Canberra Science Calendar

Professor February is Tony Peacock, Chief Executive Officer of the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre.

Headquartered at the University of Canberra, with research teams in several research institutions around the country, Tony and his team are creating technologies and strategies to reduce the impact of feral animals like foxes, fish, rabbits, pigs, and dogs on Australia’s economy, environment, and people.

You can learn more about the Invasive Animals CRC online.

Professor December is Penny D Sackett, Chief Scientist for Australia, who met Ted at the Ministerial Entrance to Parliament House where she will lead this month’s meeting of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.

You can learn more about Professor Sackett and her role online.

Professor October is Warwick Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health and Medical Research Council. When Ted met Warwick he took the opportunity to demonstrate the positive health outcomes that could be gained if humans were encouraged to have a daily walk and chase sticks.

You can learn more about the NHMRC online.

Professor August is Marcela Bilek, a Federation Fellow who is Professor of Applied Physics at Sydney University.

Ted joined Marcela at the Heliac prototype fusion reactor, the centrepiece of the National Plasma Fusion Research Facility at the ANU's Research School of Physics and Engineering and the only device in the southern hemisphere exploring ways to produce clean energy through nuclear fusion.

You can learn more about Marcela and her work online.

Professor June is Brian Schmidt who met Ted at the Mt Stromlo Observatory which is still recovering after being devastated by bushfire in 2003.

Ted was glad he had four feet firmly on the ground after Brian explained his discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating.

You can learn more about Brian and the universe online.

Professor April is Judith Whitworth, a former Director of the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the ANU and Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer who chairs WHO's Global Advisory Committee on Health Research.

Judith and Ted met at ‘The John’ where Judith is now Howard Florey Professor of Medical Research.

You can learn more about the John Curtin School online.

Professor February is Margaret Sheil, CEO of the Australian Research Council. In 2007-08 the ARC provided more than $500 million to Australian researchers under the National Competitive Grants Program.

Margaret and Ted met for coffee at the ARC’s offices in Brindabella Park, the office precinct at Canberra Airport noted for its energy-efficient buildings.

You can learn more about the ARC online: www.arc.gov.au.

Disclaimer: Professor Sheil’s involvement in the 2009 Canberra Science Calendar does not imply any endorsement of Science Media or its service.