Joint Australian Academy of Science National Committee for Physics and Australian Institute of Physics announcement
"Investing in the future of Physics": A strategic plan
The National Committee for Physics within the Australian Academy of Science is joining with the Australian Institute of Physics to oversee an open consultation with the physics community in Australia.
The aim is to create a report that highlights the key issues for Physics in Australia and to provide both a snapshot of where physics currently stands and the opportunities available to the discipline over the coming decade. The document will be useful to advise governments and raise the profile of this important underpinning science.
This process includes:
An up-to-date examination of the physics discipline in Australia - It has been over 15 years since the last survey of the discipline of Physics in Australia was conducted back in 1993.
An evaluation of the opportunities available for future growth of the discipline - With the enormous growth and rapid changes in the discipline internationally, it is important to determine how to strategically plan for Australian research across all sub disciplines.
An investigation of Australian investment in physics research and development - A key factor to understanding the health of the physical sciences discipline is to determine the trends of current government and business investment and the impact this will have for the physical sciences.
Identification of challenges for physics within schools, business, government and academia - With declining student populations in fundamental science, fewer teachers trained in the discipline, top-heavy faculty demographics, expensive infrastructure costs and rapidly changing fields many important decisions need to be made to determine the future health of the discipline.
The National Committee for Physics will oversee the consultation process and form an Executive Working Group in charge of collation, integration of the data and production of the final report. A trial of this process was conducted within the Australian Optical Society in 2008. It is planned to use the lessons learned, in the consultation with the wider Physics community.
A forum will be held at the AIP Congress in 2008 to launch this exercise and start the open consultation process. We will call for nominations for Chairs of the various sub-disciplines. The input from the sub-disciplines will be collected and merged into the final report, which will be completed in late 2010.
It is vital, not just for the success of this endeavour but also for the health of the discipline that you as a physicist participate in this exercise and have your say.
ALL perspectives on this issue are relevant and welcome!
"Investing in the future of Physics": A strategic plan
The National Committee for Physics within the Australian Academy of Science is joining with the Australian Institute of Physics to oversee an open consultation with the physics community in Australia.
The aim is to create a report that highlights the key issues for Physics in Australia and to provide both a snapshot of where physics currently stands and the opportunities available to the discipline over the coming decade. The document will be useful to advise governments and raise the profile of this important underpinning science.
This process includes:
An up-to-date examination of the physics discipline in Australia - It has been over 15 years since the last survey of the discipline of Physics in Australia was conducted back in 1993.
An evaluation of the opportunities available for future growth of the discipline - With the enormous growth and rapid changes in the discipline internationally, it is important to determine how to strategically plan for Australian research across all sub disciplines.
An investigation of Australian investment in physics research and development - A key factor to understanding the health of the physical sciences discipline is to determine the trends of current government and business investment and the impact this will have for the physical sciences.
Identification of challenges for physics within schools, business, government and academia - With declining student populations in fundamental science, fewer teachers trained in the discipline, top-heavy faculty demographics, expensive infrastructure costs and rapidly changing fields many important decisions need to be made to determine the future health of the discipline.
The National Committee for Physics will oversee the consultation process and form an Executive Working Group in charge of collation, integration of the data and production of the final report. A trial of this process was conducted within the Australian Optical Society in 2008. It is planned to use the lessons learned, in the consultation with the wider Physics community.
A forum will be held at the AIP Congress in 2008 to launch this exercise and start the open consultation process. We will call for nominations for Chairs of the various sub-disciplines. The input from the sub-disciplines will be collected and merged into the final report, which will be completed in late 2010.
It is vital, not just for the success of this endeavour but also for the health of the discipline that you as a physicist participate in this exercise and have your say.
ALL perspectives on this issue are relevant and welcome!
