April 18, 2026
Recently, the Society President, Emeritus Professor Christina Slade, was interviewed on the ABC Science Show by its presenter and Society Fellow, Robyn Williams, following the release in December 2025 of the Department of Industry report ‘Ambitious Australia‘ on research and development in Australia and the structural problems holding the nation back.
In the interview, Professor Slade praised the report for clearly identifying long‑standing structural weaknesses in Australia’s research and innovation system. Highlighted in the discussions were chronic underinvestment in R&D, fragmented and inefficient research funding, poor translation of research into industry outcomes, risk‑averse business culture, and tax and regulatory settings that discourage investment and drive talented researchers overseas. Also discussed were the need for stronger industry–university collaboration, targeted national research priorities, and tax incentives to encourage private and superannuation fund investment in research.
Professor Slade stressed that genuine cultural change, in universities, government, and business, is essential but difficult to achieve. While welcoming the report’s recognition of humanities and social sciences, she warned that complex challenges like climate change, defence and technology require ethical, social and geopolitical perspectives alongside science and technology.
The recording of the interview, which originally aired on 11 April 2026, is available from the ABC Science Show website.
