More than 800 researchers and research administrators from across all Macquarie faculties participated in 20 workshops during July and August.

The initiative was led by PVC (Research Performance and Development), Professor Amanda Barnier and Deputy Deans Research and Innovation. The Themed workshops and Open-Door workshops gave researchers an opportunity to explore research strengths and consilience, and to forge new collaborations aimed at bringing a range of disciplinary perspectives to research problems.

Professor Greg Downey, Interim Dean, Macquarie School of Social Sciences participated in the Brain Capital workshop.

“Everyone worries about academic silos which can keep us isolated in our own groups, talking to the same people over again. Macquarie is a special place where you can get new connections to happen. I am excited to pursue new leads and find fresh collaborators,” he says.

Themed workshops were co-hosted by Professor Barnier, and Deputy Deans Research and Innovation and Open-Door workshops were hosted by Research Centre directors. Workshop themes included Ageing Well, Ageing Together and Living Pasts, Resilient Futures. There were also workshops on Sustainable Cities and Brain Capital.

“The workshops revealed new ways in which our researchers and research teams might collaborate, coordinate, and converge efforts to become more than the sum of our parts. They highlighted Macquarie’s many research strengths and culture of collegiality as well as enormous potential for new and distinctive approaches to solving the big problems of the future,” says Professor Barnier.

By 29 August, over 20 Expressions of Interest had been received. From these, selected collectives will be invited to pitch their MQRC bid to a panel of internal and external experts in late September.

Workshop participant Associate Professor Dr Lisa Spagnolo, of Macquarie Law School says, “at the end of the workshops there were some tentative ideas for potential future collaborations. Of course, it is up to individuals to follow through, something that isn’t easy when we are all time poor. But that was the beauty of the workshops – they were an impetus to do that. A great starting point to spark connections and interest!”

Information about the 2023 MQRC Scheme and Workshops can be found on the Research Centres Scheme webpage.