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 awarded the Mueller Medal from 1904 until 2006, and continues to award the ANZAAS Medal, which it has awarded since 1965.
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History
The Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 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.
Founders of the association in 1887-1888 include Archibald Liversidge and Horatio George Anthony Wright.
It held lectures for the medals and for other named lectures, both nationally and at state level.
It changed its name to Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) in 1930.
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.
Today
The Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science now operates on a smaller scale. The annual meetings are no longer held.
Each year it organises Youth ANZAAS, an annual residential scientific forum attended by senior secondary students from Australian and New Zealand high schools.
Awards
The Association has awarded two important medals; the Mueller medal, named in honour of Ferdinand von Mueller, botanist and pioneer environmentalist, and the ANZAAS medal.
Mueller Medal
The Mueller Medal was 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. It was last awarded in 2006.
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.
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
1st Meeting ... Sydney, New South Wales. August–September 1888 – Conference President – H.C. Russell Digital Copy at archive.org
2nd Meeting ... Melbourne, Victoria. January 1890 – Conference President – Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller Digital Copy at archive.org
3rd Meeting ... Christchurch, New Zealand. January 1891 – Conference President – Sir James Hector Digital Copy at archive.org
4th Meeting ... Hobart, Tasmania. January 1892 – Conference President – Sir Robert G.C. Hamilton Digital Copy at archive.org
5th Meeting ... Adelaide, South Australia. September 1893 – Conference President – Prof Ralph Tate Digital Copy at archive.org
6th Meeting ... Brisbane, Queensland. January 1895 – Conference President – Sir Augustus Charles Gregory
7th Meeting ... Sydney, New South Wales. January 1898 – Conference President – Prof. Archibald Liversidge Digital Copy at archive.org
8th Meeting ... Melbourne, Victoria. January 1900 – Conference President – Lt Col. Robert L.J. Ellery Digital Copy at archive.org
9th Meeting ... Hobart, Victoria. January 1902 – Conference President – Captain Frederick Hutton Digital Copy at archive.org
10th Meeting ... Dunedin, New Zealand. January 1904 – Conference President – Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David Digital Copy at archive.org
Report of the ... meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science. 1930–1997
21st Meeting ... Sydney, New South Wales. August 1932 – Conference President – Sir John Hubert Plunkett Murray
22nd Meeting ... Melbourne, Victoria. January 1935 – Conference President – Sir Douglas Mawson
23rd Meeting ... Auckland, New Zealand. January 1937 – Conference President – Sir Albert Cherbury David Rivett
24th Meeting ... Canberra, ACT. January 1939 – Conference President – Sir Ernest Scott
25th Meeting ... Adelaide, South Australia. August 1940 / August 1946 – Conference President – Prof. P. Marshall Digital Copy at archive.org
26th Meeting ... Perth, Western Australia. August 1947 – Conference President – Prof. A. E. V. Richardson
27th Meeting ... Hobart, Tasmania. January 1949 – Conference President – Arthur Bache Walkom
28th Meeting ... Brisbane, Queensland. 1951 – Conference President – Professor Emeritus Sir Kerr Grant
29th Meeting ... Sydney, New South Wales. August 1952 – Conference President – Sir Douglas Berry Copland
30th Meeting ... Canberra, ACT. January 1954 – Conference President – Sir Theodore Rigg
31st Meeting ... Melbourne, Victoria. August 1955 – Conference President – Sir Richard van der Riet Woolley