Have your say: Published response
Published name
What are Australia's greatest challenges that science could help to address? What opportunities should we seize? What strengths should we maintain and/or build?
For decades Australia has failed to invest in nuclear science. ANSTO USES the fruits of nuclear science but does nothing to advance nuclear science. In terms of academic staff and research effort we are an order of magnitude below comparable countries. There is an urgent need to build the level of expertise and engage in high priority projects in nuclear science with our neighbours in Asia, North America and Europe.
Does Australia have the capability and capacity needed to address these challenges, opportunities and strengths? If not, how could we build this?
We could subsidise universities that have a little strength in this area to build capacity and support significant engagement in international projects such as J-PARC in Japan, EIC and FRIB in the USA and FAIR in Germany with realistic levels of funding. The ARC is funded at a ridiculously low level with success rates that beggar belief and provide no cintinuity for even the most outstanding research groups.