Royal Institution of Australia
Encyclopedia
Opened in October 2009, the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) is a national scientific not-for-profit organisation with a mission to ‘bring science to people and people to science’.
As the national science hub, RiAus concentrates on promoting and supporting public engagement with science. RiAus creates real and virtual spaces in which people can listen, talk and think about science in all its shapes and forms. In developing innovative and accessible ways of engaging the general community, RiAus raises scientific awareness and lifts the level of debate on critical issues arising from science and technology. RiAus strives to highlight the importance of science in everyday life.
It is housed at the Science Exchange in South Australia
, which is Adelaide
's former Stock Exchange
building. Half of the building, which is open to the public on weekdays, has heritage value. The other half was gutted by 2 fires in the 20th century and is now office space for RiAus and the Australian Science Media Centre
.
The RiAus was founded with government funds and some corporate support, most notably from Santos Ltd.. It has a paid membership program and events in the Science Exchange. Most events are free for everyone and some programs are funded by government departments in different Australian states and territories to target specific audiences, such as rural schoolchildren, teachers or those with little traditional engagement with science.
The RiAus arose from recommendations made by Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield
, as Thinker in Residence for the South Australian Government during 2004 and 2005. RiAus is the first and only Royal Institution outside the UK.
and complementary research programs across South Australian universities, science communication
programs for children, professional development
for school teachers and the establishment of the Australian Science Media Centre
. A key recommendation was the Bragg Initiative, which encouraged a relationship between South Australia
and the RiGB
and was taken up by the South Australian government.
In June 2008, work commenced to convert the former Adelaide Stock Exchange building, which had remained empty for many years, into the Science Exchange.
RiAus was opened on 8 October 2009 by the President of the Council of RiGB, HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
.
RiAus took on responsibility for Science Outside the Square, an SA Government initiative, and runs other programs outside the Science Exchange, such as Free Range Science, a program for people living in regional Victoria
and another in collaboration with Cosmos
magazine in New South Wales
, building a national program beyond its Adelaide headquarters
.
and William Lawrence Bragg
. This father and son team won the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics for their “services in the analysis of crystal structures by means of X rays”. The Braggs worked most of their lives in Adelaide, but both served as directors of RiGB at different times.
, Scottish born mathematician and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Adelaide
and the University of Sydney
.
The current Director is Dr Paul Willis, a palaeontologist, science journalist and broadcaster. Prior to taking up his appointment at RiAus, Dr Willis was a presenter for ABC-TV’s Catalyst. He replaced Acting Director, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, who filled in after the resignation of Professor Gavin Brown.
RiAus also hosts a science-themed film club and book club, and is a venue for festivals such as the Adelaide Fringe Festival
.
RiAus supports a summer school for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander students called ASSETS and oversees SpiRit of Science scholarships, which enable 10 students from low socio-economic backgrounds to travel to London
for the RiGB Christmas lecture series, including planning their own itinerary as a group.
As the national science hub, RiAus concentrates on promoting and supporting public engagement with science. RiAus creates real and virtual spaces in which people can listen, talk and think about science in all its shapes and forms. In developing innovative and accessible ways of engaging the general community, RiAus raises scientific awareness and lifts the level of debate on critical issues arising from science and technology. RiAus strives to highlight the importance of science in everyday life.
It is housed at the Science Exchange in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, which is Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
's former Stock Exchange
Stock exchange
A stock exchange is an entity that provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and...
building. Half of the building, which is open to the public on weekdays, has heritage value. The other half was gutted by 2 fires in the 20th century and is now office space for RiAus and the Australian Science Media Centre
Australian Science Media Centre
The Australian Science Media Centre is an independent, non-profit service for the news media, giving journalists direct access to evidence-based science and expertise....
.
The RiAus was founded with government funds and some corporate support, most notably from Santos Ltd.. It has a paid membership program and events in the Science Exchange. Most events are free for everyone and some programs are funded by government departments in different Australian states and territories to target specific audiences, such as rural schoolchildren, teachers or those with little traditional engagement with science.
The RiAus arose from recommendations made by Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield
Susan Greenfield
Susan Adele Greenfield, Baroness Greenfield, CBE is a British scientist, writer, broadcaster, and member of the House of Lords. Greenfield, whose specialty is the physiology of the brain, has worked to research and bring attention to Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.Greenfield is...
, as Thinker in Residence for the South Australian Government during 2004 and 2005. RiAus is the first and only Royal Institution outside the UK.
History
The establishment of RiAus was amongst the recommendations Professor Greenfield made during her Adelaide residency, which included initiatives to encourage collaborationCollaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
and complementary research programs across South Australian universities, science communication
Science communication
Science communication generally refers to public media aiming to talk about science with non-scientists. This often involves professional scientists but has evolved into a professional field in its own right...
programs for children, professional development
Professional development
Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
for school teachers and the establishment of the Australian Science Media Centre
Australian Science Media Centre
The Australian Science Media Centre is an independent, non-profit service for the news media, giving journalists direct access to evidence-based science and expertise....
. A key recommendation was the Bragg Initiative, which encouraged a relationship between South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and the RiGB
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
and was taken up by the South Australian government.
In June 2008, work commenced to convert the former Adelaide Stock Exchange building, which had remained empty for many years, into the Science Exchange.
RiAus was opened on 8 October 2009 by the President of the Council of RiGB, HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
The Duke of Kent graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 29 July 1955 as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys, the beginning of a military career that would last over 20 years. He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1961. The Duke of Kent saw service in Hong Kong from 1962–63...
.
RiAus took on responsibility for Science Outside the Square, an SA Government initiative, and runs other programs outside the Science Exchange, such as Free Range Science, a program for people living in regional Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and another in collaboration with Cosmos
Cosmos (magazine)
Cosmos is an Australian popular science magazine that is published six times a year. It is subtitled "the science of everything" and is described as "a magazine of ideas, science, society and the future"....
magazine in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, building a national program beyond its Adelaide headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
.
Bragg Initiative
The Bragg Initiative, which led to the initial development of RiAus, was named for William Henry BraggWilliam Henry Bragg
Sir William Henry Bragg OM, KBE, PRS was a British physicist, chemist, mathematician and active sportsman who uniquely shared a Nobel Prize with his son William Lawrence Bragg - the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics...
and William Lawrence Bragg
William Lawrence Bragg
Sir William Lawrence Bragg CH OBE MC FRS was an Australian-born British physicist and X-ray crystallographer, discoverer of the Bragg law of X-ray diffraction, which is basic for the determination of crystal structure. He was joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1915. He was knighted...
. This father and son team won the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics for their “services in the analysis of crystal structures by means of X rays”. The Braggs worked most of their lives in Adelaide, but both served as directors of RiGB at different times.
Director
The Inaugural Director of RiAus was Professor Gavin Brown AOGavin Brown (academic)
Gavin Brown, AO was a Scottish-born mathematician, and the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney....
, Scottish born mathematician and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
and the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
The current Director is Dr Paul Willis, a palaeontologist, science journalist and broadcaster. Prior to taking up his appointment at RiAus, Dr Willis was a presenter for ABC-TV’s Catalyst. He replaced Acting Director, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, who filled in after the resignation of Professor Gavin Brown.
Programs
In its first year, RiAus hosted lectures and talks about science for the general public and for special interest groups such as Australian Science Communicators.RiAus also hosts a science-themed film club and book club, and is a venue for festivals such as the Adelaide Fringe Festival
Adelaide Fringe Festival
The Adelaide Fringe Festival is an arts festival held annually in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. The event is the Southern Hemisphere's largest arts event and the second-largest fringe festival in the world, second in size only to the Edinburgh Fringe...
.
RiAus supports a summer school for Aboriginal
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
and Torres Strait Islander students called ASSETS and oversees SpiRit of Science scholarships, which enable 10 students from low socio-economic backgrounds to travel to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for the RiGB Christmas lecture series, including planning their own itinerary as a group.
See also
- Royal Institution of Great Britain
- William Henry BraggWilliam Henry BraggSir William Henry Bragg OM, KBE, PRS was a British physicist, chemist, mathematician and active sportsman who uniquely shared a Nobel Prize with his son William Lawrence Bragg - the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics...
- William Lawrence BraggWilliam Lawrence BraggSir William Lawrence Bragg CH OBE MC FRS was an Australian-born British physicist and X-ray crystallographer, discoverer of the Bragg law of X-ray diffraction, which is basic for the determination of crystal structure. He was joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1915. He was knighted...
- Baroness Susan Greenfield
- Thinkers in Residence
- Australian Science Media CentreAustralian Science Media CentreThe Australian Science Media Centre is an independent, non-profit service for the news media, giving journalists direct access to evidence-based science and expertise....