The Australian Academy of Science is Australia’s eminent scientific body. The Academy was established by Royal Charter in 1954 and has a Fellowship of close to 600 leading Australian scientists, each elected for their outstanding contributions to the scientific disciplines. The Academy champions, celebrates and supports excellence in Australian science, promotes international scientific engagement, builds public awareness and understanding of science and provides independent, authoritative and influential scientific advice.

The Academy is headquartered in Canberra at the iconic Shine Dome and Ian Potter House and is supported by a team of approximately 70 professional staff who assist Fellows in their efforts to shape the future of Australian science.

An opportunity exists for a high-achieving student from ANU to undertake a stakeholder engagement internship at the Academy under the guidance of the experienced National Committees for Science team.

Project: National Committees Strategic Activities Mapping Project

Background:

The Academy supports 22 National Committees for Science which foster designated branches or themes of natural science in Australia and serve as links between Australian and overseas scientists in the same field. National Committees advise the Academy’s Council on Australia’s representation for the unions and multidisciplinary bodies of the International Council for Science (ISC).

Implementation science is of great interest to all 22 National Committees and the Academy more broadly. With a great volume of written reports produced each year, with diverse foci, it is important to be able to track and measure the activities of our committees as they relate to their written reports or objectives.

Project:

We are seeking an intern to identify ongoing projects and activities of National Committees as they align with their visions and objectives. This project will develop a clear understanding of enablers of success and a toolkit of recommendations to enhance the work of the Committees into the future.

The project is open to be adjusted to a suitable candidate’s personal interests and will ideally explore a broad range of National Committee activities including policy inputs, social campaigns, events, and consultation. The intern would liaise with members of the Academy’s National Committees for Science in relevant disciplines and with staff in the National Committees team to narrow the focus of the project.

The key output would be to produce a map of current National Committee activity and a supporting suite of recommendations to improve planning around the Committees’ strategic activities.

Criteria:

The internship would be best suited for someone with an interest in science in Australia and the mechanisms that enable social change. The intern will need to have strong written communication ability, creativity, initiative and capacity for independent research.

Download: