CEO's update
Image: Matt Howard
What a rollercoaster of a year! As I write this update from my kitchen bench watching my son make lunch between the year 12 exams, I reflected on how resilient we have all become. It is a term that we used to use a lot, but I don’t think ever really thought about much, but now I can honestly say I know what it means.
I am very pleased and proud to say that AuScope has proved to be a resilient organisation too. While the challenges of COVID-19 have hit every one of our programs we are lucky that all of the AuScope teams are able to continue to do fantastic work. Science continues, sometimes changed, but always important and this year of bushfires and pandemic has highlighted just how critical what we do is to our future on this planet.
We have been able to look to the future as well, releasing our 10-Year Strategy 2020 – 2030 and 5-Year Investment Plan, and starting to realise the dream of building the Downward looking Telescope for our community.
We are also changing and growing, first with the establishment of the AuScope Geochemistry Network, and then the first two of our Opportunity Fund Pilot Projects (funded in 2019), which seek to expand the National Argon Map, and measure vertical heat flow profiles in National Drilling Initiative boreholes. We look forward to announcing the next round of successful Projects in late 2020.
I would also like to mention this week’s Federal budget announcement (STA STEM summary), which provides strong support for a variety of STEM activities in a very difficult time. The ongoing commitment to the NCRIS program provides security to AuScope and other NCRIS capabilities and funding of the 2020 Research Infrastructure Investment Plan (RIIP) will result in AuScope being able to undertake some significant capital refresh activities in 2022. I would like to thank the staff at the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) who have worked tirelessly to get the RIIP funded in this budget.
Research revival a step towards STEM-smart recovery, Science & Technology Australia, say.
Finally, please have a look through our Latest News to get a sense of the exciting work across our Programs and community, and hopefully when we update you next, things will look a bit more normal.
Warm regards,
Dr Tim Rawling
IDEAS?
If you would like to discuss opportunities for collaboration with AuScope, please email me: tim@auscope.org.au.