[Aqualist] Fwd: FASTS' TOP 10 for 2004

[Simon Haberle]

>>FASTS
>>Science and Technology for the Social, Environmental and Economic Benefit 
>>of Australia
>>
>>MEDIA RELEASE
>>Science like 'a gently pricked balloon'
>>
>>12 January, 
>>2004 
>>
>>
>>Science in Australia is still afloat, but only just.
>>
>>Scientists today compared it to a pricked balloon, slowly losing height 
>>and being easily outstripped by the efforts of other countries.
>>
>>While funding initiatives in Australia over the last few years have been 
>>welcome, they have not been enough to retain our position in the 
>>international race to forge a modern economy.
>>
>>Professor Snow Barlow, President of the Federation of Australian 
>>Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), said that other countries 
>>were racing past Australia by increasing their funding for science and 
>>research.
>>
>>"Only a substantial injection of new funds can solve the problem," he 
>>said.  "The Government has an ideal opportunity when it announces plans 
>>for a successor to Backing Australia's Ability."
>>
>>He said that Australia gets top marks for the ingenuity of its 
>>researchers, but ingenuity cannot match the new investment other nations 
>>are pouring into the field.
>>
>>"There seems to be a national failure in Australia to realise the urgency 
>>of the situation," he said.  "It's as though we have taken an extended 
>>holiday from reality."
>>
>>Professor Barlow pointed to plans of other countries to lift their 
>>research ability, with Europe, Japan, the USA and Canada all determined 
>>to make significant investment in their research and education base.
>>
>>"The European community has set a target for investment in research to 
>>reach 3 per cent of GDP by 2010. We are currently investing about half 
>>that amount, and ultimately this is going to tell," he said.  "You can do 
>>things on the cheap for only so long."
>>
>>He said the increase of permanent departures from Australia of young and 
>>talented people was symptomatic of the lack of investment in science and 
>>research.
>>
>>"Permanent departures from Australia have increased by 146 per cent since 
>>the early nineties," he said.
>>
>>"Not all these people are scientists, but scientists will be 
>>well-represented in the highly qualified young professionals fleeing 
>>overseas to find better pay, better facilities, more modern equipment and 
>>greater career opportunities."
>>
>>Professor Graeme Hugo's report on brain drain, released on December 18, 
>>showed that one in twenty three Australians lived overseas, nearly twice 
>>the rate of Americans living overseas.
>>
>>  "In the most part these are highly qualified young professionals, 
>> exactly the sort of people Australia needs to retain.
>>
>>For interview and information:
>>
>>Professor Snow Barlow, FASTS President        0407 251 574
>>
>>Dr Ken Baldwin, Policy Committee Chairman: 02 6125 4702 (W) 6295 1562 
>>(H)
>>
>>Dr David Denham, FASTS office    02 6257 2891 (W) 02 6295 3014 (H)
>>
>>
>>
>>FASTS Ten Top Issues for 2004
>>
>>
>>1. BRING ON "BACKING AUSTRALIA'S ABILITY II"
>>
>>BAA was a first step to invest in Australian science. It's time to take 
>>the second step and increase our national investment to match the OECD average.
>>
>>
>>2. RETAIN OUR BRIGHT YOUNG RESEARCH SCIENTISTS
>>
>>Recent science graduates have plenty of employment opportunities, but 
>>postdoctoral researchers have run into a career bottleneck.   The best 
>>ideas will flourish if BAA II creates attractive career opportunities in 
>>research and industry.
>>
>>
>>3. PhD SCIENCE GRADUATES TO INVIGORATE INDUSTRY
>>
>>BAA II should provide matching Government funds to employ new PhD 
>>graduates in industry for 2 years, to bring fresh scientific ideas for 
>>new methods and new products, and to forge science-based industry career paths.
>>
>>
>>4. ENCOURAGE INDUSTRY TO BE MORE INVENTIVE
>>
>>Give increased tax breaks on a sliding scale to reward companies prepared 
>>to increase their investment in research, because enterprising and 
>>inventive companies grow and provide more jobs.
>>
>>
>>5. ATTRACT VENTURE CAPITAL INTO NEW INDUSTRIES
>>
>>Venture capital is in short supply. Make it more attractive to invest in 
>>new ideas and new industries that have long term payoffs by lowering 
>>capital gains tax for long term investments.
>>
>>
>>6. NOW WE HAVE THE MAP, AUSTRALIA NEEDS A COMPASS
>>
>>The National Mapping exercise has shown us where we are. We should create 
>>a plan for up to 10 years into the future that sets goals and national 
>>directions, including national action plans on limiting climate change 
>>and on sustainable energy strategies.
>>
>>
>>7. HECS BREAKS FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS
>>
>>Science and maths teachers are in short supply in Australia, but they pay 
>>higher HECS fees than other teachers and thus take home less pay.  Bring 
>>in HECS breaks for science graduates when they take on teacher employment.
>>
>>
>>8. COLLABORATION, NOT COMPETING SILOS
>>
>>Destructive competition between separate research organizations for the 
>>funding dollar limits research outcomes.  Provide more collaborative 
>>funding incentives to build on the different strengths of universities 
>>and Government funded research agencies.
>>
>>
>>9. QUALITY SCIENCE GRADUATES
>>
>>Quality science and technology graduates are vital to Australia's 
>>economic and environmental future. We need measures to ensure that the 
>>new Higher Education Funding arrangements help reverse the current 
>>decline in higher education science enrolments.
>>
>>
>>10. WE ARE NOW 20 MILLION AND GROWING
>>
>>Australia is a fragile continent with an expanding population.  We need 
>>to develop a scientifically based population strategy that takes into 
>>account limits to growth determined by, for example, water resources and 
>>soil salinity.
>>
>>
>>For interview and information:
>>
>>Professor Snow Barlow, FASTS President        0407 251 574
>>
>>Dr Ken Baldwin, Policy Committee Chairman: 02 6125 4702 (W) 6295 1562 
>>(H)
>>
>>Dr David Denham, FASTS office:   02 6257 2891 (W) 02 6295 3014 (H)
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