Dr Alan Finkel took over as Australia’s Chief Scientist in January this year. In this exclusive interview, he describes his approach to science, and to issues such as renewable energy and STEM jobs.
Displays you can roll up and put in your pocket are routinely touted as the next advance in screen technology. So why don’t we have them in our homes yet?
Dagne Mojo (centre) and Petr Matous (right) discuss resource-conserving technologies with the inhabitants of Arsi Zone, Ethiopia.
Tatsuya Ishikawa
The role of an engineer has diversified over the years to be something more than just building structures. But that is yet to be reflected in the way we teach the engineers of the future.
Unmanned rocket explodes moments after launch.
NASA/Joel Kowsky
Australia’s new Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, is a passionate advocate for science and technology, and has argued that Australia should consider nuclear power.
An Egyptian engineer at work on a project to upgrade the Suez Canal. Engineers will be crucial in making the sustainable development goals a reality.
Amr Dalsh/Reuters
If we want the Sustainable Development Goals to be more than just big dreams, Africa will need well trained engineers who can put their skills to good use in their own communities.
Imagine building a dam across the Strait of Gibraltar and draining the Mediterranean in order to generate vast amounts of hydroelectricity and create fertile new lands.
University of Cape Town scientists work in the Drug Discovery and Development Centre. More needs to be done to keep Africa’s scientists on home ground.
Epa/Nic Bothma
If the continent is to grasp the science and technology revolution, then governments should take the lead in both policy formulation and implementation.
Jean Paul Santos with the finished 4x4 sub-array antenna assembly that may help rovers talk directly with Earth.
Matthew Chin
New research provides a compact but powerful way for Mars rovers to communicate directly with Earth via an array of smaller antenna elements, bypassing the need for an intermediary.
The way sea lions swim is unique among fish and marine mammals. Their technique provides a biomechanical model to design agile underwater vehicles… but first we have to figure out how they do it.