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https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/politicisation-of-research-grants-beggars-belief-20211226-p59k6j>
"The federal government’s intervention in blocking research projects that would
explore modern-day China, school students’ motivations to climate action and
studies into English literature “beggars belief”, according to the head of one
university which had two of the six grants vetoed by Acting Education Minister
Stuart Robert on Christmas Eve.
Barney Glover, the vice-chancellor of Western Sydney University, said it was
facile to suggest that any of the vetoed grants were not in the national
interest.
His criticism echoed that of Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt who said the
government made the rules around how research grants were made, and it was
therefore completely inappropriate that it then intervene to remove grants
“unless the grant rules were not followed”.
In vetoing the grants, Mr Robert said the rejected grants “do not demonstrate
value for taxpayers’ money nor contribute to the national interest”.
Two of the blocked grants were focused on understanding modern-day China, two
were explorations of early English literature and theatre and one was on the
connection of religion to science fiction and fantasy novels.
However, Professor Glover said the blocking of the sixth which sought to
understand the mass mobilisation of school students in climate action and how
this relates to their engagement with democracy “beggars belief”.
The grant application from WSU researcher Phillipa Collin said: “It is in
Australia’s national interest to better understand the motivations, forms of
organising and participation, and responses to student climate activism that
underpin current and future of expectations citizens have of democracy”.
Professor Glover questioned how this research could “not be in the national
interest at a time of so much turmoil around the world”.
“Surely we want our best social and political scientists to explore the
phenomenon. And what could the Minister possibly find objectionable in a
liberal democracy supporting freedom of speech and extolling the virtues of
academic freedom,” Professor Glover said.
The vetoing of the grants, which is only the third time to have happened, has
attracted tangible anger on social media."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
