AUSTRALIA

Knowledge-to-Policy

• STA issued an update from its annual K2P event, Science Meets Parliament 2024.

• The Australian Public Service Academy issued ‘Dr Dan Levy on evidence based policy and impact evaluation in the Australian Public Service’.

GEDSI

• DFAT Published a new Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Strategy 2024-2027. Department Secretary Jan Adams AO PSM said, “This strategy outlines what we will do to create a more diverse workforce at all levels, and more inclusive workplaces in Australia and across the globe. It is about living the values we promote globally, particularly those of human rights, and the inherent dignity of all individuals.” (p.5).
• Ministers Clare and Chisholm announced 10 new Regional University Study Hubs. These were welcomed by sector bodies such as Universities Australia and ATN universities.

Digital Transformation

• The ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society published Automated Decision-Making for Future Transport Mobilities: Stakeholder Perspectives.

• ITECA issued a submission to a Senate inquiry into development of Australian sovereign capability in the tech sector.

• The Pacific Forum, in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) released the report ‘Cyber ASEAN: Advancing Cyber Resiliency and Capacity in Southeast Asia’. This is the region’s homegrown cyber-capacity assessment framework comprising international collaboration, international tech standards, information-sharing, and incident or threat management and inclusion.

Climate change

• Towards net zero: transition pathways in regional Australia was released by the Regional Australia Institute.

• Minister Kearney invited applications for funding for research into climate-related health impacts and effective interventions.  

• The HIA said decarbonising and electrification of buildings should not limit consumer and homeowners choice.

• The Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024 was introduced to the House, as well as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024.

INDONESIA

Research and Technology

• The Centre for Data Science and Information Research of BRIN collaborates with the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) on research to optimise blockchain technology in the agricultural field.
• BRIN, through the Centre for Nuclear Material Technology and Radioactive Waste (PRTBNLR), collaborated with Gadjah Mada University (UGM) to develop a simulator for a small modular reactor (SMR) pressurised water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant.
• The Electronics and Optical Circuits Research Group – Electronics Research Centre of BRIN researched visible light communication (VLC) to enhance internet network bandwidth in Indonesia.
• BRIN explained the importance of BRIN’s role in conducting audits and accrediting Electronic-Based Service Systems (SPBE) in government services during the soft launch of LATIK Registration and Socialisation of BRIN Regulation No. 1 of 2024.

Research and Innovation

• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is committed to continuing and enhancing cooperation with Al-Azhar University in Cairo through a visit by the delegation of the Education and Culture Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo to Al-Azhar University.
• Representatives of Indonesia in Tokyo visited Kanazawa University in Ishikawa Prefecture to discuss several affairs, including promoting the Indonesian International Study Mobility Awards (IISMA) programme and cooperation between Kanazawa University and twenty universities in Indonesia.
• BRIN introduces the innovation of creating gas from seawater. This innovation is collaborative research between BRIN, PT PLN Indonesia Power, and PT Teknologi Alam Semesta.
• Research Associate Researcher at the Centre for Food Technology and Processing Research (PRTPP) of BRIN, Ervika Rahayu Novita Herawati, has developed chocolate claimed to be safe for diabetes patients.
• A professor from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) has created radar-absorbing paint from the sand resulting from the eruption of Mount Semeru to support radar decoy technology.
• A Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Padjadjaran University (Unpad) created the innovation of Mineral Soy Milk (Misuke) to prevent stunting in children.
• A Jambi University (Unja) student has created an innovative dishwashing soap from pineapple peel to reduce waste.

Environment and Climate Change (ECC)

• BRIN stated that allowing the decline in amphibian populations would result in the extinction of certain amphibian species, which would have implications for humans.
• BRIN is conducting artificial crosses between Arabica coffee species and robusta to obtain plant seedlings that are adaptive to rising temperatures.
• BRIN and the Directorate of Research Vessel Fleet Management research biodiversity around the Java Trench to explore the richness of deep-sea biodiversity in Indonesian waters. The research is in the hadal zone of the Central Java Trench and covers 3,200 km of waters from southern Sumatra to Nusa Tenggara.
• The Regional Development Planning and Research Agency (Bappeda Litbang) of Magetan Regency, East Java, is exploring carbon identification and mapping to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and mitigate climate change.
• BRIN conducts comprehensive research and plant propagation to prevent the extinction of the rare orchid Dendrobium capra J.J. Smith (D. Capra).
• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has allocated a budget of IDR 120 billion for the Anticipating Climate Change through Procurement and Development of Vocational Higher Education Facilities and Infrastructure (API Sarpras PTV) programme.

Research and Women

• The Director of Courses and Training at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nahdiana, emphasises the importance of empowering women in the digital space to keep up with the changing times and to be no longer confined by gender-based differences in rights and opportunities.
• In the 2023 Annual Report (CATAHU), the National Commission on Violence Against Women highlights a significant increase in cases of violence against women occurring in public and state domains.

 Research and Disabilities

• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has launched a tiered platform, the Disability Service Unit (ULD), for inclusive education for people with disabilities.

Updates supported by Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)