CPAS Academic Recruitment
The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) at ANU was the first science communication centre in Australia and is now the most diverse of its kind in the world.
Message from the Director
The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (affectionately known as ‘CPAS’) has a long and rich history at Australia’s top university, the ANU. We are seeking new colleagues who are critical thinkers, researchers and teachers. We want to welcome new colleagues who are motivated by our dual mission to do research that informs science engagement practice and policy around the world and to nurture the next generation of science communication and engagement scholars and practitioners.
We are active in the major debates and resolving the core challenges for science communication and engagement now and we will continue to redefine and expand the field for public good. Our diversity and collegiality is a core strength; we collaborate with each other and across the world in areas like responsible innovation, science communication for public good, media and popular science, capacity-building in science engagement, the ethics of science communication, and the role of science communication in emerging areas of science, technology, and medicine. We champion inclusive science communication in both our research interests and in our practice.
We are seeking interest from early career (Lecturer B, equivalent to Assistant Professor) to more senior (Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor) academic faculty; we plan to fill at least two roles. We are a gender diverse Centre with a wide range of academic experience of Universities around the world. We welcome non-binary and diverse candidates. If you have a desire to contribute to our mission in a role where you can interact with leading scientists, social scientists, and humanities scholars, teach some of the best emerging thinkers in the world, and enjoy the support of a great team of colleagues, we would welcome your application.
If you would like more information, please contact me at joan.leach@anu.edu.au.
About ANU
The Australian National University (ANU) is unlike any other university in Australia. Founded in 1946, in a spirit of post-war optimism, our role was to help realise Australia's potential as the world recovered from a global crisis.
ANU snapshot
Ranked top 5 in Australia for producing the most employable graduates (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).
22,141 students enrolled at ANU with a 5 star student to staff ratio (Good Universities Guide 2022).
13 students awarded the Kambri Indigenous Scholarship in 2021 (as at 2021).
6,036 student accommodation beds on campus.
6 Nobel laureates among our staff and alumni.
2,372 students enrolled from regional and remote areas of Australia.
127,478 alumni located around the world (as at 2022).
84% of our teaching and research staff have a doctorate
The First Australian university to be accepted into the US National Engineering Grand Challenge Scholars Program.
About CPAS
The Centre’s mission is to encourage a confident democratic ownership of modern science nationally and internationally by increasing science awareness in the community, fostering public dialogue about science, and improving the communication skills of scientists.
The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) at ANU was the first science communication centre in Australia and is now the most diverse of its kind in the world.
We are global leaders in our field, developing methods to encourage informed decisions about the big scientific issues.
The Centre’s mission is to encourage a confident democratic ownership of modern science nationally and internationally by increasing science awareness in the community, fostering public dialogue about science, and improving the communication skills of scientists.
Through research led education our students become skilled communicators who can engage people with the science, technology, or medical information that is most relevant to them.
Our research investigates the ways science is being communicated in the public arena, new ways to excite the public imagination about science and methods to encourage informed decisions about scientific issues that concern us in the 21st century.
About Canberra
Canberra has the power to surprise, with its abundance of food, wine, art, culture, ideas and innovation. As an evolving city, this element of surprise continues even once you’ve made Canberra your home, with new developments, events and opportunities constantly emerging to keep life interesting.
Canberra is also a planned city – designed to maximise opportunities for work and play. As our Nation’s Capital, big ideas emerge, circulate and grow here, thanks to unique links between leading thinkers in business, government, education and research. Our dynamic economy, highly educated workforce and an innovative business culture provide career and business opportunities unique to Canberra.
Our healthy appetite for outdoor pursuits is enhanced by the natural resources available: from sailing on Lake Burley Griffin, mountain biking at the world class Mount Stromlo facility or heading up to the Snowy Mountains for a day on the slopes. We are also home to most of Australia’s major national cultural institutions, with whom the University has a close relationship, and a cultural calendar overflowing with international exhibitions, arts festivals and entertainment.
Where to live?
Canberra is designed to maximise the quality of life, built on a blueprint that connects people with community and nature, Canberra provides you the opportunity to create a unique work/life balance, wherever you choose to live.
The architects who designed Canberra, Walter and Marion Burley Griffin, had a master plan to create a series of ‘satellite cities’ separated by nature reserves and connected with major roads. Today their vision lives on, with Canberra divided into seven distinct regions of residential suburbs, each serviced by a central business district.
The resulting benefits are that commuting times are short. Employment hubs are virtually on your doorstep and recreational facilities are within walking distance, regardless of where you live.
For more information visit https://canberra.com.au/
Employment at ANU
A Diverse and Inclusive Team
ANU is introducing measures to support the recruitment, inclusion and retention of employees with disability. To find out more, please click here.
ANU is a large, diverse employer with staff working across numerous professions (see the full list of available roles here. We are a recipient of the bronze award through the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program and a platinum member of the Australian Network on Disability. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities and from individuals who may have had a non-linear career path, career gaps or career breaks.
Employee benefits
Salary packaging
- Novated (car) leases
- Airline Membership - Qantas and Virgin Australia
- Laptops, PDAs
- Parking - Eligible staff are able to apply for permits for on-campus parking
- Superannuation
- Health and Wellbeing
- On-campus staff counselling service
- Independent and confidential Employee Assistance Program
- On-campus fully credited primary health care facility - free flu vaccination
- ANU Fitness Centre - gym and group fitness classes
- Wellbeing programs for staff e.g. Women and Men’s Health Checks
- Dedicated Work Environment Group to support staff with Work, Health and Safety matters
Family friendly workplace
- On-campus childcare with the option to deduct payment from pre-tax salary
- Flexible working arrangements
- Breast feeding facilities
- Dual career (spousal) hires Career and Professional Development
- In-house and external staff development opportunities
- Support for caring responsibility to attend conference/seminar
- Outside Studies Program
- Support for individual career planning/counselling services
- Staff undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships
- Career development leave program
- Informal and formal mentoring Salary and rewards
- Contribution of up to 17% superannuation (in addition to base salary)
- On-campus UniSuper consultant available for general advice on superannuation
- ANU staff health insurance plan with HCF for Australian resident and non-resident staff
- Recognition of Prior Service with another Australian university or Commonwealth authority
Learning communities
- Student-led organisations inclusive and open to everyone. These communities encompass areas such as:
- creative arts
- cultures
- global challenges
- history, and
- sustainability.
Campus life and facilities
- Cafes, banks, ATMs, chemist, newsagent, bookshop and a post office • ANU is a smoke-free campus
- Access to University Libraries - five in total
- ANU GreenShare Car service
- Campus Bicycle Fleet and a network of walking and bike paths around campus
- ANU Green Unit to help reduce our carbon footprint
- Corporate discount for rental cars
- Vehicle Servicing and Maintenance with Autoco Belconnen - free pick up and drop off from the ANU
- Well established and maintained precincts for acoustic and other events e.g. University House, Llewellyn Hall
- Well maintained gardens and sporting/recreation facilities
For additional information, please contact: hr.cos@anu.edu.au