The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) was founded in 1954 by Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London, the first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy operates under a Royal Charter and as such is an independent body but has government endorsement. The Academy Secretariat is in Canberra, at the Shine dome.

The objectives of the Academy are to promote science, they do so through a range of activites including recognition of outstanding contributions to science by issuing awards, education and public awareness though a variety of media, contributing to the formation of science policy and by creating opportunities for international scientific exchange.

Fellows

The Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science is made up of about 350 of Australian scientists. Scientists judged by their peers to have made an exceptional contribution to knowledge in their field, may be elected to Fellowship of the Academy. Two new Fellows may be eleted every three years. A small number of distinguished foreign scientists with substantial connections to Australian science are elected as Corresponding Members.

Awards

The following medals are awarded annually:

• Pawsey Medal, to a young physicist;
• Gottschalk Medal, to a young medical researcher;
• Fenner Medal, to a young biologist.

Other awards include:

• Ian William Wark Medal and Lecture and the Rees Lecture, for scientists that have made links between science and industry;
• Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, for research workers in mathematics and physics;
• David Craig Medal, researchers in chemistry;
• Mawson Lecture and Medal, the Jaeger Medal, the Haddon King Medal, and the Dorothy Hill Award, for reseachers in earth science;
• Moran Medal and the Hannan Medal, for mathematics.

External link

• Australian Academy of Science