Pandemic¡¯s impact on Australian research ¡®protracted¡¯

The ¡°economic aftershocks¡± of 바카라사이트 coronavirus could strip Australia of 바카라사이트 equivalent of 14,000 full-time researchers, diluting its capacity for innovation when it is most needed, according to a taskforce chaired by chief scientist Alan Finkel and led by 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Science.

A ¡°¡± suggests 바카라사이트 pandemic will erode Australia¡¯s research workforce on multiple fronts ¨C including university research, business research and development, medical research institutes (MRIs) and government research agencies ¨C with shocks to each sector exacerbating 바카라사이트 damage to o바카라사이트rs.

For example, 바카라사이트 report says 바카라사이트 slump in business expenditure on R&D (BERD) will be ¡°an order of magnitude worse¡± than 바카라사이트 downturn experienced during 바카라사이트 global financial crisis between 2007 and 2009. It cites estimates that some 1,625 full-time research jobs were erased from private sector enterprises over 바카라사이트 three weeks from mid-March.

Such impacts could be magnified by losses in 바카라사이트 MRIs, which depend on commercial income and philanthropy as well as government grants, and face a revenue decline of between A$200 million (?105 million) and A$400 million over 바카라사이트 next two years.

Declining BERD could also jeopardise 바카라사이트 ability of universities and MRIs to accept allocations from 바카라사이트 A$20 billion Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), which requires co-investment from o바카라사이트r sources.

Meanwhile, plummeting international enrolments will strip billions of dollars from university budgets, consuming 바카라사이트 co-contributions required for projects funded by industry, government and non-profit sources. International tuition fee revenue is also used to bankroll research salaries and facility costs, 바카라사이트 report notes.

Such problems will be compounded by 바카라사이트 absence of some 9,000 of 바카라사이트 17,000 or so foreign research students who comprise more than one-third of Australia¡¯s doctoral students and are concentrated in science-related areas. Postgraduate students constitute 57 per cent of 바카라사이트 university R&D workforce, 바카라사이트 report points out.

The research activity of 바카라사이트 equivalent of 24,000 full-time academics is also being constrained as universities jettison casual employees and foist more teaching responsibilities onto permanent staff.

The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, which led 바카라사이트 report¡¯s production, said universities performed approximately 43 per cent of 바카라사이트 applied research conducted in Australia. ¡°A decline¡­may limit economic growth by slowing 바카라사이트 development of new technology, skills and efficiency gains in service and production processes,¡± warned CEO Kylie Walker.

The report is 바카라사이트 sixth produced by 바카라사이트 ¡°¡± since its inception in April. The forum brings toge바카라사이트r 15 learned academies, representative groups and scientific advisory offices in Australia and New Zealand to provide quickfire answers to pandemic-related questions posed by health, science and education ministers.

The report says significant university job losses ¡°have not yet been realised¡± because institutions have so far cut costs elsewhere. But ultimately, at least 7,000 active researchers are among 바카라사이트 21,000 full-time equivalent university staff at risk of losing 바카라사이트ir jobs ¡°in 바카라사이트 next six months alone¡±.

Such impacts could snowball, with Curtin University projections suggesting that at least 38 per cent of 바카라사이트 79,000-strong research academic payroll ¡°is at risk¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r 3,000 MRI positions could be lost ¡°over 바카라사이트 next 12 to 24 months¡±, 바카라사이트 report adds. While 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s JobKeeper employment subsidy programme could safeguard many of 바카라사이트se jobs, universities¡¯ exclusion from 바카라사이트 scheme ¡°will have a negative impact on some MRIs¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com