In 1985 the Australian Academy of Science asked Max Bennett FAA to respond to the criticisms of the then Minister for Science (Mr Barry Jones AC) that scientists and technologists did not engage the general public in the importance of research and its relevance to society.
In 1994 Bennett represented Australia at a planning meeting for the World Congress of Neuroscience in Kyoto, during which the paucity of representation of the Autonomic Neurosciences was raised.