[ASA] Release of the Astronomy Decadal Plan 2026 - 2035

[Virginia Kilborn]

Dear astronomy colleagues and supporters,



It gives me great pleasure to share with you the Astronomy Decadal Plan 2026 – 2035 that will officially be launched later today at the 2025 ASA Annual Science Meeting in Adelaide.



The Australian Academy of Science’s decadal plan development process is the way scientific disciplines in Australia come together and plan for the future.



The plan is the culmination of over two years effort by the Australian astronomical community based on:



  *   the reports of 13 working groups, comprising over 250 astronomers; and
  *
an extensive survey of over 550 members of the astronomy community including staff and students from over 30 Australian institutions across all states and the ACT.
  *
two Australia-wide astronomy roadshows held in 2024/2025



A huge thank you to all those that contributed their time and expertise to the plan, particularly the editorial board of Professor Sarah Brough (Deputy Chair), Professor Tamara Davis AM, Professor Michael Ireland, Professor Chris Power, and Professor Cathryn Trott, the National Committee for Astronomy, and the Academy’s secretariat team.



I’d also like to acknowledge the financial support provided by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and the late Professor Michael Dopita AM FAA, which has supported the development of the Astronomy Decadal Plan.



This is your plan, so please be proud of it and share with your networks, because as the plan makes clear, astronomy is a science for all of Australia.



I am hopeful this plan will inform policy and investment decisions into the future.



You can read the plan  and the media release here<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/8bEICROND2u5Xnp60H9f8i1L2gn?domain=science.org.au>. The Academy will be highlighting the plan on social media<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/kiF2CVARKgCg80EJkizhxiEnKsq?domain=science.org.au> from today.

Kind regards,
Virginia

Chair, Editorial Board, Astronomy Decadal Plan 2026-2035
Chair, National Committee for Astronomy



Prof. Virginia Kilborn

Chief Scientist

Swinburne University of Technology

Hawthorn VIC 3122 AUSTRALIA

T: +61 3 9214 4380 | E: vkilborn at swin.edu.au<mailto:vkilborn at swin.edu.au> | www: https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/CvOUCWLVXkUD8zQEXfKiqiod3i_?domain=bit.ly

CRICOS number 00111D


I respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Swinburne’s campuses are located. I also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait nations across Australia, their Elders, Ancestors, cultures and heritage.


Proud supporter of the WATTLE Women in Leadership Program<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/-MdICXLW2mUOZBgQDSksziWE6h9?domain=vkilborn.wixsite.com>
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