The 20th meeting of the National Science and Technology Council (‘the Council’) was held in Canberra, at Parliament House, on 21 November 2024. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Chair, the Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science. 

The Council discussed three items of business: Information resilience; the National Science and Research Priority 3 – Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems; and Australia’s research infrastructure.

Minister Husic acknowledged the meeting was Dr Cathy Foley’s final as Australia’s Chief Scientist and Executive Officer of the Council. He thanked Dr Foley for her commitment, guidance and leadership and highlighted her strength and willingness to collaborate with the Council and government.

Invited experts Associate Professor Eryn Newman, Professor Mathieu O’Neil, Professor Giles Hirst and Professor Michael Platow, joined the Council meeting to provide an update on their work, commissioned by the Council, on effective strategies to combat the spread and impact of misinformation at the population level. Council members and guests discussed the early insights of the project including long and short-term education strategies and the importance of trust in science to support social cohesion and economic security.

Minister Husic agreed to an expert scientific member recommendation for the Council to provide advice on an approach to support the implementation of National Science and Research Priority 3 – Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems. This work will be led by expert scientific member Professor Reuben Bolt.

Professor Elanor Huntington joined the Council meeting for an update on the Council’s project which is looking at Australia’s research infrastructure needs now and into the future. The discussion emphasised the need to view Australia’s research infrastructure as a long-term endeavour and for improved coordination of funding and governance to deliver more sustainable and impactful outcomes from our investments.

Dr Foley thanked the members for their continued efforts in supporting the work of the Council. 

Timing for the next Council meeting will be confirmed in 2025.