Looking forward 

As we approach the end of this year and look forward to the next, there are a number of things both to celebrate and to plan for.

The recently announced ARC Discovery Program recipients include our colleagues Professor Martin Gibbs, and Emeritus Professor Michael Bittman. Sincere congratulations to these colleagues and their respective teams on their success in this round. These are the only UNE recipients of DP25 grants, and we wish them every success as they commence their projects in the new year!

2025 will also bring some changes and updates in the research environment of our faculty. One major change pertains to a planned refresh of the Faculty Research Committee membership, in response to recently approved Faculty Research Committee Terms of Reference. This change will enable us to expand Committee membership, broaden faculty participation, and improve efficiency. It will also provide consistency across FRCs in each of the three faculties at UNE, and a particular thanks to Prof Amir Karton (SABL) and Prof Kim Usher (M&H) for their collegiality and collaboration in getting these revised and through the approvals process. Further information and a call for EOIs will be circulated by email in coming weeks, and a formal panel to review EOIs will be convened in the new year. I would like to take the opportunity to thank current FRC members for their contribution to the Committee, and for their commitment to supporting a rigorous and rewarding research environment in the faculty and university more broadly.

Another refresh on the horizon will be to Faculty-recognised Research Groups and Networks following the FRC approval of new Guidelines and Application Forms. This will enable existing groups/networks to formally update their membership in the new year, provide clearer information about upgrading status from Group to Network, and clarify and improve reporting arrangements.

As you’ll already be aware, this year our Faculty Research Strategy Everyday Challenges, Promising Futures was revised and updated. The next step will be to develop an Implementation Plan, and School Research Coordinators have been asked to consult with their respective School Research Committees for ideas and suggestions. In particular, feedback will be sought as to ways we can collectively deliver on the strategic goals:

1) develop and grow priority projects and interdisciplinary research initiatives
2) prioritise and support high quality research and HDR supervision
3) cultivate and sustain a vibrant and thriving research culture
4) promote and extend our regional, national and international profile

Alongside your input regarding ways to achieve these goals, we ask that feedback takes into consideration the principles that underpin them:

Rigour, relevance and responsiveness to a changing world
Interdisciplinarity, innovation, inclusion and impact that makes a difference
Sustainability, social responsibility, and supportive scholarly communities
Excellence, enterprise, equity, and effective engagement in our region

Please take the opportunity to discuss with your School Research Committee members and School Research Coordinators, and of course feel free to contact me as well with ideas and suggestions. This will be an important and exciting next step in collectively contributing to our research culture and its ongoing growth and development. As with other developments, more information will be circulated to HASSE colleagues in coming weeks.

In the meantime, my sincerest thanks to all those who lead research and HDR portfolios in the Schools, contribute to committees, panels, reviews, symposia and other initiatives, provide guidance and supervision to our HDR cohorts, and conduct and disseminate such a wonderful range of research. A special thanks also to the wonderful professional staff within and beyond the faculty, whose work in supporting our research and HDR portfolios is so vital. I look forward to working with you in the coming year, and wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season!