Home > International activities > International Science Linkages – Science Academies Program

SCIENTIFIC VISITS TO CHINA

Applications are now being received for visits to China beginning between 1 July 2010 and 31 March 2011. Closing date is COB Friday 26 February 2010.

The Australian Academy of Science invites applications from professional scientists to visit China between 1 July 2010 to 31 March 2011 to collaborate with researchers in institutes affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A list of the applicable institutes is attached to the application form.

Proposals in any field of natural science, basic and applied, including mathematics and engineering science will be considered. Applicants must be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident living in Australia at the time of submitting the grant application. Applicants must hold a PhD degree or equivalent at the time of application. Support will not be given when the primary purpose of the visit is to attend a conference.

Applicants should propose a collaborative research project, or a specific activity, which has been developed in consultation with host scientists in China. A letter of invitation from the host institution(s) commenting on the proposed collaboration must be submitted with the application. Proposals will be assessed on the scientific merit of the research, the demonstrated achievements of the applicant in the context of his/her career to date, the appropriateness of the work being done in China, the value of the expected outcome of the research project to Australian science, and whether the visit will improve Australian access to global science and technology. The proposed visit should initiate or consolidate long-term collaborations and facilitate the development of the applicant's career. Under this scheme, applicants can request travel support to access international leading-edge small to medium research facilities and equipment. Support will not be provided for costs associated with use of these facilities.

Note: The program does not provide assistance to access research facilities already supported under the Access to Major Research Facilities Program (AMRFP) administered by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). For details on the AMRFP please go to:  
http://www.ansto.gov.au/research/user_access/amrfp

Preference will be given to visits which are short-term and highly-focused. The grant scheme is not to supplement or extend either study or sabbatical leave that is being conducted overseas.

Terms of award: Six successful applicants will receive from the Academy an economy class airfare (up to the value of $2,000) from Australia to the international airport closest to the host institute in China. The Chinese Academy of Sciences will arrange and pay for accommodation, meals and travel within China. The duration of visits to CAS Institutes must be for 14 days. The program does not provide funds for bench fees, managerial, insurance or visa costs.

Additional Visits to Non-CAS Institutes: All applicants of this program MUST visit CAS Institutes.  If while in China researchers wish to also take the opportunity to visit other host research organisations not affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), they can do so. For this purpose successful applicants will receive from the Academy a contribution of $150 per day for up to 14 days towards living allowance. Please note that visits to China are for a total of 28 days with 14 days at a CAS Institute.

Successful applicants are required to submit two reports of their visit, one within 30 days and one 12 months after returning to Australia. We anticipate that the latter report will indicate how the collaboration has progressed.

The report should include the outcomes of the visit, such as:

• the value of international research collaborations;
• incidents of access to leading edge small to medium scale research facilities and equipment;
• the number and details of joint publications, presentations and the like;
• the number and details of substantial subsequent contacts made with other collaborators, domestic and overseas, as a result of participation in the activities;
• details of new applications of technology and the uptake of new technology;
• the extent to which Australian researchers secured access to global science facilities, including gaining access to equipment and data that may not be available in Australia or is more state-of-the-art than what is available in Australia;
• the extent to which the activities were consistent with the Government's National Research Priorities;*
• the extent to which the activities facilitated the development of international institutional arrangements, including the exchange of post-doctoral fellows.

International Programs
Australian Academy of Science
GPO Box 783
Canberra ACT 2601
Fax: +61(0)2 6201 9494
Email: is@science.org.au

This project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research's International Science Linkages – Science Academies Program