Scale, Risk and Information

Earlier this year, the Federal Government engaged in an exercise of consultation that led to the definition in early December 2002 of National Research Priorities. These priorities were concerned with Science, Engineering and Technology, and explicitly excluded the Humanities and Social Science. As part of this process the Government issued a document, Developing National Research Priorities: an issues paper in May 2002, which included as an example of a priority 'Enabling a Sustainable Environment'. This was a broad or aspirational theme, amplified as 'meeting the needs of Australians today, while conserving our ecosystems for the benefit of future generations'. Associated with this were some possible priority goals: • Arrest the encroachment of salinity in agricultural production areas. • Contribute to a reduction of greenhouse emissions. • Significantly improve energy efficiency and utilisation of renewable energy resources. When I saw the example, I realised the flaw in defining National Research Priorities only for Science, Engineering and Technology, without including Humanities and Social Sciences at the same time. As a result, I coordinated a submission on this theme which sought to incorporate some of the Humanities and Social Science issues into the theme. I was very glad to hear the Chief Scientist say earlier in this conference that our representations about this were acknowledged. My point is a simple one, which I will expand upon in this talk. We can address issues about the future best if we understand the past. These particular topics are excellent examples of why that is so.