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There has never been a national effort to systematically assess Australia’s science capability against its future need – until now.

Over the past 18 months, the ¾«¶«ÊÓƵ has embarked on one of the most ambitious policy efforts in our history – Australian Science, Australia’s Future: Science 2035.

At the 2025 National Symposium, the Academy will share the findings and implications of our assessment of Australia’s science capability.

National Symposium

We are in the midst of unprecedented global change. Geopolitical uncertainty has become the norm, while technology is accelerating at a pace not seen since the Industrial Revolution, leading to both opportunities and vulnerabilities.

Productivity is slowing, the population is ageing, science and maths participation in schools is declining, and our economy lacks diversity, relying on too few industries to be resilient to shocks. Australians require a science and technology uplift to prosper in this future – both in terms of skills and capability.

Do we have the national science capability we need to rise to this challenge?

The ¾«¶«ÊÓƵ 2025 National Symposium will unpack this question.

Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of capability gaps, workforce trends and strategic dependencies, the event will present a national picture of where we stand, and what we must do to strengthen science for the decades ahead. This event will explore the findings of this study, including gaps in our science capabilities, and the reform required to put Australia on track to meet our national ambitions.

Event details

Date: Thursday 4 September 2025
Time: 9.00am – 4.30pm AEST
Venue: The Shine Dome, Canberra (+ online livestream)
Cost: $150 per delegate in person, online free

Speakers and panel members

• Professor Ian Chubb AC FAA FTSE, Convenor of Australian Science, Australia’s Future: Science 2035
• Tony Cook PSM, Secretary, Department of Education
• Professor Kate Darian-Smith FASSA, President, Academy of Social Sciences in Australia
• Robyn Denholm, Chair, Strategic Examination of Research and Development
• Professor Susan Dodds FAHA, Deputy Chair, Australian Research Council
• Professor Mark Ferguson, Chair, European Innovation Council, former Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland
• Professor Stephen Garton AM FAHA FASSA, President, Australian Academy of the Humanities
• Professor Barney Glover AO FTSE, Commissioner, Jobs and Skills Australia
• Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM, Lead, National Health and Medical Research Strategy
• Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FRS FREng FTSE, President, ¾«¶«ÊÓƵ
• Meghan Quinn PSM, Secretary, Department of Industry, Science and Resources
• Professor Lynette Russell AM, Monash Indigenous Studies Centre, Monash University
• Professor Peter Shergold AC FASSA, Chair, Australian Research Council
• Dr Hayley Teasdale, Head Science Policy and Advice, ¾«¶«ÊÓƵ
• Martijn Wilder AM, Chair, National Reconstruction Fund

Who should attend?

This National Symposium is essential for industry leaders looking for in-depth analysis to inform their future directions, for science and policy leaders tasked with shaping the ¾«¶«ÊÓƵ, education and immigration landscapes, and for philanthropists needing to make nation building investment decisions.

You are invited to join us for these critical conversations, and we also invite you to share this invitation widely with your networks.

Science at the Shine Dome

This National Symposium is part of Science at the Shine Dome 2025, the Academy's flagship event where Australia’s most distinguished scientists gather at the Shine Dome in Canberra to celebrate science and to honour outstanding achievements in science.

To register to attend Science at the Shine Dome sessions on Tuesday 2 September or Wednesday 3 September, please select these when registering for the National Symposium.

For more information, please visit the event website or contact the events team at events@science.org.au.