Research Network for Adaptive Optics

Preparing RNAO Referee Reports

This page contains information that you will need to prepare that report.

The proposal comes in two parts; the on-line application and the additional text. Although it is not part of the proposal, an Excel spread sheet of the proposed Network budget is also available. If successful, the ARC will fund the proposed activities at a level of around $500K per year for five years.

The ARC Research Networks Funding Rules (Sect. 8.2.1, p.16) states:

"Reports from up to five external referees may be included at the end of the additional text (Section 7.3). Referees' reports must be signed and should not exceed 500 words each. They should provide an assessment of the application against the selection criteria.

The quality and standing of the referees as well as their comments will be taken into account in the assessment of applications."

Please ensure that you adhere to the word limit.

The selection criteria are described in the ARC Research Networks Funding Rules (Sect. 8.1, p.14). They are summarized here:

Network strength (30%)

• Breadth of engagement and standing of participants in the Network
  • Breadth and standing of relevant national and international participation
  • Capacity to raise the profile of the Network's research portfolio globally
• Coherence and cooperation
  • Strength and extent of collaboration and co-ordination within the Network
• Cross-cutting & innovation
  • Potential for the Network to foster genuinely broad, cross-disciplinary, innovative research
  • Plans for providing support for new partnerships and linkages

Research strengths and opportunities (30%)

• The research programs encompassed by the Network
  • Excellence of current and prospective research programs conducted by Network Participants
  • Opportunities to add value to Australian research programs encompassed by the Network
• Participant track record, relative to opportunity
  • Track record of the Network Convenor and Network Participants in research and research student supervision, where appropriate
  • The Network Convenor's track record as a research co-ordinator, relative to opportunities
  • Arrangements to encourage researchers who have less than 15 years postdoctoral experience to build research leadership and management skills within the Network

National Benefit (20%)

• National Research Priorities
  • Capacity of the Network to be catalysed by National Research Priorities
• Contribution to the Australian economy, environment, society, and culture
• Communication and Outreach
  • The nature and extent of the Network's strategic approach to communication and outreach

Funding and governance (20%)

• Adequacy of the Budget plan
  • The impact of Network Funding in adding value to existing investments in research
  • Strength of the case for the requested funding relative to the Network's proposed programs
• Governance
  • Efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed governance arrangements in relation to the Network's vision
  • Capacity of the governance arrangements to transcend disciplinary, geographical, and institutional boundaries and cultures, to achieve the Network's objectives

The National Research Priorities are listed in Appendix 2 of the ARC Research Networks Funding Rules. The relevant sub-classifications are summarized here:

Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health

• Ageing well, ageing productively

Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries

• Frontier technologies

Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia

• Transformational defence technologies

Please FAX your signed referee report to Peter McGregor at +61 2 6125 0233 by Monday March 8 2004 Australian time (Sunday March 7 2004, USA time). The original signed report should be mailed to

Dr. Peter J. McGregor
Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics
The Australian National University
Mt. Stromlo Observatory
Cotter Road
Weston, ACT 2611
Australia

Ideally, the original will arrive in time to be included in the proposal.