Category: university research

Australian Universities Call out Record Low Research Funding

Government spending on research has dropped to its lowest on record, triggering a warning from universities. New forecasts show spending is on track to be 0.49 percent of GDP in 2022/23, having never dropped below 0.5 percent since records began in 1978. Universities Australia chief Catriona Jackson told the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association’s annual conference…


‘Publish or Perish’: Academics Pumping out Trivial Research for the Sake of the Dollar

Commentary In a 2015 piece for Time magazine, writer Jeffrey Klugerin listed the ten most ridiculous scientific studies. Hilarious examples include: “Quitting smoking after heart attack reduces chest pain, improves quality of life,” “Statistical analysis reveals Mexican drug war increased homicide rates,” and “Scientists discover a difference between the sexes.” It is concerning that research…


Australian Universities Should Provide Top of the Line Education to Their ‘Cash Cows’

Commentary Alex Chevrolle, director of external relations at education provider Study Group Australia, recently argued that the Labor government should develop a new funding strategy to ensure that universities do not have to depend on fluctuating and decreasing international student fees. It is well-known that international students pay higher enrolment fees than domestic students. The…


The Education Minister’s Power to Veto Research Grants: Is It Really an ‘Existential’ Threat?

Commentary On Christmas Eve 2021, Australia’s Acting Minister of Education, Stuart Robert, vetoed six research grants, that had been recommended by the Australian Research Council (ARC) for funding. The proposed research projects dealt with modern-day China, the motivation behind school students’ climate activities, exploration of early English literature and theatre, and the connection of religion…