SummerFest 2005 Plenary Presenter

Title

Executive Director for Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences
Australian Research Council

Abstract

In the context of an overview of the National Competitive Grants Program, this presentation will address the issues as how the ARC promotes and assesses inter-disciplinary research and collaboration. The address will include such topics as developing scale and focus and fostering individual capability; the changing landscape for the social sciences; the possibilities for researchers to position themselves in this changing environment; government support for research and the aims of the ARC within this framework. There will also be an opportunity to discuss some of the characteristics of high- and low-ranked applications in the peer review process, and the issue of feedback to applicants in ARC schemes.

Biography

Professor Elim Papadakis was appointed Executive Director for Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences at the ARC in November 2003. He is also responsible for coordinating the Research Networks and Federation Fellowship schemes. His posts prior to his appointment with the ARC have included, at the Australian National University, those of Foundation Director of the National Europe Centre, Professor of Modern European Studies and Head of the School of Social Sciences in the Faculty of Arts. He has also held the posts of Professor of Sociology and Head of Department at the University of New England and Research Fellow in Social Policy at the University of Kent at Canterbury. Professor Papadakis is author of several influential books on environmental politics and policy, including a pioneering study of the Green Movement in West Germany, and of numerous articles on public attitudes and policies in the areas of welfare and environmental policy