TERN 2011 Annual Symposium

Ms Julia Evans

Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Tuesday 29 March 2011

WELCOME

Sustaining Long-Term Ecosystem Research and Infrastructure

TERN: new approach to terrestrial observing

Establishing a sustainable set of activities that provides the people and infrastructure to deliver and maintain a long term ecosystem research network for Australia.

TERN: Funding from Australian Government

TERN was funded under the Australian Government National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) in 2009 to provide a national framework for the planning and coordination of ecosystem research at the national level.

Additional Super Science funding enabled the enhancement of TERN, with these enhancements aligned to priorities outlined in both the National Climate Change Adaption Framework and the 2008 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGE

The initiation and planning of TERN represents a very significant change in the way ecosystem and national resource management data is collected and requires a major cultural change across the community.

The terrestrial ecosystem scientific community is comprised of a complex of overlapping environments and TERN will play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and co-operation.

However not duplicating or ‘reinventing the wheel’

2011 – A BIG YEAR FOR TERN

Increase in facilities, to cover a broader range of disciplines.

Web Portal

All designed to increase involvement in TERN, to build up networks and relationships.

RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE LINKAGES

Linkages with other NCRIS/Super Science environmental data facilities for access to data and research networks:

• (Atlas of Living Australia, Bioplatforms Australia, IMOS, Auscope)

Data has much more impact if shared with the wider scientific community that can be used in combination with other data to answer a much broader set of questions.

WHAT’S NEXT - Domestically

NCRIS - Ends 30 June 2011

Super Science Initiative - Concludes in 2012-13

Government has committed to return the Budget to surplus by 2012-13

Increased pressure on the Budget due to natural disasters has already seen a shift of funds from previously announced programs

The Department is working towards building a strong evidence base for future research infrastructure funding

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

The National Research Infrastructure Council (NRIC) - Strategic Framework for Research Infrastructure Investment

2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure

2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure

Roadmapping is an integral part of prioritisation of

research infrastructure investment

Determining whether the current mix of capabilities continues to meet researchers’ needs

Considering whether new or emerging areas of research will require new types of infrastructure in the future

Extensive consultation

Expert Working Groups for the 2011 Roadmap

Six Expert Working Groups established (February 2011)

1. Environmentally Sustainable Australia (Dr John Gunn)

2. Frontier Technologies (Dr Calum Drummond)

3. Safeguarding Australia (Dr Alastair Robertson) 4. Promoting and Maintaining Good Health

(Professor Mike Calford)

5. Understanding Cultures and Communities (Professor Rae Frances)

6. eResearch Infrastructure (Professor Attila Brungs)

WHAT’S NEXT - International

Australia – USA• Inaugural Australia-USA Joint Commission

Meeting held in Feb 2011• Six thematic areas including climate and earth

observation

Australia – European Union• European Union Research Infrastructure

Workshop, 4-5 April• Includes Scientific Data Infrastructure Plenary

Session

IN CONCLUSION

Project Outcomes from TERN:• Operational and self sustaining network of ecosystem

research scientists and infrastructure that enables storage, discovery and sharing of ecosystem research data.

TERN embodies many of the approaches we look for in collaborative research infrastructure projects.

The TERN experience provides useful lessons for the future.

THANK YOU

DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION, INDUSTRY,SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

Industry House10 Binara StreetCanberra City, ACT 2601, AustraliaTelephone +61 2 6213 6000