Attracting and retaining the best and brightest early-career researchers from within Australia and around the world is at the heart of the Rudd Government’s decision to fund 100 Super Science Fellowships.
Researchers are critical to Australia’s knowledge economy. Early-career researchers are well placed to take advantage of opportunities as they emerge. They are the entrepreneurs of the future.
More than $27.2 million will be spent over four years to help keep Australia at the forefront of global research and ensure it remains internationally competitive. Our aim is to support exceptional domestic and international researchers to establish and maintain careers in Australia, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr said today.
“Providing opportunities for our most promising early-career researchers to work in areas of importance to all Australians is critical, especially as we move through the global recession,” he said.
“These Super Science Fellowships will not only enable vital research in the areas of space and astronomy; marine and climate; and future industries, they will foster our brightest young minds to start or further their research careers in Australia.
“Twenty Australian institutions are being awarded fellowships. They will begin a process of competitive national and international recruitment to fill the positions.
“Some of the research programs involving Super Science Fellows will:
• help provide a better understanding of future changes to groundwater resources;
• revolutionise the field of nanophotonics for a variety of novel applications including defence and renewable energy; and
• enhance the prospects of Australian scientific and technical involvement in next-generation astronomical facilities such as the
Square Kilometre Array.”
Fifty Super Science Fellowships will begin in 2010 and 50 in 2011.
The scheme is administered by the Australian Research Council and is part of the Australian Government’s $1.1 billion Super Science Initiative, which is helping to build a stronger higher education and innovation system for the 21st century.
Information about the scheme and the research programs involving Super Science Fellows is available at www.arc.gov.au.
Media contacts: Aban Contractor, Minister's Office, 0457 989 842
Sheena Ireland, ARC, 0412 623 056