Australian universities are performing above world standards in the mathematical sciences according to the ARC’s State of Australia’s University Research 2015 – 2016 released today.
“Nearly all of the research undertaken in Australia, in the key disciplines of Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics have been rated in ERA 2015 as ‘above world standard’ or ‘well above world standard’,” said President of the Australian Mathematical Society, Professor Tim Marchant.
Statistics was the stand out performer with 92% of evaluated statistical research receiving a five ranking, placing it at the top of the five-point ranking scale and well above world standards. This placed the discipline among the strongest Australian research disciplines overall.
Internationally renowned University of Melbourne statistician, Professor Peter Hall saw the results as confirmation of the value of investment in statistics research.
“You would be hard pressed to find mathematical sciences results as good as these anywhere else in the world. The performance of statistics is simply outstanding! Future investment in statistics in Australian universities will be repaid many times over in medical research and industrial innovation and productivity,” he said.
Five-point ranking scale used in State of Australia’s University Research 2015-16
As shown below Pure, Applied and Numerical and Computational Mathematics all performed highly with 100% of research reviewed at or above world standards.
“These outstanding results are a strong validation of the outstanding quality of research undertaken in Australia, in the mathematical sciences,” said Professor Tim Marchant.
The report reconfirms current understanding of the state mathematical sciences, as outlined in the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute’s (AMSI) Discipline Profile 2015. It is also sends a strong signal that Australia’s research and innovation capacity is placed under the microscope, its universities are ready to drive a STEM agenda.
“At a time when there is heavy demand for mathematical sciences in the Australian economy, these results show that our universities are more than up to the challenge,” AMSI Director, Geoff Prince.
For Interview:
Professor Geoff Prince, Director, Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute
Professor Tim Marchant, President, Australian Mathematical Society
Professor Terry Speed, Laboratory Head, Bioinformatics, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and 2013 winner of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
Media Contact:
Laura Watson
E: media@amsi.org.au
P: 0421 518 733
Resources for media
The ARC Excellence in research for Australia Report 2015-16
Statistics Pure Mathematics
Applied Mathematics Numerical and Computational Mathematics
