~titled

llcof2

http://www .deet.gov.au/minwnlvanstone/vI17_29_10.htm

................... .........

DEE T~ f Al Ã¢Â‘ .......................... .... l\lcdia Release

$14.6 MILLION IN RESEARCH GRANTS FOR  UNIVERSITIES IN QUEENSLAND

V117/96 29 October 1996

Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone, today  announced acceptance of Australian Research Council (ARC) advice to provide funding of $98  million for over 600 new large research grants.

$14.6 million of these funds will be provided to researchers in Queensland, and $5.38 million will be  paid in 1997.

Large research grants are awarded to individuals and teams of university researchers following a  highly competitive process managed by the Australian Research Council.

"The 640 successful research projects were selected from 3,012 applications, with the average grant  size for 1997 being $55,600," Senator Vanstone said. "Specific priority areas receiving funds include  international collaboration, optics and food science and technology. "

The largest grant of$115,000 awarded in Queensland was for experimental tests of quantum  nonlinear dynamics in atom optics. The project which was awarded to Professor Milburn and  Associate Professors Rubinsztein-Dunlop and Heckenberg from the University of Queensland, will  use recent innovations in laser technology to enable atoms to be trapped and cooled in a beam of light  and forced to enter the quantum qomain where classical mechanics fail.

Other notable projects include a study on earthquake hazard in the Australian intraplate setting . The  project which was awarded to Doctor Jaume and Associate Professor Mora from the University of  Queensland, will use data previously collected and data to be collected to validate synthetic seismicity  models that can be used for earthquake hazard assessment.

"Two hundred and eleven of the large grants awarded involve international collaboration with top  quality overseas researchers, underlining the need to encourage Australian researchers to establish  links with high quality researchers in other countries," Senator Vanstone said.

"Australia produces about 2 per cent of the world's total research outputs. Part of the process of  increasing our share is to provide encouragement for Australian researchers to work with their  overseas peers. "

Senator Vanstone also drew attention to the fact that funding oflarge research grant proposals in  universities has numerous, less publicised impacts.

"Young researchers, research assistants and the range of people involved in providing administrative  support to researchers in universities all stand to benefit directly from the funding of these research  projects . "

Researchers will commence their projects in early 1997.

11/25/9609:25:06

T J~itlcd http://www .dcct.gov.aulminwnlvanstonc/vI17 _29_10.htm

(

to "Commonwealth financial support for curiosity driven, basic research across all disciplines in our

2'21O f2

universities is essential for future competitiveness," Senator Vanstone said.

"At the same time, global economic shifts are shifting the Australian economy away from traditional  areas to an expanded range of value-added products and services. It is vital that our universities play  an active role in this transformation by strengthening our research and research training base, and their  links to high value adding industries.

"Funding for large grants will go a long way towards assisting with this process. ".

Media inquiries: Christian Kerr, Senator Vanstone's Office (08) 8237 7947 / 0419698429

::5i&ikC':: .... . ....

. ~ .

Home. ~lini"'lcrs. ))cpartment.l.ihrary. Whal'~ l\ew .Int<>rnet S('l"\ircs  " Search

,'I

[TOP]--[Senator Vanstone's Media Releases and Speeches]--[DEETYA Home Page]

Any comments or queries should be sent to wwweditor@deetya.gov.au

This page was last updated on 11 November 1996

Copyright Â© Commonwealth of Australia

11125196 09:25:09

