Flinders University hosted Andrew Richardson and Paul Felici from Innovation Connections, an initiative of the Federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science recently, to meet with key stakeholders at Flinders so that we could learn more about Innovation Connections and how we can help in expiating the contracting process associated with receiving a grant. The Innovation Connections program provides small and medium sized businesses with access to expert advice to address technology and knowledge gaps, and collaborate with the research sector in developing new ideas with commercial potential. Support includes an Innovation Connections grant of up to $50,000 in matched funding to work on collaborative projects, together with support for researcher placement, business researcher placement or graduate placement options.

The SA Innovation Facilitator, Andrew Richardson, works alongside business to find solutions to their IT needs, identify new technology, knowledge and expertise, and to provide pathways to engage and collaborate with the research sector. To be eligible for the grant the industry partner must satisfy eligibility criteria, and also be either operating in, or provide enabling technologies, inputs or services to one of the five growth sectors. The growth sectors are Advanced Manufacturing; Cyber Security; Food and Agribusiness; Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals; Mining Equipment, Technology and Services; and Oil, Gas and Energy Resources.

"Unlike traditional approaches this grant is non-competitive and administratively simplified with quick application to award turn-around time.  It is a great way to explore and build strong relationships with industry partners," said Carmela Sergi, Institute Manager, Medical Device Research Institute.

If you are working with an industry partner and may benefit from this grant, or if you have research capabilities and would like to be matched with industry in these sectors please contact Mary Lyons, Research Grants Officer, Research Development and Support, or Andrew Richardson directly at andrew.richardson@businessfoundations.com.au.

When we look at a global map of the Earth’s river network, fingers of blue lines appear to densely cover our continents. What that map doesn’t show is that around half of those rivers don’t have water in them for some or most of the year. These temporary rivers are a critical freshwater resource, both as a water source at the surface and as drivers of groundwater replenishment. Because temporary rivers are difficult to get to and have more complex and unpredictable hydrology, relatively little is known about how they function.

Through a combination of field measurements and computer modelling, we can learn the fundamental secrets of temporary stream hydrology. In 2014, historic environmental flows were released in the US’ Colorado River to reconnect the river to its dying delta. We evaluated what happens when water is purposefully released down a large, dry river that was once flowing all year. To promote sustainable groundwater management in our arid Australian climate, we are using similar methods to evaluate and understand what happens to infrequent flows in a Central Australian remote river. This streambed recharge of the groundwater sustains large horticulture and animal ranching operations. Closer to home, we are measuring and modelling what factors cause the temporary Pedler Creek to flow through McLaren Vale, feeding countless vineyards and supporting our highly valued wine industry.

Dr Margaret Shanafield

Dr Margaret Shanafield’s research is at the nexus between hydrology and hydrogeology. Current research interests focus on surface water-groundwater actions, as well as diverse projects that encompass international development through to fibre optics and ecohydrology. Margaret’s main passions are the use of multiple tracers to understand groundwater recharge patterns in streambeds, and understanding the dynamics of intermittent and ephemeral streamflow. Since 2015, Margaret has been an ARC DECRA fellow, measuring and modelling what hydrologic factors lead to streamflow in arid regions.

T: 8201 5129
E: margaret.shanafield@flinders.edu.au
Campus: Bedford Park
College: Science and Engineering
Role: DECRA Fellow Chief Investigator

This is a new feature for Inspiring Research where we profile Flinders’ Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in our ECR Spotlight. This initiative will appear regularly and aims to connect our research community and strengthen research communications within the University. You will get insight into who our ECRs are and how their research and achievements are making a difference.

The featured ECRs welcome dialogue, debate, and conversation and we hope that it may shape future intra-, inter- and/or trans-disciplinary collaboration with Flinders’ colleagues. Please feel free to comment on their spotlight, and/or contact them directly. Also, you can contact the ECR Spotlight coordinator, Dr Marina Delpin, with your queries and comments.

Rene Logan, from Research Professional will be visiting Flinders on Monday 30 October 2017 to present to interested staff and students on what is new and upcoming in the search for research funding opportunities. Flinders holds a site license for Research Professional, which is a powerful funding opportunities search engine and database, which allows users to create and save their own custom searches for national and worldwide funding opportunities. Searches can be filtered by funder, funder type, deadline, discipline, keyword etc. Users also have the ability to set up and receive regular email alerts of new funding opportunities or news in specific areas of interest. All opportunities listed on the system have been eligibility verified for Australian researchers.

Time, Venue, and Registration information is now available on our updated post here.

Research Professional  launched the new interface UX, among other changes, at the Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) conference in Wellington last month. Flinders has secured Rene to present to Flinders staff so that those who were not in attendance at the ARMS conference can learn about upcoming changes and those who have yet to experience using Research Professional can become familiar with this powerful tool to assist them in finding research funding opportunities.

While a date has been agreed upon, the time and venue are yet to be finalised. Bookmark this post, or check back regularly, as we will update this post with the time, venue and the registration information as soon as it becomes available. If you have any queries on Research Professional, contact your College contact, which can be viewed here. If you do not have a College contact, contact mary.lyons@flinders.edu.au.

The next Research Data and Reporting Team’s monthly drop-in session for interested academic and professional staff will be held on Tuesday 17 October 2017.

The aim of the session is to provide one-on-one assistance to staff who want either a refresh on the research data systems used at Flinders or to learn some new skills.

Research Data and Reporting staff will be available from 12 PM to 1 PM on Tuesday 17 October 2017. Participants are encouraged to register at ienrol if they are interested in attending.

The first Research Grants and Contracts team drop-in session in October for interested academic and professional staff in September will be held on Tuesday 10 October 2017.

These twice monthly sessions are designed to allow staff to receive one-on-one assistance or advice on any aspect of the services provided by the Research Grants and Contracts team, including: assistance with research grant applications, searching for funding, grant budgets, establishing collaborative contracts and other research related contracts, terms and conditions of award, confidentiality and material transfer agreements etc.

Research Grants and Contract staff will be available from 12 PM to 1 PM on Tuesday 10 October 2017 and Tuesday 24 October 2017. Participants are encouraged to register at ienrol if they are interested in attending either of the sessions and are asked to please email research.grants@flinders.edu.au to give RSO staff advance notice of the nature of the assistance they require.

Are you, or have you been a member of a US Research Team? If so, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking white papers on topics in science, engineering, and/or STEM education that are ripe for international network-to-network collaboration. The NSF Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) will use the white papers to inform OISE planning, including the potential need for a future program or program emphasis. The deadline for white paper submission is 11:59 PM ET, 30 November 2017.

White papers are to be submitted by individuals or groups from US institutions, but international researchers are welcome to be part of the white paper team.

For detailed information on the process and the submission criteria, visit the NSF Dear Colleague Letter page.

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), in association with the Australian Academy of Science, offers Postdoctoral Fellowships for Australian researchers to work in institutes affiliated with JSPS. Applications are now being received for visits to Japan commencing between 1 April and 30 November 2018. Closing date is 5pm (AEDT) Monday 30 October 2017. The fields of research areas applicable for application are any field of natural sciences (including technology, engineering and medicine), the humanities and social sciences.

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers provides opportunities for Australian postdoctoral researchers to conduct, under the guidance of their Japanese hosts, cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. The program aims to help such researchers advance their own research while contributing to the advancement of research in Japan and the counterpart countries.

As a rule, the fellowship awardees (fellows) shall stay in Japan continuously during the tenure of their fellowships and concentrate on their research at the host institution. Fellows may, however, suspend their fellowships for the purpose of childbearing or infant nursing. Fellows must not engage in other work, either paid or unpaid, during their tenure.

Further information, including selection criteria and the application form are available on the Australian Academy of Science JSPS webpage.

The New Zealand Geographical Society have announced their awardees for 2017, including the Distinguished New Zealand Geographer Award and Medal. Two geographers were awarded this year: Associate Professor Lex Chalmers (Waikato University, nominated by Waikato Branch), and Professor Patrick Hesp (Strategic Professor, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, nominated by Otago Branch).

Patrick (pictured) has held academic positions in New South Wales, Western Australia, Singapore, USA, and NZ; non-academic positions in the Western Australian State Department of Agriculture, Geomarine P/L, and the Rottnest Island Authority; held visiting professorships and fellowships in South Africa, Namibia, Israel, Holland, China, Brazil, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand, and France; and has worked on beaches and coastal and desert dunes all over the world. He is an expert on coastal dune geomorphology - the study of the characteristics, origins and development of the dunes, and has published over 260 articles in his career to date.

He now joins Professor Iain Hay, Dean (Education), College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, who was awarded the Medal in 2011. Since 2001, when the first Distinguished New Zealand Geographer Medals were awarded, only five awardees working outside New Zealand have received the honour. Patrick becomes the sixth Internationally based awardee.

The Society recognises the outstanding and sustained contributions and service these New Zealand Geographers have made to Geography and society, whether in New Zealand or overseas. The recipients may use the designation DNZG in recognition of the award.

Are you a; clinician with an idea or identified need for a new medical device; or a researcher wanting to move a medical device project forward; or a company needing further product evaluation and development for your medical device? Flinders University’s Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) may be able to help you. The Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) facilitates the development of medical devices and assistive technologies by bringing together clinicians, researchers, end-users, industry and government partners to provide a streamlined process for collaboration and innovation.

The MDPP is dedicated to connecting unique product ideas with world-class research, manufacturing and business expertise to develop innovative solutions to health problems. With funding available via the Medical Technologies Program, (a State Government grant assistance scheme) South Australian inventors, clinicians and researchers can apply to receive up to 250 hours of R&D assistance towards their medical device or assistive technology product or concept. With access to all three publicly-funded South Australian Universities, the MDPP can offer multi-disciplinary research expertise and state-of-the-art facilities for product development and testing, resulting in new opportunities for Australian companies and inventors to turn clever concepts into worldwide market prospects which ultimately improve lives.

The MDPP works with medical device projects at any stage in the product development process, ranging from early stage concepts, through to market testing and clinical evaluation, and supports the development of products with an identified clinical need, sound technical solution and a viable market opportunity.

Applications are now open but hurry, as applications for the current round will close on Friday 6 October 2017.

If you believe your product or idea could benefit from research and development assistance, contact the MDPP today. You can enquire through our online form or phone 08 8201 7942.

The 23rd annual ANZORS (Australian New Zealand Orthopaedic Society) Conference will be held in conjunction with the 5th biennial International Clinical RSA (Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis) Research Network Conference, for what will be the 2017 ANZORS-RSA Joint Conference, in Adelaide, SA, Australia, from 6 to 8 October 2017. The conference will be held directly before the annual AOA (Australian Orthopaedic Association) scientific meeting (Adelaide, 8 - 12 October 2017), providing a great opportunity for those who wish to attend both conferences back-to back.

Flinders is a Gold Sponsor of the conference, and Dr Egon Perilli, as Secretary of ANZORS, has announced that six Flinders PhD/Post doc researchers have been selected to give oral presentations and three will be giving poster presentations (with a number of others chairing sessions).  This is a great showcase for them and the research carried out at Flinders.  Also, based on abstract ranking by three independent reviewers, two Flinders researchers (both members of the Flinders Medical Device Research Institute) have made it to the Awards finals. Dr Melissa Ryan is a finalist in the ECR Awards and Dr Bryant Roberts is a finalist in the PhD awards – a great outcome for Flinders.

Venue: New Royal Adelaide Hospital, corner North Terrace/Port Road, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

Confirmed International Keynote Speakers:

• Prof Stuart Goodman MD PhD, Professor in Surgery and Professor in Bioengineering. Stanford University, CA, USA.
• A/Prof Maiken Stilling, MD PhD, Orthopaedic Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
• Prof Rob GHH Nelissen, MD PhD, Chair and Professor in Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Centre; Professor at TU Delft, Netherlands. President Netherlands Orthopaedic Association.
• Bernd Grimm, PhD, MEng, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, The Netherlands. Research director & coordinator. Immediate past president of EORS.

Confirmed National Keynote Speaker:

• Prof Peter Choong MD, Head of Department of Surgery University of Melbourne at St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

To register for the conference and for further information, including the preliminary program, visit the conference webpage.

Researchers are invited to nominate themselves to be considered for appointment to NHMRC peer review panel(s) for the 2018 round of NHMRC funding schemes. Nominations must be entered in RGMS by Friday 20 October 2017.

Flinders University researchers are encouraged to participate in NHMRC peer review as appropriate.  In addition to supporting the NHMRC in its important functions, peer review offers reviewers the opportunity to learn about the decision making processes by being part of it. Researchers should reflect on their level of expertise and experience and select the scheme that is most appropriate for their skillset (listed below). This will assist NHMRC in selecting the most appropriate peer reviewers for each scheme. Additionally NHMRC recommends that researchers consult the NHMRC funding calendar to ensure their availability over the relevant peer review period.

A guide to assist researchers in determining the most appropriate funding scheme to which they might contribute their expertise and experience is available from the NHMRC website.

Nominations are now open for the following schemes:

• Project Grants
• Centres of Research Excellence
• Development Grants
• Partnership Projects
• Postgraduate Scholarships
• Early Career Fellowships
• Career Development Fellowships
• Research Fellowships
• Practitioner Fellowships
• Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) Fellowships

If you are aware of 16-25 year olds who are interested in all things science, then the 2017-18 IGNITION Series would be right up their alley. The launch of this series will begin with

Getting comfortable being uncomfortable: MY journey and STEM career

Presented by Hannah Scherer
This first event in the IGNITION Series will see Hannah share her STEM journey from high school, through university, and onto her career in the aerospace & defence industry. Hannah will discuss a key pillar of her personal and professional life: getting comfortable being uncomfortable. She will share stories from her career and how she has navigated this constant challenge along with lessons learned, in hopes that it will inspire and encourage others to embrace this mindset.

Hannah Scherer is Technical Lead, Australian Aerospace Programs for USA company Northrup Grumman Aerospace Systems. Passionate about STEM outreach Hannah led the Northrup Grumman High School Innovation Challenge for many years which aims to develop and foster the next generation of engineers and scientists.

Date: Thursday 19 October 2017
Time: 6.00pm – 7.30pm
Location: Hetzel Lecture Theatre, State Library of South Australia, North Terrace

It is free to attend, but bookings are essential via www.slsa.sa.gov.au/ignitionseries or phone 8207 7626

Australian researchers collaborating with Chinese partners on industry-based projects can apply for funding under the third round of the Australia-China Science and Research Fund (ACSRF) – Joint Research Centres. Applications opened on 15 September 2017 and will close on 5:00 pm (AEDT) 15 November 2017.

The Australian Government will provide up to $1 million over three years to successful Australian consortia for projects that link Australian and Chinese research institutions to build research capacity, maximise the application and commercialisation of research outcomes, and boost collaboration between researchers and industry. The Chinese Government will support the Chinese partners’ participation in these activities.

This round of funding will support up to six new ACSRF – Joint Research Centres in areas relevant to the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Centres initiative and our Science and Research Priorities which are:

• Advanced Manufacturing
  • astronomy related technology, including big data
  • new materials in manufacturing
  • cross-cutting technologies that will de-risk, scale up, and add value to manufactured products
• Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals
  • effective technologies for individuals to manage their own health care
  • better models of health care and services
• Resources and Energy
  • low emission energy production from fossil fuels and other sources
  • new clean energy sources and storage technologies and demand response technologies that are efficient, cost-effective and reliable.

For further information on the application process, guidelines and access to the online application form, contact Mary Lyons, Research Development and Support, or visit the business.gov.au website.

Flinders Law and the Office of Indigenous Strategy & Engagement would like to invite all interested attendees to the annual Elliott Johnston Memorial Lecture to be delivered by Justice Darryl Rangiah.

Fifty years on from the 1967 referendum, how could society have tolerated such injustice against Indigenous Australians for so long? Will our society be judged as any better in 20, 30 or 50 years’ time? What will be seen as the injustices of our time? Identifying the problems is not enough. What are the solutions?

Justice Rangiah was appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia in 2013. His Honour is also an additional judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Before he was appointed as a judge, his Honour practiced as a barrister in Queensland and was appointed Queens Counsel in 2008. His Honour’s areas of practice at the Bar included administrative law, commercial law and native title. Justice Rangiah was also Chair of the Queensland Fisheries Tribunal for nine years and a Member of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal for five years.

The Elliot Johnston Memorial Lecture will be held at Level 1, Flinders at Victoria Square, on Tuesday 17 October 2017, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP by the 13 October 2017 at the Elliott Johnston Memorial Lecture event page. This Lecture is proudly supported by Johnston Withers Lawyers.

The Connectome Project Adelaide – “It’s all in the mind” is a symposium series designed to connect leading neuroscientists and the next generation of world-class researchers. The Connectome Project Adelaide has been organised by two early career researchers in the neuroscience field, Tessa Mattiske and Matilda Jackson, who noticed a lack of interaction or networking opportunities outside of formal conferences. Together they hope to not only promote neuroscience within Adelaide, but to generate a platform to allow other early-career and senior PhD students the opportunity to present their work alongside leading neuroscientists.

In starting this community Tessa "was amazed at the number of groups involved in research of the mind, brain and its connections. It was obvious that each institution individually harbours amazing neuroscience teams, with expertise skills or technologies, and we hope our initiative will help bridge the institutional gap.” With the official launch on 10 November Matilda would like to encourage, "all undergraduate, postgraduate and early-mid career researchers, as well as heads of neuroscience laboratories to attend”.

The Connectome Project Adelaide aims to:

• Connect: Bringing together the neuroscience community in Adelaide.
• Promote: Provide a platform for neuroscientists to promote their work and events.
• Develop: Foster the development of ECRs and PhD candidates.
• Encourage: Generate future collaborations and encourage awesome science.

Please join us at the official connectome launch with presentations by Cedric Bardy and Quenten Schwarz on 10 November 2017, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm at AHMS building (corner of North Tce and George St, Adelaide). Please rsvp via the Connectome website.

For further information, and to keep up to date, please join the Connectome Community: either via the website: www.connectomeprojectadl.com, on Facebook: @ConnectomeProjectAdl, and on Twitter: @Connectome_Adl

Is social media a tool or a distraction? Bonafide social media science superstar Upulie Divisekera will be joined by data scientist Adam Dunn to reveal how social media can help your research career and open up new opportunities you never knew existed. The seminar will be held at the Science Exchange, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide from 5:30 PM on Tuesday 10 October 2017.

Presented by RiAus (the Royal Institution of Australia), as part of their ECR Network which offers workshops and networking events for Early Career Researchers, this event is now open for booking.

The event will also be livestreamed at Australia's Science Channel - australiascience.tv.

Applications for the Research Consortia Program, under the Premier’s Research and Industry Fund, are now open and researchers and industry are invited to apply. The Research Consortia Program provides funding for major research collaborations between universities, other research organisations, government and industry to tackle major challenges in areas of significance to South Australia that aligns to the state’s economic priorities.

Research must provide innovative solutions that can be used by South Australian businesses to expand activity and create jobs. For this round, priority will be given to research consortia that develop a specific research challenge that falls within one or more of the following research areas:

• Energy
• Water, and
• Agriculture (including food and wine).

The Department of State Development will be hosting information sessions to provide interested applicants with details about how to apply for round two of the Research Consortia Program. The session at Flinders University will be held on Thursday, 28 September 2017 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Health Sciences Building, Lecture Theatre 1.09. To register for the session, visit here.

If you have any queries about the program, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Brodie Beales on extn 12275 or via email brodie.beales@flinders.edu.au.