Australia and its research universities

It is imperative that Australia sustain excellence in research, but the question is how, says Michael Gallagher. ng research active whatever that might mean. The structure of diversity should be cost-effective for Australia but not limit individual academic staff to the research opportunities enabled only by their employing institution. It should be possible, for instance, for a teacher of physics in University A to undertake research in the laboratories and with other researchers at University B, as is envisaged by the hub and spokes approach being progressed by the Minister for Innovation, Science and Research, Kim Carr.