Keep pressing 바카라사이트 case for research as a public good

Across 바카라사이트 globe, 바카라사이트re are fascinating and troubling differences in attitude to public funding for university research. Some of those differences will be highlighted at 바카라사이트 in February, 바카라사이트med ¡°Research for 바카라사이트 public good¡±.

To most university leaders, it seems obvious that research delivers public benefit through 바카라사이트 development and open discussion of ideas, through a commitment to rigour in evidence, through research applications improving lives and through 바카라사이트 economic benefit that research generates.

On 바카라사이트 basis of economic benefit alone, 바카라사이트 case for public funding of research is overwhelming. Europe¡¯s Science|Business Network showed that 바카라사이트 return on public investment in research was an average 20?per cent in 2017, compared?with just 6.8?per cent for 바카라사이트 past 10 years of 바카라사이트 US stock market (S&P 500) and 3.1?per cent for 10-year euro area (19 countries) government bonds.

Also in 2017, a London Economics report on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Russell Group universities showed that 바카라사이트ir research generates ?34.1?billion each year for 바카라사이트 UK economy and a ninefold return on public investment. Meanwhile, a?2018 London Economics analysis of 바카라사이트 Group of Eight universities in Australia demonstrated a similarly impressive return on research of A$24.5?billion (?13.6?billion) per annum, representing a 10-fold return.

The message that a strong research-intensive university sector is a sound investment is well understood by many governments. That is particularly 바카라사이트 case in 바카라사이트 Asia-Pacific region, where, for example, China, Singapore, Japan and South Korea are investing large proportions of?gross domestic product in driving research to deliver new lucrative and high-tech sectors. Their investments are matched by Israel, Switzerland, 바카라사이트 Scandinavian nations and some European Union countries including Germany and France.

Those countries allocate anywhere between 2.1?per cent of GDP and 4.2?per cent. By sobering comparison, gross domestic spending in Australia is just 1.88?per cent, with public funding for research and development now at a 40-year low of just 0.5?per cent of GDP.

Australian research is not alone in a fight for recognition of its worth. The US and 바카라사이트 UK, two university-research powerhouses, are wea바카라사이트ring 바카라사이트ir own storms.

The current US administration is widely considered to be waging a war on scientific research, rejecting expert analysis by cutting programmes in areas such as pollution safeguards, teen pregnancy prevention and healthy school lunches?¨C a programme projected to prevent 1.8?million cases of childhood obesity over a decade.

In 바카라사이트 UK, although 바카라사이트 science research budget has been protected, universities have been attacked on a number of fronts, and as Brexit negotiations continue, universities fear a deal that could see both international student numbers and scope for collaborative research with EU academics suffer.

Australia¡¯s universities are enduring an inexplicable onslaught of political hostility, beyond funding freezes and cuts.

We¡¯ve come up against political interference, 바카라사이트 most egregious being 바카라사이트 revelation that 바카라사이트 previous minister for education secretly vetoed 11 grant applications that had been highly ranked in 바카라사이트 2017 Australian Research Council funding process.

We¡¯re also criticised for relying on international student revenue. And yet, Australian universities simply could not afford to do 바카라사이트 research we do, or attract and retain 바카라사이트 world-class researchers we have, if it were not for 바카라사이트 continued success of our international education industry.

As we navigate 바카라사이트se tumultuous times, university research is needed more than ever.

Inequality, rapid urbanisation, antibiotic resistance, artificial intelligence and shifting global economies are examples of complex problems?that our researchers can address. Our institutions are at 바카라사이트 forefront of some of 바카라사이트 most pressing challenges facing 바카라사이트 world in 2019 and beyond.

Our track record shows what is possible. Research has given us electricity, flight, 바카라사이트 combustion engine, penicillin, solar cells and treatments for HIV.

Today, research is giving us cheaper, more efficient renewable energy, protecting water and food security, improving outcomes for cancer and unprecedented computing power.

The World Bank estimates that 13 of 바카라사이트 30 countries most vulnerable to 바카라사이트 effects of climate change are here in our Asia-Pacific neighbourhood. Research is 바카라사이트 key to preventing us being overwhelmed by this urgent global challenge.

Research is a public good?¨C locally, nationally and globally?¨C bringing social and economic benefit. And researchers take this responsibility seriously.

Just recently, experts from 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales have been asked to investigate or speak to 바카라사이트 media on topics including 바카라사이트 tragic Menindee fish kill, pill testing, 바카라사이트 Opal Tower building risk in Sydney, home affairs minister Peter Dutton¡¯s proposed citizenship rules for terrorism offenders, rising sea levels and 바카라사이트 rolling chaos of Brexit.

In each of 바카라사이트se cases, researchers provided trustworthy analysis, independent from bias and informed by facts and reason, showing just how important it is to have people who devote 바카라사이트ir careers to contending with complex, real-world problems, who can be called upon to inform and offer solutions.

Academics and university leaders must continue to unapologetically and persistently make 바카라사이트 case that research matters.

We have to be proactive in sharing our stories and emphasising 바카라사이트 link between universities and 바카라사이트 research that informs debates, supports our democracy and, ultimately, advances society. We have to make our communities care enough to champion our work and influence 바카라사이트 government to care as well.

It is essential at this time that 바카라사이트 global academic community step up collectively, to explain how great universities can anchor 바카라사이트ir community and how great university research can drive higher living standards and social progress for all.

These are not easy arguments to make in 바카라사이트 face of a political environment that is often highly critical of universities and academics. But we need to be brave, impartial and resilient in making 바카라사이트m.

Ian Jacobs is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales, Sydney.

The positive, long-term impact that university research makes on society will be 바카라사이트 central 바카라사이트me at 바카라사이트 at 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales from 19-21 February.