National research centres
Special Research Centres are funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) for their research excellence and potential to contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of Australia. They bring together concentrations of researchers and resources to establish centres that act as links to international research programs, as well as providing high-quality research and research education in areas of national importance.
Cooperative Research Centres (CRC), a Commonwealth Government initiative, bring together researchers and research users, with an emphasis on collaboration through utilisation, commercialisation and technology transfer. A strong education component focuses on producing graduates with skills relevant to industry needs.
Research concentrations at UniSA
ARC Special Research Centre
UniSA hosts the Special Research Centre for Particle and Material Interfaces. Part of the Ian Wark Research Institute, the Centre's Director is Prof John Ralston
The Centre concentrates on outstanding fundamental research on static and dynamic processes involving soft and hard interfaces. Practical examples include soft, deformable emulsion droplets in pharmaceutical formulations and hard, mineral particle surfaces in mineral slurries. Successful outcomes from this research have the potential to solve difficult environmental problems concerning acid mine drainage; reduce energy consumption in minerals processing; improve the quality of medical and dental implants; and result in new printing technologies.
Cooperative Research Centres
UniSA is involved in the following Cooperative Research Centres.
- AutoCRC (Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the
Environment)
Delivers smarter, safer, cleaner manufacturing and vehicle technology for Australia's benefit through strategic industry-led research collaborations
Contact: Prof Rob Short -
Australian Seafood (Divisions of Business; Health Sciences; Information Technology, Engineering and the
Environment)
Assists end-users of its research to profitably deliver safe, high-quality, nutritious Australian seafood products to premium markets, domestically and overseas
Contact: Dr Mark Hochman - Contamination Assessment
and Remediation of the Environment (Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the
Environment)
Provides cutting-edge technologies and knowledge in assessing, preventing and remediating contamination of soil, water and air
Contact: Prof Ravi Naidu - Desert Knowledge
(Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment)
Creates economic opportunities for desert people and makes a demonstrable difference for remote Aboriginal communities, through the application of excellent research and training
Contact: Prof Drew Dawson - Integrated Engineering Asset Management
(Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment)
Works with leading industry, government and research organisations to develop innovative solutions and implement them in a strategic integrated framework, creating significant reductions in the costs of asset-ownership and optimising asset management systems in Australia
Contact: Prof Andy Koronios - Irrigation Futures
(Division of Business)
Delivers irrigation research, education and training which gives confidence to growers, industry, governments and communities to invest in better irrigation, a better environment and a better future
Contact: Prof Jennifer McKay - Polymers (Ian Wark Research Institute)
Conducts leading-edge polymer research to deliver the technically advanced polymeric materials and polymer engineering required to transform Australian industries, and to establish and expand companies in emerging high-growth areas of the economy
Contact: Prof Hans Griesser - Rail Innovation (Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment)
Seeks to meet growing transport needs identified by the rail industry and researchers, and build on successful collaborative arrangements and approaches to ensure maximisation of adoption rates to deliver outcomes
Contact: Prof Drew Dawson - Sustainable Tourism (Division of Business)
Researches the strategic challenges facing Australian tourism and produces reports, information, tools and products to improve business practices and inform policy development
Contact: Dr Gary Crilley
Please note: The CRC for Water Quality and Treatment completed its term of operation on 30 June 2008. It is replaced by Water Quality Research Australia Ltd (WQRA). The UniSA contact person is Prof Simon Beecham (Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment).
Other national research centres
National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education
The National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education is a research centre established to facilitate the study of student equity policy and practice in Australian higher education and in related fields, and to lead the development of new knowledge in these fields. The Centre is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and hosted by the Hawke Research Institute
Contact: Prof Trevor Gale
Australian Centre for Child Protection
The Australian Centre for Child Protection is making a valuable contribution to a knowledge-based approach to preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect. The Centre is pioneering a public health model of child protection through supporting the innovation, evaluation, dissemination and transplantation of successful strategies. The Australian Centre for Child Protection is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
Contact:
Prof Dorothy Scott
Centre brochure (798kb, download
Adobe Acrobat)
International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding
$10 million has been pledged by State and Federal Governments to provide added impetus to the foundation and start up of the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding.
Launched in October 2008, the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding will be a leading global institution devoted to research excellence. The Centre will support critical engagement and dialogue at the local, national and global levels through the development of effective policy solutions. A concern will be to recognise that Muslim/non-Muslim relations are often embroiled in questions about social justice and inclusion. The Centre will address cross-cultural issues, reflect commitment to reconciliation and develop rational approaches to addressing and overcoming prejudices about diversity.
Professor Pal Ahluwalia, UNESCO Chair in Transnational Diasporas and Reconciliation Studies, is leading the Centre's establishment with support from UniSA's Hawke Centre
Media release
(14 October 2008)
UniSA
builds Muslim and non-Muslim understanding (UniSANews)