Backing Top End research through the pandemic

More than 36 research projects in the Territory will be funded at Charles Darwin University (CDU) thanks to $3.4 million in funding from the Federal Government to help alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university research.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) received 90 applications from researchers which were assessed as a part of a competitive process for projects which were directly impacted by COVID-19, as well as strategically important new projects that the University was unable to fund given the financial constraints imposed by COVID-19.

Successful researchers had the opportunity to apply for funding of up to $200,000 per project which required an emphasis on CDU research impact, especially those that impact and support the territory and Territorians.

The successful research projects include:

• An investigation of the impact of COVID‐19 and related government policies on domestic travel and tourism and the Australian economy with a special focus on the Northern Territory
• A project that will assess the financial impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous and non-indigenous enterprises in Australia
• A project identifying mathematical expression for teaching and learning mathematics in diverse Australian Indigenous languages
• A project that will aim to transform Cultural and Natural Resource Management intercultural workforce capabilities in Arnhem Land
• A project that will look at the responses of lizard assemblages to fire and grazing in Australian tropical savannas

The research projects were selected by a CSFP Scheme Committee assessing each application via a competitive process and making recommendations to determine the successful projects.

CDU Director of Research and Innovation Dr Steve Rogers said the funding would support researchers in the Territory to ensure they can continue their cutting-edge work.

“We have some of the nation’s best research institutes and researchers right here in the Territory and we want to support them so that they can continue to make great breakthroughs that lead to better outcomes for Territorians,” Dr Rogers said.

The Federal Government has provided universities with additional funding from the COVID-19 Supplementary Funding Pool to help alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university research.