KnowledgeLink Newsletter
May 2008
Ten of Australia's top researchers were honored at the Scientific Research Day and Citation Awards 2008, held in Canberra on April 2. Australia ranked among the top ten nations for the influence of its scientific papers in 2007 according to Scientific data.
The event, which took place at the National Press Club in Canberra, is part of a series of Asia Pacific Research Days hosted by Scientific to recognize research excellence in countries and regions. Similar events have been held previously in countries including China, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan.
The ten Australian award recipients, each based at a different organization throughout the country, were selected using a quantitative process that identified the average number of citations each of their research papers had over a period of time. This, in turn, reflected the paper’s impact and influence on the given subject, and the importance attached to that research by subsequent research. The wide range of subject areas covered – from astronomy and astrophysics to economics and psychiatry – illustrated the strength of academic research within Australia and a reflection of the innovation inherent among the country’s scientists.
The event saw a distinguished panel of speakers chaired by Professor Stephen Parker, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canberra who has had a distinguished career in academia and legal practice. Professor Margaret Sheil, CEO of the Australian Research Council, spoke on evaluating research excellence. Professor Ken Baldwin, President of Federation of Australian Scientific & Technological Societies, and Professor Stuart Cunningham, President of the Council of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences responded to her remarks, before the highly engaging Q&A session with the audience. Mary Van Allen, Strategic Business Manager, Research Evaluation and Bibliometric Analysis, was present to share the Australian metrics and methodology for Awardees. This was followed by the award presentation to the ten highly-cited Australian researchers.
The National Press Club keynote address was given by Professor Alan Robson (Vice-Chancellor, University of Western Australia and President, Group of Eight (leading Australian universities). He spoke on the current review of Australia's innovation system.
The overall event was well-attended by the academia and research communities as well as key media. More than 200 guests attended including representatives from the National Health & Medical Research Council, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and from universities from all over Australia. The event generated extensive media coverage including live coverage on Australia Broadcasting Corporation, national broadcaster SBS, The Australian (national daily), Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Life Scientist, Campus Review and various university publications.
Group photo 1 (L-R):
Professor Stuart Cunningham, President CHASS; Professor Stephen Parker, Vice-Chancellor, University of Canberra; Professor Margaret Sheil, CEO, Australian Research Council; Professor Ken Baldwin, President FASTS; Ms Mary Van Allen, Thomson Scientific
Group Photo 2 (L-R):
Dr William Peacock, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; Professor Zheng-Xiang Li, The University of Western Australia; Professor Suzanne Cory, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Professor Don Harding, La Trobe University; Dr Stuart Batten, Monash University; Professor Anthony Jorm, The University of Melbourne; Professor Paul Chandler, The University of New South Wales
Citation Award Recipients who were not in Photo 2:
Professor Brian Schmidt, Australian National University; Dr Ian Wright, Macquarie, Macquarie University; Professor Terence Hughes, James Cook University
