Science meets Parliament 2012

An annual event of growing importance and popularity for both the scientific community and the Federal Government is “Science meets Parliament” (SmP). SmP is promoted and presented by Science and Technology Australia (www.scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au), a scientific advocacy group of which ASM is a member, bringing together scientists of all disciplines from across Australia for a unique opportunity of interactions with our federal parliamentarians in Canberra. This year, at the 13^th annual SmP event, the ASM was represented by Assoc. Prof Damian Purcell (Melbourne University) and Dr Nick West (University of Queensland). On the first day of the two-day event delegates participate in a series of workshops aimed at informing and equipping them to interact more effectively with members of parliament. A strong theme of these workshops is about the value of science communication, budgetary processes, formulation of policy and how to influence it. Changes in the media have resulted in the culling of several dedicated science journalists and delegates were encouraged to embrace social media, such as twitter, to keep science in the national conversation and to guide important policy discussions. There was also a very strong emphasis on how to communicate with politicians, which is something quite foreign to most scientists. SmP 2012 attracted 220 delegates, a record level of attendance at this event. Matching this enthusiasm was that of Canberra’s MPs with some 70 parliamentarians choosing to meet personally with scientists throughout day two. These meetings would mean that delegates would enjoy a unique opportunity to not only discuss with parliamentarians their work but also to pitch an “angle” or concept or to just discuss the importance of continued and stable funding.

A lasting impression for me was the sense from many of those in Canberra that science is important, and somewhat surprisingly, that scientists attract a great deal of respect for their efforts. What was also obvious was that politicians wanted and needed to understand science, at least the basics of what we are trying to do and achieve. There were several occasions where the importance of appropriate communication was impressed on us, mostly in terms of the language that we use. It is clear that MPs understand one language whilst scientists are speaking a completely different one. Prof Brian Schmidt of the ANU and winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics 2011, summed it up best at his National Press Club Address with, “Scientists often have the notion that scientists are from Venus, politicians from Uranus”, while politicians have the view we scientists are just off the planet. It was stressed that scientific communication skills with non-scientists needs attention. So a lesson learned for us as members of the ASM is to not be reluctant in approaching our federal members, but to get the language right so there can be a meaningful dialogue and a sense of inclusiveness, dare I say, partnership. After all, these people are the policy makers, of policies that have huge potential to affect our work, careers and the outcomes for the country.

A common theme from the Canberra policy makers was the increased stress on the federal budget that is threatening future funding for science and research. Adam Bant, deputy leader of the Greens and MP for Melbourne asked the Treasurer, Wayne Swan during question time, with a gallery packed with SmP delegates about the government’s position on a rumoured freeze on new science funding that would see the flow of new NHMRC and ARC grants and fellowships delayed until July when the new financial year starts. This rumour was a talking point for many delegates conscious of the extreme push for a surplus budget ahead of the next federal election. While the answer from the Treasurer, Mr Swan, acknowledged the importance of science and research and previous increases in the budget, his lack of clarity in answering the meat of the question gave SmP delegates in the gallery a sharp example of the difference between scientific precision and political obfuscation. In the big picture, annual science and research spending of $9 billion is only 1.4% of a total budget of $365 billion. So the savings required to bring the budget into surplus will have to target big budget items like social security, health, education and defence to find the $42 billion in savings required.

Delegates met with politicians who selected them from their biographies. Nick West met with the Hon Mrs Jane Prentice, MP for Ryan, a Brisbane metropolitan electorate. This meeting was particularly relevant for Nick as UQ lies within this electorate and attracts her attention. Her knowledge of research undertaken at UQ across many different fields was impressive and encouraging. Nick discussed deficiencies in attention to tuberculosis (TB) generally and its importance to the state of Queensland, in an environment of closing treatment facilities and decentralisation of services relating to TB. A lot can be learned from past parliamentary speeches delivered by MPs and in at least one example Mrs Prentice went on record defending the need to maintain ARC funding.

Damian Purcell met with the Hon Richard Marles, MP for Corio the electorate hosting the Australian Animal Health Laboratories (AAHL) of the CSIRO. He is also Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs and for Foreign Affairs, and holds a B.Sc. and LLB degrees. He is also the founding co-convenor of the Parliamentary Friends of Science group that includes 45 MPs that seeks to establish a meaningful dialogue between scientific leaders and parliamentarians who are seeking expert advice to guide policy. Damian was asked about the current state of the HIV epidemic locally and in regional indigenous communities, and about scientific advances in treatment and biomedical prevention products, such as an effective preventive vaccine. The Hon Richard Marles was quick to understand the importance of allowing good science to guide an effective response to the HIV epidemic, and also strongly supported the important role that AAHL played in counteracting new infectious threats to Australia and our region. Also meeting with Hon Richard Marles was Dr. Alex Maier a malaria researcher from ANU who was able to answer numerous detailed questions about Australian and regional malaria infections. This meeting underscored the need for scientifically accurate information by our MP policy makers and the important role the nations’ scientists play in proactively and efficiently feeding high quality and understandable information to our politicians.

Politicians with a thirst for our stories are out there, there is support for us in Canberra, but they need to be engaged. We would encourage members to identify your federal MP, find out what they are into, and make contact. Let them know you are there and doing something worthwhile, invite them to your workplace and you never know, they might one day be lobbying on your behalf.