Business expenditure on R&D (BERD) increased for the eighth consecutive year in 2006/07, to a total of $12,036 million, according to figures released on Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

R&D expenditure in 2006/07 was up 16% in current prices and 11% in real terms on 2005/6.

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

[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.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation will hold the final public hearing for its inquiry into research training and research workforce issues at Parliament House on Wednesday (24 September).

“Creativity and innovation in both science and the humanities are at the forefront of today’s knowledge economy as well as efforts to promote understanding and social inclusion,” Committee Chair Maria Vamvakinou said.

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.

Research training in Australia – public hearing in Townsville

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation will conduct its sixth interstate public hearing for its research training inquiry in Townsville on Tuesday, 19 August.

“This inquiry focuses on the adequacy and effectiveness of current research training schemes, the factors that determine whether new graduates pursue a career in research, and the opportunities for career advancement for research graduates and staff,” said Committee Chair Maria Vamvakinou.

Research training in Australia - public hearing in Brisbane

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation will conduct its fifth interstate public hearing for its research training inquiry in Brisbane on Monday, 18 August.

“This inquiry focuses on the adequacy and effectiveness of current research training schemes, the factors that determine whether new graduates pursue a career in research, and the opportunities for career advancement for research graduates and staff,” said Committee Chair Maria Vamvakinou.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
PROGRAM: Perth Public Hearings

Tuesday 12 August 2008
9.00 am to 2.00 pm
Room 1, Level 1, Legislative Assembly, 11 Harvest St, Perth

9.00 – 9.45 Professor Su Lloyd

9.45 – 10.30 Institute Postdoctoral Researchers Association at the
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Western Australia

10.45 – 12.15 Roundtable:

    * Curtin University of Technology
    * Edith Cowan University

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) will launch a major campaign tomorrow, Thursday 24 July, under the banner of “Our Universities Matter – Investing in People and Society”.

Details of the launch are:

THURSDAY 24 JULY 2008, 12.45 PM

KALEIDE THEATRE,
RMIT UNIVERSITY, SWANSTON ST MELBOURNE (enter from Swanston St)

LAUNCH PARTICIPANTS:

Professor Margaret Gardner, Vice-Chancellor, RMIT University (host)

Dr Carolyn Allport, National President, NTEU
Sarah Cole, Victorian President, National Union of Students (NUS)

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.

The Graduate Junction Explained

The Graduate Junction is a brand new website designed to help young researchers make contact with others who share similar research interests, regardless of which department, institution or country they work in. The Graduate Junction has been developed by two doctoral students at the
University of Durham, UK. Since its launch in May 2008, The Graduate Junction has proved very popular with research students and academics alike. Within the first two weeks 2000 students registered in the U.K. and the news spread to over 40 countries.

The Researcher Exchange Programme

The Researcher Exchange Programme (RXP) is a global British Council initiative that aims to promote the development of research cooperation and contacts between the UK and other countries.

The Endeavour Research Fellowships provide financial support for postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows from Australia to undertake short-term research (4-6 months), in any field of study. The research is to be undertaken in participating countries within the Asia/Pacific region and the Middle East.

The Endeavour Research Fellowships aim to:

-enable high achieving scholars from Australia to undertake research within the Asia/Pacific region and the Middle East

-further develop Award Holders’ knowledge and skills in their field of research

Each year the Australian Academy of Science rewards scientific excellence. Honorific awards are made to early-career researchers under 40 and to career reseachers for life-long achievements. Some awards are offered biennially.

In addition to honorific awards, the Academy supports research through the sponsorship of conferences that focus on rapidly developing fields of research and the award of travelling fellowships.

Nominations close 30 August 2008.

Early Career Research Awards
Anton Hales Medal (Earth sciences)

"The L’Oréal Australia For Women in Science Fellowships are intended to support Australian female post-doctoral scientists no more than five years past their PhD.

Three Fellowships worth $20,000 each are awarded annually to women who have shown scientific excellence in their career to date and who have an appropriate research plan that will be assisted by the one-year Fellowship.

Applications for the 2008 Fellowships open on 19 May 2008 and close on 20 June 2008.