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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-09-10 Daily Xml
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ROYAL INSTITUTION OF AUSTRALIA

Mr KENYON (Newland) (14:18): My question is directed to the Premier. Can the Premier provide the house with an update on the upcoming opening of the Royal Institution of Australia and why this new institution is so important to our state?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:18): I thank the member for his question. He is known for his interest in science, particularly in geological sciences, and I know that the former leader of the opposition (the member for Waite) is a great supporter of the Royal Institution coming to South Australia, as are so many other members. I know that the Minister for Education and Children's Services has played an invaluable role in the Bragg initiative. People would be aware that William and Lawrence Bragg, father and son Nobel Prize winners, were both South Australians who went on to become directors of the Royal Institution in London.

It is this government's view that science education can and must play a vital role in our state's economic future and in creating a well-rounded society. Science is part of everything we do, everything we create and nearly every aspect of our lives: whether focused on tackling climate change, addressing drought, discovering new medical solutions or improving the way in which we grow our food, science play a part. When you think about the scientific literacy not only of the community but also of parliaments these days, we have to deal with stem cell issues and with issues such as genetically modified crops, and I am very pleased that, on the basis of the best science that I know, we banned GM crops in this state.

We want our state to excel in science, our kids to get excited about the many wonders of science, our schools to provide quality science education, and more of our graduates to choose science careers. That is why we annually acknowledge and celebrate the successes of our scientists through science excellence awards and, as part of these awards, honour a South Australian Scientist of the Year as well as the South Australian Young Tall Poppy of the Year.

A commitment to science education and awareness is also why we launched the Bragg Initiative, which supports projects such as Science Outside the Square, a program that is in its fifth successful year, offering engaging science events that are free to the public. That is why in 2006 we helped launch, and continue to support, the Australian Science Media Centre. The Australian Science Media Centre maintains a database of approximately 3,000 scientists and provides independent, evidence-based science information to the public through the media. The Australian Science Media Centre has already affected or inspired over 6,000 media reports and will soon be collocated within the Royal Institution.

Our interest in ensuring quality education in the sciences is also why, during national Science Week, this government announced that its Primary School Skills for the Future strategy will include additional grant funding to boost the maths, science and literacy skills of our state's primary school students, and why we announced that specialist training in science and mathematics will be provided for every primary school teacher in the state between 2010 and 2012.

The Royal Institution of Australia, the nation's new hub for science exchange, is an important part of this government's vision for science, technology and innovation in South Australia. The RiAus will be based in Adelaide's historic and newly renovated Stock Exchange Building, soon to be known as the Science Exchange, and will bring together scientists, engineers, journalists, companies, educational institutions, community groups and families. This will be the second royal institution of science in the world and the only sister institution to the more than 200 year old Royal Institution of Great Britain. The Royal Institution in London was founded by eminent scientists, including Sir Joseph Banks, and has always been known for the quality of its scientific research. Fourteen of its scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize and 10 of the chemical elements were discovered in its research laboratory.

However, the RI in Britain has also won public acclaim for making science accessible to a wider audience. The RI in London has worked for two centuries to bring science to the people in many creative and inspiring ways, and to bring people to science. That is exactly what the RI of Australia will seek to do here in Adelaide. The Science Exchange Building has been equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual facilities, able to beam events, debates and forums from Adelaide to distant towns and cities across the state, across the nation and across the world.

Both the federal and South Australian governments have made multimillion dollar commitments to help establish the RiAus. Kevin Rudd announced $15 million earlier this year, but the RiAus is a not-for-profit incorporated association that will operate independently from government under the guidance of its own director, Professor Gavin Brown, and its own council. I am very pleased that the vision first offered by Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield, a former Thinker in Residence, to create the Royal Institution in Australia is about to become a reality.

I am pleased to announce that the Royal Institution of Australia will be officially opened on 8 October by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, cousin of Her Majesty The Queen. The Duke of Kent is President of the Royal Institution and will be spending several days in Adelaide and, I understand, in regional South Australia during this time. Four days of exciting events are planned from 8 to 11 October. The 8th will focus on official functions, including the royal launch. The 9th will be a day of events that celebrate where science meets culture. The heritage and arts day will include the launch of a documentary on Adelaide's Nobel laureates William and Lawrence Bragg.

On Saturday 10 October, the RiAus will be open to the public, with an open house and public tours. Sunday the 11th will be a family fun day, with a variety of science shows planned in and around the Science Exchange Building. I urge all members to come and bring their families to these exciting weekend events.

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