Australian Research Council backs down to angry scientists

The Australian Research Council has backed down and reversed a decision which banned dozens of research applications.

The Australian Research Council has backed down to pressure from scientists.

The Australian Research Council has responded to outrage from universities and backed down from its decision to ban the assessment of preprint papers in judging funding applications.

Earlier the council had ruled 32 grant applications ineligible because they cited preprints, a practice that is widely accepted by researchers and standard in physics. Now six of the projects ruled ineligible – all in physics – have been awarded funding.

Australian Institute of Physics president Sven Rogge said the outcome was a result of the “strong response” of the sector. “It is very late, but it is fair,” he said.