Australian research policy
Last month, the Australian Academy of Science condemned the country’s ongoing review of research for ignoring a long-term funding decline that has left basic research at ‘breaking point’. Was that a rhetorical overstatement or a sober statement of fact? Five researchers offer their own perspectives
The global collaboration enabled by associating to the world’s largest research funding programme is critical to national impact, says Cecilia Hewlett
‘Profound sustainability challenge’ forces Csiro to ‘deprioritise’ research fields to focus on key areas
As European nations thrash out ideas to ‘safeguard’ knowledge, Australian progress has stalled, expert warns
‘Transformative’ change will not happen unless panel outlines ‘coherent’ vision for R&D, representative bodies warn
Even as the US shrinks and narrows trials, the need for this research continues. Other countries can and must step in, says Stephen Jane
The panel’s overriding concern is to ensure that research is used productively. But observers worry that pushing universities to specialise in centrally determined ‘focus areas’ risks inadvertently turning them, in effect, into government agencies. John Ross reports
Registration requirements and compact negotiations would be reformed to funnel universities into ‘focus areas’, under panel’s draft proposals
Association would have ‘a multiplier effect on research resources and scientific effort’, advocates say
Country will lack the expertise to achieve next-generation priorities if funding left at mercy of undergraduate enrolments, Academy of Science analysis finds
Excluding academia from the main discussions at recent national productivity summit is short-sighted and complacent, says Shamit Saggar
Amid claims outcomes of long-anticipated talkfest have been orchestrated in advance, expert says precursor events promise ‘substance’
Submissions to Australian Strategic Examination insist A$11 billion scheme is ‘not as effective as it could be’
Economic reform begins with injecting order into the hotchpotch of research programmes, and enticing more locals into higher study, according to Australian body
