Deakin’s mission to deliver research that makes a difference to the community has been confirmed in a landmark Australian Research Council (ARC) report released last week.
The ARC report assessed researchers’ engagement with the people who use their research, and how well universities translate their research into economic, social, environmental, cultural and other benefits, based on selected case studies.
Professor Julie Owens, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at Deakin, said the inaugural ARC Engagement and Impact Assessment 2018-19 National Report shows the real impact of Deakin’s world-class research and innovation.
“In the past week, Deakin researchers revealed a world-first connection between mobile phone use and wellbeing, while at the same time our globally-recognised Institute for Frontier Materials has begun working with leading global aerospace products manufacturer the Universal Alloy Corporation, which will lead to cutting-edge developments in the fields of aluminium, titanium, forming and composites materials manufacturing,” Professor Owens said.
“Deakin University is committed to the communities we serve and delivering research and innovation that makes a difference in the real world is paramount to this commitment.
“As part of our commitment we are focused on ensuring we support our industries of today and tomorrow to grow, that the research we do helps to support and create the jobs of the future and that we focus on new and better ways of doing things that improve the lives of those around us, here in Australia and around the world.”
High impact Deakin University research and innovation that was recognised in the report includes:
- Movement-based technologies developed by the Deakin Motion.Lab with the creative industries, to enable production companies, community and government organisations, arts organisations and individuals to develop new products and audiences.
- Research that shaped policies and initiatives of regional arts organisations, government and their funding agencies to improve effectiveness, increase reach and better meet audience expectations and needs.
- Research that documented heritage destruction in Iraq and Syria, which informed government policy to address conflict and cultural property protection and provided strategic intelligence assessments to help develop specific protection programs for the people of Iraq and Syria.
- Research into student-generated representations (including diagrams, 3D models and mathematical symbols) that reformed science education in Victoria, Australia and internationally.
- Research that develops new strategies to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity, which has shaped policy guidance by the World Health Organization.
- Research into strategies to reduce the role of alcohol in night-time violence, which has changed government liquor legislation and policies in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
“These are just a few examples of a much wider research and innovation enterprise at Deakin, working with our partners in the community, industry and government, to create social, environmental, economic and other benefits,” Professor Owens said.
“Deakin University acknowledges the tremendous and essential contribution made to generating such benefits, by our external partners in industry, government, the not-for-profit sectors, publicly funded research agencies, research institutes, hospitals and the wider health system and our communities, regionally, nationally and internationally.
“These partners and our growing collaborations are essential to continuing the success of our research and its translation for real world impact.”
