The Australian Academy of the Humanities today welcomed the Budget announcement last night of the continuation of funding to Australia’s four Learned Academies of $4.4 million per year (indexed). This is a very welcome recognition of the work of the Learned Academies in supporting the national research and innovation system. “The funding to the Academy of the Humanities also affirms the crucial role of the humanities to the national research enterprise”, said Academy President, Professor Lesley Johnson.

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The Academy is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Taking Stock: The Humanities in Australian Life since 1968 edited by Ian Donaldson and Mark Finnane, and published by University of Western Australia Publishing.

Taking Stock forms part of a larger exploration by the Academy – generously supported by the Australian Research Council through a Learned Academies Special Projects grant – of the role the humanities have played in Australian life since 1968. The volume features papers originally presented at the Academy’s Annual Symposium in 2009, reviewing shifts and developments of the humanities in Australia over the past four decades.

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The Academy has warmly welcomed the announcement that the Government will direct $10 million dollars worth of funding over the next three years to support multi-disciplinary research by Australia's four Learned Academies under the auspices of the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA). Under the new arrangement the Academies will work with the Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, and the Prime Minister’s Science Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) to inform national policy and bring an in-depth interdisciplinary perspective to the complex challenges facing the nation.

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The Academy recently made a submission to the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education's (DIISRTE) consultation paper on the National Research Priorities (NRPs). The Academy welcomed the opportunity to contribute towards the formulation of a fifth NRP to better reflect the priority of the humanities, arts and social sciences disciplines to the national research enterprise; and to ensure the current NRPs remain “relevant as broad statements of the Government’s aspirations for publicly funded research”. The Academy's submission is available here.

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The Academy welcomes the release of the consultation paper by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE), Refreshing the National Research Priorities. The paper proposes the addition of a fifth National Research Priority (NRP) to better reflect the priority of the humanities, arts and social science (HASS) disciplines to the national research enterprise. The paper also proposes to refine the existing NRPs so they remain relevant as broad statements of the Government's aspirations for publicly funded research. Submissions are due 5 March 2011. See website for more details.

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The Academy offers its warmest congratulations to past President Professor Graeme Turner FAHA for his re-appointment to the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC).

Professor Turner is one of world's foremost authorities on cultural studies and media communications. He has extensive experience across research and higher education policy settings and has been a member of PMSEIC since 2008.

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The Academy welcomes the Prime Minister’s reforms to Australia’s peak science advisory body, the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC), which will enable it to provide more timely independent scientific advice to Government on the immediate challenges and opportunities facing the nation. The restructure will also see Australia’s four Learned Academies play a vital role in informing national policy, bringing an in-depth interdisciplinary perspective to long-term issues.

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Tributaries: A Directory of Social and Cultural Research on Urban Water aims to help the water sector gain better access to social and cultural research expertise, and assist researchers to make connections with each other. Compiled by Justine Humphry, Zoë Sofoulis and Vibha Bhattarai Upadhyay, the directory is available for free download from Centre for Cultural Research at the University of Western Sydney.

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Professor Joseph Lo Bianco FAHA talks to Phillip Adams FAHA about the Academy's recent Educating the Nation symposium, the benefits of early bilingualism, and the role of the humanities in a 'borderless' world. A link to the podcast is here.

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The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) has released a new consultation paper, 'Defining Quality for Research Training in Australia'. The paper forms the initial phase of the review of the Research Training Scheme (RTS) foreshadowed in the research workforce strategy. The paper, and details about public briefing sessions across Australia are available on the DIISR website. Submissions are due 28 November 2011.

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Nominations for appointment to the Australian Research Council (ARC) College in 2012 close 28 October 2011. An Information Kit and Nomination Form are available on the ARC College page.

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The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) is currently conducting a survey to identify best practice models for supporting career development for Australian researchers across all disciplines. Take the survey.

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Professor Marilyn Lake FAHA talks about the shape of Australian history, funding crises in Australian universities, and how a perspective informed by ‘long’ history and comparative cultural knowledge can help us respond to current policy debates.

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The Minister for the Arts, the Hon Simon Crean MP has released a discussion paper on the development of a new National Cultural Policy, calling for public submissions by 21 October 2011.

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics is calling for feedback on future directions for measuring Australia’s progress as part of its MAP 2.0 project. Submissions are due 30 September 2011.

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The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is currently seeking feedback on the nature and scope cross-curriculum priorities in the new Australian Curriculum. Submissions are due 9 September 2011.

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The Australian Academy of the Humanities welcomes the announcement that the Government will discontinue the use of journal rankings as part of its Excellence in Research for Australia initiative. The Academy applauds the Government’s and the Australian Research Council’s receptiveness to public feedback on the ERA process, and particularly the highly contentious issue of journal rankings.

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