The state of research at Murdoch University
Important steps have been taken to develop sustainable funding for the Asia Research Centre after its current funding as a Special Research Centre of the Australian Research Council finishes at the end of 1999. Additional funding of $300,000 has been promised through the activities of Bruce Sutherland, the Executive Deputy Chair of the Board, and various submissions to granting agencies and foundations have been made. Mr Ken Court is the new Chair of the Board of the Centre.The Institute for Science and Technology Policy continues to attract large numbers of researchers. Funds from the World Bank, the International Union of Public Transport in Belgium, and the CRC for Renewable Energy are among the major agencies which support its activities.The two Co-operative Research Centres (CRCs) in which Murdoch is a core partner (the AJ Parker CRC for Hydrometallurgy -- with its headquarters housed at Murdoch, and the CRC for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture) both had extraordinarily positive fifth year reviews. Both CRCs are working hard in the preparation of new proposals for a further seven years funding. Professor Ian Ritchie continues his very fine work as the Director of the AJ Parker CRC for Hydrometallurgy.The Australian CRC for Renewable Energy (ACRE) has received a very positive first year review. Its projects, gathering together researchers from all over the country, are already making a significant difference to Australia's renewable energy sector.The State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (SABC) continues to expand. The move of staff from the Technology Transfer laboratory of Agriculture Western Australia and other growth means the Centre now has over 100 users. The installation of a Robotic PCR and extended DNA sequencing facilities have significantly enhanced the research capabilities of the Centre. The WA State Government has recognised the SABC as a Centre of Excellence and recently awarded it funding of $350,000. |
| If we take our size into account we have one of the highest demands for postgraduate training in Australia. |
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Two new and highly significant centres were established in 1997. The Centre for Rhizobium Studies, with funding in the financial year 1997-1998 of approximately $800,000 and with 25 researchers, is probably the largest centre of its type anywhere in the world. The Centre for Production Animal Research in the Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences has already attracted significant external industry funding. A proposal for its establishment as a Centre of Excellence to be submitted to the WA Department of Commerce and Trade is currently underway with support from the Board of Research. The Rumen Technology Group, which moved here from the University of New England, has settled into the SABC.University funds have been used to obtain significant external funding, for example the University has obtained funds from Western Power ($400,000) and the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) ($100,000), to establish a Chair in Renewable Energy Engineering. The University was the lead institution in a bid to obtain an XPS machine worth over $1million -- some $735,000 was obtained from the Australian Research Council for this facility.The University's research funding from all external sources increased by 7.5% in 1997. The latest available national benchmarking studies (for 1996) show that on a per capita basis, Murdoch ranked 7th among the Australian universities in higher research degree completions, 11th in industry funding, other public sector funding and publications, and 15th in national competitive grants. Recently we have achieved substantial increases in funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Meat Research Corporation.The number of postgraduate research students continues to increase steadily. The demand for training continues to be high; indeed if we take our size into account we have one of the highest demands for postgraduate training in Australia. Approximately 50% of our research students completed their first degree elsewhere.All this paints a picture of a vibrant and energetic research culture in which quality is married to relevance. The University is committed to maintaining research of international standard addressing issues of concern to this State, to Australia or the international community. The pages of Synergy display many of the important areas of research relevant to industry and the public sector.Professor Andrew Glenn
Pro Vice Chancellor (Research)
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