The Australian Academy of Science is Australia’s most eminent scientific body. The Academy was established by Royal Charter in 1954 and has a Fellowship of over 500 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 (currently undergoing repairs following the January 2020 hailstorms) and has a secretariat of approximately 60 staff who support Fellows in their efforts to shape the future of Australian science.

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

Project: Preparing a Special Edition Science Policy and Diplomacy Newsletter on the Sustainable Development Goals

Summary:

The Academy's 22 National Committees for Science comprise many of Australia's leading scientists in each discipline. They provide national coordination within scientific disciplines and manage Australia's formal links with the International Science Council and the international science organisations.

The National Committees and international science organisations operate in the interface between science, policy and diplomacy. To provide resources and information on this interface to researchers, bureaucracy and government, the National Committees team publishes the Science, Policy and Diplomacy Newsletter. This newsletter highlights important science policy discussions and events in Australia and around the globe, reports on the involvement of science in national and international policy and diplomacy, and publicises the Academy’s contributions to these discussions.

An important international project in the realm of science, policy and diplomacy is the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a project of the United Nations and integral to many international science organisations, government agencies and global academies. The international community aims to reach the 17 SDGs by 2030.

As a member of the international science community and a voice of Australian science the Academy has been involved and works to incorporate the SDGs into its work. As a final issue for 2020 the team will release a special edition of the Science, Policy and Diplomacy newsletter that will highlight the work the Academy has done in progressing the SDGs.

The Academy is seeking an intern in the summer of 2021 to assist in the coordination and collation of content for the SDG issue of Science Policy and Diplomacy. This issue will reflect on the Academy’s actions towards each goal and will involve evaluation of Academy-wide activities, including liaising with and seeking input from Academy teams.

Please note, due to COVID-19 this project may be conducted either partially or entirely remotely. The Academy will assist with provision of appropriate remote access to documents and at-home equipment where possible.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating input from different areas of the Academy
• Collating the content for the SDG issue of Science Policy and Diplomacy
• Liaising with stakeholders
• As required, assisting the National Committees team with ongoing projects and activities.

Dowload:

Preparing a Special Edition Science Policy and Diplomacy Newsletter on the Sustainable Development Goals