Blog ­ ISAA

    The decisions of the former Minister for Education, Simon Birmingham, to reject funding for some research applications recommended by the Australian Research Council (ARC), have understandably caused concern and anger amongst researchers, academics and universities. However, it has all happene ...

In these days of fake news and social media hype people have lost trust in many public institutions. Social media is king and the prominence of news can be driven by clicks and algorithms.    Trust is difficult concept to define and measure. It is a fragile belief that people and institutions can  ...

Some years ago I was at an organisational meeting and a senior manager advised the employees in relation to their work and motivation: ‘only the perception matters'. I took him to mean that rather than actually meeting the presumed objectives of the organisation, it would be satisfactory, an ...

On 22 March 2017 the Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Bill will end perpetual copyright for unpublished materials. As a result millions of historical manuscripts will be freed into the public domain on 1 January 2019. The Au ...

The Independent Scholars Association of Australia (ISAA) recently wrote to the Prime Minister, Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP urging him to reconsider budget cuts to the national cultural institutions.In a Press Release dated 16 March 2016 the President of ISAA, Dr Christine Jennett said: “ISAA joins oth ...

The Council of the ISAA affirms the fundamental importance of research for the Australian society, and globally. The Australian Government needs to support and fund basic and applied research in all disciplines.

• Council advocates the appointment of high-profile Science and Arts Ministers in any Federal government.
• Council advocates expanding resources for CSIRO and other research organisations.
• Council considers that tertiary education provides a private and...