The Australian Research Quality Framework: A live experiment in capturing the social, economic, environmental, and cultural returns of publicly funded research

Copyright @ 2008 Wiley Periodicals Inc. This is the accepted version of the following article: Donovan, C. (2008), The Australian Research Quality Framework: A live experiment in capturing the social, economic, environmental, and cultural returns of publicly funded research. New Directions for Evaluation, 2008: 47–60, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ev.260/abstract.The author regards development of Australia's ill-fated Research Quality Framework (RQF) as a “live experiment” in determining the most appropriate approach to evaluating the extra-academic returns, or “impact,” of a nation's publicly funded research. The RQF was at the forefront of an international movement toward richer qualitative, contextual approaches that aimed to gauge the wider economic, social, environmental, and cultural benefits of research. Its construction and implementation sent mixed messages and created confusion about what impact is, and how it is best measured, to the extent that this bold live experiment did not come to fruition

A Submission on Financing Issues to the Department of Education Science and Training Inquiry into Higher Education

At the end of 2002 or thereabouts the Commonwealth Government will be announcing changes to the financing of Australian higher education. The paper addresses the major issues, beginning with a brief history of university funding arrangements. This is followed by an conceptual analysis of financing models, on which it is demonstrated that the best way to manage student charges is with an income contingent loan, such as HECS. The paper explores some aspects of current university conditions. It is shown that over the past twenty years or so there has been a significant decrease in the relative salary levels of academics, and that over the last few years staff/student ratios have fallen significantly. Some part of the deterioration in conditions can be traced to the implementation of an inadequate indexation arrangement for government grants, instituted in 1995. That is, with respect to allowing the maintenance of earnings matching average Australian wage increases, public sector outlays have been falling. These falls are above and beyond what has occurred with the justifiable switch in financial contributions from taxpayers to students. Those arguing for some restoration of government support have a point.

Modelling the Research Output of Australian Universities by Discipline

This paper develops and estimates a cross-sectional model for forecasting research output across the Australian university system. It builds upon an existing literature that focuses either on institutional comparisons or studies of specific subjects, by providing discipline-specific results across all of the ten major disciplinary areas as defined by Australia’s Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). The model draws upon four discipline-specific explanatory variables; staff size, research expenditure, PhD completions, and student-staff ratios to predict output of refereed articles. When compared with actual averaged output for 2000-2004, the results are highly statistically significant.

Ranking and Clustering Australian University Research Performance, 1998-2002

This paper clusters and ranks the research performance of thirty-seven Australian universities over the period 1998-2002. Research performance is measured according to audited numbers of PhD completions, publications and grants (in accordance with rules established by the Department of Education, Science and Training) and analysed in both total and per academic staff terms. Hierarchical cluster analysis supports a binary division between fifteen higher and twenty-two lower-performing universities, with the specification in per academic staff terms identifying the self-designated research intensive "Group of Eight" (Go8) universities, plus several others in the better-performing group. Factor analysis indicates that the top-three research performers are the Universities of Melbourne, Sydney and Queensland in terms of total research performance and the Universities of Melbourne, Adelaide and Western Australia in per academic staff terms.Higher education, hierarchical cluster analysis, research performance, factor analysis

High-speed high-resolution plasma spectroscopy using spatial-multiplex coherence imaging techniques

We have recently obtained simultaneous two-dimensional (2D) plasmaDoppler spectroscopic images of plasma brightness, temperature, and flow fields. Using compact polarization optical methods, quadrature images of the optical coherence of an isolated spectral line are multiplexed to four quadrants of a fast charge-coupled device camera. The simultaneously captured, but distinct, images can be simply processed to unfold the plasma brightness, temperature, and flow fields. This static system, which is a spatial-multiplex variant of previously reported electro-optically modulated, temporal-multiplex coherence imaging systems, is based on a high-throughput imagingpolarizationinterferometer that employs crossed Wollaston prisms and appropriate image plane masks. Because the images are captured simultaneously, it is well suited to high-spectral-resolution, high-throughput 2D imaging of transient or rapidly changing spectroscopic scenes. To illustrate instrument performance we present recent results using a static 4-quadrant Dopplercoherence imaging on the H-1 heliac at the ANU.This work has been, in part, supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training under the International Science Linkages program, Grant No. CG050061

Feedback control of thermal lensing in a high optical power cavity

This paper reports automatic compensation of strong thermal lensing in a suspended 80 m optical cavity with sapphire test mass mirrors. Variation of the transmitted beam spot size is used to obtain an error signal to control the heating power applied to the cylindrical surface of an intracavity compensation plate. The negative thermal lens created in the compensation plate compensates the positive thermal lens in the sapphire test mass, which was caused by the absorption of the high intracavity optical power. The results show that feedback control is feasible to compensate the strong thermal lensing expected to occur in advanced laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors. Compensation allows the cavity resonance to be maintained at the fundamental mode, but the long thermal time constant for thermal lensing control in fused silica could cause difficulties with the control of parametric instabilities.This research was supported by the Australian Research Council and the Department of Education, Science and Training and by the U.S. National Science Foundation, through LIGO participation in the HOPF

Iowa Academy of Science: The New Bulletin, v06n2-3, Summer-Fall 2010

Inside This Issue: --Message from the Executive Director --Meet Iowa Department of Education Science Consultant Yvette McCulley --2010 Iowa AmJAS Delegate, McKenna Templeton shares her experiences at AmJAS --2011-2012 AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships --Environmental Literacy Needs and Partnerships Survey --Experience Three Weeks in India: University of Iowa Winterim in India Program --Academy awarded REAP-CEP Grants --Announcements, Events & Deadlines --Support The Academyhttps://scholarworks.uni.edu/iasnews/1012/thumbnail.jp

A Qualitative Approach Using Diaries and Interviews

1. Nadia Rania[1][1][⇑][2] 2. Laura Migliorini[1][1] 3. Stefania Rebora[1][1] 4. Paola Cardinali[1][1] 1. 1DISFOR, Department of Education Science, University of Genoa, Italy 1. Nadia Rania, DISFOR, Department of Education Science, University of Genoa, C.so A. Podesta, 2, 16121 Genoa, Italy. Email: nadia.rania{at}unige.it This study compares Italian mothers' and Ecuadorian immigrant mothers' daily family routines. Thirty mothers took part in this investigation: 15 Italians ( M = 37.5 years, with ages ranging from 30 to 42 years) and 15 Ecuadorians ( M = 36.1 years, with ages ranging from 18 to 46 years and having lived in Italy for an average of 15 years), with children ranging in age from 4 to 8 years. The objective is to highlight the differences and similarities between the daily routines and family relations that characterize the lives of each of the two groups of participants. The instruments employed in service of these aims were in-depth interviews and diaries. The results showed similarities regarding the routines of Italian and Ecuadorian families. However, a relevant difference emerged regarding their perceptions of social support. Specifically, Italians receive more social support from their parents than do Ecuadorians, who are supported more by other relatives or by friends. [1]: #aff-1 [2]: #corresp-

Kinetic and sequence-structure-function analysis of known LinA variants with different hexachlorocyclohexane isomers

BACKGROUND Here we report specific activities of all seven naturally occurring LinA variants towards three different isomers, α, γ and δ, of a priority persistent pollutant, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Sequence-structure-function differences contributing to the differences in their stereospecificity for α-, γ-, and δ-HCH and enantiospecificity for (+)- and (-)-α -HCH are also discussed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Enzyme kinetic studies were performed with purified LinA variants. Models of LinA2(B90A) A110T, A111C, A110T/A111C and LinA1(B90A) were constructed using the FoldX computer algorithm. Turnover rates (min(-1)) showed that the LinAs exhibited differential substrate affinity amongst the four HCH isomers tested. α-HCH was found to be the most preferred substrate by all LinA's, followed by the γ and then δ isomer. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The kinetic observations suggest that LinA-γ1-7 is the best variant for developing an enzyme-based bioremediation technology for HCH. The majority of the sequence variation in the various linA genes that have been isolated is not neutral, but alters the enantio- and stereoselectivity of the encoded proteins.This work was supported by the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund from the Department of Education Science and Technology (DEST), Australia and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India

A way forward to managing the transition to professional practice for beginning teachers

The high attrition rate of beginning teachers in Australia and overseas is well-documented. This trend is easily understood as many beginning teachers enter the profession with little support or mentoring (Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), 2002; Herrington & Herrington, 2004; Ramsey, 2000). Continual calls for more comprehensive approaches to teacher induction in which universities and employing bodies share the responsibilities of the transition to professional practice (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Vocational Training, 2007) have, to date, largely been ignored. This paper reports on a trial project conducted at a university in south-east Queensland, Australia that addresses these shortfalls. The aim of the project is to facilitate and support the development of high quality teachers and teaching through an extended model of teacher preparation. The model comprises a 1+2 program of formal teacher preparation: a one-year teacher education course (the Graduate Diploma in Education), followed by a comprehensive two year program of workplace induction and ongoing professional learning tailored to meet graduate and employer needs. This paper reports on graduating students’ perceptions of their preparedness to teach as they transition from the Graduate Diploma in Education program to professional practice. The study concludes that innovative programs, including university-linked, ongoing professional learning support for teacher education graduates, may provide the way forward for enhancing the transition to practice for beginning teachers