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Dear STA Members,
What a hectic end to the year! 2021 continues to demand every bit of energy from us all.
Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert’s Letter of Expectations to the Australian Research Council seeks significant changes. STA welcomes the move to strengthen ARC governance. It would adopt comparable structures to the NHMRC. However we have urged a sensible rethink on a proposed move to tie at least 70 per cent of Linkage grants to the national manufacturing priorities in future funding rounds. The Linkage program funds Centres of Excellence doing fundamental research in a wide array of fields. STA is engaging with Government on this element of the changes. We have also offered input on the consultations ahead. And we have urged a swift resolution on the current round of ARC Discovery grants, which are well behind the normal timetable, with hundreds of researchers anxiously awaiting news.
Responses to the exposure draft of the National Research Infrastructure Roadmap are due Wednesday – 22 December. Our sincere thanks to STA members who contributed to our discussions in recent weeks to shape STA’s imminent response.
Register now for our blockbuster program for Science meets Parliament 2022. The program is packed with a constellation of global and Australian stars. To widen participation, STA has scholarships made possible by our generous sponsors – apply now. To put your brand in front of the nation’s science and technology community, MPs and policymakers as a sponsor of Science meets Parliament, please get in touch.
A very warm welcome to the newest member of the STA community. The Australian Research Council Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies (ARC CMIT) is headed by Professor Peter Lee. It trains PhD students and early career researchers in medtech to work with industry partners. It brings together world-leading biomedical engineers, scientists, and clinicians with a global supply chain in medical implants in Australia, China, Belgium, the UK and US. We are excited to have you!
Finally, wishing you all a safe and restorative break in the weeks ahead. It’s been a hectic and challenging year for so many people. Our thanks to each of you for your leadership, collegiality and support. It has been an honour to advocate with and for you in 2021.
Until next time,
Misha Schubert
CEO, Science & Technology Australia
SCIENCE MEETS PARLIAMENT 2022
Registrations are open for SmP 2022. Each STA member organisation is invited to send three delegates to the online event running from 28 February–4 March. The stellar line-up includes world-leading scientists and science communicators, two Nobel Laureates, Australian media superstars and Members of Parliament. Early-bird registration ends 20 December.
INDUSTRY INTERNSHIPS - PHD FUNDING
A new incentive will be created for universities when their future PhD graduates have completed an ‘eligible industry internship’. The incentive will apply for PhD completions from 2024 onwards. To qualify, an internship agreement must be signed in the first 18 months of the student starting a full-time PhD (or in the first 36 months for part-timers). The three-month internship can be done at any time during the PhD and must relate to the student’s area of research. They can be on-site, on-campus or online - and done with either Australian or offshore research end-users. More details here. The arrangements include more flexibility than when the incentive was first floated in the May Federal Budget. They reflect key changes advocated by STA in our submission.
NEW SURVEY: COVID-19 IMPACT ON RESEARCH AND TEACHING
STA and Professional Scientists Australia run an annual survey of the science workforce each year to track pay, conditions, morale, wellbeing and the disruptions of the pandemic. Our 2021 data was sobering. Researchers at Deakin University’s Centre for Regional and Rural Futures (an STA member) are also surveying scientists on how COVID-19 has disrupted their research and teaching. Their 2020 data is here and you can do their survey here.
CAMPAIGN ON ARC & NHMRC FUNDING
A group of Early and Mid-Career Researchers and the National Association of Research Fellows have launched a campaign asking people to write to federal MPs and Senators to advocate for an urgent boost to ARC and NHMRC funding. Here’s more on the campaign and how to get involved.
NOMINATE A DIVERSITY OF SCIENTISTS FOR A PM’S PRIZE FOR SCIENCE
Nominations are now open for the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science. Having strong diversity in the field of nominees is crucial – and takes active leadership. We encourage everyone in the STA community to think about the many brilliant colleagues in your orbit – and nominate a diverse array of talent for next year’s prizes. Nominations close 10 February.
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@StatSocAus
