Australian Academy of Science - Building a Lindau Alumni Network Project

The Australian Academy of Science manages the participation of outstanding Australian and Australia-based early-career researchers in the annual meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany. The Academy is seeking a high-achieving undergraduate or postgraduate student to undertake a stakeholder engagement internship under the guidance of the experienced National Committees section.

label Opportunity type

Student opportunity type

College approved Internship
schedule Application date
Applications open/close
22 Jun 2020 | 7pm - 3 Jul 2020 | 3am
school Level

Degree level

Bachelor
Master

Contact

contact_support Contact
Contact name
Internship course convenor
Contact number

About

Credit : For credit

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, 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 section.

Project: Building a Lindau Alumni Network

Internship details
Availability Semester 2, 2020
Disciplines
  • Science outreach
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • International relations
Level
  • Undergraduate 2nd or 3rd year
  • Postgraduate coursework
Open to international students Yes
Preferred project skills
  • Excellent written communication
  • Creativity and initiative when problem solving
Clearances required No
Host supervisors

Summary

The Australian Academy of Science manages the participation of outstanding Australian and Australia-based early-career researchers in the annual meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany. Over one week in late June/early July every year, around 30 to 40 Nobel Laureates convene in Lindau to meet the next generation of leading scientists: 600 undergraduates, PhD students, and post-doc researchers from all over the world. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings foster the exchange among scientists of different generations, cultures, and disciplines.

The Academy is the meeting’s organising partner for Australia, facilitating Australian involvement through generous funding from the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF) by offering up to 10 SIEF–Academy Fellowships to the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings each year. SEIF has sponsored the program since 2013, building the fellowship’s alumni network to 64 young researchers in 2019.

The Australian delegation, which is led by a senior Australian scientist and Academy Fellow, is very well regarded at Lindau and known for being organised, friendly, engaged and motivated. The delegation meets during Science at the Shine Dome in Canberra each May to prepare for the meeting and ensure that they can make the most of the opportunity of being able to talk to Nobel Laureates about their science. Following the Lindau meeting, the delegation takes part in a week-long research and innovation tour, meeting with labs, R&D institutes and diplomatic contacts in Germany, organised by the Academy and funded by SIEF.

The SIEF–Academy fellowships have a huge impact on the career trajectory of the young scientists. In September 2019, the Academy hosted an alumni event in Canberra to reconnect the fellows and allow the Academy to share stories of their successes as a result of the fellowship program. This event, ‘Adults Only Science’, was a huge success in reconnecting Lindau alumni and engaging their science with the public.

The Academy is seeking an intern in the second semester of 2020 to strengthen the alumni network. This could be through a variety of activities such as the collation of alumni information into a web page on the Academy’s website, establishing an alumni mailing list, surveying alumni fellows to ask ‘Where are you now?’ or highlighting and writing up stories of success from past alumni. There is considerable variation for what the ‘finished product’ might look like, and the successful applicant would be encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas on how best this network might be strengthened in collaboration with the National Committees team.

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:

  • Assist in the strengthening of the alumni network for recipients of the SIEF-AAS Fellowship to the Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting
  • Collation of content into a suitable format for webpage content
  • Liaise with stakeholders, including Lindau alumni and other Academy teams, as required 
  • As required, assist National Committees team with ongoing projects and activities.

Download

Australian Academy of Science - Building a Lindau Alumni Network Project - Sem 2 2020 (27KB PDF)