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Dec 14, 2023 • 25 tweets • 7 min read
Another big year in ARC land. A better one!
Mainly positive. Some head-scratchers but no major stuff-ups.
Some things bode well for 2024, but research funding remains shockingly low – cue the "waiting for the Universities Accord" mantra.
But first, an “ARC Year in Review”🧵👇
Overall, we’ve moved from Ministers & an ARC that didn’t seem to see researchers or hear anything they said, to a Minister & ARC who's seen the mounting problems, listened to advice, and started to act.
It’s worth reading that again. Not bad.
Not finished, but a welcome change.
Oct 13, 2023 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
#DECRA #DE25 applications were opened yesterday by ARC.
As with the Laureates & Futures, the DECRA app form has been significantly reduced in length & complexity.
IMO, this is a Very Good Thing, *especially* for an early-career researcher scheme.
Short 🧵 on the changes👇
Firstly, like any change in ARC land, it’s not perfect, & will be annoying for re-submitters.
My advice: Don’t try to just squeeze old stuff into the new form. Re-assess what’s really most important for the assessors to see, esp. what differentiates you from other applicants.
Jul 29, 2022 • 19 tweets • 6 min read
"It's another gut-punch to poor early career researchers".
The ARC have again raised extra barriers for ECRs, causing unnecessary delays & anxiety, wasting resources &, yes, …
Long 🧵 but stay with me🙏
The National Interest Test (NIT) was introduced by the previous Coalition Government.
It's a smoke screen for idealogical vetoing of humanities grants they want to parade in front of their supporters and ridicule, e.g.⤵️ smh.com.au/politics/feder…
Apr 27, 2022 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
🚨#DECRA #DE23 applicants❗️
Rejoinders open in RMS tomorrow (28 Apr) – short🧵👇
First: Sooo important to read reviews ASAP. Can be hard. But do it.
Why? #ARC3DayRule. For fun, ARC gives you just 3 days to complain about #BadReviewers via your DVCR!👇
▶️ arc.gov.au/grants/grant-a…
No #BadReviewers? Great!
Now, get as much help as you can. Don't go it alone.
Get help *reading* it from senior colleagues & Research Office staff. Sounds weird, but experience really helps.
No strong criticisms? Look for faint praise – can be just as important to address.
Jan 31, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Gov announcement of new $ for research commercialisation is welcome. The approach looks sensible to this non-expert.
But the funding scale! $1.6b of new money! (Over 4 years?)
Compare with ARC's budget: $0.75b pa.
Must fund research & commercialisation! news.com.au/finance/econom…
The ARC funds the bulk of basic research in Australia.
But it's funding has been cut by 30% since 2014 – see 🧵👇
"But…but…the Minister *must* have oversight of education spending!"
This 👆 is often the reply when anyone argues to remove veto powers over individual ARC grants.
It really shouldn't need saying, but "oversight" does not equal micro-managerial control.
Want an example? 🧵👇
Imagine the Minister had veto power over individual *PhD scholarships*.
Preposterous! Ridiculous! Massive over-reach! Political interference! Academic freedom!
Yep, absolutely💯
But that's *totally* different to individual ARC grants, right?
Is it?
Aug 18, 2021 • 17 tweets • 5 min read
I promised a thread to explain the huge ARC eligibility issue that's affected #FutureFellowships & #DECRA so far, and will enormously impact #DiscoveryProjects as well.
Honestly, it's possibly @arc_gov_au's lowest point yet.
What's happened? Brace yourself.
The @arc_gov_au has ruled *dozens* of fellowship grants ineligible because the applications cited "preprints".
Not just in the applicants' publication list, but *anywhere* in the app.
Not just those co-authored by the applicant, but *any* "preprint".
