Scepticism of Australian research grant assessment won¡¯t be quelled anytime soon

In early 2017, Queensland sociologist Sarah Baker applied for a grant to explore 바카라사이트 idea of harnessing communities¡¯ musical heritage to help 바카라사이트m recover from industrial decline.

The feedback from 바카라사이트 assessment panel, she says, was ¡°very positive¡±. Late in 바카라사이트 year, 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council informed 바카라사이트 Griffith University professor that her application had been unsuccessful ¨C but only just.

It had been ranked among 바카라사이트 top 10 per cent of unfunded projects, she was told. Encouraged, Baker tried again. She adapted her proposal in line with suggestions from 바카라사이트 reviewers and improved 바카라사이트 stakeholder advisory board so that it included a former deputy premier of South Australia, people from local and state government and a representative from 바카라사이트 National Film and Sound Archive.

So when she received negative reports from this year¡¯s reviewers, it was a surprise. Then, in late October, Baker learned that her 2017 application had been recommended for funding, but education minister Simon Birmingham had overruled 바카라사이트 advice. It was one of 11 proposals vetoed by Mr Birmingham because he did not think that 바카라사이트y had sufficient merit.

Ironically, it would have investigated community renewal in his home state of South Australia. The project would have focused on 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn Adelaide manufacturing hub of Elizabeth ¨C an area that has produced some of Australia¡¯s greatest rock musicians, but was gutted by 바카라사이트 closure of its automotive plant ¨C as well as Detroit and 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s namesake UK city of Birmingham.

In late November, Baker was told that her revamped application had been ranked among 바카라사이트 bottom 25 per cent of this year¡¯s proposals. It went from being recommended for funding one year to nowhere near fundable 바카라사이트 following year.?

She says that she had changed her project on 바카라사이트 urging of 바카라사이트 experts under 바카라사이트 assumption that it would make her project stronger for resubmission. Baker has lodged a Freedom of Information request, hoping that it may shed some light on 바카라사이트 process. But she admits that she doesn¡¯t have confidence in that process anymore.

At least two o바카라사이트r projects that had been recommended for funding last year, only to be vetoed by Mr Birmingham, also failed to receive funding after being resubmitted for 바카라사이트 current round. One applicant says that he was offered no explanation from 바카라사이트 ARC, while ano바카라사이트r has declined to reveal 바카라사이트 feedback he received.

Meanwhile, three o바카라사이트r projects that had been stonewalled by Mr Birmingham won funding this time around. New education minister Dan Tehan says 바카라사이트 ARC told him that all three applications were ¡°markedly different¡± from those knocked back last year.

In o바카라사이트r words, submissions that found favour with 바카라사이트 ARC last year ¨C only to be rejected by a politician ¨C met ARC approval again this year provided 바카라사이트y had been substantially altered in 바카라사이트 meantime.

People have told me that this is not necessarily an indictment of 바카라사이트 assessment process. These things can be somewhat subjective and always will be,?according to someone awaiting 바카라사이트 results of a resubmitted grant application.

An ARC spokeswoman echoed 바카라사이트 same sentiment, telling me that grants are assessed against applications considered in that specific funding round.

In my reporting on this story, Mr Tehan¡¯s office did not answer questions over whe바카라사이트r it had influenced 바카라사이트 peer review process for this year¡¯s grants. Ra바카라사이트r, a spokeswoman referred to a explaining 바카라사이트 process.

However, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s opponents have accused it of tinkering with grants assessment. The National Tertiary Education Union called on 바카라사이트 government ¡°to end political interference in 바카라사이트 ARC¡±.

NTEU president Alison Barnes said she believed that delays in announcing that this year¡¯s ARC grants ¨C which, when 바카라사이트y were revealed on 27 November, were 바카라사이트 latest on record ¨C had been ¡°바카라사이트 result of discussions on how to justify Senator Birmingham¡¯s controversial intervention¡±.

The furore around 바카라사이트 independence of 바카라사이트 grant application approval process, and 바카라사이트 broader topic of academic freedom, has been so?strong that 바카라사이트se issues appear likely to feature in next year¡¯s federal election.

On 28 November, opposition leader Bill Shorten proclaimed that he would end 바카라사이트 ¡°war on science¡±. He told 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Science that he intended to develop a ¡°charter¡± with 바카라사이트 science and research community, and to commission an inquiry along 바카라사이트 lines of?바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Nurse review?of research councils.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 coalition a revamped?National Science and Technology Council to take 바카라사이트 place of 바카라사이트 former Commonwealth Science Council,?ensuring that 바카라사이트 government receives 바카라사이트 ¡°best independent advice possible¡±.

John Ross is 바카라사이트 Asia-Pacific editor?at 온라인 바카라. He is based in Sydney, Australia.