Murdoch Uni VC is new chair of Innovative Research Universities
Murdoch University vice-chancellor Eeva Leinonen is the new chair of the Innovative Research Universities group.
In today’s Higher Ed Daily Brief: leadership switch, modest research boost
New IRU chair
Murdoch University vice-chancellor Eeva Leinonen is the new chair of the seven member strong Innovative Research Universities group. The growing IRU represents Griffith, La Trobe, Flinders, Murdoch, Charles Darwin, and James Cook — with Western Sydney joining in 2017. Professor Leinonen, whose appointment will be formally announced next week, replaces Flinders University vice-chancellor Colin Stirling in the role.
Money for research
After the swingeing $330 million cuts announced to research in December, the Morrison government yesterday announced it would give $10m to six major university linked research facilities. Education Minister Dan Tehan said half the money will go to the sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (known as SHRIMP) with $2m to the gravitational wave data centre. The University of Adelaide, the University of Queensland and ANU also get money.
The news only got two cheers from the leading research universities in the Group of Eight. “While it is reassuring to see the government’s continued commitment to research infrastructure funding, this commitment is undermined by cuts announced last month to research funding,” said Go8 chief executive Vicki Thomson.
Make quantum great again
UNSW physicist Michelle Simmons, whose quantum computing research is getting world attention, was a guest at Donald Trump’s state dinner for PM Scott Morrison.
New research leader
Macquarie University has picked the CEO of the Australian Wine Research Institute, Dan Johnson, to be its new pro vice-chancellor for research innovation.