Australian Antarctic science strategy 2004-05 to 2010-11

Ice arch and snow petrels.
Photo: Wayne Papps

This strategy for Australia's scientific research program in Antarctica, from 2004-05 to 2010-11, is designed to support the Australian Government's role in the Antarctic Treaty System and to enhance our influence in it. Environmental protection, knowledge of the part played by Antarctica in the global climate system, and an understanding of how biological organisms are adapted to the extreme environment and are reacting to change, are the main strategic foci for research.

Print version of the Science Strategy
Science Strategy overview

Context for the science strategy

With its claim to 42% of Antarctica, Australia has a heavy responsibility to contribute to the growing body of scientific knowledge about Antarctica. The advent of air transportation to, and within Antarctica has transformed how the research community views its future activities. Our future program of scientific research encourages and welcomes both strategically focussed and fundamental high-quality research across the disciplines, to maintain Australia's position as a significant and respected contributor to Antarctic research. Much of the research conducted involves Australia's participation in major international research programs.

The moving colours of an aurora australis in Antarctica.
Photo: Sean Wicks

Global climate change will inexorably affect Australia's weather and future climate, its fringing oceans and its diverse natural ecosystems. Better predictions of future change are needed if Australia is to meet the challenge of the next several decades. Antarctica and the high-latitude Southern Ocean are especially relevant to Australia because of their proximity and their influence on regional climate processes and because of the importance of the Southern Ocean to so much of our marine industries. The development of national policy to realise the opportunities and minimise the risks of future environmental change demands a high level of scientific understanding. Australia's Antarctic science program plays a significant role in advancing our understanding of how these global processes arise, how they interact with the natural environment and what their consequences might be.

Priority science programs

The 2004/05-2010/11 Antarctic scientific research program will focus primarily on three multi-disciplinary priority programs:

Adélie penguins scurry along a drifting iceberg.
Photo: Sarah Robinson

These programs are not intended to stand alone. Cross-cutting research linking natural variability in the physical environment, with biological response, will be particularly encouraged. This is the principal focus for the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, in which the core partners are the Australian Antarctic Division, CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the University of Tasmania.

Research linking biological diversity and physiological adaptation to an extreme environment is also encouraged. Australia's strong advocacy of an environmental protection annex to the Antarctic Treaty is reflected in a program of research that addresses human impacts upon Antarctica. The five year Antarctic science strategy therefore includes a fourth priority program:

Impacts of Human Activities in Antarctica

Priorities for supporting research in Antarctica

The Australian Antarctic Division is charged with delivery of the Government's goals for Antarctica through leadership of Australia's Antarctic program, and must report annually the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts on outcomes. Therefore all scientific research supported by the Division must conform to the Government's four goals for its Antarctic program. The goals are:

To maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within the System
To protect the Antarctic environment
To understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system, and
To undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.

During the life of this Science Strategy, priority for allocation of resources will be given to those topics that underpin the Australian Government's commitment to the Antarctic Treaty System, its policy objectives for its Antarctic program, and its more general policies on science and the environment. These include the National Research Priorities of 'An environmentally sustainable Australia', 'Safeguarding Australia', 'Frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries' and 'Promoting and maintaining good health'.

Australia's Antarctic science program includes scientific research conducted by:

the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (in the research programs: Climate Variability and Change, Antarctic Marine Ecosystems, Ocean Control of Carbon Dioxide, and Sea Level Rise)
a significant number of Australian university scientists (with 35 projects supported in 2009-10 by the Australian Antarctic Science Grants scheme)
scientific staff employed by the Australian Antarctic Division
a small number of scientists based at overseas universities and institutions

Every research project in Australia's Antarctic scientific research program is assessed through a rigorous peer-review assessment process. Only those projects that pass the science assessment process may receive logistic support and, in the case of Australian University scientists, Australian Antarctic Science grant funding.

Researchers wishing to undertake projects that fall outside the priority areas and that require logistic, field support and/or infrastructure above the level currently provided must obtain external support.

This page was last modified on June 29, 2011.