The Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) is an organisation that was founded in 1888 as the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science to promote science. It was modelled on the British Association for the Advancement of Science. For many years, its annual meetings were a popular and influential way of promoting science in Australia and New Zealand. The current name has been used since 1930.

History

Two of its founders include Archibald Liversidge and Horatio George Anthony Wright. In the 1990s, membership and attendance at the annual meetings decreased as specialised scientific societies increased in popularity. Proposals to close the Association were discussed, but it continued after closing its office in Adelaide. It now operates on a smaller scale but is beginning to grow. The Annual Meetings are no longer held. It holds lectures, for the medals and for other named lectures, both nationally and at state level. Each year it organises Youth ANZAAS, an annual residential scientific forum attended by senior secondary students from Australian schools and High schools.

Awards

The Association awards two important medals; the Mueller medal, named in honour of Ferdinand von Mueller, botanist and pioneer environmentalist, and the ANZAAS medal.

ANZAAS Medal

The ANZAAS medal is awarded annually for services in the advancement of science or administration and organisation of scientific activities, or the teaching of science throughout Australia and New Zealand and in contributions to science which lie beyond normal professional activities. Sculptor Andor Meszaros designed the Medal, which was first awarded in 1965.

Recipients

Mueller Medal

The Medal is awarded annually to a scientist who is the author of important contributions to anthropological, botanical, geological or zoological science, preferably with special reference to Australia. It is named after Ferdinand von Mueller, the German/Australian botanist who was Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. Initiated in 1902, it was designed by Walter Baldwin Spencer.

Recipients

Youth ANZAAS

Youth ANZAAS is an annual residential scientific forum for senior Australasian secondary school students from Years 9, 10, 11 and 12. This event is designed to provide students with a broad perspective on the aims and practice of scientific endeavour, ranging from satisfying curiosity and the drive to discover, to the application of science in the real world. It gives students the opportunity to visit world-class facilities where cutting edge research is undertaken and meet leading scientists. Recent forums have been:

Programs

ANZAAS – Australian Synchrotron Inaugural Winter School

The ANZAAS – Australian Synchrotron Inaugural Winter School was launched in July 2009. The four-day program aims to give young researchers – Honours, Masters and early PhD students – an understanding of synchrotron techniques and operation for research purposes. Participants attend lectures, tour the facility and perform beamline experiments that complement their lectures.

Publications

Report of the ... meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, Australia and New Zealand. 1888–1930

Report of the ... meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science. 1930–1997

A 67th Meeting was scheduled for Hobart in 1998 but did not proceed.