The 16th meeting of the National Science and Technology Council was held in Canberra on 13 September 2023. The Prime Minister and Chair, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, opened the meeting, and the Minister for Industry and Science and Deputy Chair of the Council, the Hon Ed Husic MP, thanked Council members for their attendance. 

The Prime Minister reflected on the importance of listening to First Nations peoples, the significance of First Nations knowledge systems and the concept of weaving First Nations knowledge into our science and research system. 

Minister Husic opened the conversation on First Nations knowledge, noting that this theme emerged through the national conversation and its importance is reflected in the draft National Science and Research Priorities and Science Statement. Minister Husic thanked guests Dr Chris Bourke and Ms Mikaela Jade, who offered their insights as First Nations knowledge experts. The discussion focused on the value of Indigenous knowledge and the importance of valuing and weaving this knowledge with science in Australian research, while ensuring that First Nations people benefit from the sharing of their knowledge. The Prime Minister thanked the Council for their insights and departed the meeting. 

The Council discussed the findings of the recent report on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Career Pathways commissioned by the Council. This includes the systemic challenges in STEM careers and possible actions to address them, particularly around improving retention in the STEM workforce, improving mobility across sectors, and modernising research assessment approaches to better support Australia’s research effort and workforce. Council members discussed implications of this work in the context of the Diversity in STEM Review and the Australian Universities Accord.  

The Council discussed the work plan and identified batteries and synthetic biology as possible topics of future discussion. 

Minister Husic thanked the Council for the discussion and closed the meeting. 

The next Council meeting will be held in late 2023.