 Dr Ben McNeil |
Science big winner in ARC fundsNovember 4 2007 The Faculty of Science performed strongly when UNSW received more than $34 million in the latest round of Australian Research Council funding. Federal Education, Science and Training Minister Julie Bishop announced that UNSW had received $26 million in funding for 87 Discovery Projects, representing nearly nine percent of a total $300 million in funding offered by the Australian government over the next five years. Among the largest Discovery grants awarded to UNSW was $778,000 awarded over five years to Dr Andreas Fuhrer in the School of Physics for research in the field of semiconductor nanowires. Physics won eight Discovery Projects in all, with a total value of $3.2M, as well as a Queen Elizabeth II research fellowship (one of only 3 at UNSW). In addition the School was extremely successful in receiving Linkage grants, winning three of UNSW's 10 Infrastructure grants totalling $866k, and two of the University's three Linkage International Grants. Other Schools within the Faculty of Science also had outstanding success. Dr Gavan McNally, in the School of Psychology, was awarded two grants: one of $530,000 over five years for research into the neural mechanisms behind predictive fear learning; and a second grant of $282,000 over three years for research into mechanisms for the inhibition of fear. A grant of $564,000 over three years was made to Professor Ian Dawes in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences for research into cell ageing and oxidative damage of cells. Climate change centre recognised Among those from the centre awarded funding is Dr Ben McNeil, who received a QEII Fellowship, valued at over $600,000 over five years, to investigate oceanic carbon dioxide variability and its influence on atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. The minister announced the grants at UNSW during a recent tour of the University's Centre for Quantum Computer Technology. Ms Bishop said it was vital for Australian research to be supported to ensure Australia remains competitive internationally. "Our researchers are creating new knowledge and underpinning our global competitiveness," she said. UNSW's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Les Field, said the latest ARC funding was "a terrific result for UNSW". "This funding provides support for an enormous amount of exciting research at UNSW," he said. "This success reflects the real quality of research at UNSW, as a Group of Eight research intensive university." In additional ARC funding announced this week, UNSW secured 18 Linkage grants - the equal second-highest in the country with University of Sydney - worth a total of $4.9 million. UNSW's total partner organisation contribution has come to $7.8 million. UNSW was also the country's equal-highest recipient - again with the University of Sydney - of Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities grants, with 10 projects at UNSW awarded a total of $3.4 million. |
Latest news
|
|
Site map - Privacy statement - Copyright and Disclaimer -
CCRC UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia - Telephone +61 2 9385 7002 |
