The NSW Government is providing $324,000 in sponsorship from 2021-2024 to support the operations of the Royal Society of New South Wales.
“The Royal Society of New South Wales is the oldest learned society in the southern hemisphere,” said NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte. “Its antecedent, the Philosophical Society of Australasia, was founded in 1821. This year celebrates 200 years of contributions to the people of New South Wales.”
“The Royal Society’s stated mission is more important today than ever: ‘To contribute to a just, secure and sustainable society… by providing authentic and authoritative information and enlightenment on a wide range of subjects, addressing national and global challenges, and recognising and promoting excellence’ ” said Professor Durrant-Whyte.
The Society’s diverse membership includes 17 Distinguished Fellows (including four Nobel laureates) and over 400 Fellows who are leaders in their fields across academia, business, government, and the not-for-profit sector.
In addition to presenting lectures and fora, the Society publishes one of Australia’s oldest scientific journals, maintains an irreplaceable historical archive and scholarly library and networks the top professionals across many different sectors essential to the continued development of the State.
Importantly, the Society offers an invaluable resource to the NSW Government in terms of the provision of expertise and experience in science, engineering and many other disciplines.
“We live in a time when trust in the power of knowledge and the capacity of individuals and society to make evidence-based decisions is being challenged,” said the President of the Royal Society of New South Wales, Dr Susan Pond AM.
“While the problems that face our world may have changed in 200 years, the need for institutions which engage in and promote rational debate has not,” said Dr Pond.
“I thank the NSW Government for this generous sponsorship. It will allow the Society to expand its vision of enriching lives through knowledge and enquiry, and importantly, support the Premier’s Priority of making a significant difference to the quality of life of the people of NSW.”
The funding from the NSW Government’s Research Attraction and Acceleration Program will be managed by the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer within Investment NSW.
MEDIA: Bruce Ritchie | OCSE | 0429 412 426