ARC Rejoinder Session Professor Doug McEachern Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) 4 July 2008

ARC Rejoinder Session Discovery projects Started 1 July due ARC 14 July Internal deadline 10 July NHMRC Between 14 June and 4 July (?) 7 working days to respond

ARC Rejoinder Session Why Are There Rejoinders? An interpretation of administrative law A right to respond to ‘the evidence’ to be considered by those who will make judgments

ARC Rejoinder Session Who is the rejoinder written for? It is not a reply to the assessor It is not read by the assessor It is only relevant to the committee assessing the application Hence – no point in being angry, hurt, offended, scornful or any of those emotions in dealing with criticism in the assessment

ARC Rejoinder Session Points about rejoinder text Be cautious about criticising the choice/competence of the assessors Assessors chosen by the committee considering the application A reason for the choice which may not be obvious to you

ARC Rejoinder Session More Points … Keep a sense of perspective – the most important evidence the committee has at its disposal is the application Be temperate in your response and language (think what would persuade you in reading the rebuttal of criticism you have made of another academic’s work)

ARC Rejoinder Session More Points … Do not make claims about what you intend to do which are not supported by what you say in the application If an assessor identifies a fault in the application, acknowledge that and provide a correction or alternative way forward

ARC Rejoinder Session More Points … Rejoinders can make a difference If no assessments, do not make a rejoinder Remember, sometimes the assessor is right!

ARC Rejoinder Session Key Messages Track record – outcomes and impact of previous research Importance of method Importance of the problem Innovation in the solution proposed Be positive and argue the case for funding

ARC Rejoinder Session Basic Details Rejoinders are submitted online Rejoinders are submitted through the Research Office Discovery Projects – internal deadline Thursday 10 July Due dates for Linkage Projects rejoinders - via RA [Research-Announcements]