Professor Brian Schmidt, Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), stated in his 2022 State of the University address thatAustralian universities face an existential threat from political interference by both major parties.
Before Christmas, Education Minister Alan Tudge intervened in an Australian Research Council (ARC) funding decision,and Professor Schmidt again criticised the move, calling for a comprehensive overhaul of how Australia funds research.
ANU Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt: Australia needs an apolitical system for allocating research funding
Image: ANU
On Monday, 7 February, he said: “I am frustrated, and I am not the only one who is frustrated.”
“It is my strong view, and one shared by many university leaders — whether or not they voice it openly — that Australia needs an apolitical system for distributing research funding, free from political interference as in other countries, and that the Australian Research Council and its governance need to be reviewed.”
Professor Schmidt said that this bipartisan acceptance of political interference in the education system risks corrupting knowledge and slowing the pace of innovation.
He said: “Of the four known instances of political interference, three have occurred in the past three years. As things stand, both major parties consider it appropriate for a minister to exercise this power of interference.”
“I believe this is an existential threat to Australia’s universities.”
Professor Schmidt said thatacademic autonomy and academic freedom allow universities to pursue ideas across a wide range of possibilities, rather than being confined to what is already known or currently approved.
He asked: “What kind of society would we become if research in history, politics and literature had to reflect the views of the minister of the day?”
“Imagine where we would be now if, over the past 30 years, when voices of doubt arose, we had not continued to pursue climate mitigation strategies?”
“Imagine if we had not invested in research into the fundamental properties of messenger RNA — what would things look like now? And yet at the time it sounded like little more than a pointless academic curiosity.”
Professor Schmidt also warned against allowing money to become the primary driver of research.
He said: “Last week we heard that the Morrison Government places great importance on the translation and commercialisation of research, with a $1.6 billion Economic Accelerator programme.”
“The good news for ANU is that, as you can see, we perform very well in this area. But I must also say: research can only be commercialised when it is underpinned by sufficient fundamental research.”
“Every valuable discovery and outcome in the marketplace is built upon decades of deep knowledge investment.”
Addressing the contested cuts to ANU’s programmes and staffing, Professor Schmidt said that after enduring the most difficult two years of sacrifice in the university’s 75-year history, the fundamental position of the institution remains strong.
However, for ANU, following last year’s surplus and in order to fill vacant positions and expand outreach activities,the university may run a budget deficit in 2022 and 2023.
“Over the coming years we will need to take on some debt, but I still believe we will not need to make any further cuts. We will be leaner, but not meaner.”
*Originally published by RiotACT:
https://riotact.com.cn/schmidt-calls-for-research-funding-overhaul-end-to-political-meddling/17645
Reporter | IAN BUSHNELL
Compiled/Edited | LAURA
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