Geoscience strategic plan 2006-2010
The Australian National University College of Science
Geoscience Strategic plan 2006-2010
Table of Contents
1.
PLANNING
Planning for research and education
Geoscience at ANU addresses fundamental questions about the formation, evolution and present nature of the Earth and its place in the Solar System. The research and teaching emphasise the planetary scale, while providing a unique Southern Hemisphere perspective on questions of global relevance. The Australian continent and its surrounding oceans have history, geology and environmental conditions that are unique from a global perspective, and ANU serves as the primary geophysical and geochemical observatory for the region, which stretches , from the Himalaya to Antarctica, encompasses some of the oldest and driest parts of the Earth's crust, includes three major oceans and experiences climates from tropical to polar. Geoscience at ANU also addresses problems of direct commercial and societal importance, such as the formation of natural resources, the evolution of landscapes and environmental change. The field is central to national research priorities, and informs society about the Earth we live on, about how the earth came to be as it is, about its resources, about past and present impacts of humans on the Australian environment and landscape, and about the possibilities of future global change. As populations and economies continue to grow, placing increasing stresses on natural resources and environments, the geosciences will be called upon with increasing urgency to provide knowledge and well-informed graduates.
The ANU geoscience program is consistently recognised one of the top ten university-based geoscience programs in the world, and by publication impacts it is the top ranked university program in any discipline in Australia . It is the nation's premier centre for basic research in the physics, chemistry and material properties of the Earth, along with the study of environmental conditions and past climate change. It has the only substantial geophysics expertise in Australia and has a unique array of analytical geochemical facilities. Given Australia 's geophysically unique location, the vulnerability of the Australian environment to climate variation and land use pressures, the nation's heavy reliance on its natural resources, and Australia 's position as the most developed country in the region, the ANU must continue to contribute to the nation's wellbeing through an outstanding program in geoscience teaching and research. The College will aim to maintain its world leadership in this field, and will demonstrate the flexibility to shift resources to new geoscience areas that are perceived to be of increasing importance.
Geoscience at ANU is located in the Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES) and the Department of Earth and Marine Science (DEMS). The research has evolved over past years from a strong focus on the “solid earth” to the present balance between “solid earth”, and “oceans and environment”. In both of these broad pursuits the emphasis is on fundamental questions about our planet. Given the pressing societal relevance of research into the Earth's fluid envelope, surficial processes, landscape and climate change, these areas have expanded steadily since the introduction of geophysical fluid dynamics and environmental geochemistry in RSES and palaeo-oceanography in DEMS. These areas continue to grow through changing research emphases of existing staff and the recent appointments in chemical oceanography, carbon cycle and ocean/climate modelling (particularly as a part of a cross-campus initiative in marine science). This recent development was possible through the addition of new recurrent funding and shifting of existing funds. There has also been expansion in cosmochemistry and studies of the earth's place in the solar system, through formation of the Planetary Science Institute between RSES and the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA). On the other hand, there are a number of recent and anticipated departures of senior staff in the “solid” earth areas of geophysics and the appropriate level of staffing in that area will deserve further examination, as ANU is the only centre for such expertise in Australia .
Scientific leadership in the Research School , on the day-to-day basis, rests largely at the level of group leaders, where groups generally consist of one or two senior academic staff, several junior academic staff, a number of graduate students and associated technical staff. For administrative purposes, groups in RSES are aggregated into four main Areas, each having an Area Coordinator who has oversight of the Area and is responsible for the distribution of recurrent funds allocated to the Area by the Director, academic supervision and a range of administrative roles. Area Coordinators play an important role in strategic scientific leadership. The Director exercises the highest level of executive leadership of the Research School . Faculty Board provides advice to the Director on academic matters. Research and education issues are also discussed at monthly Faculty meetings, which are chaired by an elected member of academic staff. RSES also seeks advice from its External Advisory Committee, which consists of eminent researchers and members from “end user” organisations. In DEMS, leadership rests with the Faculty, the Head of Department and the Dean of Science. Where research matters involve the College of Science , the areas will seek input from, or pass proposals and recommendations to, the College Executive, Research Committee or other College Committees as appropriate. Education matters are referred to the relevant Curriculum Committee (eg. Geoscience or Physics), College Education Committee, Dean of the College, or College Executive as appropriate.
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2. RESEARCH
2.1 Present position
Geoscience research is centred in the Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES) and the Department of Earth and Marine Science (DEMS), with links to activities in RSAA, RSPhysSE, SMS, CRES and SRES. The work of RSES is grouped into four major areas: Earth Chemistry, Earth Physics, Earth Materials and Earth Environment. DEMS has complementary research programs in petrology and geochemistry, economic geology, Quaternary palaeoenvironments, palaeontology, and regolith geochemistry. The two areas have extensive interaction, including several joint Discovery and LIEF grants, shared use of laboratory facilities, and several joint appointments. The RSES has 53 academic staff, 32 at Level C and above, and DEMS has 6 academic staff, all at Level C and above. An additional 9 appointees will commence later in 2006. At that stage DEMS and RSES will share 5 joint appointments.
Current research directions(see Addendum “ Thematic Summary of Research ”) are closely aligned to the Australian Academy of Science National Strategic Plan for the Earth Sciences. The research emphasises fundamental questions about our planet and the Solar System, and takes advantage of a strategic Southern Hemisphere perspective in examining both the Earth's interior and the global climate system. At the same time the research is of specific relevance to the geologic setting, environmental conditions and economic needs of Australia . The knowledge developed is central to national research priorities in earth imaging, the evolution and structure of the Australian continent and Antarctica , the formation of commercially important ore bodies, the past and present conditions in the surrounding oceans, the impacts of humans on the environment and landscape, and the understanding of future climate change.
Evidence of extensive leadership and excellence
The geoscience program conducts research at the highest international level and has demonstrated national and world leadership in defining new directions. The evidence is found in bibliometrics, the high level of external recognition of RSES and its faculty, success in competitive research grants, a high success rate in research student completion and later career success, and the extensive contributions of staff to their profession.
Bibliometrics
ANU geoscience is the most highly achieving research program across all fields and universities in Australia . Specifically:
• ANU rates 15th in total citations among geoscience institutions in the world*, and 8th among universities). ANU also achieved an average 15.26 citations per paper in geoscience journals, again 8 th among universities. (* Measured as those that “ attracted the highest total citations to their papers published in Thomson Scientific-indexed Geosciences journals… out of a pool of 351 institutions comprising the top 1% ranked by total citation count [1995-2005] in this field”, Thomson Essential Science Indicators, March 2006 ),
• the 2004 Review of ANU Quality lists the average impact of Earth Science publications as 1.52 relative to the world, with RSES at 1.69,
• the ANU geoscience program boasts nine ISI Highly Cited Researchers.
External recognition
Geoscience at ANU has an unprecedented level of international recognition and clear national leadership in the field, attested to by previous external review reports, Fellowship of national academies and other honours, and high levels of service for the research community. The program includes:
• Five Fellows of the Royal Society of London (83% of Australian earth scientists),
• Fifteen Fellows of the Australian Academy of Sciences (63% of earth science FAA), and including the President of the AAS,
• Ten Fellows of the American Geophysical Union (80% of all Australian Fellows),
• One Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering,
• Five Honorary Fellows, Geological Society of America (70% of all Australian GSA Honorary Fellows),
• One Foreign Fellow of the Académie des Sciences, Institut de France, the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and the Netherlands Academy of Sciences; Two Fellows of the Mineralogical Society of America; Two Associates of the Royal Astronomical Society, London; One Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; One Foreign correspondent to the German Palaeontological Society,
• a large number of prestigious medals, including three Jaeger Medals of the AAS, three Humboldt Prize winners and a JSPS Senior Invitational Fellowship,
• Editors of eight journals, and editorial board members of a further eleven journals,
• Numerous staff of DEMS and RSES are members of national and international scientific committees.
Research training
Students enrolled in the Graduate Programs in Earth Sciences or Quaternary and Regolith Studies have a PhD completion rate (1995-2003) of 98.7% (in RSES) and greater than 95% (in DEMS). The program has focussed on preparing students for research careers, and more than 80% of PhD graduates from RSES since 1971 remain engaged in full-time geoscience research. Geoscience has traditionally also seen postdoctoral training as a vital part of its national role and there are currently 21 Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Fellows in RSES, plus 1 in DEMS. A large number of previous Fellows have achieved outstanding careers and are leaders in the discipline.
External funding
Geoscience has outstanding success in national competitive funding schemes and in raising external income from its commercialisation activities. The total incomes in 2006 are 2.2 (RSES) and 1.5 (DEMS) times the respective Total Operating Grants. RSES external income of $12.7M is 54% of its total budget. The statistics include:
• 8 current ARC Fellows,
• 1.5 grants per academic staff at Level C and above in RSES (52 ARC grants - Discovery, Linkage, CoEs ) in 2005,
• 1.6 grants per academic staff member in DEMS (10 ARC grants) in 2006,
• $7.2M (RSES) and $450K (DEMS) in total external competitive grants funding (2006 budget),
• $5.4M other external income to RSES (2006 budget),
• DEMS is the lead ANU node for CRC LEME (in excess of $1M is awarded to the ANU in salaries plus operating grant by CRC LEME annually).
Partnerships
ANU has the nation's premier concentration of basic research facilities in geoscience, and accordingly provides the geoscience research community and industry access to unique capabilities that are vital to the welfare of Australian geoscience research. Major collaborations beyond ANU include:
• Partnership in the Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration (LEME),
• Participation in the Cooperative Research Centre for Antarctic Climate and Environment (ACE),
• Participation in the Centre of Excellence for Ore Deposits and Mineral Exploration (CODES; 2006-2010),
• Partnership in the Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Research (2006-2010),
• ANSIR National Research Facility in Earth Sounding (the country's principal facility for deep earth imaging) owned jointly with Geoscience Australia ,
• A key role in Australia's activities in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty through expert advice and operation of one of the world's most sensitive seismic and infrasound monitoring facilities at Tennant Creek, NT,
• Sensitive High Resolution Ion Micro-Probe (SHRIMP), an ANU-developed instrument that attracts visiting scientists from around the globe and which is manufactured for other institutions nationally and internationally through partnership with Australian Scientific Instruments,
• Strong linkages with Geoscience Australia involving advisory roles, shared facilities and GA staff and cadets working within RSES,
• Cooperation with CSIRO Exploration and Mining for jointly funded positions in ore genesis studies,
• Participation in the Australian Computational centre for Earth System Science MNRF (ACcESS), ARC Network for Earth System Science (ARCNESS), and the ARC Network for Complex Systems (COSNet),
• many successful joint bids with the Universities of Canberra, Wollongong , Curtin and Melbourne for major equipment through the LIEF program,
• ANU is a shareholder in Ringwood Superabrasives Pty Ltd ., which manufactures and develops applications for a new generation of hard ceramics originally developed and patented in RSES, and RSES continues to collaborate in further developments,
• Formation of Australian Scientific Instruments (ASI) to commercialise a number of unique analytical and experimental devices developed at RSES (ASI has sold $30M worth of instruments, and we are currently co-developing a new ion microprobe dedicated to stable isotope measurements),
• Operation by RSES of PRISE , a $1M/year commercial analytical service providing academic, government and industrial sectors with access to unique geochemical instrumentation,
• Leadership by several DEMS staff of research cruises on the Southern Surveyor (National Research Facility) and foreign research vessels,
• Operation by DEMS of the MARGO office for the International Ocean Drilling Program,
• A wide variety of international links and collaborations, including an MoU with IFREE, JAMSTEC, Japan, for cooperation in seismic research, joint operation with Japan of a Superconducting Gravimeter (sited at Mt Stromlo), and joint operation with France of the GEOScope seismic station (at Mt Stromlo).
Research education
• RSES has 43 PhD students and 1 MPhil, or 1.8 students per Recurrently funded academic staff member (22 continuing and 2 fixed term staff) . The students are 53% domestic and 38% female. Over the past five years there has been an annual intake varying between 5 and 16 HDR students.
• DEMS has 19 PhD and 5 MPhil students, or 4 students per academic staff member. The students are 85% domestic and 37% female.
• Geoscience has not traditionally favoured higher degrees by coursework and has focussed almost entirely on research training. However, a new MSc by coursework in Geophysics is to be delivered by RSES, commencing in 2007.
• Geoscience research expertise has traditionally been embedded into undergraduate education through the delivery of DEMS courses by DEMS staff and two RSES/DEMS joint appointees. A small number of courses within the DEMS curriculum have been regularly taught, or contributed to, by other RSES staff. Geoscience related material is also taught in the Physics undergraduate curriculum (ocean-atmosphere dynamics) by RSES staff. RSES delivers the existing ‘Physics of the Earth' Honours Program. Undergraduate students in Geoscience and Physics also undertake third year Special Research Topics and PhB advanced research topics in RSES laboratories under the supervision of RSES staff. A much greater participation of RSES staff in teaching of DEMS and Physics courses, including a number of marine science courses and a new Geophysics major based in the Physics curriculum, are planned and approved for 2007.
Taking advantage of ANU resources
Geoscience takes extensive advantage of the accumulated resources and expertise at ANU, linking not only across Geoscience areas but to other disciplines as well. Examples include:
• two long-standing joint continuing appointments between RSES and DEMS in structural and economic geology,
• the cross-campus Marine Science Initiative, which links teaching with research and includes six new appointments (5 joint) from 2006 between RSES, DEMS, SRES, BOZO and RSPhysSE, and a new bid for a mobile marine laboratory,
• the Planetary Science Institute, joint between RSES and RSAA, with 3 joint appointments (2 commencing in 2006),
• large equipment grants from LIEF and joint appointments between RSES and RSPhysSE in accelerator mass spectrometry and carbon cycle research,
• large equipment grant from LIEF between RSES and RSBS in geomicrobiology,
• a proposed joint appointment between RSES, CRES and RSBS in global change,
• participation in the ANU Centre for Science and Engineering of Materials (where the inaugural Director was from RSES),
• extensive participation in the ANU Electron Microscope Unit,
• cooperation between mechanical workshops across the ANU in providing first rate workshop machinery and services,
• use of the advanced computing and visualisation facilities of APAC/ANUSF,
• participation in ANUIE and the ANU water initiative, Climate Change Impacts initiative and Global Change Forum, through regolith geochemistry and groundwater hydrology, stable isotope studies, proxy climate records, trace element studies and ocean modelling,
• co-supervision of PhD students across the campus and involvement of PhB students in the environment of the Research Schools.
2.2. Future Plans
Geoscience has recently embarked on a number of new ventures, most of which are not yet fully in place:
1) Planetary S s cience . The Planetary Science Institute was formed between RSES and RSAA for research into the formation of planets and the Earth's place in the Solar System. Three academic appointments are confirmed, one of which has yet to commence.
2) Earth Sounding . ANU's unique role in leading the nation's research in this area will be supplemented by the appointment of a new continuing position in observational seismology – appointee to commence later in 2006.
3) Marine Science . An initiative jointly funded between RSES, Faculty of Science and the Vice-Chancellor's strategic funds is placing six new positions across marine ecology, marine chemistry, micro-analysis for proxy environmental records, carbon cycle, and global ocean/climate modelling – four appointments have been made and will commence by September 2006, and two appointments in ocean modelling have yet to be made.
4) Geobiology . A new direction initiated by an appointment to RSES in 2005 for the study of biomarkers in sedimentary environments and the evolution of life. LIEF funding was obtained in 2006 in collaboration between RSES and RSBS, for two mass spectrometers for organic geochemistry. Laboratory renovations are in the planning stages.
5) Structure and Tectonics . A new professorial appointment and research group commenced in RSES in 2004 for the application of structural geology to understand the dynamics and history of the Earth's crust.
Geoscience staff members are also developing roles in the recent ANU Water Initiative (particularly in groundwater hydrology, regolith geochemistry, geomicrobiology and landuse impacts) and in the Climate Change Impacts forum (particularly though environmental geochemistry, palaeo-oceanography, geophysical fluid dynamics and climate change).
Most of the new appointees in the three most recent initiatives (Marine Science, Planetary Science and Earth Sounding – 6 in RSES or DEMS) are expected to commence in 2006. The new activities are largely interdisciplinary and represent a significant shift of resources to new fields. The marine science initiative also represents a substantial move toward nationally important environmental issues and an increasing role for ANU in studies of the vast oceans surrounding Australia . These initiatives will build much closer ties between teaching and research through joint IAS-Faculty of Science appointments, the development of new courses related to ANU research expertise, and increased engagement of undergraduate students in research projects. The initiatives are likely to absorb much of the capacity for Geoscience to embrace further emerging fields and additional new activities for several years.
However, the Research School intends to review and strengthen its geophysics area as a high priority. The School is the primary centre for geophysics expertise nationally, and a series of departures raises the question of how best to ensure ongoing national leadership.
Further new research directions are under consideration. Reflecting the ANU's outstanding national leadership role in Geoscience, we will strengthen and build new national collaborations through leadership in NCRIS proposals on the ‘Australian Continent', the ‘Integrated Ocean Observing System' (IOOS) and the ‘Materials Characterisation' themes. Under the former theme, RSES is playing a lead role in establishing the business unit ‘ AuScope ' and several of its science strands, including earth sounding, geospatial reference frames, modelling and simulation, and characterisation of the structure, age and evolution of the continent. Under IOOS , DEMS is taking the lead in seeking Australian membership of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program through the “MARGO” office, and both RSES and DEMS staff are participating in a ‘marine paleo-climate observatory' proposal to include geochemical analysis capabilities in the ocean observing system. Under Materials Characterisation RSES will support and coordinate national facilities in microscopy, microanalysis and synchrotron capability.
Geoscience plans to pursue further new directions including:
Natural Hazards in Asia and Pacific . The significance of natural hazards has been underscored recently by major tsunami, earthquake and volcanic eruption disasters in Indonesia , a volcanic eruption in New Zealand and several severe cyclones and storm surges in Australia . Research into natural hazards and their impacts, both on Australian territory and on our near neighbours will be important in future attempts to predict and mitigate their effects and to create resilience in communities and infrastructure. RSES and DEMS have extensive expertise relevant to these threats. By bringing this expertise together with tsunami and storm surge modelling carried out in the Mathematical Sciences Institute and the extensive Natural Hazards Program of Geoscience Australia , an outstanding new science program could be developed. By linking with the ANU College of Asia and Pacific the science could be brought together with research and education into the economic, social, political and management dimensions of natural hazards and disasters.
Synchrotron research and its applications in Earth and materials science . The Australian Synchrotron will come online in Melbourne in 2007. ANU has much of Australia 's expertise in this field and collaboration between RSPhysSE, RSC and RSES in the use of the national facility and analysis of data would lead to much improved outcomes.
Centre or Science and Engineering of Materials . We will look for opportunities to realise a more tangible presence (perhaps as postdoctoral fellowships, especially in the area of computational mineral physics) for what has up to now been a virtual centre.
Geo-metabolomics . In order to build a program in the analysis of small biomolecules in environmental samples the geobiology laboratory aims to share facilities and new graduate courses with research groups working in genomics and proteomics (JCSMR, BaMBI and RSBS). Metabolomics, proteomics and genomics is the trifecta of biomics (the b iological investigation o f m olecules in c omplex s ystems), a research area that has become analytically so complex that only a joint effort across campus can be successful.
DEMS and RSES aim to further develop engagement with the minerals and energy sectors of industry, and with partner organizations (eg. CSIRO, CODES at UTas) having strong links to industry. This engagement will involve: 1) collaborations in strategic research relevant to developing Australia's capacity for successful exploration for minerals and energy resources and related issues such as controlling CO 2 emissions (eg CO 2 sequestration technologies); 2) contractual provision of specialist analytical and geochronological services via PRISE ; 3) provision of advanced on-site professional training programs for geoscientists within research sponsor organisations (thereby making a significant and tangible contribution to upgrading the geoscience skills and problem-solving abilities, and reducing exploration risk, in Australia's minerals exploration and mining sector); 4) providing MSc and PhD graduates who are highly skilled in areas of geology, geochemistry and geophysics, and who will become the leaders for the next generation of geoscientists in industry.
Increased recruitment of graduate students to the Research School requires a particular effort. The allocation of additional resources is needed to new means of attracting Honours and PhD students and to additional scholarships, along with continued attention to the quality of graduate research supervision, and an expanded role for researchers in the delivery of undergraduate courses and supervision of undergraduate research projects. The Research School recently introduced a paid Internship program for undergraduate students (10 Interns currently employed). This program is showing signs of being successful in HDR recruitment and will be expanded to accommodate up to 20 Interns. The Research School also aims to attract many more PhB students to undergraduate projects. RSES will deliver a new MSc (by coursework) in Geophysics commencing in 2007.
The Research School sets an enrolment target for graduate students such as to give a student to (recurrently funded) staff ratio of 3.0 by 2010. With the present staff profile (24 recurrent funded academic staff) this will require a total HDR student enrolment in RSES increasing from 44 to 72, or an average annual intake of 18 from 2007 (increased from 11 in past years). (Note that the relatively large number of externally funded continuing appointments and the number of level A/B staff in RSES make it inappropriate to compare HDR load with that of other universities based on total academic staff number.) The teaching, training, scholarship funding and research initiatives outlined in this document are aimed at achieving this target. The MSc (coursework) in geophysics will contribute to achieving this target. Factors that will inhibit us from achieving the target include the effects of geographical separation of RSES researchers from undergraduate students on campus, the short window of opportunity in which potential supervisors in 3 to 5 year fixed-term appointments can attract new starters, the high starting salaries for geology graduates in industry, and the difficulty of attracting students with the required background (since many of the students must come from Physics or Mathematics majors into what they perceive to be a different discipline).
Postdoctoral development has been an important national and international role of the ANU. Postdoctoral Fellowships (level A) and Research Fellowships (level B) have proved an important means of identifying future leaders for ANU. This is a history based on the block grant. However, RSES aims to maintain a healthy flow of Postdoctoral Fellows through winning ARC Fellowships and the appointment of externally funded Research Associates. The School will also consider the possibility, within the budget constraints, of advertising and funding a small number of strategically identified Ringwood Fellowships. Currently, 1/3 of staff members in RSES are at level A. All of these are externally funded. There are only two Level B staff members on Recurrent funding.
Attention to high quality supervision and mentoring of graduate students and level A and B academic staff will assist them to achieve the strongest possible research contributions and to identify career pathways. All staff are encouraged to attend supervision workshops. The biennial performance review of all academic staff, following College guidelines, provides a formal opportunity to review activities appropriate for career advancement, as well as the effectiveness of student and staff supervision.
Both DEMS and RSES will continue to host Visiting Fellows, who are recognised as contributing significantly to the research program, research grants, student supervision and the overall strength of the discipline.
2.3. Resources
RSES will conduct internal or external reviews of functional groupings at approximately one per year, commencing with geophysics in 2007. The process will be informed by the School's External Advisory Board, which includes “end users”.
The stability of external funding to sub-discipline areas is an important unresolved issue, noting that the costs of equipment, technical staff, and junior academic staff are increasingly reliant on research grant funding to senior investigators. Allocation of a portion of the RSES recurrent operating grant to each of the four budget areas currently includes a component based on HDR load. The remainder of the RTS return is held centrally and contributes to scholarship funding. RSES will examine a further internal distribution of the RIBG returns to the School, based on strategic planning, reviews, seed-corn funding needs, external funding and HDR enrolments.
RSES has recently reduced its technical and administrative staff salary costs through redundancies, retirements and adjustments. Since the Institute of Advanced Studies joined the ARC competitive grants schemes, external project funding (from either commercial or grant income) has been secured to meet a minimum of 33% of the cost of essential technical support in RSES. Technical staff who do not provide direct support of essential facilities are now funded fully by external funds. There is limited scope to make additional general staff salary contributions from external research grants. It is likely that grant income can increase only through ARC Linkage grants, although it has proved extremely difficult to arrange industry partners. Apart from increasing fee-paying graduate enrolments, no particular opportunities have been identified for substantially increasing other external income.
It is important to keep ANU research facilities and infrastructure at the cutting edge of technology. For major research equipment, geoscience will continue to rely heavily of the LIEF/MEC program, in which it has been very successful. It is anticipated that further major equipment and related national infrastructure will become available through the NCRIS program.
Geoscience research is also expected to increase its reliance on advanced computational facilities. These include the RSES ‘Terawulf' parallel processing machine, which will require a complete rebuild by 2008, and the ANU Super Computer Facility / APAC. APAC will be utilized much more substantially for the development of the new planetary science initiative (for disk modelling), and by new ocean/climate modelling activities under the marine science initiative (and in collaboration with the ARC Network for Earth System Science). The level of this class of activity will be limited primarily by the availability of funds for skilled programming assistants.
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3. EDUCATION
3.1. Present position
DEMS and RSES are currently involved in the following programs:
• PhB (Honours entry),
• B Global and Ocean Sciences (Honours entry),
• BSc (Honours and Pass entry).
DEMS is also involved in:
• B Interdisciplinary Studies (Sustainability) (Honours and Pass entry),
• B Resource and Environmental Management.
Many students combine these degree programs with other degrees at the ANU, forming a distinctive feature of our University's educational profile.
Earth sciences are fundamentally field-inspired and integrative, requiring knowledge and application of a spectrum of enabling sciences. At the most fundamental levels, we are ignorant of many aspects of the way Earth systems work and how they have evolved through time. It is only within the last 40 years and with the emergence of the paradigm of plate tectonics that major steps have been taken toward understanding of the processes leading to many of Earth's surface and interior features and properties. During this same time period, the stream of information from space- and limited ground-based surveys of other planets and satellites of the Solar System has generated the new science of comparative planetology. Studies of the Earth can now be placed within this broader planetary perspective. ‘Earth' and ‘environment' studies are closely related and have important overlap.
Undergraduate students are exposed at the earliest stages of their degrees to the many uncertainties of earth and planetary science, encouraged to be sceptical of our claimed understanding, and to participate in the research required to advance our knowledge. For example, a major component of the first year courses GEOL1004 and GEOL1005 is the discussion of the global carbon cycle – without understanding of this cycle, with both its ‘solid earth' and ‘fluid earth' components, discussion of global climate responses driven by secular atmospheric CO 2 changes is ill-informed. It is not generally understood that the single most important driver of atmospheric CO 2 levels over geological timescales is the rate of creation of oceanic crust – our students are shown the way a systems approach to the problem of global warming can identify the uncertainties and time constants involved in the many subsystems that contribute to global temperature controls, and they become involved with societal resolution of the issues.
The ongoing resources boom has placed an enormous premium on the availability and consequent remuneration of geoscience graduates. Starting salaries in 2006 for BSc (Hons) students from the ANU in the mineral and exploration industries have ranged from $80 to 93K per annum, exceeding those paid in the medical professions with 7-year degree qualifications, while absolute numbers of geoscientists remains low compared to medical scientists. Discovering new resources is a highly research-intensive activity requiring multi-disciplinary teams with highly developed “problem-solving and analytical skills”, demanding of “critical and investigative faculties”, and necessitating acute awareness of the “provisional nature of knowledge”. For example, the discovery in the 1970s of a new class of nickel deposits in a temporally restrictive class of igneous rocks in Western Australia led to a fundamental change in our understanding of the thermal evolution of Earth's mantle. As another example, the PhD thesis of Douglas Haynes in the ANU Department of Geology (now DEMS) was the intellectual driver that led to the discovery of the world's single most valuable ore deposit at Olympic Dam in South Australia .
The majority of the current 3 rd -year offerings in DEMS require individual research components involving essays and verbal presentations. In addition, research-intensive, individually tailored courses such as GEOL3030/31 and GEOL3050 are well subscribed.
In our experience, the introduction of majors into the BSc degree programs has been critically important for providing a structural framework that maximises choice and permits flexibility for students about “when, where, what and how they learn”. As far as practicable, flexibility (while retaining academic rigour) has been the guiding principle behind the creation of the physical, chemical, and biological streams of the newly introduced BGOS degree.
We measure our success in these endeavours by the successful placement of graduates in rewarding professions, ranging from the strongly vocational (exploration industry) through a variety of other government and industry professions, to public service and research positions.
DEMS has about 55 undergraduate EFTSU (~9 students per academic staff member). Geoscience teaching will also be included in the Physics curriculum from 2007 (two third year courses and a geophysics major). RSES has 1 to 3 students per year in the Physics of the Earth Honours Program.
3.2. Future Plans
In general, we believe the structure of the Australian degree programs needs revision to reflect the realities in the larger education régimes of Europe and North America . Specifically, our 4 th -year Honours degree is outmoded, and we should accompany the University of Melbourne in its drive to adopt the European Community-wide (Bologna Protocol) “ 3-2-3 ” system: 3 years Bachelor degree; 2-year Masters (research); 3-years PhD. There are a number of reasons in favour of such a move:
1. Recognisability of our students' qualifications in seeking advanced degrees overseas, and vice versa;
2. Consistency with major advanced degree and employment markets overseas;
3. Reward for the ANU and its academic staff in terms of publication outcomes of tutelage and research investment resulting from Masters-type research rather than 9-months Honours programs.
A major curriculum revision, including contributions from the staff of RSES, is planned for 2007. Through this curriculum revision and by integration with SRES in 2007, we are planning a revitalised program especially in the broad area of environmental science. For 2007 Research School staff have committed to providing approximately 25% (~325 hours) of the teaching in the Geoscience (DEMS) coursework curriculum (years 1-3), plus undergraduate research project supervision.
In order to maximise the exposure of students to the range of science on offer at the ANU, and to aid in acquisition of the skills, knowledge and capabilities to be responsible global citizens, we are urging the adoption of a “distribution” requirement for all of the generalist degrees in the College of Science, whereby students will be required to take at least one course in their first year from each of a number of science groupings: environmental, biological, physical, chemical and science-mind interactions.
We plan to introduce a number of “short courses” of 2 to 3 weeks duration, and special topics with 1:1 tuition involving both theoretical and practical research aspects from 2007 onwards. These courses will draw on the expertise of RSES staff.
Geoscience at ANU aims to fill a substantial national gap in science education, from first year to graduate level, by strategically placing new teaching in Geophysics. This consists of several offerings: a major in Geophysics centred in the Physics curriculum ( RSES staff will provide approximately 96 hours of coursework teaching to the Physics years 1-3 curriculum in 2007); courses in ocean modelling within the physical/chemical stream of the new Bachelor of Global and Ocean Sciences curriculum; the existing Physics of the Earth Honours Program in RSES; PhB and Special Research Project supervision; and the new MSc (by coursework) in Geophysics at RSES. The ANU is the only university in Australia well equipped to provide a comprehensive education in global geophysics. This field relies for future research talent on drawing graduates from physics and mathematics majors, and the development of an undergraduate-to-graduate stream in geophysics at ANU promises to be influential in the development of research in this sub-discipline. The College of Science structure may offer further opportunities to break down the perceived barriers between disciplines at undergraduate and graduate levels.
3.3. Resources
New programs in geoscience have recently commenced, and others have been proposed, to better relate undergraduate education to the full range of ANU research expertise and national leadership, specifically in marine science (new courses in geology, biology, physics, and the BGOS curriculum), and in geophysics (Physics of the Earth Honours Program and a Geophysics major within the Physics curriculum). Two existing joint RSES-DEMS appointments and three new joint appointments in the marine science initiative (to commence in 2006-7) will assist this research-teaching connection. Except for the marine science developments, these expansions of teaching contributions are with existing staff and resources, offset by increased professional satisfaction and staff career prospects, and hopefully an increased number of well-qualified applicants for postgraduate research.
A full involvement of the Research School in the teaching activities and culture will require a further shift of teaching focus from the Faculty to the Research School . The proposed collocation of DEMS with RSES would be one solution (while recognising that this cannot contribute to the desired association of the geophysics side of the Research School with the Physics and Mathematics disciplines). Collocation of Physics with RSPhysSE would assist Geoscience in this regard. Should co-location not occur, some shift of teaching focus could be achieved through small initiatives such as the establishment of a student spaces in RSES to promote student presence in the School, and a teaching computer laboratory in RSES for teaching in geophysics, tectonics, ocean modelling and planetary science. The use of RSES experimental laboratories for undergraduate teaching has worked well and the approach could be expanded.
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4. STAFF
Note that staff planning for the Department of Earth and Marine Science is a responsibility of the Faculty of Science. Consequently, this section necessarily focuses on the Research School .
4.1. Staff profile
Geoscience staff (at March 2006) consists of:
RSES |
- 52.9 academic consisting of 21 at level A and B, 32 at level C and above, including 27.5 continuing and 25.4 fixed term, 24 funded from the R-ledger and 28 externally funded, and 6 joint appointments (3 joint with DEMS, 1 joint with RSAA, 1 joint with RSPhysSE, 1 joint with RSPAS);
- 62 general staff (50 standard appointments, 8 fixed term, 4 trainees).
|
DEMS |
- 8.0 academic (7.0 at level C and above, 6 on continuing appointments, including 2 joint with RSES, and one externally funded fixed term appointment; one level A fixed term);
- 11.75 general staff (standard appointments)
|
An additional 6.5 (FTE) academic staff are expected to commence in 2006 or 2007. These include 3 new appointments in RSES (1 in the Earth Sounding initiative, 2 in Marine Science initiative) and 5 new staff members having joint appointments (2 between RSES and DEMS in marine science, 1 between DEMS and BOZO in marine ecology, 2 joint between RSES and RSAA in the Planetary Science Institute).
The total projected salary expenditure in RSES in 2006 is $11.5M, made up of $7.3M (63%) from the R ledger and $4.2M (37%) from external funds. Salary expenditure represents 74% of the total Operating Grant ($9.81M) and 33% of the total external (Q and S) income to RSES for 2006.
Academic staff
There are 22 Recurrently funded, continuing academic staff in RSES and 6 in DEMS. There are 7 externally funded continuing staff members in RSES. Of the 25 fixed-term academic staff in RSES, only two (at level A and B) are funded from the R ledger. The salaries of 53% of the members of academic staff in the Research School are externally funded. In DEMS there are no fixed term staff and no externally funded staff.
There are 7 female academic staff (of whom only one has a continuing appointment) in RSES, and there are no female academic staff in DEMS. Neither RSES nor DEMS has any academic staff of age exceeding 65 (other than one on a short-term contract). Three academic staff in RSES, and none in DEMS, have ages greater than 60. Of these, one is on a pre-retirement contract.
General staff
Geoscience recognises the crucial roles played by general staff in supporting and carrying out research, much of which relies on cutting edge instrumentation that must be maintained and often designed in-house. In many areas the presence of technical staff having superb expertise is crucial in bringing the research to world leadership.
The general staff of RSES consist of 46 technical, research and engineering officers, 2 IT officers, 10 administration officers and 4 trainee technical staff. Of these, 8 staff (including 2 trainees) are in the School's Electronics Workshop and 7 are in the Mechanical Workshop. The trainees have been placed to provide replacements and continuity of expertise as older staff members retire. The technical staff includes 8 fixed term contract appointments.
The administrative staffing in RSES was reviewed and restructured in 2004 with a significant reduction in salary expenditure. It is currently suffering several additional departures going though a further phase of change as a result of staff turn over. This is creating opportunities to further adjust the mix of levels and duties to optimise effectiveness, role backup and job satisfaction. The future IT needs of RSES were reviewed in 2005 and the recommendations of the report are currently being implemented. This puts in place an IT Advisory Committee and an IT Manager who will supervise the School's IT personnel and report to the Director. It also clarifies the supervision of the School's web pages and the increasingly important roles of the School's webmaster.
Current Research The Research School policy is to fund , from the R ledger , 67% of the salary of each technical staff member responsible for the maintenance, operation and development of essential research facilities. The remaining 33% is externally funded. This proportion may be increased in future years to assist in accommodating salary increases and a decreasing block grant. Other technical staff salaries are, generally, fully externally funded. The School also charges a 50% cost recovery to all internal users of Workshop services, which contributes to Workshop staff salaries and to Workshop equipment purchases.
Staff projections to 2010
Only 3 R-funded academic staff members in RSES are older than 60 in 2006. One of these has a retirement contract and two are on continuing appointments. Hence the School will plan for the retirement of 3 senior academics by 2010 (representing 11.7% of the total R ledger salaries). Two of these retirements will be in the solid earth geophysics area, which recently lost two senior members. The future leadership and breadth of research in geophysics will need to be reviewed in 2007. New appointments to commence in 2006 (3.5 FTE in RSES and 1.0 FTE in DEMS are confirmed, and 1.6 in RSES, 0.4 in DEMS are under advertisement) are expected, funded by the Marine Science, Planetary Science and Earth Sounding initiatives.
In order to manage the School's Long Service Leave encumbrances, all staff members are required to take LSL to keep their accrued leave within the 19.5 week limit, as established in the 2005-2008 ANU Enterprise Bargaining agreement.
4.2. Performance
In biennial reviews of academic staff performance, geoscience prefers that performance criteria allow variety and some flexibility, rather than require all individuals to fit one mould. Instrument and technology development over a period of time can be as important as publication, and contributions to teaching will vary widely given the large ratio of staff to courses (when IAS staff are included) and the expectation that staff will teach primarily in their own ‘source' discipline (which in many cases is outside geoscience).
The contributions by which individual performance will be judged are:
- research achievement, as demonstrated by publications and related citations (where these must be considered relative to the sub-discipline)
- contributions to teaching and supervision
- recognised leadership of successful teams/areas
- intellectual input to the generation of unique or widely used technologies, instruments or patents
- international recognition, as demonstrated by invitations for keynote lectures, awards, fellowships or high level committee service
- generation of research funding
- service to the university and wider community
- commercial outcomes
These criteria are broadly consistent with those established by the College for academic Promotions, but are intended to be more flexible in order to allow for the generally shorter times between performance evaluations compared to those between promotions, and recognising the importance of periods (sometimes a few years) during which a researcher will focus more highly on one contribution than another, such as a period of instrument or code development with relatively little publication. Staff and their supervisors are expected to consider these factors when establishing biennial Statements of Expectation, in the light of the research opportunities and the staff member's longer-term career and path to promotion.
The IAS has traditionally been a centre for the training of high quality postdoctoral researchers. The newly defined role for the IAS staff in teaching adds a new dimension to this training. The professional development of Postdoctoral and Research Fellows can now include a significant training and experience in education, limited by the necessity for young staff to be externally funded. Recognising that ANU has many more research staff than courses to be taught, young staff with little teaching experience can contribute sections of courses, or be involved as joint coordinators of a course, while being tutored and mentored by highly experienced educators. Delivery of a part of a course, and the 1:1 supervision of undergraduate research projects, also sit more easily with the expectation that most level A and B staff in geoscience will be externally funded. All academic staff will be expected to offer undergraduate research topics (PhB, special research projects, Honours, internships) for prospective students to consider.
Academic staff will be encouraged to take leave for professional development, and to participate in university workshops on scientific communication, supervision and teaching.
Research group and Area performance will be judged against similar criteria to those for individuals, but considering also the future prospects for the research field or theme, its strategic relationships with other research in the area and College, and its success in student recruitment.
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5. INFRASTRUCTURE
This section deals only with the Research School . Infrastructure for the Department of Earth and Marine Science appears in the Faculty of Science strategic plan.
• Laboratory upgrades and new building works
Geoscience has pressing requirements for renovation and rationalization of existing laboratories, and for new building construction. The discipline aims to keeping laboratories in a safe and workable condition.
Upgrades to a number of laboratories are urgently required in older RSES buildings that are in very poor condition, where laboratories do not satisfy health and safety standards nor adequately serve the desired future uses. This applies particularly to laboratories involving hazardous chemicals. Some of the laboratories in Jaeger 1 and 2 have been used in their original condition since their opening in 1959. The ANU audit classified RSES research laboratories in the Jaeger complex with 250 m 2 in the very high-risk condition category 2 and more than 1000 m 2 in the high-risk category 3. DEMS was also found to have 1100 m 2 of laboratory that poses high risks and that will require extensive building work. The continuation of the research that uses these laboratories in both areas is considered to be a high priority, and we will seek funds to bring the laboratories up to standard. The future of geoscience laboratories was also examined as a corollary of the possible DEMS relocation to the Mills Road/RSES precinct.
In the context of a centralized ANU laboratory facility, a limited range of activities (perhaps those dealing with sample receiving and quarantine, and wet chemical laboratories utilizing extreme acid digestions) might feasibly be housed away from the respective laboratories that remain in RSES. The viability of this option will need to be examined along with Chemistry and Biology requirements.
The new SHRIMP SI, funded through a $2.6M LIEF and MEC bid, is currently under construction in the RSES workshops. With imminent delivery of large components, the project requires a housing decision to be made very soon. It would not be sensible to site the new machine elsewhere on campus. Decommissioning of SHRIMP I, accompanied by extensive renovation of that laboratory to make it suitable for the new machine, is undesirable. SHRIMP I was recently fitted with a new automatic sample analysis facility, plays a vital role in RSES research projects, and earns a substantial commercial income. The most appropriate solution to this is to construct a new building extension to house the SHRIMP SI . This would also provide much needed office space for the relevant staff and for new staff of the Planetary Science Institute. A feasibility study has been prepared for the SHRIMP RG extension and offices, with a proposed budget of $1.7M .
With construction of a new building RSES will examine the possibility of including low contamination, micro-scale wet-chemistry laboratories . This may be more cost effective than renovating space in Jaeger 1 for a new wet chemistry lab. A micro-scale wet chemistry laboratory is a priority in the short-to-medium term because of the arrival this year of a new appointee, as part of the Planetary Science Initiative with RSAA, who specializes in isotopic analyses of very small quantities of material and requires stringent control of contamination. With construction of a new extension to Jaeger 5 we will consider the possibility of further rationalizing SHRIMP laboratories by relocating SHRIMP II from Jaeger 3 to J5.
Renovation of several laboratories in Jaeger 1 is required, to house a new mass spectrometer for organic-geochemistry and Paleobiology. This is a new research direction being undertaken by RSES, with collaboration in major equipment grants from RSBS. The machine will be delivered soon and it appears necessary to proceed immediately with the renovations of this area.
There is a need for the School to have a more readily identifiable entrance . A plan was produced but the project was never realized, and the asbestos cement sheet-clad building remains in front of the entrance. Recalling that RSES is the most eminent disciplinary unit of any university in Australia, what is now needed is to replace OHB/B with a well-defined entrance and a two-story building complex housing new laboratories, research offices, teaching and student areas, and an executive office precinct co-locating the School Director, administration and IT services.
5.2. Other infrastructure priorities
Other infrastructure priorities for geoscience are to:
• maintain excellent machine workshop facilities and centralised high-level electronics expertise, both of which are critical to our capability to make new, cutting-edge technical and instrumental developments;
• continue to make effective use of the LIEF program for major equipment . For example, RSES will install in 2006-7 the high-resolution, high sensitivity organic mass spectrometer funded by LIEF and MEC (RSPhysSE/ RSES), for use in probing biomarkers tracing life back to early earth and for study of biohazards and pollutants in modern Australia ;
• obtain support from the NCRIS program in maintaining and developing major national equipment and infrastructure, such 1) the ANSIR Earth Sounding facility, measurement and positioning equipment supporting the geospatial reference frame, and geochemical and isotopic analysis facilities for characterising the continent; 2) Australian membership of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, and geochemical and isotopic analysis facilities for the investigation of past marine environments; and 3) microscopy, microanalysis and synchrotron capabilities for materials characterisation;
• continue the design and fabrication of components of the new SHRIMP SI mass spectrometer with a view to testing in 2007. This development underscores the importance of first-rate mechanical and electronics workshop facilities in ensuring that ANU retains its world-leading place in geoscience research, instrument development and commercialisation;
• support the development and use of advanced computer facilities at ANU, including ANUSF/APAC and a new ‘Terawulf' machine in RSES;
• explore opportunities, between RSES and DEMS and including LIEF and NCRIS, for the development of portable marine chemical laboratories for use on campus, at coastal field stations and onboard ship.
• Geoscience welcomes the opportunity for the ANU, in line with its marine science initiative, to join with the Marine Discovery Centre in Eden in developing teaching and research at the Edrom Lodge coastal site in collaboration with the south coast community and south-east fisheries industry. This venture would represent a small commitment by ANU to engage in outreach teaching activities, to use the site for undergraduate teaching in marine biology and geology, and to base a small number of postgraduate/Honours research projects (largely from DEMS) in the area.
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ADMINISTRATION
The RSES has recently restructured its administration. It is also currently experiencing a further substantial turnover of administration staff, which is creating opportunities for further adjustments. The Research School aims to achieve the optimum distribution of administrative staff skills and levels, while creating a fulfilling work environment and providing staff with development opportunities to achieve their career aspirations.
Geoscience supports the concept of centralisation of some specific administrative tasks (such as student administration) to a College of Science Office (which might be real or virtual), and potentially the sharing of staff between two areas within the College, in the search for the most effective structure. The structure is unlikely to be static, but it is important that we achieve a level of stability such that academic and general staff alike are able to become familiar with the distribution of responsibilities, contact officers, and processes so as to be able to work smoothly and efficiently.
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BUDGET
This section deals only with the Research School . Budget and administration matters for the Department of earth and Marine Science appear in the Faculty of Science strategic plan.
The total R ledger allocation to RSES in 2006 of $9.81M is more than matched by external income of $12.66M (which makes up 54% of the $23.5M total income). Within the total $11.5M expenditure in salaries, the total R funded salaries of $7.30M are 74% of the total R ledger allocation. Externally funded salary expenditure (Q and S) is an additional $4.22M in 2006, or 33% of RSES total external income. The greater contribution from the university operating grant to salaries relative to that from external funds reflects limitations on the allowable use of external grant funds for academic salaries, administration and basic infrastructure. It also reflects the need for continuity of academic leadership, and the acquisition of research grants for major equipment expenditure.
Anticipated promotions and increments of the current academic and general staff on standard appointments in RSES are estimated to increase the recurrent salary expenditure by 2% ($70K) pa or 10% by 2010 (in 2006 salary levels). If there were to be no further change in the distribution of internal and external salary funding and no new R funded appointments, the anticipated retirements (-12%), promotions and salary increments, plus EB agreements (of 6% in November 2006 plus, 2% in 2007 and 4% pa in 2008-9) for both academic and general staff, will leave the total R ledger salary expenditure increased by 14% by 2010, which amounts to little more than CPI increases. Salary expenditure will be further increased by new appointments, made under the new initiatives. The means to afford further new ventures and appointments will need to be identified. There is little room for further increase in the level of research grant funding of general staff and level A/B academic salaries, as the 33% technical staff salary substitution is thought to be close to the limit achievable through ARC grants. There will need to be expanded external income or a greater call on the existing level of external earnings. In the shorter term, the recurrent salary expenditure in 2007 will incur the effect of a 6% EB increase offset by the saving of general staff departures in 2006. It is also anticipated that the school will have a substantial carry-forward from 2006.
Graduate and Honours student scholarships and tuition fees in RSES are presently funded from all available sources: external earnings ($231,000, 31%), external research grants ($242,000, 33%), R ledger ($213,000, 29%) and endowments ($54,000, 7%). In addition to the total School expenditure of $740,000 on scholarships in 2006, c C entral University funded stipends and tuition fees for RSES students amount ed to $337,000. The R-ledger allocation to the School under the Research Training Scheme is $779,000 (based on the 2005 load of 25.96 EFTSU) and this is expected to fall to $690,000 (based on 23 load students) in 2007.
In order to attract more high quality domestic graduate students, the School is proceeding with the consolidation of several endowments into a single endowment fund, and the intention is to add additional capital. We aim to reach a target investment of $2.8M by 2010. This will provide funds for new merit based scholarships , with a more competitive stipend , and create the opportunity for the School to advertise more effectively.
In considering the allocation of 3% of the area recurrent operating grants to College initiatives, Geoscience emphasises that new initiatives have recently been embarked upon by the discipline (RSES and DEMS) and these will achieve the multiple goals of collaboration across the College, linking of research and teaching, and increase of graduate student enrolments. These initiatives will stretch the capabilities of the discipline in 2006 and the coming years. They include the:
• Planetary Science Initiative (three joint appointments commencing 2005 and 2006, RSES/RSAA),
• Marine Science Initiative (six joint appointments in 2006 between RSES/DEMMS/SRES/BOZO, a large LIEF grant in 2006 for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and 14C dating for carbon cycle research between RSES and RSPhysSE, and a new LIEF bid in 2006 for a mobile marine analytical laboratory between RSES and DEMS),
• Earth Sounding initiative (RSES appointment 2006),
• Geobiology initiative (collaboration between RSES and RSBS, including LIEF grants for two organic mass spectrometers),
• ANUIE Climate Change Impacts, and Global Change Forum (one proposed joint appointment, RSBS/ CRES/ RSES).
The Marine Science, Planetary Science and Geobiology initiatives involve several areas within the College and introduce substantial new thrusts to the research programs of the College. Most of the joint staff will commence in 2006. The marine science initiative in particular is strongly based on a combination of education and research in several disciplines. As a high priority, these new initiatives need to be adequately supported with start-up funds while they consolidate, develop their capacity to attract new external funding, develop their teaching contributions, and begin to increase ANU visibility as a national leader in the respective fields.
Continuing cross-College participation from Geoscience also includes:
• Structural and Economic Geology (two joint positions RSES, DEMS),
• ANU Electron Microscope Unit,
• Centre for Science and Engineering of Materials (for which the inaugural Director was from Geoscience),
• Quaternary Dating Research Centre (RSES, DEMS, RSPAS),
• ANUIE ($15,000 annual contribution from RSES) and the ANU Water Initiative.
The support for national developments under the NCRIS process (under the umbrellas of AUScope, Integrated Ocean Observing System, and Materials Characterisation) may need to be considered by area, College and ANU.
Proposed future research and teaching developments that will be explored include (with potential collaborators):
• Consolidation of academic staffing and potential reorganization in the Geophysics area;
• Introduction of a program in Natural Hazards in the Asia - Pacific region (RSES, DEMS, MSI, College of Asia and the Pacific);
• Coordination and strengthening of synchrotron research and applications in earth and materials science (RSES, RSPhysSE, RSC);
• Addition of staff to the Centre for Science and Engineering of Materials (RSES, RSPhysSE, College of Engineering );
• A new research thrust in geo-metabolomics, proteomics and genomics (‘ biomics ') (RSES, JCSMR, BaMBI, RSBS).
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