Canberra, Wednesday 22 August, 2001
ANU scientists win major research funding
Scientists at The Australian National University have secured funds for
three projects through the Commonwealth
Government's Major National Research Facilities (MNRF) grant program.
The Mount Stromlo Observatory
(ANU's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics) is part of a successful
consortium that has been awarded $23.5 million for astronomy projects
including access to the Gemini optical telescopes in Hawaii and Chile.
ANU engineers and scientists will be involved in the construction of a
multi-million dollar instrument for one of the Gemini sites. This will
follow its current contract to build the Near-infrared
Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) for Gemini. In exchange, Australian
astronomers will be allocated observation time on the high-tech telescopes.
The Gemini and SKA: Australia's Astronomy Future Project involves the
CSIRO, Anglo-Australian Observatory, Melbourne University, University
of NSW, Swinburne University of Technology, Sydney University, Dell Computer
P/L, CEA Technologies Pty. Ltd, Commerce & Trade Western Australia, Advanced
Powder Technology P.L and ANU.
The Australian
Phenomics Facility has been awarded $11.5 million. This project will
build the world's leading facility for Australian and international researchers
to define the mammalian phenome. The scientific research will be conducted
in a 4,500 square metre laboratory that will be built on ANU grounds.
The project involves the John Curtin
School of Medical Research at the Australian National University,
the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development at Monash University,
the Dairy Co-operative Research Centre, Garvan Institute, and the Institute
of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland.
The MNRF grant program also allocated $3.25 million for a Arafura-Timor
Research Facility. The project will focus on the marine and coastal ecosystem
of the Arafura and Timor Seas. Researchers from the ANU's Centre
for Resource and Environment Studies and Research
School Pacific and Asian Studies will be involved in the social, economic
and scientific research areas of the project. The facility will be based
at the ANU's North Australia
Research Unit in Darwin. It will include a wet and dry laboratory
and advanced environmental control facilities.
The lead organisation in the project is the Australian
Institute of Marine Science. Other participants include the Northern
Territory Government, Northern Territory University and other industry
partners.
Applicants were required to show support from potential partners and
State (or Territory) Governments to match the grant.
For more information contact: Professor Frank Jackson, Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Research) 02 6125 8487 (w) or Jim Mahoney, Director, ANU Public Affairs
02 6125 5003 or 0416 249 231 (m)
No: 69/2001
© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002
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