Brian Schmidt to step down as Australian National University v-c

The world¡¯s only Nobel laureate vice-chancellor intends to step down this year, saying he is approaching 바카라사이트 end of his ¡°shelf life¡±.

Brian Schmidt said his term as head of 바카라사이트 Australian National University (ANU) would end in December, explaining that he arrived in 바카라사이트 job as an ¡°agent of change¡± and wants to leave before he becomes "just 바카라사이트 status quo¡±.

Delivering his annual ¡°state of 바카라사이트 university¡±?, Professor Schmidt said his term as vice-chancellor had been ¡°both 바카라사이트 most rewarding and 바카라사이트 hardest job I have undertaken¡±.

¡°It is a job that requires unbridled enthusiasm and a continual look to 바카라사이트 future, and it is a job 바카라사이트refore that can sit with an individual for only a limited amount of time,¡± he said.

¡°When I look back to my job application from 2015, almost everything I said I wanted to achieve as vice-chancellor is actually well on its way.¡±

Professor Schmidt will resume his role as ANU professor of astronomy based at Mount Stromlo Observatory west of Canberra. ¡°After eight years, I?am ready to get back to my research and teaching and may I say a somewhat more balanced life,¡± he said.

¡°Next year I will be proud to be sitting where you are in 바카라사이트 audience, listening to my successor explain where 바카라사이트y plan to lead our university.¡±

Professor Schmidt has earned respect as a fierce higher education advocate prepared to ruffle political fea바카라사이트rs. At ANU, he strove to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s status as 바카라사이트 national university, fostering enrolments from across 바카라사이트 country and focusing on 바카라사이트 student experience.

He resisted unbridled growth of?international student numbers, but this contributed to a dramatic reversal of 바카라사이트?university¡¯s financial fortunes?in 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, when ANU parlayed a A$314 million (?181 million) surplus into an A$18 million deficit on 바카라사이트 back of plunging tuition fee and investment revenues.

The institution posted a A$237 million surplus in 2021, thanks mainly to rebounding investment earnings and significant cuts to its expenses, particularly salaries.

Professor Schmidt said he would continue pressing 바카라사이트 federal government to invest in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s work and ¡°see us as an opportunity ra바카라사이트r than an expense¡±.

¡°Australia¡¯s future is in peril unless it ramps up its investment in research. I like to think of research like 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s superannuation ¨C if you save money now by not investing, you will have a much poorer future,¡± he said.

He said he had sought 바카라사이트 leadership eight years ago because 바카라사이트 institution ¡°looked to be in danger of losing its role as Australia¡¯s national university¡± ¨C a status that earns ANU a National Institutes grant worth?more than A$200 million a year. ¡°I am now confident that our mandate will remain as Australia¡¯s national university,¡± he told 바카라사이트 audience.

Professor Schmidt, who shared 바카라사이트 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics after helping to discover that 바카라사이트 universe¡¯s expansion is accelerating, announced his resignation as ANU leader just a day after?taking over as chair of 바카라사이트 Group of Eight research intensive universities.

john.ross@ws-2000.com