OverviewThe Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science (SRIEAS) scheme aims to enhance and develop Australia’s research excellence in Antarctic Science through highly innovative and collaborative research. The Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science scheme supports excellent research in one or more of the Australian Government’s Antarctic science priority research themes:Climate Processes and ChangeTerrestrial and Nearshore Ecosystems: Environmental Change and ConservationSouthern Ocean Ecosystems: Environmental Change and ConservationFrontier Science.The objectives of the Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science scheme are to:support excellent research in identified Australian Antarctic science priority research themescontribute to a coordinated and collaborative approach to Antarctic, Subantarctic and Southern Ocean research that builds on Australia’s existing capability in this areabuild Australian research capacity in this area by supporting researchers of the highest international standing as well as high quality postdoctoral researchers and research studentsadvance Australia’s capabilities and knowledge in Antarctic research. Selection processApplications for SRIEAS for funding commencing in 2020 opened on 20 March 2019, and closed on 5 June 2019. Applications were submitted through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Management System (RMS). This report outlines outcomes from the selection process for that round.These recommendations are based on advice from the ARC Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) which: assessed applications and reviewed assessments made by independent assessorsreviewed applicants’ comments on assessors’ reportsinterviewed applicants requesting funding for $1 million or more per yearranked each application relative to the others on the basis of the application, the assessors’ reports, applicants’ responses to those assessments and interview performance for applicants requesting funding for $1 million or more per yearassessed and recommended budgetsrecommended application feedbackand, advice from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) which considered:alignment with the Australian Antarctic Science Strategic Plan 2011-12 to 2020-21 and underpinning documents andfeasibility of the AAD in providing any logistics support required to undertake the project.and, advice from the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) Eligibility Committee which:considered eligibility issues identified by ARC staff, the ARC College of Experts or independent assessors andwhere required, sought advice with respect to issues raisedThis report reflects the outcomes approved by the Minister. Assessment criteriaAssessment criteria and corresponding weights for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science applications are:Research program - Quality and Innovation (40%)Investigators (30%)Institutional Support and Governance (20%)Benefit (10%)The ARC assessment process for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science 2020 involved six ARC Selection Advisory Committee members and was managed in RMS. A total of 52 independent assessors’ reports were submitted to the ARC. Summary of OutcomesThe ARC received a total of 20 applications for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science for funding in 2020. Of the 20 applications submitted, five applications requested $1 million or more per year of ARC funding and were interviewed. As shown in Table 1, of the 20 applications submitted, two were approved for funding by the Minister. The overall success rate was 10 per cent. Table 1. Application numbers, success rates, requested and allocated funds for successful applications from Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science for funding in 2020Funding yearApplications consideredApplications approved for fundingSuccess rate (%)Requested funds over project life (all applications)Requested funds over project life(approved applications)Funds allocated over project lifeAllocations as a percentage of request (%)202020210.0$188,451,807$99,321,187$56,000,00056.4Table 2 lists summary information about approved applications.Table 2. Details of approved applications for the Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science for funding in 2020TitleAdministering OrganisationDirectorApproved funds over project lifeSecuring Antarctica's Environmental FutureMonash UniversityProf Steven Chown$36,000,000The Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic ScienceUniversity of TasmaniaProf Matt King$20,000,000 Outcomes by disciplineA summary of approved outcomes by discipline panel is shown in Table 3.Table 3. Number of applications and success rates for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science 2020 by disciplineDiscipline*Applications consideredApproved applicationsApplications success rate (%)BSB7114.3EIC400.0HCA000.0MPCE9111.1SBE000.0Total20210.0*BSB = Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; EIC = Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences; HCA = Humanities and Creative Arts; MPCE = Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences; SBE = Social, Behavioural and Economics Sciences Outcomes by Science and Research PrioritiesAs shown in Table 4, 19 applications for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science for funding in 2020 selected a Science and Research Priority. Table 4. Approved funding for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science 2020 applications by Science and Research PriorityScience and Research PriorityApplications consideredApproved applicationsSuccess Rate (%)Approved funds (over project life)Energy100.0$0Environmental change16212.5$56,000,000Soil and water100.0$0Transport100.0$0Unspecified100.0$0Total20210.0$56,000,000Total within Science and Research Priorities19210.5$56,000,000Percentage within Science and Research Priorities (%)95.0100.0 100.0Outcomes by Administering Organisation Fourteen Administering Organisations across six Australian States submitted applications for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science for funding in 2020. Participating organisation contributions by organisation typeIn addition to ARC funding, significant contributions are made by participating organisations.There are 38 Partner Organisations involved with the approved applications. As shown in Table 6, the combined support of all participating organisations (including Administering Organisations, Other Eligible Organisations, Partner Organisations and Other Organisations), not including ARC funding, for this round totals $85.9 million over seven years. This represents over $1.53 from participating organisations for every dollar funded by the ARC.Table 6. Participating organisation contributions by organisation type for approved applications for the Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science applications for funding in 2020 Organisation typeOrganisation contributions (cash & in-kind) over project life (approved applications)Administering Organisation$33,146,825Other Eligible Organisation$34,932,021Partner Organisation$14,872,076Other Organisation$2,938,940Total$85,889,862 Australian Antarctic Research Priority AreasAs shown in Table 7, applications for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science for funding in 2020 were submitted in all Australian Antarctic Research Priority Areas.Table 7. Identified Australian Antarctic Research Priorities in Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science applications approved for funding commencing in 2020Australian Antarctic Research Priority AreasInstances of priority areas indicated in considered applicationsInstances of priority areas indicated in approved applicationsClimate Processes and Change102Terrestrial and Nearshore Ecosystems: Environmental Change and Conservation51Southern Ocean Ecosystems: Environmental Change and Conservation92Frontier Science42Total287Note: Applicants could identify more than one Australian Antarctic Research Priority Area in an application. GenderAs shown in Table 8, a total of 289 participants were named on applications considered in this round. Of these, 200 are male and 89 are female. The success rates for male and female participants in this round are 49.5 per cent and 52.8 per cent respectively.Table 8. Success rate by gender for Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science for funding in 2020Participant GenderParticipants in applications consideredParticipants in approved applicationsSuccess rate (%)Female894752.8Male2009949.5Total28914650.5 International collaborationAmong 20 applications considered, applicants foreshadowed 55 instances of collaboration with researchers in 24 overseas locations. As shown in Figure 1, the approved applications foreshadowed 17 instances of collaboration with researchers in 15 overseas locations.Figure 1. International collaborations by location in Special Research Initiative in Excellence in Antarctic Science approved applications for funding commencing in 2020