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The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
(ATSE)
ATSE is an independent body of 780 eminent Australian scientists and engineers which promotes
technology, science and engineering for a better Australia
MEDIA RELEASE
22 July 2009
Encourage research cooperation, says ATSE
Scientific research in Australia needs a greater focus on cooperation across research
disciplines, according to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
(ATSE).
ATSE says that many of the major research questions of the future will require an
interdisciplinary approach, but the current research structures and funding do not always
accommodate this need.
The Australian Research Council’s ARC Centres of Excellence program should “overtly
encourage and reward” interdisciplinary research, ATSE says in its submission on the ARC
program, which it describes as “outstanding”.
ATSE also argues that the program should embrace research proposals with a “higher than
normal” element of risk, provided the risk is evaluated against potential reward and any
successful outcome for the research proposed will deliver significant benefits.
ATSE expresses a concern that the objective of the program to require Centres to
demonstrate ‘scale and focus’ may discriminate in favour of problem solving research and
against groups working on complementary enabling technologies (eg: nanoscience,
mathematics, etc) which might find a broad range of applications. The scale and focus
objective would also limit the spread of the program into many humanities and social science
areas.
It argues that the calibre and reputation of the researchers involved in a proposed Centre of
Excellence is more important than the detail of their proposed research.
“Selecting and supporting centres that are able to attract and retain world-class researchers,
capable of executing whatever research priorities emerge” is most likely to achieve best
outcomes, says ATSE.
ATSE also suggests that “sustainable national benefit and enhanced reputation” will only be
achieved if early career researchers are included prominently in research teams.
Issued by
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
Melbourne
Contact
Bill Mackey, Communications Director
(03) 9864 0902 or 0418 923 370
bill.mackey@atse.org.au
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