Innovation Vouchers Program Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the Innovation Vouchers Program. Up to $20,000 is available for small to medium enterprises to use for professional services. Applications close on 31 March 2017. For more information, including application guidelines, visit the Innovation Hub.
Science career remembered through WA Science Hall of Fame
The life, work and achievements of Professor Ian Ritchie have been celebrated with his posthumous induction into the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame.
Professor Ritchie's citation on the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame honour board, located in Scitech, was unveiled on 6 December 2016 with the assistance of Professor Peter Klinken FTSE, Chief Scientist of Western Australia.
Professor Klinken acknowledged Professor Ritchie's contribution to the State.
"Professor Ritchie was highly regarded by students and colleagues. He was an exceptional scientist with a passion for chemistry research, education and practical application," the Chief Scientist said.
"Through his work and advocacy this state now has the ChemCentre and the Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions."
Hall of Fame inductees represent exceptional examples of outstanding achievement in Western Australian science. For more information visit the
WA Science Hall of Fame page.
2016 Governor's School STEM Awards
Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC, Governor of Western Australia, announced the winners of the 2016 Governor's School STEM Awards at a ceremony held at Government House on Thursday, 24 November 2016.
The presentation ceremony was attended by representatives from the ten finalist schools, and leaders in education.
The Awards, now in their second year, recognise the support and commitment of school principals and leadership teams in developing their schools' science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs.
For more information visit the Governor's School STEM Awards page.
Call for Applications for the Premier's Agriculture and Aquaculture Entrepreneurship Program
We are now accepting applications for the Premier's Agriculture and Aquaculture Entrepreneurship Program Round Two. This Program supports entrepreneurship and innovation in agriculture and aquaculture by offering scholarships to regional farmers and innovators in the sector.
This scholarship provides Western Australian farmers and individuals engaged in the agriculture or aquaculture sector up to $30,000 to enable them to develop and pursue their idea through exposure to international best practice and leaders in their field. At the completion of their travel and learning experiences the successful applicant will share their knowledge and learning with industry.
The Entrepreneurs Program forms part of the
Science and Agribusiness Connect (SAC) initiative made possible by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program.
For further information visit the
Premier's Agriculture and Aquaculture Entrepreneurship Program page.
State’s best scientists celebrated at the Premier's Science Awards
Former Premier and Minister for Science Colin Barnett congratulated the winners of the 2016 Premier’s Science Awards who were announced at an awards ceremony on 18 August.
Conservation scientist Professor Kingsley Dixon was announced as the Scientist of the Year. Other winners were Dr Scott Draper and Mr Christopher Brennan-Jones, both from the University of Western Australia, and Curtin University's Fireballs in the Sky.
Professor Ian Ritchie was announced as the 2016 inductee to the WA Science Hall of Fame for his dedication to science and his championing of a practical, business-focused approach to science in the State.
For more information visit the
Premier's Science Awards page or the
Premier's media statement.
Premier announces inaugural Premier's Fellow in Agriculture and Food at the Science Awards
Dr Simon Cook, an internationally recognised expert in agricultural systems and natural resource management, will build and lead a research team in WA to develop the State’s capabilities in big data and agriculture.
Dr Cook will take up the Premier’s Fellow position in a partnership between Curtin and Murdoch universities. The fellowship is jointly funded by the universities and the Science and Agribusiness Connect initiative.
The Premier’s Agriculture and Food Fellowship Program is the centrepiece of the
Science and Agribusiness Connect (SAC) initiative. It provides a total of $1.5 million to two exceptional researchers, the Premier’s Fellow and the Premier’s Early to Mid-Career Fellow, to conduct world leading research and development in Western Australia over a period of four years. SAC is one of 15 active programs under the Seizing the Opportunity - Agriculture initiative, made possible by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program.
Big Data Week opens with a crunch
Perth Big Data Week 2016 ran from 2 to 6 May 2016. The opening event, Big Data Crunch, brought school students together with data professionals to explore careers in data science and other STEM fields. Then State Development and Finance Minister Bill Marmion launched the event at Scitech alongside WA’s leaders in big data.
A range of events were offered for students, businesses, government, academics and the general public to learn about the career, research and business opportunities that WA ‘Big Data’ initiatives can provide. More information on Big Data Week, including the schedule of events, can be found on the
Big Data Week Website and this
liftout.
Running concurrently to Perth BDW 2016 was an international medical research conference, Science on the Swan, which explored precision medicine, medical imaging and the applications of big data and informatics in medical research, attracting world-leading researchers to travel to WA.
Mathematician welcomed into Western Australian Science Hall of Fame
Professor Cheryl E Praeger AM FAA's citation was unveiled on the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame honour board at Scitech, at a celebration held on 9 March 2016.
This occasion was attended by leaders in the science community as well as Professor Praeger's family, friends and colleagues to celebrate her contributions to the Western Australian and international mathematics communities.
Professor Praeger highlighted the value of mathematics to all areas of science, and also the importance of delivering high quality mathematics education to all school students in the State.
Hall of Fame inductees represent exceptional examples of outstanding achievement in Western Australian science. For more information visit the WA Science Hall of Fame page.
STEM education programs for schools
The STEM Programme Index 2016 (SPI 2016) is an accessible guide for teachers and parents to STEM education programs catering to a wide range of students. Programs are provided by business, universities, government and science and education agencies. They include in-class, after school, holiday, residential and online activities. This resource was compiled by the Australian Industry Group and the Office of the Chief Scientist of Australia.
A copy of SPI 2016 is available for
download via this link.
For more information on the SPI 2016 visit the media release on the
Australian Chief Scientist's website.