Improving our National Capability
Join Professor Anna Moore FTSE and Professor Elanor Huntington FTSE as they discuss the national capabilities of science and technology in Australia.
For Australia to face the challenges of our future, such as inflation, unemployment, and cost of living, it’s essential to grow and sustain our national capability.
Enhancing our national technology capability will enable Australia to support our resource-driven economy and foster high-tech industry growth. Join Professor Anna Moore FTSE and Professor Elanor Huntington FTSE as they discuss the national capabilities of science and technology in Australia.
Professor Moore FTSE will examine Australia’s opportunities as we embark on the space race, particularly through expanding satellite capabilities for remote sensing.
The Role of space infrastructure in solving society’s challenges
The past decade has seen a drastic uplift in space activity made possible through reduced access costs combined with a growing commercial sector capable of innovative and agile solutions. Opportunities abound in this new arena – both in space and on the ground. The ANU Institute for Space was formed in 2017 to bring an all of University response to support our growing space sector, ensuring current and future societal challenges ranging from climate adaptability, space sustainability and economic resilience were the driving impacts of the institute. I will briefly introduce current space infrastructure that all Australians rely on today, and then focus on the opportunities where InSpace and Australia can shine in the future
Professor Huntington FTSE will delve into the rapidly evolving world of AI, highlighting how Australia can leverage it as a national infrastructure to boost productivity and develop new industries. She will also address the potential public sector benefits of adopting these technologies.
A new class of infrastructure – How AI foundation models can support future social and economic activity in Australia
Generative AI – as exemplified by ChatGPT - burst onto our collective imagination in 2023; triggering a flurry of GenAI theatre as well as genuine engagement. It’s part of a seismic shift in the nature and reach of AI. But not because I have an app that will remove the drudgery of writing legal briefs, fail to write good Haiku and give me a recipe for a Mojito. It’s what lies underneath - “foundation models”. These vast, powerful, fine-tuneable and re-usable models are what powers ChatGPT and its cousins. They’ve emerged as a new class of infrastructure. And we already depend upon them. This presentation will unpack that idea and its implications for Australia.
This seminar invites us to consider the role of national capability in science and technology in shaping Australia’s future and assessing how well-prepared we are to navigate the path ahead.
Date
Monday 12 August 2024
Time
12:00 PM - 2:00 PMImportant information
In-person: 12:00pm – 12:30pm AEST (Networking and canapes)
In-person & online: 12:30pm – 2:00pm AEST (Presentation and Q&A)
In-person & online: 12:30pm – 2:00pm AEST (Presentation and Q&A)
Speakers
Speakers
FTSE
Director, ANU Institute for Space (InSpace) and Vice-Chancellor's Entrepreneurial Professor, Australian National University
Director, ANU Institute for Space (InSpace) and Vice-Chancellor's Entrepreneurial Professor, Australian National University
Professor Anna Moore is a major force driving Australia's strategic direction and R&D agenda to grow our space capabilities and industry. As Director of the multi-disciplinary ANU Institute for Space, she sets the vision and strategy for space-related activities at ANU, including satellite and space mission design, manufacture and testing, space-ground communications, Earth observations, space situational awareness, and space medicine, law and commerce. InSpace continues to demonstrate a high gender diversity (>70%).
Following a distinguished research career at Caltech, Prof Moore joined ANU in 2017 as Director of the Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre and as Professor of Astronomy at RSAA. She served on the Australian Government's space expert reference group to form the Australian Space Agency. As a consultant, her expertise has also been valued by the Australian Space Agency, NASA, the US National Science Foundation, the ACT government, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Professor Moore's special interests are in astronomical instrumentation, Antarctic astronomy and transient infrared astronomy.
Prof Moore is passionate about ANU and it's potential for multi-disciplinary impact on the national stage. Via InSpace's success she has demonstrated that listening to a diverse range of voices enables sustainable decision making and in efficient and holistic strategic implementation plans to deliver visionary impact.
Following a distinguished research career at Caltech, Prof Moore joined ANU in 2017 as Director of the Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre and as Professor of Astronomy at RSAA. She served on the Australian Government's space expert reference group to form the Australian Space Agency. As a consultant, her expertise has also been valued by the Australian Space Agency, NASA, the US National Science Foundation, the ACT government, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Professor Moore's special interests are in astronomical instrumentation, Antarctic astronomy and transient infrared astronomy.
Prof Moore is passionate about ANU and it's potential for multi-disciplinary impact on the national stage. Via InSpace's success she has demonstrated that listening to a diverse range of voices enables sustainable decision making and in efficient and holistic strategic implementation plans to deliver visionary impact.
FTSE
Executive Director - Digital, National Facilities & Collections, CSIRO
Executive Director - Digital, National Facilities & Collections, CSIRO
Professor Elanor Huntington is a member of CSIRO’s Executive with responsibility for Digital and National Facilities & Collections. As well as leading the data-focused research, development, and digital capability of CSIRO, Professor Huntington also heads up major national research infrastructure including the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, the Marine National Facility, and the Australia Telescope National Facility. She is an established senior leader, holding a range of Board appointments and government scientific advisory roles. Prior to joining CSIRO in November 2021, Professor Huntington was Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the Australian National University, where she helped bring about significant transformation within the College and sector. She is passionate about growing the profile of STEM in the community, breaking down barriers to participation and attracting diverse talent to the field. Professor Huntington is a prolific and sought-after public speaker and thought leader on the future of science, technology, engineering and the nature of work.
