Calls for Comment

CURRENT

ESA Expert Media Guide - Australian Science Media Centre

The Australian Science Media Centre (via FASTS) has requested ESA nominate a list of experts across ecological disciplines as part of its central media resource. This has prompted review of our ‘list of experts’ as a central resource for public liaison and community enquiries and for the purposes of seeking input on specific ecological issues.

Please have a look at the existing list (last updated in 2005) and provide your comments on omissions, additions and any incorrect or out of date details that may be listed. This list will represent an important resource for the Society in public and media liaison and in accurately representing our members so member input to its development would be greatly appreciated. Comments to executiveofficer@ecolsoc.org.au by July 30.

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FASTS is seeking assistance in identifying inhibitors to research collaboration.

During FASTS’ recent budget workshops, one of the key issues raised in most cities was inhibitors to collaboration. We think it would be a good idea for FASTS to take up this issue with the Government as it develops the details for implementation of its innovation, science and research policy initiatives. Accordingly, I would be very grateful if you could identify specific inhibitors which we can take up with Government. Obviously our initial focus will be on identifying issues (and possible actions) where the Government is either the problem or has the capacity to make a significant difference. Any suggestions to add to the list below will be much appreciated.

Budget Background
To coincide with the budget, the Government released its response to the Cutler review of the National Innovation System. The Government’s new policy and funding architecture for research and innovation is outlined in the policy paper Powering Ideas: An Innovation agenda for the 21st Century (which is available at www.innovation.gov.au)

One of the key priorities is collaboration and the Government has set a number of objectives including:

• doubling the level of collaboration between Australian businesses, universities, and publicly-funded research agencies over the next decade
• increasing international collaboration in research by Australian universities.
• renewing the Cooperative Research Centres Program along the lines proposed in the O’Kane report
• Improving Enterprise Connect’s services to individual firms
• Promoting proven models for linking public and not-for-profit researchers with industry and the wider Australian community (eg CSIRO’s National Research Flagships and the CSIRO ICT Centre). (see p. 8 of Powering Ideas)

I expect everyone supports the general principle of enhancing collaboration across all sorts of relations domestic/international, public/private, institution/institution and so forth. However, there are a wide range of structural, cultural and financial barriers/inhibitors to collaboration.

Inhibitors
Some of the Commonwealth imposed inhibitors that were identified in the budget workshops are:

• ARC requiring (and then denying) permission for Fellowship holders to earn research income from consultancies with firms in areas directly related to the research

• Preventing Government research agencies/organisations from being Linkage partners

• Complexity of Government research contracts (this was the focus of a good Group of Eight supplementary submission to the Cutler Review)

• Loss of R&D Start grants to leverage State Govt and Private VC for start-ups (although this is a deliberate policy decision so unlikely to be overturned any time soon)

Comments to Bradley Smith, Executive director (FASTS), bradley.smith@fasts.org

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ARC Centres of Excellence

The ARC has released a consultation paper on ARC Centres of Excellence with a view to changing selection criteria and funding arrangements for the next round to commence in July 2011. Some of the key proposals are

• centres to receive between $1m - $4mpa for up to 7 years
• Centres open to all fields of research except clinical medicine and dental research
• Ensuring research programs with higher than normal risk should not be excluded by the increase of risk
• Increase funding duration from 5 to 7 years but not extended beyond then (but that they can reapply in the next funding round after a successful review in the 4th year)
• Retain in broad terms existing selection criteria (eg research program 30%, investigators 20% Governance and leadership 20% etc)
• Rigorous review after 4 years with possibility of funding termination.

FASTS is coordinating a submission and would welcome feedback to inform their submission  - Submissions on the consultation paper are due by 21 July. The paper is available at:
http://www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/ce/consultation_paper.htm

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Application for approval of a Wildlife Trade Operation for the wild harvest and export of hermit crabs (Coenobita variabilis) for consideration under Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) has received an application for approval of a Wildlife Trade Operation under Part 13A, section 303FN of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The application is for the export of live hermit crabs (Coenobita variabilis) for commercial purposes.

It is proposed that should the operation be approved it would be in force for up to three (3) years from the date of declaration. The applicant currently holds an approved Wildlife Trade Operation valid from 8 November 2006 to 30 June 2009.

In accordance with the provisions of section 303FR of the Act, you are invited to comment on this proposal. Please submit your comments by 8 July 2009. Please include your full name and address in your submission.

The proposal can be found at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/invitecomment/coenobita-variabilis.html

Comments should be addressed to:

The Director

Wildlife Trade Assessments

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

GPO Box 787

Canberra ACT 2601

or can be emailed to: wta@environment.gov.au

To assist in considering comments, DEWHA encourages you to provide comments under the following headings:

• ·       Management and methodology
• ·       Monitoring procedures
• ·       Ecological sustainability of the operation
• ·       Other

SUBMITTED COMMENTS

Draft National Biodiversity Strategy 2010-2020

The federal government recently sent out a call for comment on the draft National Biodiversity Strategy. ESA submitted a detailed response following consultation with members.

ESA's final submission can be viewed here

Have your Say!

ESA is keen to hear from any members interested in supporting the public liaison group in preparing comments on similar policy papers or coordinating comments or preparing position papers on issues relating to their field of research. This is a critical way of communicating ecological issues and impacts to policy makers and for your Society being heard as a central and credible ecological voice. Contact vp1@ecolsoc.org.au or executiveofficer@ecolsoc.org.au for more details on how you can get involved and keep your eye on the ESA webpage for opportunities to comment and have your say.