Excellence in Research for Australia - 2012 Results

Following a strong performance in the 2010 ERA process, the University was rated even higher for the quality of its research in the 2012 results.

The outcome confirms many of our fundamental research strengths in areas including geology, evolutionary biology, cardiology, oncology, nursing, nutrition, physics, chemistry, horticulture, and artificial intelligence.

The ERA uses a 5 tier ratings system:

• 5 rating – Well above world standard
• 4 rating – Above world standard
• 3 rating – At world standard
• 2 rating – Below world standard
• 1 rating – Well below world standard

The University of Adelaide found itself in an elite group of institutions unsurpassed in three major disciplinary (or 2-digit field of research code) areas, all rated at ‘well above world standard’: Physical Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, and Studies in Creative Arts and Writing.   

At the sub-disciplinary (or 4-digit field of research code) level, we were unsurpassed in 27 areas.  The graph of Australian universities' 2012 performance for 4+5 ratings shows the number of sub-disciplines at ‘above world standard’ or ‘well above world standard’ for each Australia university.  While the raw data places the University of Adelaide as seventh in the country, this does not take into account institutional size.

In comparison to the ERA 2010 results, we increased our proportion of sub-disciplines assessed at ‘above or well above world standard’ from 44% to 58%, and at ‘world standard or above’ from 80% to 90%.

The ERA results also confirmed the University of Adelaide as the research leader in SA, with 18 (or 78%) of the 23 ‘5’ ratings awarded in the State at the sub-discipline level. See the ERA 2012 - South Australia Overview document.

It is also worth noting that our Research Institutes continue to align well with ERA high performers.  As examples, the following sub-discipline areas all scored the highest possible rating of ‘5’:

• Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing
  (Scored 5 in Optical Physics)
• Waite Research Institute
  (Scored 5 in  Horticultural Production)
• Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources
  (Scored 5 in Geology)
• Robinson Institute
  (Scored 5 in Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine)
• Environment Institute
  (Scored 5 in Evolutionary Biology)

Highlights for the University of Adelaide

There are many examples of high performance in the 2012 ERA report, but to highlight just a few:

• For the second time running, we were the only university in Australia to achieve a ‘5’ in Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine.  This is an area of research at the heart of the University’s Robinson Institute, and a clear indicator of national pre-eminence and leadership.  We also received a ‘5’ rating in 7 other health and medical research areas: Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology; Dentistry; Medical Microbiology; Nursing; Nutrition and Dietetics; Oncology and Carcinogenesis; and Medical Physiology.


• We were also the only university to receive a ‘5’ in the sub-discipline of Performing Arts and Creative Writing, and one of only two universities to receive a ‘5’ in the overarching discipline of Studies In Creative Arts and Writing.  This is an excellent indication of the great work achieved by the Elder Conservatorium of Music and the J.M. Coetzee Centre for Creative Practice.


• Chemical Science was one of the stand-out areas of improvement for the University, with gains in most areas and ‘5’ ratings for the sub-disciplines of Inorganic Chemistry, Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry and Geochemistry.


• Compared to 2010, we improved our number of ‘5’ ratings (‘well above world standard’) at the sub-disciplinary level from 16 to 18, and ‘4’ ratings (‘above world standard’) from 17 to 21.


• We were one of only two institutions nationally to achieve ‘5’ ratings for Inorganic Chemistry, Horticultural Production, Dentistry, and Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing.  (The latter is the first ‘5’ for the Faculty of ECMS).


• Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science, Economics and Psychology also saw strong improvements.

Major Results for the University of Adelaide

Score	Field of Research	Code
5	Physical Sciences	02
5	Medical and Health Sciences (Biomedical and Clinical Health Sciences)	11
5	Studies In Creative Arts and Writing	19
5	Astronomical and Space Sciences	0201
5	Optical Physics	0205
5	Inorganic Chemistry	0302
5	Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry	03035
5	Geochemistry	0402
5	Geology	0403
5	Soil Sciences	0503
5	Evolutionary Biology	0603
5	Horticultural Production	0706
5	Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing	0801
5	Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology	1102
5	Dentistry	1105
5	Medical Microbiology	1108
5	Nursing	1110
5	Nutrition and Dietics	1111
5	Oncology and Carcinogenesis	1112
5	Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	1114
5	Medical Physiology	1116
5	Performing Arts and Creative Writing	1904
4	Mathematical Sciences	01
4	Chemical Sciences	03
4	Earth Sciences	04
4	Environmental Sciences	05
4	Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences	07
4	Information and Computing Sciences	08
4	Economics	14
4	Law and Legal Studies	18
4	Philosophy and Religious Studies	22
4	Pure Mathematics	0101
4	Applied Mathematics	0102
4	Statistics	0104
4	Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics	0202
4	Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry	0304
4	Environmental Science and Management	0502
4	Soil Sciences	0503
4	Biochemistry and Cell Biology	0601
4	Ecology	0602
4	Plant Biology	0607
4	Veterinary Sciences	0707
4	Distributed Computing	0805
4	Civil Engineering	0905
4	Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy	0914
4	Immunology	1107
4	Neurosciences	1109
4	Applied Economics	1402
4	Demography	1603
4	Law	1801
4	Philosophy	2203
3	Biological Sciences	06
3	Engineering	09
3	Built Environment and Design	12
3	Studies In Human Society	16
3	Psychology and Cognitive Sciences	17
3	Language, Communication and Culture	20
3	History and Archaeology	21
3	Analytical Chemistry	0301
3	Organic Chemistry	0305
3	Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)	0306
3	Geophysics	0404
3	Genetics	0604
3	Animal Production	0702
3	Crop and Pasture Production	0703
3	Chemical Engineering	0904
3	Electrical and Electronic Engineering	0906
3	Food Sciences	0908
3	Mechanical Engineering	0913
3	Clinical Sciences	1103
3	Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences	1115
3	Public Health and Health Services	1117
3	Architecture	1201
3	Banking, Finance and Investment	1502
3	Marketing	1505
3	Anthropology	1601
3	Human Geography	1604
3	Political Science	1606
3	Historical Studies	2103
2	Technology	10
2	Education	13
2	Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services	15
2	Microbiology	605
2	Zoology	608
2	Communications Technologies	1005
2	Sociology	1608
2	Linguistics	2004
2	Literary Studies	2005
1	Business and Management	1503