Media Release
August 27 2004
UniSA wins $1.5 million for ARC Research Communications Network
The profile of Australian telecommunications research will receive a
significant boost following the University of South Australia’s success
in winning Australian Research Council funding worth $1.5 million over
five years to establish the Australian Communications Research Network (ACoRN).
ARC research networks are new platforms designed to bring together
researchers at the forefront of their fields of expertise to share their
knowledge in interdisciplinary settings, to collaborate and to work
together for the benefit of the nation’s future.
ACoRN brings together an impressive network of more than 120 esteemed
researchers working in the field of information and communication
technologies both nationally and internationally, according to Network
Convenor, Professor Lars Rasmussen who, with Professor Alex Grant, from
UniSA’s Institute for Telecommunications Research, was instrumental in
coordinating the bid.
“Information and communication technology is a key contributor to
national productivity and growth. By building on a strong platform of
existing research excellence, the network aims to inspire new
collaborative initiatives in emerging wired and wireless communications
that will lead to technological advancement in telecommunications,”
Professor Rasmussen said.
The network will support nation-wide collaborative research in four main
areas: mobile and wireless data communications, broadband and optical
fixed networks, rural communications and fundamentals of emerging media.
Specific network objectives are to consolidate existing linkages,
facilitate multidisciplinary research, establish new links, stimulate
commercial activity, improve postgraduate education and increase
international prominence.
“Our current vision involves a range of programs including student and
researcher mobility, national and international workshops, postgraduate
coursework coordination and knowledge management systems.
“The mobility program will enable domestic and international visiting
opportunities for students and researchers within ACoRN, domestic
internships in collaboration with industry, and opportunities for
international researchers to work within ACoRN. It will also initiate an
alumni society for expatriate Australians,” Professor Rasmussen said.
A forum for national and international technical meetings will be
offered by ACoRN to coordinate international conferences and workshops
held in Australia, bi-lateral workshops with relevant organisations and
nations, and industry workshops.
The coordination of course work schedules, institutional agreements and
student mobility will enable postgraduate students within ACoRN to
undertake relevant coursework network-wide. Summer/winter schools will
also be offered covering important disciplinary, interdisciplinary or
thematic subjects.
ACoRN will also establish an advanced system of knowledge management
through its website. Activities will include a newsletter, internal
review processes and electronic journals for pre-prints. Researchers
will be encouraged to use information and communications technologies to
establish a virtual presence across geographical boundaries,
strengthening the sense of community. ACoRN also aims to inform the
general public as well as showcase Australian research capabilities
domestically and internationally.
The ACoRN website design and navigation was undertaken by Professor
Grant, UniSA’s youngest professor and recent winner of a Tall Poppy
Science Award; while the knowledge management systems were developed by
UniSA’s Steven Gordon using Coldfusion and mySol.
The ACoRN web address is
http://www.acorn.net.au
Media contact
Geraldine Hinter (08) 8302 0963 or 0417 861832