News Alerts

NHMRC reviews research strategy and funding policies

The National Health and Medical Research Council is preparing its triennial Strategic Plan for the period January 2010 – December 2012, including a National Strategy for Medical Research and Public Health Research.

It is also reviewing the funding and peer review processes, following the completion of three reviews of the NHMRC’s health and medical research funding role.
Two consultation papers have been released, the first setting out a draft strategy for medical research and public health research, and the second setting out the NHMRC’s response to recommendations of the reviews of research funding and peer review.

Submissions on both issues are due by 28 August. The consultation papers are available at www.nhmrc.gov.au.

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NHMRC joins international alliance against chronic disease

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is one of six international health agencies to form an alliance to collaborate in research on chronic, non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), several cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, and type 2 diabetes.

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (Alliance) is being created to support clear priorities for a coordinated research effort that will address these diseases. Its work will focus in particular on the needs of low and middle income countries, and on those of low income populations of more developed countries.

The Alliance’s charter members are:

• Australia National Health and Medical Research Council;
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research;
• Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences;
• The U.K. Medical Research Council; and
• The U.S. National Institutes of Health, specifically its National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the Fogarty International Center.

The Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, will be invited to join the Alliance as a member. Research agencies from other countries and private funders may be invited to join in a second wave.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is joining the Alliance as an observer to facilitate Alliance support for implementation of the World Health Assembly-approved Action Plan for the Global Strategy for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases.
Further information is at www.nhmrc.gov.au

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New appointment for ARC Advisory Council

Ms Robyn Baker, a partner in the Corporate Practice Group of law firm Clayton Utz, has been appointed to the Australian Research Council (ARC) Advisory Council.

Announcing her appointment, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, said that Ms Baker, who is also on the board of the BioMelbourne Network, would “bolster the expert, balanced and independent advice the Council provides the ARC.”

The appointment of Ms Baker to the ARC Advisory Council follows the resignation of Dr Elizabeth Jazwinska, now ARC Executive Director of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology.

The Council was established by the Minister to to advise the ARC CEO on key research issues and strategy to ensure the integrity of Australia’s research funding system.
More information is at www.arc.gov.au

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Marine science projects launched

Two major marine science projects have been launched to advance research in Australia’s oceans.

The $55 million Tropical Marine Research Facility Project of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) was launched in Townsville by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

The funding was provided in the Federal Budget under the Super Science Marine and Climate initiative, and will pay for a range of infrastructure in Townsville and Darwin.

The Australian Tropical Oceans Simulator at the Townsville site will enable experiments to recreate ocean conditions to understand and predict the effects of global and local changes on the marine environment. It will also help to understand the physical and chemical properties of the ocean, the micro-organisms that make up our unique marine ecosystems, and how these factors interact.

Other elements of the project include a new building to house the AIMS Coral Core Archive and the Marine Bioresources Library.

Another recently launched marine science facility is the $100 million Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) in Hobart. IMOS is a set of equipment, data and information services covering the oceans around Australia and providing ocean data out to a few thousand kilometres.

IMOS received a $50 million grant from the Australian Government under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy. A further $52 million is being provided through the $387 million Super Science Marine and Climate initiative announced in the 2009-10 Budget.

More information on IMOS and its facilities is available at www.imos.org.au

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Defence technologies funded

Seven new technology proposals have been awarded funding totaling $13 million under the Capability & Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program managed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

The projects include:

• a wrist-mounted computer that monitors a diver’s vital signs from the surface to enhance safety during operations, developed by Sydney company, Blue Glue
  Software to streamline information flow between old and new command and control systems (Saab Systems);
• Technology to improve Defence’s geospatial information storage capability (SMS Defence Solutions);
• Enhanced surveillance technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (BAE Systems);
• A high-power, low frequency underwater acoustic system for minesweeping (Thales Australia);
• A secure hard drive for protection and movement of classified data (Secure Systems); and
• A system to detect potential threats from moving and static ground vehicles (Sentient Vision Systems).

The CTD Program supports Australian industry to demonstrate new technologies that contribute to Defence capability.
Further information on the seven new CTD projects is available at http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/ctd13/

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WA centre signs MOU for SKA data management

The Western Australian-based International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK–based headquarters for the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, the SKA Program Development Office.

Under the MOU, ICRAR will be the key partner in developing the conceptual designs for the high performance computing and data management systems for the world’s biggest radio astronomy project, the SKA.

The agreement is a step in expanding Australia’s contribution to the $3 billion radio astronomy project and in advancing Australia’s bid to host the SKA project in WA’s Mid-West.”

ICRAR director, Professor Peter Quinn, said the agreement was an opportunity to demonstrate WA’s capabilities.

“In partnership with CSIRO, the Australian SKA Coordination Committee and international SKA partners, the centre will be responsible for joint development of the technology to store and process the large amounts of data that will be produced from the SKA project. 

“ICRAR will also seek to develop collaborative relationships with other radio astronomy related research organisations and industry partners around the world,” he said.
Australia and Southern Africa are in the running to host the SKA, and a decision is expected in 2012.

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Queensland program to encourage new medical researchers

The Queensland Government has launched a new program to encourage secondary students to consider a career in medical research.

The SPARQed (Students Performing Advanced Research Queensland) program gives high school science students the chance to work alongside leading medical research scientists on real research projects. 

The program was created by Professor Ian Frazer, Director of the University of Queensland’s Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Around 300 secondary school students from across the state will be selected to take part in a research immersion program at the Diamantina Institute each year. The program will also provide professional development to high school science teachers, helping them stay up-to-date in the medical research field.

A laboratory and classroom will be purpose-built for the SPARQed program within thbiomedical research centre at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, to which the Queensland Government has committed $100 million.

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Announcements

2010 Awards and Grants - The Australian Academy of Science

2010 AWARDS AND GRANTS – THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

The Australian Academy of Science Honorific Awards for scientific excellence are made to early-career researchers under 40 and to career researchers for life-long achievements.

The Academy also supports research through the sponsorship of conferences that focus on rapidly developing fields of research; awarding travelling fellowships for the exchange of scientific ideas; and grants to support research. The Academy invites the following:

Nominations for:
• Medals and prizes for early career and career researchers
Closing date – 31 July 2009
Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/index.htm
• Rudi Lemberg Travelling Fellowship in biological sciences for Australian or overseas scientists to travel in Australia
• Selby Fellowship in all fields of science for overseas scientists to travel in Australia
Closing date – 31 August 2009
Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/research.htm

Applications for:
• Award for the Conservation of endangered Australian vertebrate species
• Graeme Caughley Travelling Fellowship for Australian ecologists to travel overseas
Closing date – 31 August 2009
Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/research.htm

Expressions of Intent for Research Conferences:
• Boden Research Conference in the biological sciences
• Fenner Conference on the Environment
• Elizabeth and Frederick White Research Conference in the physical sciences
Closing date – 31 August 2009
Website: http://www.science.org.au/awards/research.htm

Email enquiries: awards@science.org.au

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Conferences & Events

AIRG Winter Conference

Australia and New Zealand are investing heavily into major research infrastructure – examples of which include NCRIS, the MNRF program before it, the Synchrotron, the new nuclear reactor at ANSTO, and many other instrument‐driven capabilities in Universities and CSIRO, all of which are capital intensive.

While most of the infrastructure seems largely designed for academic use, it is recognized that this major research equipment and the highly skilled people who work with it, may also have significant potential to accelerate the progress of Australian industrial R&D. Therefore, the AIRG is holding its 2009 Winter Meeting, again in Canberra, to assess how the nation’s research infrastructure can, or should, impact on various industrial sectors’ R&D and innovation activities.

The results of a recent brief informal survey suggest that various Australian industry sectors are using these expensive, but highly competitive facilities to quite different levels. Meanwhile, although the capabilities now do exist in Australia, and there are similar facilities in use overseas by industrial competitors, some major Australian companies and even industry sectors, appear not to be aware of what is, or could be, available locally and how it could impact upon research productivity and outcomes. The meeting will therefore consider what increased industry usage might do in terms of consequent measureable economic impact on the economy. It will also consider whether key issues exist that affect considerations by Australian industrial R&D staff relative to using this impressive national research infrastructure.

For conference details please contact:
Meg Caffin
Executive Officer, AIRG
T: 03 9864 0913
Email: airg@atse.org.au

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Local Government Sustainable Development Conference

• Tuesday 18th - Wednesday 19th August
• The Sebel Albert Park, Melbourne

The peak national local sustainable development conference designed to assist local government practitioners to identify, plan and implement best practice sustainable development solutions, particularly related to reducing the carbon footprint.

The 4th Annual Local Government Sustainable Development Conference will showcase leading edge examples of outstanding environmental initiatives by Australian local governments, including the winner of Australia’s Sustainable Cities Award, the winner of the Excellence in Overall Environmental Management at the UN Environmental Awards, as well as presentations by the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year, the President of the Local Government Association of Australia, and leading experts in the fields of water management, climate change, energy efficiency and waste management. 

Topics will include:

• Expert analysis of Local Government's emissions trading obligations
• Climate change and energy efficiency
• Integrating sustainability into economic imperatives
• Future directions for asset management
• Practical approaches to water management
• Sustainable planning and urban design
• Waste management and resource recovery
• Community engagement in environmental initiatives
• Green purchasing and procurement

Speakers include:

• Geoff Lake, President, Australian Local Government Association
• Cr Colin Hampton, Mayor, City of Frankston
• Cr Geoff Ablett, Mayor, City of Casey
• Cr Peter Young, Gold Coast City Council
• Stephen Sawtell, General Manager, Coffs Harbour City Council
• Louise Hicks, Partner, DLA Phillips Fox
• Nick Bailey, Manager, Local Government, Sustainability Victoria
• Chris Newman, Manager, Councils Reforming Business, Local Government Victoria, Department of Planning and Community Development
• Peter Kinrade, Senior Consultant, Marsden Jacob Associates
• Gareth Williamson, Senior Waste Management Consultant, Meinhardt Infrastructure and Environment Pty Ltd
• Susan Staples, Manager, Sustainability, Climate Change and Water, KPMG
• John Gertsakis, Executive Officer, Product Stewardship Australia
• Steve Harrison, Director, Business & Economic Development, City of Prospect
• Geoff Withycombe, Executive Officer, Sydney Coastal Councils Group
• Peter Maganov, Manager Sustainability, Randwick City Council
• Michael Top, Group Manager, Sustainability, Bayside City Council
• David Lemcke, Senior Planner – Planning, Policy & Legal, Wyong Shire Council
• Rosemary Dillon, Manager, Corporate Planning and Community Outcomes, Blue Mountains City Council
• Matthew Trigg, Sustainable Design Officer, City of Port Phillip
• Robyn Evans, Research Director, RMIT Centre for Design
• Faye Adams, ESD Officer, Manningham City Council
• Simone Dilkara, Project Manager, Goulburn Mulwaree Council.

For further information, or to register for the Conference, go to www.halledit.com.au/lgsd09 or contact Denise McQueen on 03 8534 5021 or denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

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