The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) was founded in 1954 by Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London, the first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy operates under a Royal Charter and as such is an independent body but has government endorsement. The Academy Secretariat is in Canberra, at the Shine dome. 1954 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only one to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/ Oceania. ... The Royal Society of London is claimed to be the oldest learned society still in existence and was founded in 1660. ... London — containing the City of London — is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England and a major world city. With over seven million inhabitants (Londoners) in Greater London area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in Western Europe. ... Sir Marcus Mark Laurence Elwin Oliphant (October 8, 1901 - July 14, 2000), Australian physicist and humanitarian. ... In the United Kingdom and Canada a Royal Charter is a charter granted by the Sovereign on the advice of the Privy Council, which creates or gives special status to an incorporated body. ... Two of Canberras best-known landmarks, Parliament House and (foreground) Old Parliament House. ...

The objectives of the Academy are to promote science, they do so through a range of activites including recognition of outstanding contributions to science by issuing awards, education and public awareness though a variety of media, contributing to the formation of science policy and by creating opportunities for international scientific exchange.

Fellows

The Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science is made up of about 350 of Australian scientists. Scientists judged by their peers to have made an exceptional contribution to knowledge in their field, may be elected to Fellowship of the Academy. Two new Fellows may be eleted every three years. A small number of distinguished foreign scientists with substantial connections to Australian science are elected as Corresponding Members.

Awards

The following medals are awarded annually:

• Pawsey Medal, to a young physicist;
• Gottschalk Medal, to a young medical researcher;
• Fenner Medal, to a young biologist.

Other awards include: Professor Frank Fenner (1914- ) is an Australian scientist with a distinguished career in the field of virology. ...

• Ian William Wark Medal and Lecture and the Rees Lecture, for scientists that have made links between science and industry;
• Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, for research workers in mathematics and physics;
• David Craig Medal, researchers in chemistry;
• Mawson Lecture and Medal, the Jaeger Medal, the Haddon King Medal, and the Dorothy Hill Award, for reseachers in earth science;
• Moran Medal and the Hannan Medal, for mathematics.

Sir Douglas Mawson (May 5, 1882-1958) was Australian Antarctic explorer. ... Dr. Dorothy Hill AC CBE FAA FRS (September 10, 1909 - April 23, 1998) was an Australian geologist, the first female professor at an Australian university, and the first and only female president of the Australian Academy of Science Hill grew up in Brisbane, she attended Cooparoo State Scool and Brisbane...

External link

• Australian Academy of Science (http://www.science.org.au/aashome.htm)