MURDOCH is the only university to have two representatives on the newly established Premier’s Science Council.

Professor Ian Ritchie from the School of Chemistry and Professor Peter Newman, Director of the Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy, join 12 other council representatives from a range of disciplines and backgrounds.

The team will oversee the expansion and improvement of research capabilities in Western Australia.

The aim of the strategy is to improve WA’s competitiveness by establishing itself as a global leader in innovation-related activities, stimulating business and education institutions to work together to generate and commercialise ideas.

Premier Dr Geoff Gallop said that one of the Premier’s Science Council’s first tasks would be to conduct a stocktake of all research and development activities undertaken by Government agencies.

The council would then be able to establish what changes might be necessary to ensure that the objectives of ‘Innovate WA’ were being met.

The Premier’s Science Council would also be responsible for co-ordinating WA’s lobbying efforts in relation to national research issues and working to strengthen collaborative links between researchers and industry.

Dr Gallop said that fostering a research and development culture was essential if WA was to develop a modern, knowledge-based economy.