A space to explore, share and shape the issues facing social and behavioral scientists
The disparity between academics’ perception of the impact of their research and the opinions of Australian policymakers was recently underlined by a team of researchers from the University of Queensland who undertook cross-sectional surveys and semi-structured interviews with social science academic researchers and personnel in policy-relevant roles in public sector agencies.
When Tony Abbott took office as Australia’s prime minister and didn’t name a science minister, he asked that his government be judged by action, not titles.
Under attack from some quarters for research that is portrayed as wasteful or out of touch, it’s time, argues Jason Ensor, to find newer and more public ways to engage the community beyond the ivory tower.
Proposals circulating to cut as much as a fifth of the budget from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation are a quick way to inflict long-term pain in Australia’s research community.
