The University of Western Australia secured around 76 per cent of the funding allocated to WA universities from the Australian Research Council, at almost $17 million over the next five years.
The University of Western Australia secured around 76 per cent of the funding allocated to WA universities from the Australian Research Council, at almost $17 million over the next five years.
UWA projects won funding under a range of ARC research categories with Discovery Projects winning total funding of $13.2 million, Linkage Projects Round One $1.9 million, Linkage International $144,138 and Linkage Infrastructure and Equipment $1.35 million.
Major allocations to UWA researchers include:
- Professor Cheryl Praeger - $1 million to support her work on pure mathematics;
- Professor David Blair - $900,000 for work on gravitational wave detectors; and,
- Professor Harvey Miller - more than $1 million to support his group of plant bio-chemists.
Vice-Chancellor Alan Robson said the latest ARC funding allocations would ensure the University retained its reputation as the State's premier research institution.
"This major new allocation will ensure our researchers continue to pursue research that has important benefits for the community," he said.
The full text of an announcement from the office of Minister for Education, Science and Training Julie Bishop is pasted below
The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, has awarded new funding of $21,768,393 over five years to researchers in Western Australia to conduct 74 research projects that, in the medium- to long-term, are likely to produce results that will have a significant impact on the daily lives of all Australians.
The grants have been awarded in the latest Australian Research Council funding round and were selected from a record number of 4,834 applications.
"The Government is committed to developing Australia's human capital and successfully deploying that capital to address problems and opportunities that will deliver lasting benefits to the community," Minister Bishop said.
"The growing demand and increased competition for ARC funding is a healthy sign of a strong commitment from Australian researchers to contribute to our innovation capacity. It means that those projects that are funded, along with the associated researchers, are truly outstanding."
In this funding round, research organisations in Western Australia have been awarded funding under the ARC's Discovery and Linkage schemes.
Projects funded under Discovery schemes involve the conduct of fundamental research important to the national innovation system, including the people, processes and relationships involved in a knowledge-based economy.
Linkage funding is allocated to research projects that involve national and international partnerships between researchers and other organisations including business, industry and community organisations to secure commercial and other benefits.
Applications for ARC funding are subjected to a rigorous, independent peer review process that takes into consideration factors such as a researcher's track record and capacity to undertake the work; the significance and innovation of the proposed research program; the approach to be taken; training opportunities to be made available; and national benefit.
Discovery and Linkage schemes are funded under the ARC's National Competitive Grants Program, a component of the Government's 10-year $8.3 billion additional commitment to innovation under Backing Australia's Ability.
