Many centres were set up in Australian universities to take advantage of China’s rising importance, but without ongoing funding they might be subject to interference from external donors.
The recent NHMRC funding announcement has renewed criticism about how medical research is funded in Australia. Is the system fair? Or is it stacked against some researchers?
Food, drug and other companies often sponsor research in the hope it might produce results favourable to their products. How can we ensure such research remains independent?
Given the failure of British polls to predict the outcome of Brexit, is it possible Donald Trump could produce a surprise result of even greater proportions?
Queensland’s planned new coal mine could impact the climate, the Great Barrier Reef, water, and local species. Yet still it has been declared as ‘critical infrastructure’ by the state government.
Montaigne anticipated much of modern thought, and was profoundly shaped by the classics. His Essays, so personal yet so urbane, continue to challenge and charm readers.
Aquaculture development needs to be able to trust the science, and the science needs to be delivered in a timely way if we hope to ensure long-term sustainability of this industry.
The Australian government will now accept licence applications for groups wanting to grow cannabis for scientific and medical purposes. But there’s still a lot we don’t know about this complex plant.
Epidurals were developed for pregnant women to address the severe pain of labour. In Australia approximately one in three pregnant women in labour has an epidural for pain relief.
We all know about Phar Lap, but what about the remarkable story of Walter Craig on Nimblefoot, or the market gardener who always knew when Poseidon would win?
A study being launched today by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety confirms the serious impacts of intimate partner violence.
After years of stalled negotiations, China has ended its opposition to the world’s largest marine park off Antarctica - part of a wider trend towards increased Chinese involvement in global governance.
A culture of ‘managerialism’ has bled the arts of originality and purpose. We need a changed mindset and an arts and culture think-tank that is separate from the Australia Council.
The government has heavily invested in initiatives intended to help children understand finance. But should this be taught by school teachers instead who are sensitive to kid’s backgrounds?
The science of attributing extreme weather events to human-induced climate change has evolved rapidly in recent years. But how we communicate it to the public has not kept pace with this advance.
The Pakistani government has a complicated relationship with the army and militant groups. Until they are sorted out, security will continue to be jeopardised.
The government’s message to asylum seekers is already clear: you are not welcome, and you will not be resettled in Australia. Surely that message does not need to be any harsher.