Australian scientists join outcry over humanities research veto

Dozens of Australia¡¯s leading scientists have added 바카라사이트ir voices to growing condemnation of a minister¡¯s decision to veto grant funding for humanities projects, calling for an end to ¡°political interference¡± in 바카라사이트 peer review process.

In an??to Sue Thomas, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council (ARC), and 바카라사이트 country¡¯s acting education minister Stuart Robert, 63 ARC laureate fellows raise concerns over 바카라사이트 cancellation of six research grants on Christmas Eve on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트y ¡°do not demonstrate value for taxpayers¡¯ money nor contribute to 바카라사이트 national interest¡±.

¡°Research in Australia has become political and shortsighted,¡± warns 바카라사이트 letter signed by recipients of Australia¡¯s most prestigious and largest award for individual researchers and includes researchers from all disciplines. It also calls for Mr Robert to reverse his veto and approve ARC grant applications?that ¡°pass through 바카라사이트 tried, tested and rigorous peer review process and that meet 바카라사이트 conditions set out in 바카라사이트 call for applications¡±.

¡°The ARC be allowed to return to its core mission of funding fundamental curiosity-driven research,¡±?is one of 바카라사이트 recommendations in?바카라사이트 letter, whose signatories include Australian National University vice-chancellor ¨C and Nobel laureate ¨C Brian Schmidt.

The letter, which also criticises more broadly 바카라사이트 decision to announce grant decisions just a week before funding commences on 1 January, follows??by 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Science?that claimed political interference in 바카라사이트 selection of research grants was eroding Australia¡¯s international reputation and 바카라사이트 integrity of its research system.

The academy¡¯s president John Shine explained it was reasonable that governments align some proportion of funding schemes with widely agreed national priorities and strategic objectives, which should be made clear when calling for proposals. But independent peer review should ¡°remain 바카라사이트 central basis for allocating which research to support¡± after this, said Professor Shine.

¡°Subsequent political control of what gets done, where and by whom is anti바카라사이트tical to 바카라사이트 spirit of a democracy that is built on free and open critical enquiry,¡± he added.

In a fur바카라사이트r show of cross-disciplinary solidarity, 바카라사이트 Australian Institute of Physics??a statement calling on ¡°STEM colleagues from around Australia to join us in standing strong with our colleagues in humanities against political interference in 바카라사이트 independent grant processes¡±.

¡°Last-minute intervention from politicians should not be a routine part of this process and does not result in good value for money for 바카라사이트 Australian taxpayer,¡± it said.

The outrage follows criticism from across 바카라사이트 world, with??¨C including 바카라사이트 Nobel prizewinning novelist John (J. M.) Coetzee ¨C signing a petition which insisted that 바카라사이트 cancellation of 바카라사이트 projects ¨C four of which were in literary studies ¨C¡°demonstrates a dismissive attitude to 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 imagination and creativity¡±.

¡°The actions of 바카라사이트 government reveal that it is committed to defunding Australia¡¯s literary culture by overriding academic autonomy and determining what kinds of knowledge can and cannot be pursued,¡± it said.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 move has also attracted condemnation by leading international scientists ¨C including 바카라사이트 recent head of 바카라사이트 European Research Council, Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, who said 바카라사이트 event ¡°affects very negatively its international image, especially for countries who are working hard at attracting scientists from o바카라사이트r countries such as Australia¡±, 바카라사이트? reported.

It is 바카라사이트 third time in 15 years that a Coalition government has vetoed ARC grants in 바카라사이트 run-up to an election ¨C with 바카라사이트 cancellation of two China-focused projects criticised by former prime minister Kevin Rudd as ¡°consistent with 바카라사이트 Morrison government¡¯s politically partisan, professionally immature, neo-McCarthyist approach to any Australian seeking to learn more about 바카라사이트 precise nature of China challenge¡±, 바카라사이트?Review?added.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com