Science & Technology Australia (STA), formerly known as the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), is an organisation representing the interests of more than 90,000 Australian scientists and technologists, and promoting their views on a wide range of policy issues to the Australian Government, Australian industry, and the Australian community. Science & Technology Australia is Australia’s peak body in science and technology and represents more than 90,000 Australian scientists and technologists working across all scientific disciplines. STA is a regular contributor to debate on public policy, with a mission to bring together scientists, governments, industry and the broader community to advance the role, reputation and impact of science and technology across the nation. The organisation was known as the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) until June 2011. The Federation was formed in late 1985, as a reaction to the 1984 Australian Federal Budget, which made substantial cuts to funding for science; its formation followed the statements of the then Minister for Science, (Barry Jones), that the Australian science and technology community did not provide him with sufficient support in his dealings with cabinet. The organisation is best known for the annual Science Meets Parliament event, the Superstars of STEM program and the STEM Ambassadors program. STA's CEO is Misha Schubert and its current President is Professor Mark Hutchinson, who began his term in November 2021. STA member societies Science & Technology Australia members are societies and organisations that represent the professional interests of scientists and technologists across Australia. Members are split into different clusters. members include: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance (ATSIMA) ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET) ARC Centre for Excellence in Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science (ACEx) Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) AuScope Australia's Academic and Research Network (AARNET) Australian-American Fulbright Commission Australian and New Zealand Optical Society (ANZOS) Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA) Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Australian Council of Deans of Information and Communications Technology (ACDICT) Australian Council of Deans of Science (ACDS) Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED) Australian Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (ACEDD) Australasian eResearch Organisations (AeRO) Australian Freshwater Sciences Society (AFSS) Australian Genomic Technologies Association (AGTA) Australian Geoscience Council (AGC) Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) Australian Institute of Physics Australian Mammal Society (AMS) Australian Mathematical Society (AustMS) Australian Marine Sciences Association