Federation of Australian Scientific Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS)and Technological Societies (FASTS)

Bradley SmithBradley SmithExecutive DirectorExecutive Directorfasts@anu.edu.aufasts@anu.edu.au

www.fasts.orgwww.fasts.org

National Taxonomy National Taxonomy Forum Forum

Who cares? Taxonomy, Who cares? Taxonomy, realpolitikrealpolitik, funding and , funding and student expectations.student expectations.

Who should care?Who should care?

Every discipline is unique and special but can’t Every discipline is unique and special but can’t assume that infers a ‘right’. Making the caseassume that infers a ‘right’. Making the case

End-users Government and industryEnd-users Government and industry AQIS – bio-securityAQIS – bio-security Agricultural sector – primary producers, aquaculture Agricultural sector – primary producers, aquaculture

industry, GRMPA, veterinary labs for domestic and wild industry, GRMPA, veterinary labs for domestic and wild animals, pest managementanimals, pest management

Biodiversity – EPBC Act, mining sector, environmental Biodiversity – EPBC Act, mining sector, environmental monitoring programsmonitoring programs

Public health systemPublic health system biologistsbiologists

Taxonomy’s case is partially Taxonomy’s case is partially mademade

SoE2006 isSoE2006 is unambiguous: unambiguous: “ “ One very One very important issue that continues to get important issue that continues to get worse is a national decline in capacity worse is a national decline in capacity in biological taxonomy. The situation in in biological taxonomy. The situation in this field has become critical”.this field has become critical”.

PMSEIC PMSEIC BiodiscoveryBiodiscovery, 2005, 2005 CERF – Taxonomy Hub May 2007CERF – Taxonomy Hub May 2007 NCRIS - ALANCRIS - ALA

Structural change – is this what you had in mind?Structural change – is this what you had in mind? Redistribution away from ‘science’Redistribution away from ‘science’ Decline of GOVERD – increase to BERD and HERDDecline of GOVERD – increase to BERD and HERD What does this mean for taxonomy – RQF, academic driversWhat does this mean for taxonomy – RQF, academic drivers What role PFRAs?What role PFRAs?

Govt science links with public policy and implementation – EPBC Govt science links with public policy and implementation – EPBC ActAct

Issues around small subjects/niche areasIssues around small subjects/niche areas Funding – clusters to mission based ‘compacts’Funding – clusters to mission based ‘compacts’ Student load – sustainability – what interventions?Student load – sustainability – what interventions? Pathways - postdocsPathways - postdocs Attracting and engaging students Attracting and engaging students

Visibility – decline of majors - mainstreamingVisibility – decline of majors - mainstreaming mentoringmentoring How to engage students in intrinsically difficult or detailed areasHow to engage students in intrinsically difficult or detailed areas

Globalised scienceGlobalised science 1% - how to access other 99%1% - how to access other 99% Southern Hemisphere science – comparative Southern Hemisphere science – comparative

advantages/intrinsic global interestadvantages/intrinsic global interest Geo politicsGeo politics

STRUCTURAL CHANGESTRUCTURAL CHANGE

R&D increased in real terms by 42% R&D increased in real terms by 42% between 1996/7 – 2004/5. between 1996/7 – 2004/5.

Change uneven across sectors and Change uneven across sectors and broad fields of research broad fields of research

Table 1: All sector expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP - 1996/7 - 2004/5

  HERD GOVERD BERD PUBLIC PNPRD GERD

1996/7 0.42% 0.38% 0.76% 0.81% 0.03% 1.59%

1998/9 0.43% 0.34% 0.66% 0.77% 0.03% 1.46%

2000/01 0.40% 0.34% 0.70% 0.75% 0.04% 1.49%

2002/03 0.44% 0.32% 0.89% 0.76% 0.05% 1.69%

2004/05 0.48% 0.29% 0.95% 0.76% 0.06% 1.76%

Chart 1: Percentage change in GERD as a Percentage of GDP (1996/7 - 2004/5)

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Chart 2: Percentage change in Public R&D* expenditures as a percentage of GDP 1996 - 2004

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*Public R&D is defined as the aggregate of Commonwealth, State and Territory Govt R&D (GOVERD) and Higher Ed R&D (HERD)

Chart 3: Percentage change in public R&D expenditures 1996/ 7 - 2004/ 5

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Table 1: SEO Divisions 2004/5 ($,000)

higher Ed C'wealth State Govt Public

Defence 28,857 309,367 0 309,367 338,225

Economic development 1,243,485 809,830 438,325 1,248,156 2,491,641

Society 1,858,168 84,767 338,617 423,384 2,281,552

Environment 297,010 331,638 185,440 517,078 814,088

Non-oriented research 855,260 37,784 14,944 52,728 907,988

Total 4,282,781 1,573,387 977,326 2,550,713 6,833,493

Table 2: SEO Divisions 2004/5 % share per sector

higher Ed C'wealth State Govt Public

Defence 0.67% 19.66% 0.00% 12.13% 4.95%

Economic development 29.03% 51.47% 44.85% 48.93% 36.46%

Society 43.39% 5.39% 34.65% 16.60% 33.39%

Environment 6.93% 21.08% 18.97% 20.27% 11.91%

Non-oriented research 19.97% 2.40% 1.53% 2.07% 13.29%

Total 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Table 3: SEO Divisions % change per sector 2000/1 to 2004/5 (real terms)

Higher Ed C'wealth State Govt Public

Defence 580.62% 14.20% na 14.20% 22.60%

Economic development 36.35% (12.75%) (31.04%) (20.19%) 0.64%

Society 44.46% 35.56% 25.34% 27.26% 40.93%

Environment 62.28% 9.06% 14.81% 11.06% 25.51%

Non-oriented research 7.86% 30.99% 23.40% 28.74% 8.88%

Total 34.71% (1.33%) (9.46%) (-4.61%) 16.75%

What is going on?What is going on?

Shift from GOVERD to BERD & Shift from GOVERD to BERD & HERDHERD

Changing profiles of universitiesChanging profiles of universities What role PFRAs?What role PFRAs? SEO move away from industry SEO move away from industry

development in GOVERDdevelopment in GOVERD Casualisation of scientific labour Casualisation of scientific labour

forceforce

  Public Expenditure (CVM)  2000 2002 2004

    $'000 $'000 $'000

270308

Microbial Systematics,Taxonomy and Phylogeny

820 1,067 613

270401

Plant Systematics, Taxonomy and Phylogeny 16,653 14,736 15,108

270501

Animal Systematics, Taxonomy and Phylogeny 16,603 15,144 13,324

  sub-total 34,076 30,948 29,046

         

27 total biology 672,093 717,258 756,558

 % change in real terms – all sector 2000 to 2004 c/wealth state total gov high ed all public

Microbial Systematics, Taxonomy and Phylogeny   0.00% 0.00% 49.19% -25.25%

Plant Systematics, Taxonomy and Phylogeny -0.81% -1.61% -1.23% -28.89% -9.28%

Animal Systematics, Taxonomy and Phylogeny -6.27% -30.99% -26.70% -4.04% -19.74%

sub-total -7.25% -19.37% -15.29% -13.56% -14.76%

total biology -6.21% 12.53% 1.55% 21.50% 12.57%