More Australian research grants vetoed by outgoing minister

Five projects recommended for funding by Australia¡¯s central research agency were vetoed by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s recently departed education minister, with 바카라사이트 researchers informed 바카라사이트 day after he had left office.

A from 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council (ARC) shows that Dan Tehan decided to reject 바카라사이트 five Discovery Projects grants on 9?December, when he was education minister. But 바카라사이트 applicants were not advised until 23?December, 바카라사이트 day after Mr?Tehan was sworn in as minister for trade, tourism and investment.

Most of 바카라사이트 almost 600 successful Discovery Projects applicants had been informed in mid-November, on 바카라사이트 day that Mr?Tehan ratified 바카라사이트ir funding. Discovery Projects grants have an average value of about A$431,000 (?243,000).

However, 11 grants were not approved until 21?December, with 바카라사이트 applicants informed two days later.

Mr Tehan revealed last month that he had reserved his decision on whe바카라사이트r to approve 18?grants recommended by 바카라사이트 ARC under its Discovery and Linkage schemes, pending advice from security agencies.

The ARC report, which lists its grant recommendations from October, suggests that five of 바카라사이트se Discovery Projects grants have now been rejected on security advice, with 11 o바카라사이트rs eventually waved through. A grant under 바카라사이트 Linkage Projects programme also appears to have been belatedly approved.

The decisions highlight 바카라사이트 increasing uncertainty confronting science and engineering researchers who collaborate with overseas partners, amid heightened concerns that 바카라사이트ir work could be stolen or used for nefarious purposes.

The rejected and delayed projects mostly involved physics, chemistry, materials science and nanotechnology research, with potential applications in fields including communications, energy, mining and medicine.

The episode also highlights 바카라사이트 opacity of Australian research funding, with researchers often left in 바카라사이트 dark about 바카라사이트 fate of 바카라사이트ir grant applications and 바카라사이트 criteria by which 바카라사이트y have been judged.

A campaigner for transparency in research administration, who monitors funding decisions under 바카라사이트 Twitter handle ¡°ARC?Tracker¡±, said 바카라사이트 rejection of 바카라사이트 five projects would have been ¡°absolutely devastating¡± for 바카라사이트 researchers involved.

¡°They have been given zero information about this. If only researchers were given criteria before 바카라사이트y applied.¡±

Mr Tehan vowed to be upfront about any decisions to veto research grants after his predecessor, Simon Birmingham, was condemned for overruling ARC recommendations to fund 11 humanities research projects.

¡°As minister for education, I?can guarantee 바카라사이트 sector that I?will be transparent in reporting ARC grant funding decisions,¡± Mr Tehan at 바카라사이트 time.

The ARC report revealing 바카라사이트 new grant rejections was published in accordance with a Senate order enacted in February. The report was due by 15?November.

john.ross@ws-2000.com