'Snapshot' of Australian research

Australia last week (September 18) released its first 'snapshot' of national research capabilities, from astrophysics to zoology. The picture — a compilation of reports from Australia's 40 universities — shows how each institution is directing its research efforts and where it believes its strengths lie.In a summary prepared by the Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training the universities identified a total of 513 areas of research strength. Of these, 35% were in science and technology, 13% in health and medical science, 40% in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and 12% in cross-disciplinary areas.But because the universities used a variety of approaches in identifying their strengths, the results are being viewed simply as guidelines. Still, "it's always useful" to have information about the distribution of research expertise, said Jim Peacock, President of the Australian Academy of Science.To push universities to file the so-called 'Research and Research Training Management Reports', the government has made reporting a requirement for support under five federal funding schemes, covering research training and support for postgraduate students, as well as some institution infrastructure support. The bulk of federal research funds are awarded independently, on the basis of peer review, by the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council.The inaugural snapshot of expertise comes as an advisory committee, headed by Peacock, is preparing recommendations for a set of national research priorities. The committee will submit its report to the federal cabinet next month, and a government announcement is expected later this year.Although the scientific community strongly supports the review of national research priorities, as it does the snapshots, there is widespread concern that the process involves no new funding. Even Peacock acknowledged that the government might use the results to "move the deck chairs around if needed." The issue of government funding is critical for Australia. "We lag behind advanced countries when it comes to investing in the ingredients of a modern economy," said Chris Fell, President of Australia's top scientific lobby group, the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS).For instance, the nation's gross expenditure on R&D in 1998 placed it 15th — behind the United Kingdom and ahead of Belgium — on the OECD ranking of 26 nations. And R&D expenditure by business is well below international levels. Last year's OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard rated Australian business investment — 0.64% of GDP — 22nd of 31 countries, just ahead of the Slovak Republic. The United Kingdom ranked 11th.The Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) has criticised the national priority-setting exercise as politicised and narrowly focussed. "It [the process] entails far more than picking winning topics and wording everything so ambiguously that everybody can get their snout in the trough," said John Hay, AVCC research spokesman and chairman of the Group of Eight leading universities. "It's too simplistic," Hay added, calling as well for an overhaul of university research funding, which he claims penalises universities that are successful at winning grants. "The [research grants] don't fund infrastructure and staffing, so the more successful you are the more you have to cross-subsidise from [institution] operating grants," he said.According to FASTS, the key weakness in Australia's approach to R&D is national vision — or lack thereof. Moreover, the country needs systemic and fiscal reform and commitment to a long-term strategy for science and technology. At the launch today (September 23) of its policy statement 'Australian Science: Investing in the Future', FASTS President Fell concluded: "The national strategy hovers tantalisingly just beyond our reach."

'Snapshot' of Australian research

Critics say first snapshot of Australian research too simplistic and call for national science strategy

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