The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s annual National Science Exchange conference is hosted by the department’s Agricultural Chief Scientist.
The conference helped to build and maintain our science capability through sharing and exchanging knowledge and innovation, networking, and enhancing collaboration between departmental scientists and its stakeholders.
Conference themes vary from year to year with a common thread of innovation, collaboration and partnership in science.
2020 – Webinars held during National Science Week
The 2020 conference scheduled in May was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, but a selection of speakers from NSW DPI, CSIRO, universities, and the department were able to present webinars on each day during National Science Week. Topics ranged widely from mobile applications for pest identification, to the pathways to adoption of new science knowledge, to the role of innovation and adoption in climate change.
2019 – Innovation through collaboration
The theme of 2019 conference was Innovation through collaboration, reflected our department’s vision for a collaborative approach to science to enable innovation in agriculture. The conference was an important platform for sharing research, exploring innovative ideas and building collaborative relationships across the department and with our external stakeholders including research organisations and other government departments.
2018 – Innovation in communicating our science
The theme, innovation in communicating our science, reflected the department’s vision for an innovative and collaborative approach to science communication across four themes:
- Making our data and analysis accessible
- Building collaborations that meet policy needs
- Translating science for policy decision making
- Harnessing citizen science – science addressing public issues.
2017 – Developing northern Australia – bridging the data divides
The theme, Developing Northern Australia – Bridging the Data Divides reflects the department’s vision for the agricultural sector in Northern Australia underpinned by unprecedented advances and changes in data and information technology and covered the following themes:
- What we know about northern Australia
- Community engagement and citizen science
- Building data capability
- Improving surveillance outcomes through improved data collection and innovation.
The Department of Agriculture is privileged to partner with traditional owners and elders across northern Australia to help protect and preserve the northern coastline as an important biosecurity ‘buffer’ for plant and animal pests and diseases.
2016 – Innovation and our science
The theme, innovation and our science, focused on our capabilities within the department and our work with external agencies to deliver outcomes for our stakeholders. The conference showcased best-practice science being used to drive evidence-based policy making that is responsive to current issues and new approaches to ensure continued innovation into the future. Areas of focus were:
- The role of the department in natural resource management
- Beyond agriculture: the broader role of the department in environmental management
- Snapshots of scientific innovation
- The future of agriculture and the department’s use of open and big data
- Innovation in communication of science.
2015 – Showcasing our science and building networks
The inaugural science exchange conference enabled departmental staff to exchange scientific knowledge and build stronger networks internally, allowing us to maintain and improve the high quality of our scientific work. The conference gave an opportunity for increased dialogue with external science stakeholders – both to showcase the quality of our science to an external audience and to seek their input. This contributed to strengthening current and generating new collaborative partnerships targeted at the highest priority issues.
Topics highlighted:
- Science in policy making, operations, addressing public issues
- Leadership in science
- Better cooperation across the department
- Partnerships in science and policy.