A U T U M N 2 0 1 1

C O N T E N T S A message from the Minister 1–2 CEO’s column 1–2 And the winners are… 3 The practical applications of Indigenous research 3 New fellowships to advance women in research 4 CUDOS 5 Bionic vision now within sight 6 Providing the best tools to make research happen 6 A modern spin on an ancient method 7

Creating opportunities for early-career researchers 7 Stem cells could be the answer 8 Gemini junior astronomers 9 Passing of an icon—Professor Frank Fenner 9 Expanded Advisory Council to support the research sector 10 Attracting and retaining Australian researchers 11 Ensuring high standards of research integrity 11 Eureka prizes rewarding excellence in research 12 Important dates: current ARC scheme rounds 12

A MESSAGE FROM THE M IN IST ER

n The re-ignition of the climate change debate reminds us once again of the need to engage communities in Australian research.

Parliament today faces decisions which will shape our economy and our way of life for decades to come. Our choices must be guided by world-class research, and that

research must be meaningful to our people. It is not surprising that climate science and economic modelling have become disputed territory. Nor is it surprising that only half the participants in a recent CSIRO survey were convinced that human beings were contributing to climate change (www.csiro.au/files/files/p102a.pdf). World-class research simply does not speak for itself in the halls of public opinion. It must be presented with clarity, and defended with conviction. I am delighted that Professor Ian Chubb has accepted the Government’s invitation to take up this challenge, as the next Chief

Scientist of Australia. Professor Chubb needs no introduction to the friends of Australian research—his reputation as a scientist, a research leader and a public intellectual speaks for itself. There could be no finer advocate for our scientific community. This is not a challenge Professor Chubb carries alone —it is a challenge which falls to the friends of research in government, in the academy, in industry and in the community. Our success must rest on the evidence we can present to back our claims about the quality of Australian research. That is why I have placed such emphasis on the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative. ERA shines a spotlight on the great strengths in our research system. It simultaneously reinforces confidence that we can make sound investment decisions in the years ahead, addressing areas where further development is required. I make no secret that we aspire to scores of 5—the mark of a global research leader. We celebrate those who have reached that high bar. We do not scorn the value—or the potential—of those who did not.

Continued on page 2…

Discovery • Autumn 2011

Ph

CEO’ S COLUMN

Continued on page 2…

n The completion of the inaugural Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative this year was indeed an exciting and significant moment for research evaluation, both within Australia and internationally.

ERA 2010 became Australia’s first comprehensive review of research

otograph by Norman Plant. undertaken in the nation’s higher education institutions.

As noted by the Minister, the ERA initiative is a research evaluation exercise of unprecedented scale.

The information and outputs provided were evaluated by eight Research Evaluation Committees comprised of 149 distinguished and internationally recognised researchers, with expertise in research evaluation. The institutional data used for the evaluation and the final ratings given to the specific fields of research were compiled into the ERA 2010 National Report, a comprehensive document, containing almost 200 pages of data.

The outcomes evident in the ERA 2010 National Report are indeed representative of the quality of research being conducted at Australian institutions and of Australia’s considerable research strength across a range of disciplines. With its release, we are now able to

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 2

A MESSAGE FROM T H E M IN IST ER C ON T IN UE D F RO M PAG E 1

ERA was an undertaking of unprecedented scale, and I am proud it has become a new global benchmark for research quality evaluation. The first iteration canvassed 330,000 individual research outputs; the work of 55,000 researchers; appearing in almost 21,000 journals—all reflected in a report of 300 pages—and delivered within a very modest budget. But the truly remarkable thing about this project is the broad support it enjoys across the sector—a sector well-known for frank opinions and robust debate. ERA builds on the age-old traditions and values of the academic community. It employs the existing norms and standards that the disciplines have evolved over time to judge research quality. In some instances ERA codified and formalised these norms, but this was guided by extensive consultation with the university sector and the assessments were themselves made by experts drawn from relevant disciplines. That does not mean there has been no disagreement about our approach to gauging research quality; in particular, the fate of specific journals and the measures of applied research. The ARC will work with universities to explore options for improvement. But I trust we will not allow that conversation to detract from the opportunities ERA has put before us. I emphasise that ERA’s strength lies in the sophisticated, discipline-specific data it collects. This exercise will be meaningless if we bury that complexity in crude aggregates and league tables. Tails of underperformance can disguise genuine excellence in any given field—and vice versa. We know what it takes to excel. We must draw on those strengths to lift performance across our research enterprise. And we must use ERA to make a strong case for public and private investment in Australian research.

For our part, the vital work is now underway to embed ERA into public policy and planning. We are building ERA into our mission based compacts with universities, so the strategic decisions that are made in partnership between the government and institutions will meet the needs of both individual universities and the Australian people. ERA will also support the implementation of the Research Workforce Strategy, the culmination of many months of research, consultation and analysis. The Strategy has confirmed some hard truths for our research enterprise. We are facing a significant shortfall in the supply of PhD-trained researchers—and we are failing to place those researchers at the heart of the economy. The Government will work with industry and the research community to meet this challenge, mobilising the unprecedented public resources already on the table. I have identified three priorities from the outset: attracting international talent; retaining women in the research workforce; and strengthening the incentives for business to put researchers on the payroll. Our policy has always been to consult before we act, and that it how we will proceed. With the leadership of Professor Chubb, the evidence of ERA and the clear direction of the Research Workforce Strategy, we are well placed to meet our shared ambitions. Our researchers are vital to the future of all Australians—and I trust we will work together to support them.

Senator Kim Carr Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

CEO’ S COLUMN C O NT I NU ED F RO M PAG E 1

measure our research achievements against those of our peers around the world and, in this way, better guide our research investment into the future.

The next round of ERA is scheduled for 2012, providing Australia with the ability to examine its research performance over time. In preparation, the ARC has been busy with targeted and broad reviews of the 2010 process, inviting key stakeholders, experts and the broader public to participate.

Our collaborative approach to this important research-assessment policy will continue as it did during the three years prior to ERA 2010. Working alongside the sector to further strengthen the indicators we use for evaluation is crucial to the continued success of the ERA initiative. And this is one of the great successes of the ERA initiative: its collaborative and consultative design.

At the same time as we have been dealing with ERA, the ARC has been extremely busy with reforms to the Discovery Projects scheme and introduction of the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme. Following extensive consultation including a consultation paper and nationwide university visits, changes will be in place to reduce the overlap in fellowships across ARC schemes and to better cater for the future research workforce needs. The new Discovery Outstanding Researcher Award (DORA) will

also provide a more flexible funding option for mid to late career researchers. I also look forward to implementing the new Researcher in Industry Training Awards (RITAs), a new component to the Linkage Program, which will operate for the first time in 2011–12.

Undertaking such major initiatives at the same time does draw heavily on the good will of the incredible staff at the ARC, who have my ongoing appreciation and admiration.

Finally, I am extremely grateful to Dr. Liz Jazwinska, who departs the ARC this month, for her work as an Executive Director for the past two years. She has made an enormous contribution to the ARC through her leadership of the most recent Centres of Excellence round, on a range of special research initiatives including Bionic Vision, Stem Cells Australia and the re-funding of National ICT Australia, and her ongoing management of the Linkage Projects scheme. I am pleased to announce that Professor Marian Simms, a distinguished political scientist from Deakin University will be joining the ARC as Executive Director, Social Behavioural and Economic Sciences in August.

Professor Margaret Sheil

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 3

M A J O R G R A N T S

And the winners are…

n Over a thousand innovative research projects have been awarded funding worth $376 million under the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program, through the Discovery Projects, Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development, and Linkage Projects (round 1) selection rounds for funding commencing in 2011.

Announcing Australian Research Council’s Major Grants in October, Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr said the 1126 successful projects will meet Australia’s big challenges and everyday problems—from a project to help save our Tasmanian devils, right through to producing hands-free wheelchairs to give severely disabled Australians greater mobility control.

Each application for funding under the National Competitive Grants Program is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review process and the scope covered by the various projects is enormous. This government investment in research is critical to the wellbeing of all Australians.

“I congratulate the successful institutions and researchers whose projects have been selected for funding and applaud them for their research efforts,” Senator Carr said.

“Research drives our economic productivity, delivers new solutions to environmental challenges, attracts global investment and improves our social wellbeing.”

“The boost to investigator-driven research in Australia is fundamental to our national interest. Support of this research results in the development of new ideas, the creation of jobs, economic growth, an enhanced quality of life and international competitiveness.”

Details of all the successful Discovery Projects, Discovery Indigenous and Linkage Projects schemes are available at www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/default.htm.

Grants D I S C O V E R Y

The practical applications of Indigenous research n The University of Newcastle is leading the way in indigenous research, collecting two of the nine grants allocated nationally under the ARC’s Discovery Projects Indigenous Researchers Development (IRD) scheme in the selection round for funding commencing in 2011.

The purpose of the IRD funding is to provide support for research projects conducted by Indigenous Australian researchers which enable an advance in the understanding of a subject, or contribute to solving an important practical problem.

Professor John Maynard of the University of Newcastle received almost $376,000 for his comparative study of Indigenous political activism in the USA and Australia during the early 20th century .

The funding includes and Australian Research Fellowship– Indigenous for Professor Maynard.

His project, Land, children and politics: Native America and Aboriginal Australia 1900–1930, aims to document, compare and contrast Indigenous political activism in both countries through a number of issues including land, children, government policy and returned servicemen.

Professor Maynard sees the practical application of his research in its ability to enhance understanding of current political issues.

“The debate over Aboriginal history and the stolen generations is resurfacing in national media and through this project we hope to promote ways to improve understanding and resolve cultural, historical and religious difference in Australia,” Professor Maynard said.

University of Newcastle’s second IRD grant from the ARC was awarded to Indigenous researcher Dr Kathleen Butler for her project Indigenous Research Higher Degree candidature in Australian Universities: Exploring identity at the cultural interface .

Dr Butler has been allocated $153,000 over a three year period to study the effectiveness of policies relating to higher degree by research and the outcomes for Indigenous students. She will be supported by her mentor, Professor Allyson Holbrook.

Dr Butler described the aim of her project as one which would “help create a vital evidence base that will help improve educational equity, cohesion and successful participation for Indigenous students undertaking tertiary education.”

“…through this project we hope to promote ways to improve understanding and resolve cultural, historical

and religious difference in Australia.” – Professor John Maynard

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 4

F E L L O W S H I P S

New fellowships to advance women in research

n The Australian Research Council will award two additional research fellowships to outstanding women in research. The new fellowships will address the current low proportion of applications by female researchers.

The new fellowships were announced by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, at the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science late last year.

In her address, ARC CEO, Professor Margaret Sheil said that since the inception of the Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme administered by the ARC, only 12.8 per cent of applicants in 2008 and 17.5 per cent of applicants in 2009 were female.

“The ARC is working very hard to improve the research funding opportunities available to female researchers, and this is one of the recent steps we have taken to ensure that happens,” said Professor Sheil.

Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, also welcomed the announcement of the new fellowships.

“Australia must utilise all its talent. We must do more to ensure the participation of all of our best and brightest. This measure is not only about enhancing opportunities for female researchers, it’s also about enhancing our national research effort,” Senator Carr said.

While these fellowships will be awarded to exceptional female researchers, it is of major significance that they will also undertake an ambassadorial role to promote women in research through sustained leadership and mentoring, thus building Australia’s internationally competitive research capacity.

The two fellowships have been named after distinguished and inspiring female researchers. They are the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Australian Laureate Fellowship for the humanities, arts and social sciences, and Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship for science and technology.

The two new Research Fellowships will be in place for funding commencing in 2011.

“This measure is not only about enhancing

opportunities for female researchers, it’s also about

enhancing our national research effort.”

– Senator Kim Carr

University of Melbourne Archives

University of Melbourne Archives

Kathleen Fitzpatrick (7 September 1905 – 27 August 1990) was an Australian academic and historian and an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. She was an inspiring teacher who was renowned for delivering her classes with clarity , elegance and wit.

Georgina Sweet (22 January 1875 – 1 January 1946) was an Australian zoologist and women’s rights activist. She was the first woman to graduate with a Doctor of Science from the University of Melbourne, and was the first female acting professor in an Australian university.

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 5

C E N T R E S O F E X C E L L E N C E

CUDOS

n New technologies to future-proof the National Broadband Network, defend us against cyber attacks and make computers run faster will become a reality through continued support for CUDOS, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems.

The Centre was awarded $23.8 million under the most recent ARC Centres of Excellence funding round, allowing it to undertake a new and expanded research program.

Launching the CUDOS research program at the University of Sydney, Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, said the new photonic chip technology being developed by CUDOS will complement the National Broadband Network.

“As the NBN fibre is rolled out to more and more homes, the traffic on the core of the network will rise,” Senator Carr said. “New technology being developed by CUDOS to increase the core network capacity will help ensure home users can get 1Gbps, 10Gbps or more in the future as their need grows.”

There are many other uses for the technological spin-offs of the research work undertaken by CUDOS.

CUDOS is generating and processing new wavelengths of laser light for sensing chemical signatures which can detect explosive material or chemicals potentially used in a terrorist threat, environmental pollutants or disease, which has implications for Australia’s border security in areas like Customs and Quarantine.

The technology being developed will also help to maintain our envied reputation for providing clean, green, disease-free products and, importantly, will help to ensure that exotic diseases do not become established in Australia.

The Centre is a consortium of six Australian universities with research characterised by strong Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) performance in the disciplines of optical physics and electrical and electronic engineering.

For more information on CUDOS visit, www.cudos.org.au.

CUDOS Director Prof Ben Eggleton with former student Joe Mok in the CUDOS labs. Photo courtesy CUDOS.

…the new photonic chip technology being developed

by CUDOS will complement the National Broadband

Network. – Senator Kim Carr

CUDOS chip technology. Photo courtesy CUDOS.

S P E C I A L R E S E A R C H I N I T I AT I V E

Bionic vision now within sight

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 6

n Bionic vision was one of the scientific initiatives cited as a national goal at the Australian Government’s 2020 Summit in April 2008. It is a concept that is now close to becoming a reality , with trials in human patients set to begin.

Following the 2020 Summit, in late 2009 the ARC awarded $50 million for a Special Research Initiative in Bionic Vision, Science and Technology to Bionic Vision Australia.

Bionic Vision Australia is a national consortium of researchers working together to develop a bionic eye. The Australian team includes researchers who were instrumental in developing the cochlear implant (bionic ear), which has been commercialised and has approximately 70 per cent of the world market. This valuable information will greatly assist the research team in understanding what is required to successfully bring a bionic device to the market.

The technology is now at the point of testing, merely one year after funding of the initiative commenced. The technology being developed consists of a camera attached to a pair of glasses, which captures the visual scene and transmits radio frequency signals to a microchip implanted in the eye.

Electrodes attached to the chip convert these signals into electrical impulses, which are conveyed to the optic nerve. This is then interpreted by the visual processing centres of the brain as an image.

Two prototypes are currently in development by the initiative. The first prototype, called the ‘wide-view’, aims to distinguish light from dark, enabling patients to manoeuvre around large objects. Wide-view requires a retinal implant with around one hundred electrodes. The second prototype, called the ‘high­acuity’, aims to enable patients to recognise faces and read large print. The high-acuity uses a retinal implant with over one thousand electrodes.

Researchers will begin the first patient tests of the wide-view device by 2013; the high-acuity device should be ready for the first patient tests in 2014.

This is welcome news indeed for people suffering progressive vision loss due to conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, who may—through this technology—have their vision and mobility restored.

L I N K A G E

Providing the best tools to make research happen n What do a mass spectrometer, a flow cytometry facility and a greenhouse all have in common? These are just three of 78 vital new projects being funded this year under the ARC’s Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme (LIEF).

LIEF, part of the ARC’s Linkage Program, fosters collaboration through its support of the cooperative use of national and international research facilities.

More than $30 million in funding has been granted to a vast array of infrastructure projects across Australian research institutions, which will enable our researchers— through collaboration with other organisations—to access the equipment and facilities they need to ensure their vital research happens.

In announcing the funding outcomes, Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, highlighted the importance of ensuring our researchers have the best tools to do their job.

“Ground-breaking research starts with creativity and bright ideas. High quality tools and facilities help our researchers turn these thoughts into reality,” Senator Carr said.

The projects will strengthen research partnerships here in Australia and abroad. As part of these projects, Australian researchers will partner up with other higher education, industry and government organisations across the country, and as far abroad as Chile, Denmark and Korea, so that very expensive equipment and facilities can be shared.

Details of all 78 successful LIEF projects are available on the ARC website at www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/lief/lief_outcomes.

iStockphoto

Image courtesy of Bionic Vision Australia.

L I N K A G E

A modern spin on an ancient method

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 7

Rammed earth house close to Derby, WA. Photo courtesy of Joshua Gibbings, University of WA.

n Investigating the benefits and qualities of rammed earth housing is one clever use a $200,000 ARC grant has been put toward by the University of Western Australia. The project is funded under the Linkage, Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme.

The three year grant has been awarded to researchers from the University of Western Australia to evaluate rammed earth housing and determine whether it conforms to the national engineering and construction guidelines.

If successful, it is hoped the building material will be a cost-effective and suitable material for use by Indigenous communities in the remote north-west of Western Australia.

The LIEF scheme fosters collaboration through its support of initiatives involving two or more institutions.

By enabling institutions to develop collaborative arrangements among themselves across the higher education sector and with private enterprise organisations, costs can be minimised through the sharing, or linking, of expensive infrastructure, equipment and facilities.

Assistant Professor Daniela Ciancio from the University of Western Australia, will work in collaboration with the West Australian Department of Housing, RAMTEC and Scott Smalley Partnership.

As part of her enquiry, Assistant Professor Ciancio will test the strength, durability and workability of rammed earth as well as its structural properties, such as its safety and degree of required reinforcement.

“We plan to experiment with the use of soil in the ground slab and we’ll evaluate rammed earth’s thermal properties as the homes will be built in a region where the daily temperatures range from six to 35 degrees. It’s important that we

understand the performance qualities of rammed earth, which may prove to be an affordable and safe material with which to build homes.”

Assistant Professor Ciancio cites examples of rammed earth buildings surviving the tests of time across the globe, and its use by many civilisations for thousands of years.

“Rammed earth is a potentially cheap, on-site building material that requires little expertise to work with once the formwork is in place. We hope the community members will take part in building the houses.”

On completion, the University of Western Australia team will submit their findings to Standards Australia to enable rammed earth be certified with a national rating.

D I S C O V E R Y

Creating opportunities for early-career researchers n The Australian Research Council’s Discovery Program is coming up with more ways to provide opportunities to Australian scientists.

Enabling researchers at the start of their careers to obtain funding for their projects is a key objective of the Discovery Program.

The ARC released the funding rules for the new Discovery– Early Careers Researchers Awards scheme in February.

Professor Sheil said this change to the Discovery Program introduces a new—and more flexible—component to the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program.

“This new scheme component will provide more focused support for research, and create more opportunities for early-career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions.

“The scheme will also capitalise on two specific attributes of early-career researchers, namely, the high proportion of female and international applicants.”

Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, welcomed the proposal, saying that the new award will be a key component in building our future research capacity.

“It creates new opportunities for the next generation and it builds on the great work of the ARC to ensure we attract and retain the best and brightest researchers in Australia,” Senator Carr said.

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 8

S P E C I A L R E S E A R C H I N I T I AT I V E

Stem cells could be the answer

n Cures for heart disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis could be found in our own bodies, according to a new Australian-based research team from the University of Melbourne—Stem Cells Australia.

Stem Cells Australia is a new initiative that will further build Australia’s capacity to conduct world-class stem cell research, keeping Australian stem cell researchers at the forefront of this rapidly developing field.

In November 2010, $21 million in Australian Government funding was announced for the University of Melbourne team Stem Cells Australia, led by internationally renowned researcher, Professor Martin Pera.

Announcing the funding under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Special Research Initiative in Stem Cell Science, Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, and CEO of the ARC, Professor Margaret Sheil, said the investment could deliver significant breakthroughs in the area of biotechnology and save the lives of many people around the world.

The Stem Cells Australia proposal showed innovative research ideas and strong leadership skills, both needed to give us a greater understanding of stem cells and hopefully bring about some of the world’s best medical breakthroughs.

“Heart disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis are common medical problems and we need solutions to save lives, improve quality of life, take pressure off our hospitals and, in turn, ease the burden on our economy”, Senator Carr said.

“This high-calibre stem cell research team may just find the answers we need.”

Professor Sheil said Stem Cells Australia will have an outstanding leadership team. Professor Pera began his career in Australia, but has recently been directing a major stem cell research centre at the University of Southern California in the United States.

Together with his team, Professor Pera will not only conduct quality research, but create a public awareness unit that will educate the public and encourage public debate into the ethical, legal and public policy issues associated with stem cell science. It is important that we explore these issues and understand the views of all Australians.

The work of Stem Cells Australia will be strengthened through national and international partnerships, including Monash University, the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Florey Neuroscience Institutes and the CSIRO.

More information on the ARC’s Special Research Initiative in Stem Cell Science is available on the Australian Research Council’s website, www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/sri/stem_cell.htm.

iStockphoto

“This high-calibre stem cellresearch team may just find

the answers we need.”– Professor Margaret Sheil

L I E F

Gemini junior astronomers

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 9

Photo courtesy of the Australian Academy of Science

n Junior astronomers have received access to world-class facilities with help from funding from the ARC’s Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme.

The Astronomy Club at Sydney Girls High School (SGHS) won the opportunity to use one hour of valuable telescope time to image a target using one of the world’s biggest telescopes, the Gemini South telescope, in Chile. The result was the spectacular image you see here.

In a nationwide competition held by the Australian Gemini Office in 2010, members of the school’s astronomy club named a pair of colliding galaxies as the best target for the Gemini South telescope in the Andes Mountains of Chile.

The Gemini Observatory consists of a pair of telescopes, one is located in the Southern Hemisphere atop Cerro Pachon in the Andes Mountains of Chile; the other in the Northern Hemisphere on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

Gemini is run by a partnership of seven nations, including Australia, which operates the telescopes, and gives Australian astronomers vital access to these telescopes. At 8-metres in diameter, the Gemini telescopes are among the largest optical telescopes in the world, and are the premier facilities to which the Australian astronomical community has access.

Astronomers use images to learn about the size of objects and the locations of any companions, and from this they can measure the masses of galaxies and the ages of nebulae. By studying the colours of stars and their brightness, astronomers can calculate the stellar ages and composition as well as the history of the object.

Image of NGC 6872 (left) and companion galaxy IC 4970 (right) locked in a tango as the two galaxies gravitationally interact. The galaxies lie about 200 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Pavo (the Peacock). Sydney Girls High School Astronomy Club, Travis Rector (University of Alaska, Anchorage), Ángel López-Sánchez (Australian Astronomical Observatory/Macquarie University), and the Australian Gemini Office.

Australian astronomers have given up some of the time they are allocated on the telescopes to allow the contest winners to have their image made.

The contest is again under way for Australian students in 2011. More details can be found at http://ausgo.aao.gov. au/contest/.

I N B R I E F

Passing of an icon—Professor Frank Fenner n Professor Frank Fenner, AC, CMG, MBE, FRS, FAA, one of Australia’s most eminent scientists, passed away late last year, one month short of his 96th birthday.

Professor Fenner’s contributions to science have been many, although it is for two outstanding achievements in scientific innovation he will be best remembered—the eradication of the smallpox virus in humans, and the introduction of the myxoma virus to control rabbits which have plagued the Australian landscape.

He had a long and distinguished career in the field of virology, with pioneering work on many viruses and immunisation programs. His early studies into Malaria during World War II had a significant effect on the success of the New Guinea Campaign, and for which he earn ed an MBE in 1945.

He was instrumental in the World Health Organization’s efforts to eradicate Smallpox, a virus that for previous generations was what HIV AIDS is to this generation, a human-to-human infection that killed millions of people.

Professor Fenner published hundreds of papers and wrote or co-wrote 22 books, and was a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and Royal Society. Amongst the many awards and honours he received include the Albert Einstein World Award for Science in 2000 and the (Australian) Prime Minister’s Science Prize in 2002. He was appointed CMG in 1976 and Companion of the Order of Australia in 1989.

Professor Fenner will be sadly missed by the Australian and international research communities.

A R C A D V I S O R Y C O U N C I L

Expanded Advisory Council to support the research sector

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 10

AR

C A

dviso

ry C

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Advisory Council

n Six of Australia’s best academics with diverse and distinguished research backgrounds have joined the ARC’s Advisory Council to provide a wealth of experience, knowledge, and strategic policy advice to the Australian Research Council.

The new members of the Council commenced their appointments in January. Announcing the new members in December 2010, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said he had expanded the membership from seven to ten to help the Australian Government better understand and support the breadth of research undertaken in Australia.

The Council is chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the ARC, Professor Margaret Sheil, with other members appointed for periods of up to three years on the basis of their distinguished research records or achievements in business research and development.

The ARC Advisory Council’s role is primarily to provide independent advice to the ARC on:

• strategicissuesrelatingtothemissionofthe ARC, including strategic planning

• policymattersrelatingtoinnovation,research and research training

• mattersrelatingtotheevaluationofthequality and outcomes of research and research training in an international context

Each of the new members brings to the group their own breadth of understanding in their field of speciality—Professor Buckskin will strengthen the Advisory Council with his experience in Indigenous research matters, Professor Lawson will increase the ability of the ARC to assess support for research in the creative arts, and Professors Garton, Harding, Johnson and Young will provide insight from their roles as senior university leaders and research leaders in their fields.

With their diverse and distinguished research backgrounds, their combined knowledge will help ensure the Advisory Council forms balanced and well-informed opinions.

The ARC is grateful for the contribution of Professors Macintyre, Hughes and Ralston AO, retiring members of the Advisory Council, over the last three years.

For more details and biographies of the ARC Advisory Council members, visit www.arc.gov.au/ about_arc/AdvisoryCouncil

(L to R) Professor Margaret Harding, Professor Andrew Wells (Deputy CEO), Professor Paul Johnson, Professor Margaret Sheil (Chair and CEO), Professor Stephen Garton, Professor Peter Buckskin, Professor Robyn Owens, Professor David Siddle, Professor Ian Young, Professor Amanda Lawson (Absent: Ms Robyn Baker)

New members of the ARC Advisory Council:

Professor Peter Buckskin Professor Stephen Garton Professor Margaret Harding Professor Paul Johnson Professor Amanda Lawson Professor Ian Young

Continuing members of the ARC Advisory Council:

Emeritus Professor David Siddle Professor Robyn Owens Ms Robyn Baker ARC CEO Professor Margaret Sheil (Chair)

F E L L O W S H I P S

Attracting and retaining Australian researchers

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 11

Futu

re F

ello

wsh

ips n Many highly qualified mid-career researchers

choose to work overseas to further their careers due to a perceived lack of opportunities in Australia.

The Future Fellowships scheme addresses this problem by boosting Australia’s research and innovation capacity in areas of national importance. This year, another 200 bright researchers are accepting this challenge with the ARC’s support.

In 2008, the Australian Government announced the creation of the Future Fellowships scheme to promote research in areas of critical national importance by giving outstanding researchers incentives to conduct their research in Australia. The aim of Future Fellowships is to attract and retain the best and brightest mid-career researchers.

First implemented in 2009, the scheme is awarding up to 1000 fellowships over five years at a total value of $844 million.

Although international experience is important for Australian researchers, it is also important they have the opportunity to return home to continue their work. Future Fellowships aims to encourage outstanding Australian researchers currently based overseas to return to Australia.

This year, throughout Australian universities, and across a massive breadth of issues, 200 new projects are being sponsored. The research topics range from insights into alternative fuel combustion, human arm coordination mechanics after a stroke, dietary patterns throughout life, through to designing sustainable housing systems for vulnerable communities.

In announcing the fellowships, Innovation Minister , Senator Kim Carr , said the Government was making sure that the scheme would bring to our shores the best minds from around the globe, strengthening our research capacity and ensuring that we have the skills we need as our academic workforce ages.

“In this group of 200 researchers, ten have returned to Australia and 22 are overseas citizens who we welcome to our shores. I congratulate the Future Fellows and thank them for their contribution to our country .”

To read more about all the projects supported by the Future Fellowships scheme, visit www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/ futurefel/ft_outcomes.

There are:

• 27projectsintheACT

• 48inNSW

• 53inVIC

• 43inQLD

• 12inSA

• 10inWA

• 6inTASand

• 1intheNT.

I N B R I E F

Ensuring high standards of research integrity n Australian taxpayers can be confident that the research activities they fund meet the highest ethical and moral standards with the establishment of a new Integrity Committee.

The Australian Research Integrity Committee (ARIC) officially opened for business in February 2011.

The ARIC, jointly established and administered by the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), provides a review system to respond to allegations of research misconduct.

The system is intended to ensure that institutions investigate any research misconduct allegations and observe proper process in doing so. In this way, it will foster quality assurance and instil public confidence in the integrity of Australia’s research effort.

In all matters, the ARIC will consider whether an institution’s response to the allegation of research misconduct was appropriate and consistent with the ARIC framework, and with the institution’s own policies and procedures for investigating allegations of research misconduct.

The ARIC will be chaired by Mr Ron Brent, who has had extensive experience in tribunal processes as acting Commonwealth Ombudsman from March to September 2010 and current Aircraft Noise Ombudsman. Other appointed members of the ARIC include Dr Kerry Breen, AM, Emeritus Professor Sheila Shaver and Ms Julie Hamblin.

More information on the ARIC, and how to submit a request for a review , is available on the ARC website at www.arc.gov.au/general/research_integrity.

I N B R I E F

Eureka prizes rewarding excellence in research

n Presented annually by the Australian Museum, the Eureka Prizes reward excellence in the fields of scientific research and innovation, science leadership, school science and science journalism and communication.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) is again sponsoring the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research by an Interdisciplinary Team. The aim is to encourage outstanding, innovative research that demonstrates the benefits of practical interdisciplinary cooperation.

The $10,000 prize, which will be presented by the Australian Research Council (ARC) CEO, Professor Margaret Sheil, rewards an Australian research partnership, group or team for a groundbreaking

outcome that has involved collaboration and integration between researchers from two or more unrelated disciplines.

Entries to the 2011 Eureka Prizes opened on 4 February and closed on 6 May 2011.

The winner of the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research by an Interdisciplinary Team will be announced at the Eureka Prizes annual gala awards dinner—the largest single event in Australia celebrating and rewarding Australian science—to be held on 6 September 2011. The event will be broadcast nationally on ABC TV’s Catalyst program.

Discovery • Autumn 2011 • Page 12

Important dates: current ARC scheme roundsScheme Announcement*

Linkage Projects (Round 2) for funding commencing July 2011 May 2011

Australian Laureate Fellowships for funding commencing 2012 August 2011

Discovery Indigenous for funding commencing 2012

November 2011

Linkage Projects (Round 1) for funding commencing January 2012 November 2011

Discovery Projects for funding commencing in 2012 November 2011

Discovery Early Career Researcher Award November 2011

Future Fellowships for funding commencing 2011 November 2011

Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing 2012

November 2011

* Announcement dates are indicative only and subject to change

SUBMITTING ARTICLES

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GENERAL INQUIRIES

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