Research success soaring
20 September 2008
The requirement to conduct research, as well as teach, is what sets universities apart from other post-secondary education providers. At a time when the sector is the subject of a number of reviews commissioned by the Rudd government, the role of research is again in the spotlight and it is expected that major changes will be made to the quantum and distribution of research and research training funding in the near future.
This comes at a critical time for USC. Through the formative years it was necessary to concentrate greatest effort on the development of new degree programs and building relationships with the region and its communities. In more recent times, the University has paid more attention to building its research profile and while we have a long way to go, progress has been quite spectacular. Annual research income reached $1million for the first time in 2006 and in 2007 our researchers attracted over $2million in grants.
However, the rate of growth is better illustrated by recent 2008 successes. As part of a strategy to focus our research investment and establish distinctive areas of research concentration, two new research groupings were identified in 2007. The GeneCology Research Group (genetics/ecology) and the Regional Sustainability Research Group comprise teams of successful researchers who share common interests and have the capacity to attract major grants in what are highly competitive fields at the national level.
Over the last year, the GeneCology Group has attracted $5.8million in funding. Most recently, a project dealing with sub-tropical/tropical forestry, in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, CSIRO and the forestry industry, was awarded a $1.8million Smart State grant. There are several other large submissions for which we are awaiting the outcome. The fisheries and aquaculture researchers in this group are working on projects worth more than $2.3million with recent successes linked to the Seafood Cooperative Research Centre, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and major industry partners such as Paspaley Pearls.
The Regional Sustainability Group has been successful in attracting just over $2million in funding, including recent awards through the CSIRO Collaboration Fund. The group’s research into climate change adaptation, coastal zone impacts and water planning sees them working on issues of regional and national significance with partners from within the region as well as nationally.
These very large project grants are highlights in the year to date, however, they complement much broader research success across the University with many of our staff actively engaged in externally funded research activity that contributes to the future of the region and society, as well as the University’s reputation. USC is committed to a mission built around teaching, research and engagement. As government funding for research is determined by indicators such as external grants’ income, we really do need to demonstrate that we are coming of age, as an institution with a credible research profile.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Sunshine Coast.