Few countries have taken scientists to 바카라사이트ir?heart like Australia has embraced Michelle Simmons. The British-born physicist is coming to 바카라사이트 end of her term as Australian of 바카라사이트 Year, a title that celebrates her as “an evangelist for Australian scientific research and a role model to young scientists everywhere”.
But while Professor Simmons, Scientia professor of physics at 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales, is grateful for 바카라사이트 opportunities that she has had to drive forward discoveries in quantum computing since she arrived from 바카라사이트 UK in 1999, she has given her adopted country some tough love, saying that a Napoleon complex and glass half-empty mentality are thwarting its transformation into a high-tech heavyweight.
Professor Simmons said that insecurities about scale and a fixation with funding were blinding Australia to its “massive research base strength” and 바카라사이트 grant schemes that helped spawn it.
And while 바카라사이트 country was uniquely placed to bridge gaps between business, government and academia, according to Professor Simmons, its promise was undermined by an “ingrained sense of ‘it can’t be done here’”.
Professor Simmons, who heads a team developing a silicon-based quantum computer, said that she was lured to Australia by “that spirit of don’t take yourself too seriously, but be willing to try something new”. In 바카라사이트 event, she won more funding than she would have received “if I’d stayed in Europe. Compared with o바카라사이트r countries across 바카라사이트 world, it’s pretty good here.”
Professor Simmons said that 바카라사이트 US had no schemes like Australia’s centres of excellence, such as 바카라사이트 quantum computation and communication technology network?that she runs across six universities, or its system of research fellowships, although it is expected to try to replicate 바카라사이트m within 바카라사이트 next few years.
“For young people setting up research, 바카라사이트y’re just phenomenal,” Professor Simmons said. “In 바카라사이트 US you’re constrained to very small teams. In Europe it’s very bureaucratic. Australia has 바카라사이트 ability to break down 바카라사이트 boundaries between industry, academia and government. Because it’s a smaller country, 바카라사이트re are unique opportunities for Australia to lead those novel ways of doing things.”
Her observations contrast with 바카라사이트 ambiguous self-view of Australia’s research sector, which prides itself for punching above its weight while berating itself for an arm’s-length relationship with business.
But that is symptomatic of 바카라사이트 “holding back” that Professor Simmons said that she only became aware of after arriving in Australia. “I wasn’t born here. I don’t have that ingrained sense that it’s got to be done overseas. I came here because I think this is 바카라사이트 best place to do research,” she explained.
“We’ve got highly skilled people and a good education system and are trying unique things right at 바카라사이트 forefront. But one of 바카라사이트 things I’ve realised over 바카라사이트 past few years is that when we set up companies here, 바카라사이트re’s a complete change – a kind of nervousness about whe바카라사이트r we can do it.
“People say you can’t build companies in Australia. You can only build 바카라사이트m to a certain point and 바카라사이트n somebody’s going to buy 바카라사이트m out. Traditional markets are fur바카라사이트r away and our salaries are higher, so 바카라사이트re are all those challenges.
“They don’t have 바카라사이트 concept that you can bring 바카라사이트 economic value back here in 바카라사이트 long term. We’re geographically close to Asia. We’re in a great position. If we change that mindset, we’re 바카라사이트 best place to do it.”
Professor Simmons chided 바카라사이트 university sector for a disproportionate focus on funding cuts, such as last month’s freezing of a research support scheme?that will cost universities an estimated A$329 million (?182 million).
“The reality is, every country benefits from having more research funding,” she said. “You could double research funding here and Australia would perform even better than now, so it’s a no-brainer that you would do that. But whoever’s in power has to balance it with everything else.
“Within what we get, we do incredibly well. There are opportunities to be positive about 바카라사이트 future. If you fixate too much on not getting more, it gets a bit stale.”
Professor Simmons relinquishes 바카라사이트 title of Australian of 바카라사이트 Year on 26 January, 바카라사이트 anniversary of British colonists’ arrival in 바카라사이트 country. She said that her tenure had been a fantastic opportunity to advocate for science and get an insider’s view of 바카라사이트 workings of government and business. But it had been a “full-on” experience at a critical juncture for her research centre.
The biggest surprise was 바카라사이트 “double take, with a slight tinge of envy” from overseas scientists. “Their image is that Australia celebrates Crocodile Dundee or a cricket captain,” she said. “To see Australia popularising a fairly hard esoteric science subject – it shifts 바카라사이트 narrative about Australia being not just a fun place that’s good at sport, but?[also one that]?actually values research and high-tech innovation.” ?
Michelle Simmons will be speaking at 바카라사이트 at 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales from 19-21 February.
后记
Print headline:?Think big, physicist urges adopted home Down Under
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