The Australian Academy of Science

The repeal of the NSW Wild Horse Heritage Act is a huge win for evidence-informed decision making. Congratulations to the NSW Parliament and the many advocates who have brought about change. For many years, the Academy has provided evidence to demonstrate the catastrophic damage caused by feral horses to our fragile ecosystems and has been calling for the Act to be repealed. As part of our sustained advocacy and in response to the 2018 NSW legislation that gave priority to feral horses over native species and mountain catchments, the Academy hosted a national conference so scientists could present the latest evidence on the threat feral horses posed to natural heritage values. The Academy also acknowledges the advocacy of the late Dr Graeme Worboys from the ANU and the late Academy Fellow Dr Alec Costin AM FAA ‘the father of Australian high mountain ecology’ who contributed extensive expertise to decision makers on this issue. Our thanks also extend to Dr Stuart Barrow, whose policy expertise as a member of staff supported the Academy’s efforts in this area.

Australia's environment protection laws are being debated in Parliament this week and represent a critical opportunity to modernise Australia's regulatory framework and strengthen protections for our natural environment and biodiversity. This isn't our first engagement on these critical reforms. We've been consistently advocating for evidence-informedenvironmental policy, and we'll continue to ensure science informs the decisions that shape Australia's environmental future. Our environment and biodiversity are changing at a rapid rate, and urgent action is needed to halt this decline.

Australia's environment protection laws are being debated in Parliament this week and our full submission to the inquiry is available here: https://bit.ly/envirosub The Environment Protection Reform Bills represent a critical opportunity to modernise Australia's regulatory framework and strengthen protections for our natural environment and biodiversity. This isn't our first engagement on these critical reforms. We've been consistently advocating for evidence-informedenvironmental policy, and we'll continue to ensure science informs the decisions that shape Australia's environmental future. Our environment and biodiversity are changing at a rapid rate, and urgent action is needed to halt this decline. Our submission emphasises that while we support the overall intent of these reforms, further development is essential to ensure these laws deliver meaningful outcomes. The Academy recommends the Bills be amended to: • establish clear, legislated mechanisms that embed scientific advice into decision-making, including in relation to biodiversity offsets • remove damaging exemptions including forestry, cumulative land clearing and continuous use pathways to improve the strength and impact of the Bills, particularly placing conditions on ministerial discretionary powers. • establish independent governance boards for the Environment Protection Agency and Environment Information Australia and legislate their expert advisory committees with clear functions under each • legislate clear definitions of key terms and tests in the legislation with quantifiable criteria, supported by independent scientific assessment, to reduce interpretive discretion and improve clarity over required outcomes. Read our full submission: https://bit.ly/envirosub

Australia's environment protection laws are being debated in Parliament this week and represent a critical opportunity to modernise Australia's regulatory framework and strengthen protections for our natural environment and biodiversity. This isn't our first engagement on these critical reforms. We've been consistently advocating for evidence-informedenvironmental policy, and we'll continue to ensure science informs the decisions that shape Australia's environmental future. Our environment and biodiversity are changing at a rapid rate, and urgent action is needed to halt this decline.

It is vital to embed scientific advice into decision-making and limit exemptions that risk our environment.

AI is rewriting the rules of scientific discovery – but can we trust what it finds? This panel brings together experts to examine AI's explosive impact on research, from protein prediction to data analysis. Four specialists will tackle critical questions, including: How does AI accelerate breakthroughs? What risks does AI pose to scientific integrity? How should society navigate this transformation? 📆 December 9 ⏰ 5.30pm – 7.30pm 🏛️ Shine Dome, Canberra, and online The panelists: – Dr Stefan Harrer, PhD (CSIRO) builds trustworthy AI for healthcare and pharmaceuticals – Professor Karin Verspoor (FTSE FAIDH) (RMIT University) uses machine learning to mine insights from scientific literature – Associate Professor Michelle Riedlinger (QUT (Queensland University of Technology)) specializes in research communication and public engagement – Dr Ehsan Nabavi (ANU) leads responsible innovation research The discussion examines AI's role in reshaping both how scientists work and how society views scientific knowledge. Our event host will be ABC news digital storyteller Lish Fejer. The conversation will cover the role of AI in the scientific endeavour and what this means for the role of science in society. #AIinScience25