Australia's leading science institution has put its money where its mouth is on climate change and withdrawn its direct investments in fossil fuel companies.
The decision was outlined in a speech by Australian Academy of Science president Professor Andrew Holmes at a climate science conference in Hobart on Tuesday, in which he urged scientists to be "truth tellers" and fight against "scientific fallacy" in the public debate. 
The global divestment movement, which is pushing for institutions to withdraw investment dollars from coal, oil and gas companies because of their contribution to climate change, has been gaining traction in recent years. 
Perhaps the most notable instance of fossil fuel divestment came in   June when Norway's $900 billion sovereign wealth fund withdrew from stocks dominated by coal. 
In Australia, institutions such as the Australian National University, the Uniting Church peak body and the Newcastle City Council have made similar moves in recent times.
On Tuesday, the Melbourne City Council, which has no direct investment in fossil fuel companies, approved a motion to rule out any future direct financial move into the space and ask its default super fund to offer a fossil-free option for customers.
The academy's divestment will hardly cause shock waves in financial markets.
While it could not say how much had been divested, it was likely to be in the millions of dollars.
In his speech to the Greenhouse 2015 conference, Professor Holmes put the decision in a context of scientists showing leadership within their areas of expertise.
"This is a small step that the academy can take, but it is a step towards discharging our responsibility as scientists, and as leaders in society," he said.
Dr Holmes also said that while divestment is a difficult political issue, and the academy remains apolitical, the decision could be made on "rational grounds".
"Is the value that could be derived from fossil fuel activities sustainable in the long term?" he said.
"Certainty not from the view of the Earth system, and probably not financially either."
The academy's divestment extends only to its direct investments and does not apply to its managed funds and listed investment companies.
Internationally, the California Academy of Sciences has also sought to cut investment ties with fossil fuels.
More broadly in the speech, Professor Holmes said that to meet the "grand challenge for our modern age" in climate change, scientists should be prepared to enter the public debate and "move beyond being truth seekers" and be "truth tellers".
And while it is not often in scientists' nature to be happy in the spotlight, Professor Holmes said, current and future generations are "relying on us not to shirk our responsibilities; we must not leave the duty of leadership to those who seek only power and glory".
"We must ensure that we have a hand in shaping the future so it is fit for our children, and their children."
While having a long history on climate change dating back to the mid-1970s, the traditionally conservative Academy of Science has significantly ramped up its public positioning on the issue in recent years. 
In the past 12 months, it refreshed a landmark "Question and Answer" explainer document on climate change.
It also prepared a submission to the federal government, urging it to adopt higher emissions cuts for 2030 than it ultimately did.