Archived News for Research Sector Professionals - May, 2011
The Government’s advisor on climate change, Professor Ross Garnaut, has called in his final report for the allocation over a period of several years of up to $2.5 billion of the annual revenues that would be generated by the recommended $26 per tonne carbon price to research, development, demonstration and commercialization of new low-emissions technologies.
Professor Garnaut said that the central policy instrument to encourage the use of established low-emissions technologies and to discover and to apply new technologies is carbon pricing.
However, he noted that the carbon price alone will not lead to adequate investment in research, development and commercialisation of new technologies, because the private investor can capture only part of the benefits.
Improvements to ERA evaluations announced
Innovation Minister, Senator Carr has announced intended improvements to the next round of the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative in a statement to an Estimates Hearing of the Senate Economics Committee.
Network created for up-and-coming indigenous researchers
Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Kim Carr has announced the formation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Researchers’ Network designed to facilitate more opportunities for indigenous researchers and advance their work in a supportive environment.
219 new research partnerships announced
Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Kim Carr has announced funding totalling $67 million for 219 new research partnerships under Round 2 for 2011 of the Australian Research Council's Linkage Projects scheme.
New Research and Innovation fund for WA
The Western Australian Science and Innovation Minister John Day has announced the creation of a new $10 million Research and Innovation Fund in 2011-12 as part of an additional commitment in this year’s budget of $54.5 million for industry, science and innovation from 2011-12 to 2014-15.
CSIRO wins major award for mining tool
A team of CSIRO Future Manufacturing Flagship scientists has won a major mining industry award for the invention of the highly sensitive magnetic field sensor, the technology that powers the LANDTEM mining exploration tool.
New research gateway launched
An innovative new tool designed to improve university/business research interaction has been launched by Group of Eight Australia.
DSTO backs new Fulbright Distinguished Chair
The Australian Government is funding a new scholarship for an outstanding American professor to work with world-leading scientists from Australia.
Bio-derived jet fuel a possibility
A joint research report compiled by CSIRO and major aviation industry representatives shows that economically and environmentally beneficial aviation fuel is a viable proposition in the coming 20 years.
University of Adelaide launches brain tumour research laboratory
A new brain tumour research lab will open at the University of Adelaide today to investigate the causes behind one of Australia's most aggressive and least understood cancers, which kills one Australian every six hours.
Funding to tempt 'outstanding' American professor
The Federal Government has announced the funding for a new scholarship position to for an ‘outstanding’ American professor to work with Australian scientists.
Patent searching back to 1904 now available through AusPat
IP Australia’s online patent searching system, AusPat, now provides full text searching of Australian patent records dating back to 1904 .
$5 million for superbug research
A new treatment for ‘superbugs' could be developed in Australia after a University of Queensland researcher received $5 million in funding to modify an existing antibiotic.
Professor Matthew Cooper, from UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), will use the Seeding Drug Discovery Award from the UK's Wellcome Trust to chemically alter the structure of vancomycin.
Petro Georgiou appointed joint VC's Fellow
Former Federal Liberal MP Petro Georgiou has been appointed Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow at Monash University and the University of Melbourne in a joint appointment.
Monash to establish world's first Research Chair in Peace Economics
In a world first, Monash University and the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) have jointly agreed to establish a Chair in Research focusing on the development of a new academic discipline “Peace Economics."
Scientific and technical employment demand to grow
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' (DEEWR) recently released Australian Jobs 2011 report has found that professional, scientific and technical services demand is due to increase by 17%, or 149,800 positions, over the coming five years. Most of this growth is expected to occur within the Architectural, Engineering and Technical Services and Legal and Accounting Services sub-sectors.
Climate Change Commission says climate change a certainty
The peak Australian Government climate change agency, the Climate Change Commission (CCC), has written its most candid assessment of the world’s climate issues to date, saying that ‘there is no doubt’ that climate change is occurring
Electric roads could be solution for the electric car
Researchers from the University of Utah are currently working on technology that stands to revolutionize the future of the electric car; the promise of roads that recharge the car that uses it.
Square Kilometre Array bid gets $10.8 million boost
The Western Australian Government has announced an investment of $10.8 million in new roads, power and optic fibre infrastructure in the State’s Mid-West in an attempt to bolster Australia and New Zealand’s bid for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope project
Medical research grants for Queensland
The Queensland Government has announced funding of $1.67 million in grants for emergency medical research.
SA bid wins funding for new Cancer Genome Facility
A new $5.1 million South Australian Cancer Genome Facility is to be established at SA Pathology with a $3.5 million grant from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), and a further grant of $1.05 million from the South Australian Government.