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The Research Schools

The Australian National University Act 1946 established ANU and outlined its organisation and structure.  Section 7 of the Act stated that the University was to be divided into two groups: the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) and the Faculties.  In Section 8 of the Act the structure of the IAS is further defined with institutes to be devoted to medical science (to be known as the John Curtin School of Medical Research), the physical sciences, the social sciences, Pacific studies and such other fields of learning as the Council determines.  The establishment of the Faculties, as required under the Act, did not take place until 1960 when the CUC was amalgamated with the IAS.  The eventual result was to create a university with two parts: the Institute of Advanced Studies, comprising the research schools with research and graduate training responsibilities; and the School of General Studies (now known as The Faculties) comprising faculties with undergraduate and graduate teaching and research responsibilities.

The IAS has now grown to incorporate twelve Research Schools as follows: The combined goals of these Schools are to:
  • Engage in research and scholarship at the highest international standards;
  • Strengthen Australia's capacity to undertake fundamental research both generally and in relation to subjects of national importance;
  • Provide outstanding postdoctoral and postgraduate training in all areas of the Institute's research activity;
  • Encourage collaborations which allow other Australian universities to benefit from the concentration of research resources available at the Institute;
  • Sustain international exchanges and collaborations which enable Australia to contribute to and benefit from research in other countries; and
  • Encourage links that make the scholarship, expertise and research resources of the Institute available to the Australian community, industry and government.

The following documents provide brief histories of the eleven research schools that make up the IAS, outlining their formation and history, achievements to date, current research directions, research highlights and future directions for the schools.  The following documents could not have been prepared without the assistance of many people within the Research Schools.  To everyone who helped your assistance is greatly appreciated.

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