Research Branch Newsletter - 27 November 2006

New

ARC Discovery Project Applications Now Open

The ARC is now seeking Proposals under Discovery Projects for funding commencing in 2008. Documentation is available at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/arc/DiscProj.html. The documentation includes the Funding Rules, Instructions to Applicants, Certification pro forma, Eligibility Exemption/Ruling Request form, and the Request not to Assess form

The internal deadline for submitting an Eligibility Exemption/Ruling Request is 12 January 2007.
The internal deadline for submitting applications will be advised shortly.
Request not to Assess forms are due with the application

Applicants should note the definition of Medical and Dental Research. In some instances, it may not be clear to the intended Administering Organisation whether or not a Proposal would fall within the area of Medical and Dental Research such that it would not be funded by the ARC. In these cases an Eligibility Ruling should be sought by Applicants. The ARC and NHMRC have agreed to consult, where feasible, about such proposals. A committee comprising representatives from the ARC and NHMRC will be established to consider these submissions, and provide advice to Applicants on whether the ARC would be willing to recommend funding for a proposal involving the proposed research. The Discovery Projects Funding Rules provide further information on this process.

The Discovery Projects Application Form is now available on the ARC grants on-line management system (GAMS) located at https://gams.arc.gov.au/.

Please direct queries about the scheme to Louise Moore on 8303 3387 and queries about GAMS to Linda Knobben on 8303 4722

Nominations for NHMRC Working Committee Membership

The NHMRC is currently reviewing and expanding the membership of a number of working committees which will support the NHMRC’s research grant schemes during the 2006-2009 triennium. Nominations are now invited for up to five suitably qualified individuals (or up to ten for larger universities and institutions), with sound judgement and exceptional research and personal reputations to assist NHMRC in the following activities:

• Project Grants;
• Program Grants;
• Training Awards;
• Research Fellowships;
• Centre for Clinical Research Excellence;
• Special Programs;
• Enabling Grants; and
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research.

Further details are available in the letter from the NHMRC. Nominations are due in Research Branch by 4 December 2006.

The 2006 Brailsford Robertson Award Presentation & Lecture - Reminder

The University of Adelaide and CSIRO Human Nutrition are jointly funding an award of $200,000 over two years to encourage collaborative research in areas identified as strategic priorities by CSIRO (Obesity, Obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer, Novel carbohydrate-based foods and Attitudes to novel
technologies) and the University of Adelaide (Healthy Development, Healthy Aging, Food).

All interested staff are welcome to attend the Brailsford Robertson Award Announcement and Lecture Presentation

Date: Tuesday, 5 December
Time: 4.15pm - 5.45pm
Venue: Ira Raymond Room

Further details are available on the flyer

Heart Foundation Information Session

Date: Monday 22 January 2007
Time: 4.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Stirling Lecture Theatre, Room: SG16
Medical School South, Frome Road

The presentation will outline each award currently being offered by the Heart Foundation in clinical, biomedical or public health research: Grants-in-aid; Postgraduate Scholarships; Postdoctoral Fellowships; Career Development Fellowships; Overseas Fellowships; Vacation Scholarships; and Travel Grants. The information session is valuable for all researchers considering applying for Heart Foundation funding, in particular, those applying for the first time. The information sessions will also cover changes to the Heart Foundation Research Program.

Government Announces Commitment to RQF Implementation

The Hon Julie Bishop MP (Minister for Education, Science and Training) has announced the Government's commitment to introducing the Research Quality Framework as recommended by the Development Advisory Group. As anticipated, universities are to selectively nominate Research Groups (and researchers) for assessment of Research Quality and Impact, providing Evidence Portfolios within an institutional submission by April 2008. The RQF will assess research quality and impact produced between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2006. Quality and Impact will be separately assessed according to 5-point scales. The "staff census date" is 31 March 2007 for the purpose of attributing researchers' output to institutions.

"The Recommended RQF" is available at on the University's RQF website along with key dates, together with other resources.

The University's preparations for the RQF are being guided by the RQF Steering Committee (comprised primarily of Faculty Associate Deans (Research) and chaired by Professor Richard Russell, Dean of Graduate Studies) and the Director RQF (Janet Dibb-Smith). Please direct queries to Janet Dibb-Smith on 8303 3851.

Holberg International Memorial Prize 2007

The prize will be awarded to scholars who have made outstanding, internationally recognised contributions to research in the arts and humanities, social science, law or theology, either within one of these fields or through interdisciplinary work. Through his/her scholarly work, the prizewinner must have had a decisive influence on international research in the field, for instance through the development of new theory, knowledge or insight, through making new use of existing theories or through the methods used. The prize has a value of NOK 4.5 million, approx US$715,000). Nominations (direct to sponsor) are due 15 February 2007. Further information is available at http://www.holbergprize.no/HP_prisen/e_HP_retningslinjer.htm

Funding Opportunites

The Funding Opportunities page on the Research Branch website provides access to all ARC and NHMRC opportunities as well as the rural and natural resources R&D corporations. In addition, you can also access the myriad of other funding opportunities available in the Current List of Funding Opportunities and the Comprehensive List of Funding Opportunities. Also, you might like to look further at the funding opportunity databases listed such as SPIN. If you have any queries in regards to finding funding or using the databases please contact Linda Knobben on 8303 4722

Below is a selection of upcoming funding opportunities now open for application. If a web address is not listed, guidelines and application forms can be obtained from Linda Knobben on ext. 34722. Please visit the Research Branch website http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/funding/ to access the full range of opportunities and information on how to apply for them.

Still relevant...

Subscribe to Research Branch Mailing List

The Research Branch has established a mailing list for researchers interested in research news. The list circulates information on the major schemes and other funding opportunities, information sessions, prizes, general information relevant to researchers and the regular Research Branch newsletter.

To subscribe to the list, go to http://list.adelaide.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/allresearchers-v.researchbranch
Or contact Linda Knobben at linda.knobben@adelaide.edu.au or on Ext. 34722

2006 NHMRC Equipment round is now open

The 2006 NHMRC equipment grant round is now open. Applications are invited from teams seeking funds to purchase equipment to be used in health and medical research, as supported by NHMRC and other competitive grant support.

The Full details, including selection criteria and application guidelines are available on the Research Branch website at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/nhmrc/. Applications are due in Research Branch 11 December 2006.

DEST Collection of 2006 Publications

The Research Branch is continuing to encourage Schools and other units to make the annual collection of research publications for submission to DEST an ongoing process through the year. It it would be appreciated if Schools and Disciplines that have not already begun collecting 2006 publications could begin as soon as possible with a view to sending batches to the Branch progressively until the deadline 31 March, 2007. The Research Branch will be glad to receive batches at any time. Please note, due to the implementation of the Research Quality Framework it is now mandatory to collect Research Fields, Courses and Disciplines (RFCD) and Socio Economic Objective (SEO) codes for all publications (codes can be obtained at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/funding/codes.html). Information on the Publication Collection is available on the Research Branch website at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/pub

NHMRC - Palliative Care Research Program Training Awards

The Palliative Care Research Program is a joint initiative between the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Department of Health and Ageing. The Program aims to improve the quality of palliative care by funding research and research capacity building initiatives, including offering training awards. The program seeks to provide a platform to assist the palliative care research community to develop experience and skills to enable them to successfully attract funding from other sources. Applications are due in Research Branch by 29 November 2006. Further information is available at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/nhmrc/

Prizes

Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards

The purpose of the Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards is to acknowledge, encourage and most importantly promote the positive achievements of young South Australians aged between 14 and 26 years of age. The Awards recognise the achievements of South Australia’s youth in nine categories, which are:

Community Service
Arts
Sports
Environment
Career Achievement
Science & Technology
Regional Initiative
Outstanding Young Indigenous Achiever
Driving Force Leadership Award

Nominations are due 20 December 2006 (apply direct). Further information is available at http://www.awardsaustralia.com/YAA_sa.html

Australian Institute of Urban Studies (South Australia) Early Career Research Prize

The AIUS Urban Studies Early Career Research Prize is an annual prize of $1,500 awarded for an outstanding research paper by an Early Career Researcher addressing an urban theme of relevance to South Australia. Entries are encouraged from all disciplines. The deadline for papers is November 30th 2006. Further information is available in the flyer. Please submit direct to the sponsor.

Volvo Environment Prize

The Volvo Environment Prize Foundation invites universities, research institutes, scientists and engineers in the field of environmental protection, life sciences, earth sciences and social sciences, by national academies of science and their staff as well as other persons and organisations to submit nominations for the 2007 Volvo Environment Prize.

The Volvo Environment Prize is awarded for “Outstanding innovations or discoveries scientific, socio-economic, or technological which have direct or indirect significance in the environmental field and are of global or regional importance”. Nominations must be submitted by 1 December 2006 (aply direct). Further information is available at http://www.environment-prize.com/nominate_nominate.e

Rolex Awards for Enterprise

For 30 years, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise have provided financial support for exceptional individuals with groundbreaking projects that:
-expand our knowledge of the world;
-improve quality of life on the planet or
-enhance the human condition.

The awards are presented in every two years in five areas: Science and Medicine, Technology and Innovation, Exploration and Discovery, The Environment and Cultural Heritage. However a project may be submitted in almost any field of endeavour. Projects must be innovative, feasible and demonstrate a spirit of enterprise. The deadline for projects from Australia is 31 May 2007. Further information is available at http://www.rolexawards.com/news-update/home.html (apply direct).