• Time for a national research office?

    Marigold Black     |      October 16, 2024

    Australia needs an office of national research, to make the greatest use of our intellectual resources in building our defences, strengthening our economy and supporting our society.

  • China overhauls the USA in technology research

    Danielle Cave     |      September 16, 2024

    China has overtaken the United States as the overwhelming leader in technological research over the last two decades, according to ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker.

  • Using AI for social science research

    MacKenzie Paul     |      June 20, 2024

    Researchers in social science have developed a new database of AI tools for literature reviews, data collection and analyses, and research dissemination.

  • There’s no substitute for people in social research

    Alexandra Gibson     |      March 23, 2024

    Autogenerated garbage is swamping human creativity on internet platforms, but the limitations of AI reemphasise the importance of humanity in social research.

  • Researching the researchers

    Open Forum     |      November 20, 2023

    Research plays a pivotal role in society. Through research, we gain new understandings, test theories and make discoveries, but how do we know if individual research projects being conducted in Australia are good quality?

  • Scientists raise alarm over research interference

    Open Forum     |      July 14, 2023

    Scientists say heavy-handed governments and aggressive corporations are suppressing scientific research vital for protecting the environment.

  • Machines in the study of people

    Igor Grossmann     |      July 10, 2023

    Social sciences have historically relied on traditional research methods to gain a better understanding of individuals, groups, cultures and their dynamics but will increasingly look to using AI.

  • Investing in research

    Open Forum     |      May 16, 2023

    A study co-led by The University of Queensland has found Australia is lagging behind similar countries in funding basic research, particularly in the medical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

  • A new vision for Australian research

    Brian Schmidt     |      April 27, 2023

    The future of Australian prosperity depends on the education and research undertaken within its tertiary education system. The federal government’s call for “lasting reform” in the Universities Accord offers a timely opportunity to take action.

  • Rethinking research funding

    Gregory McCarthy     |      April 23, 2023

    Education Minister Jason Clare has just released a highly anticipated review into the federal legislation underpinning the Australian Research Council (ARC) and its funding of non-medical research in this country.

  • Size matters – in science

    Victoria Tichá     |      October 25, 2022

    Newspapers, university students and senior executives tend to focus on the headlines and ignore sample sizes when making judgements about new research findings, so researchers and scientists should be careful about misleading others when publicising their findings.

  • Rebooting research…again

    Sue Bennett     |      September 4, 2022

    Labor’s Education Minister Jason Clare has kicked off what could be a major reset of university research funding in Australia.