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Chief Scientist to launch research initiative
Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb will visit the University of the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday 7 September to launch its $5.45 million Collaborative Research Network (CRN) project.
This important three-year project – called the Research Futures Project – will see USC join forces with Griffith University, the University of Tasmania and the University of Queensland to undertake nationally significant research.
It will also involve USC working with Queensland University of Technology to establish a Centre for Leadership in Research Development to help USC and other smaller universities further develop their research capacity.
Professor Ian Chubb has been Australia’s Chief Scientist since May 2011. Prior to his appointment, he had been Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University for 10 years.
For his services to education, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1999, a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2006 and was chosen as the ACT’s 2011 Australian of the Year.
USC’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Professor Roland De Marco said it was appropriate for Professor Chubb to launch the Research Futures Project, one of only 12 projects nationally to receive CRN funding from the Commonwealth Government in June.
“Professor Chubb continues to be an influential person in the Australian higher education sector and is a keen supporter of the CRN program, which was designed to assist smaller, less research-intensive universities like USC to partner with larger institutions to quickly boost research activity,” he said.
“It will be great to have him here for the launch.
“This will be a ‘shot in the arm’ for research at USC, boosting our current research strengths in areas such as water, sustainability, forestry and aquaculture.
“The project will significantly increase the quantity, quality and impact of USC’s research outcomes and outputs. It will lead to more competitive research grants, additional publications and more Higher Degree by Research student enrolments.”
Professor De Marco said USC had received more than 100 applications for the 20 Research Fellow positions advertised last month as part of the Research Futures Project, including some from overseas.
“We will make up to 20 appointments, and some of these will be shared positions with Griffith and UTAS,” he said.
“The big attraction for these appointees is the joint research between USC and our partner universities. So they’re not just buying into USC, they’re buying into the broader partnership with UTAS and Griffith.”
— Terry Walsh