Researcher training and development will continue throughout 2020.

Interactive online workshops and webinars will be offered and accessible to Flinders’ research community. This will allow participants to actively engage in learning and connect with others.

How can I participate?

Please enrol in workshops at ienrol-research.

Participants who are enrolled in that session will receive a hyperlink and quick reference guides to support interactive participation.

Who can I talk to?

If you have any questions, please contact Flinders’ Researcher Training, Development and Communication team at researcherpd.rds@flinders.edu.au. 

Due to COVID-19 the ARC has brought forward this information session.

A Zoom webinar for all three SA Universities will be held on Friday 27 March 2020 from 9.30 -11.00 am (ACDT).

Presented by Professor Joanne Tompkins, ARC Executive Director for the discipline of Humanities and the Creative Arts, this session will provide information about the scheme. As the discipline specialist, Professor Tompkins will be offering discipline insight into shaping applications. Time is allocated to answering questions.

If you are available to participate please register here for the webinar. 

Upon registration you will receive an email with further details regarding joining the webinar, including how to submit questions.

The National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI) has released an update for the research community in relation to COVID-19.

This includes information for new and existing research grants, online reporting and the transfer of presentations to online presentations/webinars. See below for more detailed information.

Response for new and existing research grants

NFMRI has sent a letter to researchers to re-assure them of their flexibility during these uncertain times. Being aware of the potential impact of COVID-19 to research around the country, NHMRI has informed grants recipients of their ability to offer time extension as required to alleviate anxiety or concern faced by the research community. Researchers are encouraged to communicate openly with NFMRI so that they can be of assistance and support them on a case-by-case basis.

Online reporting

Over the coming months, NFMRI will be introducing and implementing a new cloud-based, online progressive reporting system, where researchers will have the ability to log-in remotely and update progress periodically as it occurs. They remain committed to reducing the time researchers spend on administration whilst receiving the updates and progress information we require.

This expands upon their existing top-up form and will provide greater flexibility by allowing Chief Investigators to log into their personal dashboard and update progress as and when it occurs, making it easier to submit reports when due. It will also enable NFMRI to capture progress as it occurs and beyond the grant period as translation progresses and impact is realised.

Online presentations/webinars

As part of their grants program, NFMRI normally deliver presentations to educate researchers around translation and to address some of the factors that will increase their chances of success when applying for grants. 

Due to the current COVID-19, all presentations have been postponed and they are instead looking to offer complimentary webinar meetings. NFMRI welcome any topic suggestions researchers may have - please feel free to send these through via email (events@nfmri.org.au).

As webinars are planned, they will be announced via newsletter and on their website's event section.

The South Australian State Government is calling all people involved in primary industries, research, or agricultural technologies (AgTech).

The State Government, through the guidance and advice of the AgTech Advisory Group, is creating an AgTech strategy for South Australia to encourage greater uptake of technology on-farm to increase productivity and profitability.

This survey is the first step in putting together a blueprint to make South Australia a leader in AgTech.

To partake in the survey, click on the following link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BLTJYS2. The survey closes at 5pm, Friday 24 April 2020.

More than 2000 people tuned in this week to watch a critical national panel discussion on the use of telehealth in a crisis like COVID-19 - convened by the Digital Health CRC in conjunction with Curtin University and La Trobe University.

The panel was chaired by the ABC’s Dr Norman Swan, and included an impressive group of guest panellists – ranging from health academics to an infectious disease clinician.

The panel considered issues like the use of remote triaging and online consultations to manage situations like COVID-19; engaging technology to support infection control and protect staff and patients; clinical governance; building a health workforce that is confident in using telehealth; and selecting patient settings where telehealth might be most valuable.

The webinar can be viewed on the Digital Health CRC's website.

The NHMRC is considering changes to some scheme dates for 2020 in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The minimum data due date for Synergy Grants will be extended beyond Wednesday 25 March 2020. The revised due date for minimum data will be communicated in the coming days. The opening of Partnership Projects PRC1 and the Targeted Call for Research into End of Life Care will also be delayed.

Inspiring Research will publish updated information for Flinders’ research community when new dates are finalised.

The NHMRC ask for your patience whilst decisions on scheme dates are being finalised. 

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the CRC Association have made the decision to postpone Collaborate Innovate 2020 to 2021.

The CRC Association don’t believe the full speaker program can be successfully transferred to an online presentation that would deliver the high-quality interaction that is expected from Collaborate Innovate conferences. 

They have also decided to defer the CRC Innovation Showcase and most of their speaking program to 2021, at a similar time of the year: late May, depending on venue availability.

However, their Early Career Researchers Showcase, sponsored by CQ University, is too important to defer and they don’t want to disappoint the scholars that have bravely submitted their 30-second videos. The submission deadline for the videos will be extended to May. The live Early Career Researchers Showcase event will be hosted online in June. Inspiring Research will provide the updated information when it is available.

The CRC Association will send out details on how to join, and how to vote for your favourite, well ahead of time. We still want you to see the brilliant presentations from the talented early career researchers that make such an important contribution.

Everyone who had registered for Collaborate Innovate 2020 will receive a copy of Collaborate Innovate magazine (formerly KnowHow), promoting the extraordinary achievements of the CRCs, CRC-Projects and their partners.

The CRC Association is offering all registrants a 100% refund on registration fees. Alternatively, registrants can opt to roll-over their registration to 2021 and those who choose to do this will receive a copy of Dr Ruby Campbell’s Scientists in Every Boardroom: Harnessing the Power of STEMM Leaders in an Irrational World.

The CRC Association will be in contact with registrants shortly. 

Inspiring Research will be released on an as needs basis so that we can get critical information to you quickly. We will communicate key information that affects research and Flinders’ research community, including messaging from research funding agencies.

A long form, comprehensive Inspiring Research edition will be still be released every Thursday, in which research news, funding and opportunities will be included as usual.