Also in association with Swinburne University,
the University of Wollongong, Australian National University,
Charles Darwin University, Edith Cowan University, ACID and AFTRS
CHASS today (Monday) welcomed the announcement of a new Advisory Council for the Australian Research Council (ARC).
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr has appointed six researchers to provide strategic and policy advice to CEO Professor Margaret Sheil.
Toss Gascoigne, Executive Director of CHASS (the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences) said that the appointments will strengthen the ARC.
"The ARC lost some of its independence and a little of its international credibility when the Board was abolished in 2005," he said.
"It also increased pressure on the Chief Executive, who was then the only person standing between the Minister and decisions on research funding.
He said the appropriate role of the Minister is to lay down the broad strategy and appoint the right people to run the organisation.
"But funding decisions should be left to the ARC. It's their job to choose and then fund the work of the best people with the best ideas," he said.
The ARC has been at the centre of controversy over the last three years, with research projects vetoed by the Minister, eccentric appointments to its quality and scrutiny committee, and finally the abolition of the Board.
Mr Gascoigne said the six people appointed today as members of the Advisory Council carried the confidence of the research community.
He described them as 'household names' in the libraries, lecture theatres and laboratories of Australian research.
"Particularly welcome are the appointments of respected figures from the humanities, arts and social sciences in Margaret Seares and Stuart Macintyre," he said.
"The new council will go a long way towards restoring a proper relationship between the Government and the research community."
Those appointed are: