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change (Support resilient communities, Build climate resilience in our built environment).
Critical research
These critical areas of research will help us achieve our aims: Cognitive and social causes of engagement with misinformation and disinformation. Technologies, teaching tools and systems to support community engagement with information and learning at different stages of our lives. Food safety and security for future Australian conditions and markets. Housing and built environments that support climate resilience in Australia and our region by creating new designs, technologies, materials, and construction techniques.
The Guiding principles are
The draft priorities align with seven principles the government set to guide the development of the National Science and Research Priorities and the National Science Statement.
Be community-informed – The first phase of the national conversation received 313 written submissions from individuals and organisations. Australia’s Chief Scientist held more than 30 roundtables across the country and online, engaging with community, research, and industry sectors. 23 further workshops helped us to refine the draft priorities.
Be ambitious and purpose-driven – The priorities identify the key challenges and opportunities Australia will face now and into the coming decades. They signal to industry and the research sector the direction we will need to take over the coming decade to deliver meaningful impact on these community-informed priorities.
Be evidence-based – Community input through the national conversation, expert advice, and existing government priorities informed the draft priorities.
Be enduring and responsive – We intend the priorities to be enduring. The objectives and aims have a time horizon of ten years and the critical research has a time horizon of 5–10 years.
Be relevant – A review of the priorities is proposed every five years to monitor progress and adjust where needed to maintain their relevance or harness new opportunities.
Be focused – The four priorities reflect major societal domains that present the most significant challenges and opportunities.
The objectives and aims identify more defined areas within the priorities. The final level identifies the key knowledge gaps that need to be addressed for maximum impact and societal benefit.
Inform investments – The priorities will be used to help guide government policy direction and investment in science and research but will not be the only means of doing this.
Measuring progress and adjusting the priorities
We will measure progress on the aims and impact of the priorities through: a set of metrics informed by the government’s Measuring What Matters Framework other existing metrics, where possible. The government will review the priorities at five-year intervals to assess progress and ensure they remain relevant to Australia’s needs.
