The Researcher Professional Development Team invites Flinders researchers to the first in a series of skills training and development workshops: Research Communications for engagement and impact – by researchers, for researchers across the disciplines.

This action-learning workshop, led by Dr Andrew Stapleton, Professional Research Communicator and host and producer for Australia’s Science Channel, will equip each participant with the skills to write for multidisciplinary audiences. Using a robust best-practice tool-kit, this workshop will provide researchers with the opportunity to produce a lede and structured outline for an article that will communicate the impact of their research, and during this process, get real-time feedback and advice from an industry professional. This workshop aims to improve researchers’ awareness of research impact and celebrate it through great writing.

Researchers at all career stages who are keen to build skills to effectively communicate their research impact are invited to register. Please keep an eye on Inspiring Research and ienrol over the coming days for the confirmed details and to register for this workshop that is scheduled for 10 April, 1:30 – 4:30 pm, Bedford Park Campus. Please note that places are limited.

The Researcher Professional Development team is led by Dr Marina Delpin and is part of the Flinders’ Research Development and Support Division. The team coordinates training and development that builds key skills that are core to the research process, and doing research, at Flinders. Working closely with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework and research leaders, further skills training and development activities are being developed and rolled out, with the aim to impart the knowledge, key traits and attributes of effective, highly successful researchers. Please contact Marina if you have any queries about the opportunities coordinated by this team, including their flagship programs that build researcher capacity and capabilities – the Researcher Mentoring Scheme for ECRs and Building Research Leaders Program for MCRs.

Swamp near Weipa with a major food - water lilies

As recently announced, the Australian Research Council (ARC) successful 2017 Linkage grants included $301,254 for Dr Michael Morrison and Dr Darlene McNaughton's project, Indigenous foodways in colonial Cape York Peninsula. The project will address an important gap in Australia’s history by reinstating Indigenous perspectives of colonisation through tracing the role of Indigenous food, labour and knowledge in cultural exchanges between Indigenous people and settler-colonists.

Knowing what people ate, how they obtained and shared food, and the factors that shaped and constrained this process provides unparalleled insights into daily life at this time in Australia’s past. "Food was a key medium for communication and negotiation during colonisation in north Queensland," said Michael.

"The Homelands of the northern Peninsula were a microcosm of wider colonial processes in Australia before the Second World War, and included large Aboriginal reserves, Christian missions, cattle stations, goldfields and the iconic Overland Telegraph Line. However, there are many inaccurate and negative portrayals of Indigenous people in modern accounts of Cape York - our project partners in the communities around Weipa, Coen and Lockhart River are keen to see this remedied," Michael continued.

The project team are Dr Michael Morrison, Dr Darlene McNaughton, Mr David Claudie (‎Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation), Associate Professor Heather Burke, Associate Professor Shawn Ross (Macquarie University), Dr Ian Moffat, Dr Adela Sobotkova (Macquarie University), and Dr Brit Asmussen (Queensland Museum).

The flower from the Lady Apple Tree, Weipa, Cape York Peninsula: the Lady Apple is a popular bush food and indicator plant. The blooming of its flowers tell people that box and other jelly fish are now moving into creeks.

This project aims to trace historical Indigenous foodways in colonial Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, through a program of collaborative community-based archaeological and anthropological research. Mr David Claudie, Kuuku I’yu Custodian and Director of the Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation, said "This project is unique in that the Traditional custodians involved are working in real partnership with western scientists. We are equal participants in the research, leading the research; we are not just the subjects of anthropological and archaeological inquiry as we so often have been in the past."

The partner organisations involved in the project with Flinders are the Trustee for the Western Cape Communities Trust, Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council, and the Queensland Museum.

Mr Geoffrey Fahey, Executive Officer of the Western Cape Communities Trust, said that "Traditional Owners and Directors of the Trust consider that projects such as this are vital for the preservation of Aboriginal Culture on the Western Cape."

In partnership with local Custodians, the Flinders-led research team will record oral histories, analyse historical records, and look for archaeological evidence of Aboriginal people in the landscape in order to develop new perspectives on both local and global history.

"We will be piecing together a very different story about food and ‘foodways’ by using a wider range of evidence," said Darlene. "That’s the real power of this project – drawing from oral history, anthropology and archaeology to reveal a new narrative of colonial life in the early twentieth century."
 

The deadline for submissions to present at WHIP 2018 has been extended. You now have until midnight 30 March to submit your abstracts.

WHIP (Work - Honestly - in Progress) Conference is organised annually by and for students from Humanities and Creative Arts at Flinders. The conference aims to foster a dynamic postgraduate community, and is intended as a non-threatening environment for students to present, share and receive feedback on their research. They also welcome postgraduates from outside the Humanities discipline, as long as their paper connects with Humanities in some way.

The conference is free to attend and participate in, and will take place at Oasis on Flinders University campus on the 18 - 19 April, during the second week of the mid-semester break.

If you’re interested in presenting please get in touch at flinders.whip@gmail.com and the organisers will send you the submission form.

Commencing your PhD this year? They would love to hear from you, too, as 5-minute presentation spots for new RHD students to introduce themselves and their research are available. 

The Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) is inviting nominations for its 2018 Australia Prizes. This is an excellent opportunity to nominate yourself, a friend or colleague who has enriched and contributed to Australian cultural and intellectual life.

The two prizes on offer are the Future Leader prize and the Student prize. The closing date for both prizes is 2 July 2018 and details on contact areas and internal closing dates at Flinders for students and staff are listed below in the relevant section.

The Future Leader prize is for an early career professional in any of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) fields. This recognises the nominee’s professional achievements and contribution to community and the advancement of the HASS sector. Sponsored by Future Leaders, the finalist will be awarded a $2,000 cash prize and recognition from our esteemed Future Leaders jury. The Flinders internal closing date is 10 working days prior, Monday, 18 June 2018. For assistance in preparing the nominations, please contact Dr Marina Delpin.

The Student prize is for a student project, performance or exhibition that best exemplifies the contribution of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) fields to our understanding of our nation and us. Students enrolled at any level in any Australia tertiary educational institution are eligible to be nominated. Sponsored by CHASS, the finalist will be awarded a $500 cash prize and recognition from our esteemed Student prize jury. Flinders students are encouraged to contact Nicole Harris, Office of Graduate Research, for application support.

Nominations will close on 2 July 5pm (AEST) and applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Check out the CHASS website for all the guidelines. 

GSK's Discovery Fast Track Australian Challenge, a program designed to accelerate the translation of early-stage research into game-changing new medicines, is now open for nominations. The nomination period will close on 27 April 2018. The Challenge provides a new template for drug discovery as it aims to rapidly uncover the best opportunities for discovery research.

Winners will get access to GSK’s state of the art screening technologies and extensive library of compounds. Working with GSK experts, winning scientists will be able to test their hypotheses in the hope of finding compounds with the potential to develop into the medicines of the future. In addition, up to $75,000 AUD will be provided to enable winners to conduct supportive research for the collaboration.

Since its initial launch in 2013, the annual Discovery Fast Track Challenge has attracted more than eleven hundred proposals from more than three hundred universities, academic research institutions and hospitals in 28 counties. Previous entries have focused on a broad range of disease areas, including malaria, antibiotic resistance and certain types of cancer.

In addition, it may be possible to pursue promising results in collaboration with GSK's Discovery Partnerships with Academia (DPAc) team under a further collaboration.

Further details on the application process can be found at www.gsk.com/discoveryfasttrack.  Flinders applicants should contact Gareth Rees, Research Development and Support, for advice on applying.

Wine Australia is inviting applications for funding through the Incubator Initiative, a program that connects early career researchers with Australia’s wine regions. This year, 9 of Wine Australia’s Regional Program partners have crafted 26 local research questions for project applications.

Projects will be developed to answer a specific regional need, and researchers will work with the Regional Program partners and deliver the findings to grapegrowers and winemakers in the region. Up to $20,000 is available for successful applicants to undertake the projects, with this funding matched by a co-contribution – cash or in-kind – from the organisation where the researcher is employed.

Who can apply?

The Incubator Initiative is open to early career researchers working for an Australian-based research organisation. Early career is defined as having five years or fewer of research experience since completing a PhD or Master’s degree. Applications will also be accepted from researchers who have submitted a PhD or Master’s thesis and are awaiting the outcome.

How to apply

View the research questions on Wine Australia’s website and contact the Regional Program partner to develop a project plan.

Applications must:

• be developed in consultation with the Regional Program partner
• align to the Wine Australia Strategic Plan 2015–2020
• clearly address the regional issue, and
• have the potential for extension of findings through Wine Australia’s Regional Program.

Applicants will need to provide their Curriculum Vitae and evidence of completion or submission of their PhD or Master’s thesis. A supervisor should be identified and a letter demonstrating their support for the applicant, proposed research and associated funding should be provided.

Once a project plan has been developed, an application should be submitted by the researcher via email to Wine Australia using the template provided. Applications close 13 April 2018. The Flinders Internal closing date for applications is 30 March 2018. For assistance in preparing the application, contact Mary Lyons, Research Development and Support.

The SA Science Excellence Awards showcase the critical importance of science and research to the development of industry and our society. Come along on Friday 13 April from 11:00 AM in the Council Room, Registry Building, to hear from Sarah Treasure, Senior Project Officer, Department of State Development about the South Australia’s Science Excellence Awards to help you get ahead in your nomination.

Through the awards, the achievements of talented individuals, including recent PhD graduates and early career science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals and teachers, who are making an outstanding contribution to society both nationally and internationally are acknowledged. Please rsvp to Nikki Johnson, for catering purposes, if you are intending to attend the information session.

Awards are presented in five categories:

• South Australian Scientist of the year
• PhD Research Excellence Award
• STEM Professional Award
• STEM Educator of the Year (split into School Teaching and Tertiary Teaching categories)
• Excellence in Research Collaboration

Nominations are now open for the Awards and will close 11 May 2018. The Flinders internal closing date is 10 working days prior, 27 April 2018, and for assistance in preparing the nominations/applications, please contact Dr Marina Delpin.

The Business Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) is currently accepting Expressions of Interest for their 2018 Awards, closing on Thursday 24 May 2018. The Flinders internal closing date is 10 working days prior, 10 May 2018, and for assistance in preparing the nominations/applications, please contact Dr Marina Delpin.

The Awards recognise collaboration achievement between business/industry and universities in four areas: Research and Development, Higher Education and Training, Community Engagement and National (non-economic) benefit.

Outstanding Collaboration in Research and Development

This award recognises excellence in basic and applied research activity undertaken jointly by researchers in tertiary education institutes and partners in business and industry. This award focuses on fundamental research (sometimes called discovery, basic or sky-blue research) that will result in the development of new ideas, the creation of jobs and an enhanced quality of life in Australia.

Outstanding Collaboration in Higher Education and Training

This award recognises outstanding contributions to enhancing the quality of learning and teaching in higher education by members of tertiary education institutions and industry partners. For the purposes of this awards program, industry is broadly defined as publicly and privately-owned companies, federal, state and government departments, statutory authorities, industry associations, unions, not-for-profits and recognised community organisations.

Outstanding Collaboration in Community Engagement

This award recognises outstanding initiatives conducted by higher education and industry designed to promote economic, social, environmental or cultural development of rural and regional communities. This award focuses on close engagement with a broad community.

Outstanding Collaboration for National (non-economic) Benefit

This award recognises outstanding collaborative efforts for the benefit of the nation. Benefits should include social, environmental and cultural outcomes. The primary purpose of the project is not to generate economic wealth for a company, university or other group.

Award Applications are assessed by a panel of independent judges against a number of criteria. The submissions must be highly innovative and reflect a strong relationship between partners. The winning Projects are also those deemed to have measurable outcomes, and high impact for Australia.

After discussion with a number of participants, and analysis of similar awards processes, BHERT have modified the application process for the 2018 BHERT Awards. The improvements respond to the high demand for these Awards, the importance to participating companies and universities, and the significant work required on an Application. Further details on the new two-stage application process is available at the BHERT website.

BHERT will then select the top applicants in each Award category, who will be invited to complete a full Application through our Online Portal from Friday 1  June to Friday 31 August. These full applications will be judged by an expert panel, and winners will be announced at the BHERT Awards Dinner on Tuesday 20 November.

The Cooperative Research Centres Association (CRCA) is offering a presentation on Collaboration for Industry Impact – Deep Dive Workshop in Queensland on 11 - 12 April 2018. The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. In its 27-year history, it has proven to be an effective model for linking researchers with industry to address R&D challenges with commercial outcomes. This excellent workshop is a must for any researcher considering and developing a CRC or CRC-P bid.

Bidding for a CRC is a highly competitive process requiring cross-disciplinary teams to come together and collaborate. This takes planning, time and patience. Developed by the CRC Association and Collabforge, this workshop (two half-days) will combine practical bid-creation content with a deep dive into the theory and practice of collaboration.

The two day workshop will commence at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, 11 April 2018 and finish at 12:30 PM on Thursday 12 April 2018. Members of the CRCA, which all Flinders staff are, will pay $500 to attend the workshop. Contact Jordan.Gardner@crca.asn.au for the discount code. The non-members price is $600. Register at the eventbrite page for the workshop.

The workshop will teach participants what makes a great bid, what the process of bid development entails, the roles of all bid participants, and how to build effective relationship / communication between researchers and industry to develop a compelling bid. Participants will be provided with the opportunity to develop their ideas in conjunction with guidance materials and feedback, finishing with substantive parts of their bid concepts being fleshed out (these can be hypothetical CRCs, bids planned for submission, or even ARC Linkage type concepts).

This will help researchers to better understand how they can build successful partnerships with their industry partners, and form a bid concept that will deliver industry impact.

Who should attend:

• Researchers who have the responsibility for or interest to develop CRC and CRC-P bids
• Administrators who have the responsibility for helping coordinate, develop, approve and or administer CRC and CRC-P bids (eg from Commercialisation, Research, Scholarships, etc)

Key learning outcomes:

• Improved capability in developing and progressing CRC bids
• Understanding the role of 'impact thinking' in successful bids and CRCs
• Common language, frameworks and methods for collaboration
• Methods for stakeholder and partner analysis, tips and tricks for involving industry participants in the best way at the right time, and for developing and testing bid ideas
• Generally improved collaboration capability through applied collaboration experiences with those in the room on the day

How it works:

• Key concepts, methods and reference materials for successful CRCs and industry collaboration are presented across two, consecutive half-day sessions.
• Participant ideas and plans are applied directly to the materials presented, with groups learning from one another, as well as receiving feedback from the presenters.
• Both half-day sessions are appropriate for a general audience, as well as those developing specific bids, and we strongly encourage participants to attend both sessions.

About the Speakers

Dr Tony Peacock, CEO, CRC Association
Dr Tony Peacock is the Chief Executive of the Cooperative Research Centres Association. With more than two decades as CEO of industry research organisations, Tony is an expert on collaboration between industry and academia. He was a 2014 Monash University Churchill Fellow, investigating how business and universities around the world work together to create innovation.

Hailey Cooperrider, Collaboration and Strategy Lead, Collabforge
Hailey Cooperrider is collaboration designer and strategist with Collabforge, where she has been responsible for some of the firm's highest profile projects and core frameworks. Her capabilities include workshop facilitation, digital platform design, innovation methodologies, and strategy cocreation. Hailey is currently researching how gameplay can be used to help spread collaboration capability more broadly.

Mark Elliott, Founder and Director, Collabforge
Dr Mark Elliott is the founder and managing director of Collabforge, and author of the world’s first and only general theory of collaboration. Since finishing a PhD in 2008 on mass collaboration, he has led the development Collabforge’s unique capability to deliver collaboration in any context, at any scale, both face-to-face and online. Mark has worked with governments, leaders and influencers to deliver some of the world’s most ambitious and trailblazing collaborative projects.

Nominations are currently being sought from Australian researchers for the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) 2018, closing Wednesday, 11 April 2018. The Flinders internal closing date is 10 working days prior, Wednesday, 28 March 2018. For assistance in preparing the nominations, please contact Dr Marina Delpin.

The ASPIRE prize is an annual award which recognises young scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to both excellence in scientific research, as evidenced by scholarly publication, and cooperation with scientists from other APEC member economies as demonstrated by the impact to APEC economies through market-led innovation.

The theme for this year is ‘New Material Technologies’ anddisciplines under this theme include materials and biomaterials science, polymer chemistry, chemical and mechanical engineering, solid-state physics, nanotechnology and other relevant fields. To be eligible, Australian researchers must be under 40 years of age by 31 December 2018 and be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident living in Australia at time of application.

The nomination form and further information can be found here.

Invitations are now open to attend the 5th South Australia Space Forum, Thursday 12 April 2018, Adelaide Convention Centre. Registrations will be accepted up until 5 April 2018 for this event which is coordinated by the South Australian Space Industry Centre (SASIC) and the Space Industry Association of Australia.

Facilitated by Nicola Sasanelli AM, Director of the South Australian Space Industry Centre, this event is anyone involved in space-related industries, educational organisations, research and space associations.

The biannual Forum continues to attract growing interest in the space sector, locally, nationally and internationally. Since the first Forum in June 2016, the participant numbers have grown from 80 attendees to an expected 250 for this event.

The Australian Government’s ‘Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability’, due to be presented to government in March, findings will be presented at the forum by Trevor Power from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.  Former USA Astronaut, Pam Melroy will speak on recent trends in US space policy. The evolvement of Space 4.0 will again be among the key topics for discussion.

Speakers will include:

Mr Richard Price, Chief Executive, South Australian Space Industry Centre

Mr Trevor Power, Head, Industry Growth Division, Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Ms Pam Melroy, US National Space Council Users Advisory Group (USA)

Mr James Hinds, HO Strategy Space Systems, Airbus DS (France)

Mr Sebastian Kleim, Regional Manager Asia-Pacfic, Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), German Aerospace Center (Germany)

Dr Nick Stacy, Research Leader Intelligence Systems National Security & Intelligence, Surveilance and Reconnaissance Division, DST Group, Department of Defence

Mr Michael Davis, Chairman of Space Industry Association of Australia

A full program will be emailed to registrants closer to the event.

Contact spaceoffice@sa.gov.au with any queries.

The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are now open and accepting nominations to reward excellence in Australian science. Over the years a number of Flinders' researchers have received these awards in recognition of their brilliant achievements that make a difference - including members of the Colvera Team (2017), members of the TEPO Team (2016) and Dr Philip Dinning (2011). The spectrum of prizes cover a broad range of scientific disciplines and aim to recognise the work of scientists and researchers at all career stages.

The 2018 program comprises of 16 prizes across the areas of research & innovation, leadership science engagement, and also school science. Entries close on 7 PM AEST, 4 May 2018. The Flinders internal closing date is 10 working days prior, 20 April 2018. For assistance in preparing the nominations/applications, please contact Dr Marina Delpin.

If you aren’t familiar with the program, you can get a feel for it via this 1 minute video featuring last year’s winners, you can also learn more about the program via Twitter @eurekaprizes.

The Prizes are the country’s most comprehensive national science awards, celebrating excellence in research & innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science. Entrants can enter themselves or be nominated, with prizes available for both individuals and teams. It’s free to enter, and in 2018 there is a prize pool of $160,000 on offer.

Of particular interest to Flinders researchers are the following Prizes:

• Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases Research, awarded to an individual, group or team for an outstanding recent contribution to infectious diseases research.
• Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia is awarded to an Australian individual, team or organisation for outstanding science or technology that has developed or has the potential to develop innovative solutions for Australia's defence or national security.
• Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science, awarded to a scientist working in any of STEMM fields who is passionate about engaging the public in your work. This is a long running and much-loved prize; past winners include Lisa Harvey-Smith (2016) and Emma Johnston (2015).
• Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science, targeted at scientists who are either aged 35 years or under, or no more than five years since being awarded their PhD. This is intended to reward and acknowledge the work of passionate and energetic young scientists who are demonstrating leadership impact.

Do you work with data as part of your research and would like to learn how to make the most of your data? The Research Data Science Winter School might be just what you are looking for.

The Australian Academy of Science, in association with Software Carpentry, the International Council for Science’s Committee on Data (CODATA) and the Research Data Alliance (RDA), are inviting Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs) from various disciplines to apply to participate in this Winter School in Brisbane on 12-15 June 2018. The selected applicants will be fully sponsored to attend the 4-day program in Brisbane.

This activity is aimed at EMCRs who already have experience collecting and analysing data, but are looking to take their data skills to the next level and become more effective using data for their research. Applications are to be submitted before 8 April 2018.

The program is based on the successful International Summer school on Research Data Science run regularly by CODATA and RDA. The program is designed to teach and refresh all the basic concepts that programming depends on, and learn key considerations on working with data by engaging with experienced data scientists.

The Research Data Science Winter School will feature 2 days of hands-on sessions by Software Carpentry on R programming, followed by 2 days of tutorial based sessions on Research Data Management, Research Computational Infrastructure and key considerations when using data for your research.

The application is open to EMCRs from different disciplines working with data as part of their research. The theme of the school will be Smart Cities and EMCRs whose research aligns with theme will likely find it most useful. This includes, but is not limited to, researchers working in the following areas:

• urban informatics
• social sciences
• demographics
• environmental sciences
• health sciences
• population health
• open science

For more information including the eligibility requirements, and the application form, visit the Australian Academy of Science website.

The Embassy of France in Australia has opened applications for the Creative France Australia short program. The program supports the setting up of short-term programs in the form of summer/winter schools co-organised by French and Australian higher education institutions. The aim for these programs is to bring together students from both countries around a theme of common interest.

Applications close 30 April 2018. The internal Flinders closing date is 10 working days prior and queries and assistance in preparing an application should be directed to Mary Lyons.

This initiative was launched as a pilot project in 2017. The first summer school was co-organised by the Australian National University (ANU) and Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), and labeled "Creative France Australia". It focused on astrophysics, a priority area of ​​collaboration for ANU and PSL and more particularly on astrobiology and exoplanets. This summer school was held on December 16 and 17, 2017 in Canberra, ahead of a high-level scientific seminar attended by nearly a hundred participants and also supported by AFRAN.

For more information on this event, visit the website of the Franco Australian Astrobiology and Exoplanet School and Workshop.

The objectives of the Creative France Australia short program are:

• support innovative initiatives of Franco-Australian university cooperation,
• boost student mobility between the two countries (in particular the mobility of Australia to France),
• support the construction of ambitious institutional partnerships between French and Australian institutions, and
• contribute to the constitution of sustainable scientific communities around themes of common interest for both countries.

Types of funded projects

The projects eligible for the "Creative France Australia short program" label are:

• short-term programs (1 to 4 weeks), which can be held at any time of the year in France or Australia;
• training programs involving students of all levels;
• this program is not intended to support the organisation of scientific seminars; and
• two programs to support the organisation of scientific seminars are also proposed by the Embassy and the AFRAN Association. However, it is possible to combine these tools by proposing, around the same theme, a scientific seminar and a short program and to apply for funding for both programs.

For more information and to download the application, visit the Embassy of France in Australia website (please note the page is in French).

When it comes to investigating an issue, answering a question or simply making sense of something, researchers often look to information to help get there, and it is rare that numeric or linear data will give the full picture on its own. Qualitative or unstructured data can hold the key to richer insights and true research discovery that can revolutionise recommendations and set the research ahead of the field. NVivo is a program that supports this type of qualitative research.

Flinders holds a site licence for NVivo, and this gives staff and HDR students opportunity for taking on-campus or online training.

On-Campus Training

There are three highly praised on-campus workshops available who are delivered by Associate Professor Linda Sweet and Dr Steve Parker. To enrol and view the courses dates, please refer to below weblinks.

• NVivo - Basic
  
• NVivo - Advanced features
  
• NVivo - Individual support
  

Online Training

Online based self-paced courses conducted by the vendor of the software - QSR International. These online courses combine flexible self-paced study with virtual interaction with an experienced facilitator and class peers. There are two types of courses available Fundamentals of NVivo for Windows or Moving on with NVivo for Windows (Mac’ equivalents are also available).

The courses are free of charge to the end user. However, the cost of the training is incurred by the university, and therefore strong commitment to finish the training is expected. There are various opportunities to obtain training in this software.

If you are interested in viewing starting dates, please check the QSR International site. To undertake a course contact staff.opportunities@flinders.edu.au to obtain a unique ID for enrolling.

Details of the Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Inc (ACSPRI)'s 2018 Winter Program at the University of Queensland is now available on their website. The Winter Program will run from 25 June - 6 July 2018. Attending an ACSPRI course is an opportunity to network with other researchers from a variety of fields.

Early bird registration will be open until Wednesday, 9 May 2018. Flinders staff can receiving a significant discount if they book by this day.

ACSPRI courses have been running for over 30 years, they are:

•   5 or 2 day intensives
•   small group and hands on (a maximium of 20 students), not lecture theatre style.
•   taught by by experienced and well respected Instructors
•   provide you with course notes to use as a reference after your course
•   use the latest scientific software and methodology
•   cover a variety of levels from fundamentals (Level 1) to the very advanced (Level 5)
•   discounted for staff & students of member organisations, heavily discounted for full time students (early bird rate)
•   provide you a light lunch, morning and afternoon tea

The March to May Melbourne-based 2 day Master-classes and workshops are listed below. If you're interested, please enrol as soon as possible to ensure a place.

Questionnaire Design with Dr. Gordon Emmerson on 15-16 March. This course is designed to prepare you to build hard copy or internet surveys to meet a variety of needs. The workshop will include practice designing the layout of surveys, as well as critiquing and writing questions and responses. Types of data that can be collected will be covered, as well common mistakes made with surveys.

An Introduction to Mixed Methods Research Design with Dr. Nicola McNeil on 9-10 April. You will examine the key features of mixed methods research designs, exploring the different types, and critically analysing the benefits and challenges associated with their design and implementation, including the analysis and write-up of mixed method studies. The course is designed for participants with an introductory-level understanding of qualitative and quantative research techniques.

An Introduction to Structural Equation Modelling using Stata with Dr. Joanna Dipnall on 19-20 April. Designed as an applied introduction to structural equation modelling (SEM) using Stata, this course is a foundation for those of you wishing to utilise this highly powerful technique to explore and test complex relationships. It aims to provide you with a sound understanding of when to use SEM and how to assess and report your models.

NVivo Essentials with Assoc Prof Linda Sweet on 26-27 April 26-27. NVivo software supports qualitative and mixed methods research. It has been designed for researchers working with very rich text-based and/or multimedia information, where deep levels of analysis on small or large volumes of data are required. This workshop is aimed to provide the novice with essential skills in using NVivo software for research purposes through hands-on experience.

The Who, the What and the How of Moderating Focus Groups with Bianca Plunkett on 10-11 May. Focus groups are an ideal forum for gathering information. This hands on course will give you an understanding of how to set-up and implement a focus group based research methodology, including the the mechanics of setting up a focus group, and the skills and practicalities of facilitating and moderating.

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is providing grants of financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. This new competitive grant opportunity will provide support for clinical trials that address low survival cancers and diseases. 

Applications must propose a single clinical trial that aims to improve survival rates for Australians with a low survival cancer or other disease. Applications close Wednesday 18 April 2018 at 5:00 PM AEST.

Grant Guidelines and information on how to apply is available via Grant Connect. If you are not able to access the guidelines, contact Gareth Rees, Research Development and Support.

Applicants are advised to read the Grant Guidelines thoroughly and liaise with the Administering Institution that will submit the application to identify any specific requirements that the Institution might have. Further information is available at the MRFF website.

The Defence Innovation Partnerships (DIP) Collaborative Research Grant program is now open – with applications due by no later than 29 March 2018. Funding is available to support defence-relevant research. This program is specifically for applicants from the three South Australian universities.

Requests for funding should be in the order of $50,000 to $150,000 but requests outside of this range will be considered where there is a compelling business case. Examples of ways in which the grants can be applied include project services and consumables; access to facilities (e.g. bench fees or workshop costs); and/or to support or employ research and technical staff. CRG funds cannot be used for teaching relief, student fees or publication costs.

The grants are funded by the South Australian Government and Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group to support research that best meets the DIP criteria for desirability, viability and feasibility. The grants can assist to seed and position State based universities and industry to win opportunities for further research and/or development investment.

Please note that applicants are not restricted by the research themes listed in the application form as there is an ‘other’ category.

Collaboration with DST Group, industry and ideally another South Australian university is encouraged.

If you require assistance or guidance to complete this application, or support to connect with potential collaboration partners please email Tony Kyriacou, Research Development and Support, or the team at DIP enquiries@defenceinnovationpartnership.com.

Full details including the guidelines and application form can be found at the Defence Innovation Partnerships website.

The Endeavour Foundation Endowment Challenge Fund aims to benefit Australians with a disability, especially people with an intellectual and/or developmental disability. The 2018 Grants Round is now open and will close on Friday 20 April 2018, 5:00 PM (AEST).

The Fund seeks to encourage quality and innovation in the disability services sector. Grants are available for researchers to undertake research that will advance the health, wellbeing and life experiences of people with a disability. Grants are also available to non-profit organisations to fund special projects that aim to include people with a disability within their current work and practice.

Applications are invited for the Research Award: $55,000 (for research conducted by appropriately qualified researchers), and the Inclusive Research Award: $15,000 (for researchers to undertake a research project that includes people with a disability as co-researchers).

Visit the website for more information about the application guidelines, the assessment process, past award winners, and to download the appropriate application form.

All applications to the 2018 Grants Round must be uploaded via the online submission form. For assistance in preparing the application, contact Mary Lyons, Research Development and Support.

For U.S. study and research opportunities for all academic levels, look no further than the Fulbright Program. Applications are now open for all Australian Applicants to the program and will close on 15 July 2018.

The newest program: Fulbright Future Scholarships offer funding for full tuition/visiting researcher fees at any U.S. institution, as well as travel and living costs. Future Scholarships are open to postgraduate students, PhD researchers, academics and professionals who propose innovative research projects with potential for significant impact. Please contact the Scholarships Office for further information on how to apply as a Flinders student. Mary Lyons, Research Development and Support can provide advice and assistance for staff who are looking to apply.

For more information on the new Fulbright Future Scholarships and over 30 other awards available, please visit their website.

The Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarships allow postgraduate students undertaking their Australian PhD to conduct research in the U.S. for 8-10 months or supports enrolment in a graduate degree program (e.g. a Master’s) for 10 months up to two-years.

Fulbright Postdoctoral scholarships allow individuals to undertake postdoctoral research in the U.S. for 3 – 10 months, who have completed their PhD in the past 5 years.

Fulbright Scholar Awards are for academics (at Associate Professor or Professorial level) and mid-career professionals (with an undergraduate qualification and minimum 10 years work experience) to undertake research and/or training in the United States for 3-4 months in any discipline.

The Fulbright Distinguished Chair award is for an exceptional individual at professorial level to carry out research in the United States for up to 6 months. The Fulbright Distinguished Chair for US Applicants to carry out research at an Australian sponsoring institution is also currently open and will close on 12 August 2018.