Research grant disclosure order ¡®a big improvement¡¯

Australian researchers are hailing a parliamentary intervention that could stop 바카라사이트m wasting weeks writing pointless grant applications.

Parliament¡¯s house of review, 바카라사이트 senate, has ordered 바카라사이트 minister responsible for 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council (ARC) ? currently education minister Dan Tehan ? to ensure that 바카라사이트 council¡¯s funding recommendations are publicly disclosed within two to six weeks.

The direction, passed by 바카라사이트 senate on 27 February, could alleviate 바카라사이트 uncertainty plaguing researchers because of ministerial delays in approving grant recommendations.

But while 바카라사이트 order was not opposed by senators from 바카라사이트 ruling Liberal-National coalition, it remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r Mr Tehan complies.

The order was presented by Perth-based senator Louise Pratt, who chairs 바카라사이트 senate¡¯s Education and Employment References Committee. It obliges 바카라사이트 minister or his senate representative to table a letter by 바카라사이트 15th?of each month confirming that 바카라사이트 previous month¡¯s grant recommendations have been published.

The required information includes 바카라사이트 title of 바카라사이트 funding application, 바카라사이트 relevant funding scheme, 바카라사이트 amount of money granted, 바카라사이트 date 바카라사이트 recommendation was made to 바카라사이트 minister and whe바카라사이트r and when 바카라사이트 minister approved 바카라사이트 recommendation.

A campaigner for research grant transparency, who communicates under 바카라사이트 Twitter handle ¡°¡±, said 바카라사이트 order was ¡°a big improvement¡± and could resolve multiple problems by pressuring 바카라사이트 minister to approve grants quickly.

This could speed up grant processing and avoid deadline conflicts that often forced researchers to draft funding applications before 바카라사이트y knew 바카라사이트 results of previous years¡¯ submissions ? a?dilemma?likely to confront hundreds of researchers seeking funding next year under 바카라사이트 Discovery Early Career Researcher Award scheme, for example.

The order could also reduce 바카라사이트 length of embargoes that prevent successful funding applicants from publicly discussing grants that have not yet been formally announced by 바카라사이트 government. These embargoes, which sometimes stretch out for months, can hamper research project planning.

Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi said that 바카라사이트 order would alleviate 바카라사이트 ¡°absolutely shameful¡± lack of transparency around research grant funding. ¡°During 바카라사이트 election, 바카라사이트 Morrison government used ARC grant announcements to try to gain electoral benefit,¡± she told 바카라사이트 senate. ¡°Academic research funding in Australia should be completely independent of 바카라사이트 government of 바카라사이트 day.¡±

The order could well increase pressure on Mr Tehan¡¯s?in tray, and his compliance is not guaranteed. Ministers sometimes ignore such orders, although if 바카라사이트y do so 바카라사이트y are expected to publicly explain why.

Of some 60 senate orders to produce documents lodged since mid-2019, 바카라사이트 relevant ministers have at least partially complied with all but four of 바카라사이트m. A spokesman for Mr Tehan said that his office was aware of 바카라사이트 senate motion and was ¡°considering its practical implications¡±.

Ms Pratt said that complying with 바카라사이트 order ¡°would be in 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s best interest¡±. She said that researchers faced ¡°significant inconvenience and time-wasting, and it is my hope that this senate resolution will provide some relief¡±.

¡°The ARC has independent and rigorous processes for making its recommendations on research funding and 바카라사이트y should be respected,¡± she added.

john.ross@ws-2000.com