Celebrating fifty years of Australian applied science, technology and engineering impact

ATSE is turning 50! 

1975 – a pivotal year for technology and the world – set us on the path we would follow for decades to come. That same year, Microsoft was founded and the now iconic first Apple computer prototype came to life. The term “global warming” was coined. Closer to home in Australia, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering was incorporated as a company on 6 November. 

What all these founding moments have in common is that they started with the brightest, most curious and innovative minds. For us at ATSE, with an eye to the past, on the present and to the future, we want to continue to be a conduit for the ideas and solutions humanity and our planet need.  

As ATSE turns 50 this year, we are excited about honouring the diverse work of Fellows past, spotlighting the work of the Fellows of today and nurturing our future Fellows and STEM trailblazers. Our ATSE Fellows continue to advance the legacy of their predecessors, advising and innovating with passion and determination.   

ATSE President Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO FTSE said, “Impact is really the key credential we look at when we’re looking at new Fellows.  It’s really important that they can see their own pathway within ATSE to delivering impact to Australia and Australians.” 

Since 1975, generations of ATSE Fellows have contributed to building Australia’s technological, engineering and innovation landscape. Our Fellows are problem-solvers, futurists and innovators. They collaborate internationally and advance our society through a range of ground-breaking solutions, technologies and applications. Their impact is now compounded by the students, researchers, industry networks and enduring partnerships that ATSE has ushered to grow a scientifically capable workforce and a STEM-skilled future. 

Through its educational programs and policy expertise underpinned by the Fellowship, ATSE is uniquely placed to build Australia’s future engineering, innovation and technology capacity. 

ATSE Fellow Dr TJ Higgins AO FTSE FAA, a globally recognised plant breeder from CSIRO elected to the ATSE Fellowship in 1997, said, “The Academy has made a huge contribution to science in Australia, science translation, commercialisation and advice to government. My favourite experience of being a Fellow is spending time with other Fellows, Fellows who have a very different background to me. We meet to talk about our various areas of science, and this is absolutely fascinating for me and one of my favourite things about ATSE.” 

And in our 50^th year, ATSE is hosting the Generations Symposium, the annual conference of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS). As a founding member of CAETS and host of the 2025 conference in Brisbane in September, we are bringing the brightest minds of our own Academy and of 33 international member Academies together with global and local experts, to discuss climate and sustainability solutions for the future. 

We honour the real-world impact of all our Fellows and look forward to celebrating another 50 years of ATSE as we strive to ensure we build novel solutions to tackle our biggest challenges. As ATSE turns 50, we remain inspired by the thousands of years of First Nations innovation that is the foundation of a culture of learning and collaboration ushering us into the future.  

We can’t wait to share more of the inspiring and incredible stories of our Fellows throughout 2025.