Autism researcher at The Telethon Kids Institute and the Autism CRC, Prof Andrew Whitehouse, has taken the Storytime Pledge!

An Overview of Activities – Australia’s Chief Scientist: January 2016 – December 2020 has recently been released.

The Finkel Files: Selected speeches from Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel AO, has been published online.

"The beginning of my term coincided with one of the most momentous scientific breakthroughs in a century: the detection of gravitational waves... As I finish my term, the contribution of Australian scientists to that discovery has just been recognised in the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. As chair of the Prizes selection committee, this was a nice bookend for me. More importantly, it’s a reminder we are playing the long game."

Dr Finkel reflected on his term as Australia’s Chief Scientist in an article in the Conversation, published on Wednesday 9 December 2020.

The eighth meeting of the National Science and Technology Council was held via videoconference on 25 November 2020.

"The hard-won gains made by women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are at risk, especially if employers of people with STEM skills do not closely monitor and mitigate the gender impact of their decisions."

On the release of the Australian 2020 STEM Workforce Report and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic; Dr Finkel and Prof. Harvey-Smith, Women in STEM Ambassador; reflected on its unique impact on women in STEM.

"Like tendrils, metrics wind their way right through the research ecosystem – from hiring and promotion, to funding and to publication. They get a strong grip. I think of it like a climbing wisteria that I once did battle with. Once those tendrils take hold of the pergola, they can squeeze the life out of it."

Dr Finkel delivered the Opening Remarks for Clarivate's inaugural research integrity event on Wednesday 25 November 2020, which considered some of the challenges and opportunities faced by the respective sectors in building integrity within in the research system.

Entitled "Collective actions to strengthen research integrity", his remarks are below.

Dr Finkel appeared this morning before the Inquiry into the Victorian Government’s COVID‐19 Contact Tracing System and Testing Regime and gave the following opening statement.

Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel continued his enthusiastic advocacy of the hydrogen industry when he spoke at the Australian Hydrogen Conference on Monday, telling the online audience that hydrogen has massive potential in transport, especially, but also in industry and domestic use.

" ...We saw good reason for confidence. The states and territories have boosted investments and readiness, and their handling of the pandemic is effective. What they need to know is that their neighbours are similarly prepared."

Dr Finkel published an editorial in the Herald Sun newspaper on Saturday 14 November 2020.
The full editorial is available below.