2007 Annual Report - Central Queensland University

2007 Centre for Plant & Water Science Annual ReportSection E ISSUES AND COMMENTSReported income and outputs (graduations, publications) have declined somewhat in 2007 althoughstaffing levels remained essentially the same as in 2006. The Centre was active in preparing proposalsbut fewer were funded (and also fewer expected for 2008), hence revenue will continue to decline,although other academic outputs will remain high. Firm opportunities for CQU research funds to bematched by outside agencies were presented to Chancellery, to speed up the University’s Flagshipprocess, but were not acted upon. Focus of CQU staff and resources into the emerging new flagshipswill further dilute the competitiveness of the CPWS. Funding support for productive and non-projectconstrainedpostdocs allows for development and expansion of new activities, catalysing furtherresearch income and outputs. We have only minimal involvements in ‘Healthy Communities’ despitethe original ‘Food for Life’ proposal by CPWS, and are negotiating support for agronomy and sensorytechnologies via the flagship on ‘Sustainable Resource Industries’. This will constrain our futureprospects.We believe that 2007 and 2008 have been years of great flux within the Faculty (and University), andtogether with the Flagship process these have significantly added to staff workloads, to the detriment ofintellectual input into research. Appointment of A/Prof Walsh as Associate Dean for the College ofSciences also reduced his time available for Centre activities.The slow processing of upgrades in infrastructure (e.g. the replacement of Building 205 that includesrealignment of sewage, power and communications, a concrete base and erection of a replacementbuilding, and erection of an expanded screenhouse facility) and the handing back of fundingresponsibility to the Research Centre, which naturally reduces the funding and the resulting level ofresearch that we can fund, has reduced the efficiency and scope of research, with the 2008 outlook alsorather bleak. We hope for better!20