The objective of the Australia–Spain Research Forums is to present to the wider community broad research topics which are of special interest to the Australian and Spanish societies. The 1st Australia-Spain Research Forum was dedicated to Water (29-31 October 2015). It succeeded in attracting academic and industrial partners from both countries.

Light is another broad area of active research interest for both Australia and Spain. Thus, the Spanish Researchers in Australia – Pacific (SRAP) and Macquarie University with the support of the Embassy of Spain (Canberra) and the Cátedra Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes Australia Academic Forum) have partnered together to organise the 2nd Australia – Spain Research Forum: Light that will take place at Macquarie University on 12 – 13 December 2016.