This is a huge problem in australia. of all the projects submitted to the givernment research councils, 60% are considered to be worthwhile doing and worthy of getting money, but on 30% of projects actually get money, and usually less than they ask for. Funding is usually for 1-3 years, which means every year we have to write several grant applications to get money to pay our salary, but new equipment, and pay for all the things we use doing the experiments.
It’s not a great situation, but things are much worse in America the UK, and most of Europe, so imagine how hard it must be for those scientists to get funding!
As Miranda said, it is very hard to get funding in Australia. I’m still at university and haven’t needed to apply for my own funding yet, but as its so hard to get funding I’m getting all the advice I can so I’m prepared as I can be when I get to that point.
I agree (mostly) with what Miranda has said.
Funding is a HUGE problem in Australia, there are always far more projects than available money, and the gap grows bigger everyday.
It’s hard to compare with other countries, but the impression I got of the US, and Europe was that they had more funding rounds throughout the year, and also more funding organisations (?), meaning slightly more opportunities. However, I guess given the much larger sizes of the US and Europe, it might end up being about the same…? I’m not entirely certain, but suffice to say, funding for scientific research is a big problem everywhere. Something needs to be done – and soon! Funding research is an investment in our future. Even President Obama sounded a warning against cutting research funding “If we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas… Now is not the time to gut these job-creating investments in science and innovation. Now is the time to reach new levels of research and development …”
My work? No, I’m quite lucky in getting funding for my research. The research group I’m working for is a large, established one so I’m lucky. Well, -not directly part of my research but- there is also a synthetic biology club that I’m running. It is made of high school and undergraduate students. Each year we represent Australia at the most prestigious international synthetic biology competition in the world. I’m really having trouble getting funding to support our team members to travel overseas to present their work. If I get the $1000 from here, I’ll use to fund our young and enthusiastic team members.
If we talk about the funding for research in Australia, in overall finding a funding is a serious problem.
Unfortunately the importance of research & development and efforts of scientists are either ignored or overlooked by public, politicians and businessmen. It is very painful to see some people think twice when it comes to fund research while same people don’t bother to make long queues in front of mobile phone stores to pay ridiculous amount of money to buy a new version of their smartphones. Neither the company nor public cares it was the scientists who made this technology available to us. This is a really upsetting situation.
This is a huge problem in australia. of all the projects submitted to the givernment research councils, 60% are considered to be worthwhile doing and worthy of getting money, but on 30% of projects actually get money, and usually less than they ask for. Funding is usually for 1-3 years, which means every year we have to write several grant applications to get money to pay our salary, but new equipment, and pay for all the things we use doing the experiments.
It’s not a great situation, but things are much worse in America the UK, and most of Europe, so imagine how hard it must be for those scientists to get funding!
1
As Miranda said, it is very hard to get funding in Australia. I’m still at university and haven’t needed to apply for my own funding yet, but as its so hard to get funding I’m getting all the advice I can so I’m prepared as I can be when I get to that point.
1
I agree (mostly) with what Miranda has said.
Funding is a HUGE problem in Australia, there are always far more projects than available money, and the gap grows bigger everyday.
It’s hard to compare with other countries, but the impression I got of the US, and Europe was that they had more funding rounds throughout the year, and also more funding organisations (?), meaning slightly more opportunities. However, I guess given the much larger sizes of the US and Europe, it might end up being about the same…? I’m not entirely certain, but suffice to say, funding for scientific research is a big problem everywhere. Something needs to be done – and soon! Funding research is an investment in our future. Even President Obama sounded a warning against cutting research funding “If we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas… Now is not the time to gut these job-creating investments in science and innovation. Now is the time to reach new levels of research and development …”
1
My work? No, I’m quite lucky in getting funding for my research. The research group I’m working for is a large, established one so I’m lucky. Well, -not directly part of my research but- there is also a synthetic biology club that I’m running. It is made of high school and undergraduate students. Each year we represent Australia at the most prestigious international synthetic biology competition in the world. I’m really having trouble getting funding to support our team members to travel overseas to present their work. If I get the $1000 from here, I’ll use to fund our young and enthusiastic team members.
If we talk about the funding for research in Australia, in overall finding a funding is a serious problem.
Unfortunately the importance of research & development and efforts of scientists are either ignored or overlooked by public, politicians and businessmen. It is very painful to see some people think twice when it comes to fund research while same people don’t bother to make long queues in front of mobile phone stores to pay ridiculous amount of money to buy a new version of their smartphones. Neither the company nor public cares it was the scientists who made this technology available to us. This is a really upsetting situation.
1