Senior Group of Eight Research Scientist Reluctantly Joins Leading Overseas Institute. (June 4, 2008)

TFW received an email on Monday which ought to be worrisome to the Prime Minister, The Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research -- Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Kim Carr respectively.

Understandably the author wishes anonymity.

 I started here several months ago. The institute and research conditions here are unbelievably good.

I am not holding my breath on the Rudd government pumping up the universities. What is needed is a balance of good teaching and research facilities/grants. I remember when my now former departmental chairman advertised for chairs, we had no serious overseas applicants. Australia is internationally recognised as having a poor funding environment. Unless you offer absolute guarantees, like Federation Fellowships or Chairs with postdocs and 5 years funding, you don't pull in good candidates. And those schemes remove university money that was previously used on other staff.

For the record our correspondent is not at a US institution.