Australian Research Council (ARC)

On 23 April 2008 the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation to undertake an inquiry into research training and research workforce issues in Australian universities.
The Committee invited interested persons and organisations to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Friday 30 May 2008.

[Update from Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS)]

The stage is set for a series of important reforms in higher education, with a range of reports due between now and the end of the year.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has published a summary of important developments for postgraduate students in an Issues Paper released today.

The issues paper is available via the link below:

The stage is set for a series of important reforms in higher education, with a range of reports due between now and the end of the year.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has published a summary of important developments for postgraduate students in an Issues Paper released today.

[From media release by Australasian Science]
Funding for scientific research in Australia “puts an excessive emphasis on guaranteed results at the expense of adventurous ideas and major breakthroughs,” according to Prof Bryan Gaensler.

Draft ERA Pilot Submission Guidelines available - Physical, Chemical and Earth Science disciplines. This pilot program for the ERA will run from October 1 through to November 14. Guidelines are available below.

[Media release announcing the scheme]
Outstanding researchers from Australia and around the world will be attracted to work in Australian universities under a new Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme, announced today by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

"Under the new scheme, researchers at the peak of their careers will have the opportunity to develop strong teams of emerging talent – passing on their experience and knowledge to the next generation,” Senator Carr said.

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, today announced his intention to introduce new public funding arrangements that will create additional opportunities for Indigenous Australians pursuing academic
research careers.

“The Australian Government is committed to enhancing support for Indigenous researchers and research to ensure that all talented Australian academics are given a fair go and that all Australians have the opportunity to benefit from their
endeavours,” Senator Carr said.

On the 4th of June 2008 Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, announced the release of the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative consultation paper.

Administered by Australian Research Council (ARC), the Consultation Paper was the first formal step in communicating with the sector regarding the ERA initiative (it is worth noting that the ERA is being administered by the ARC, whereas its predecessor, the Research Quality Framework (RQF), was administered by the (then) Department of Education, Science and Training(then DEST, now DEEWR)).

On the 23rd of May 2008 Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, called for interested Australians to respond to a consultation paper on the development of the Government’s new Future Fellowships scheme.

In the Federal Budget, the Government met its election commitment to fund the $844 million Future Fellowships scheme for top mid-career researchers.