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Science and the making of VictoriaRoyal Society of Victoria
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Table of Contents

A Consortium Approach to Marine Science

Introduction

The Origins of VIMS and Its Consortium Approach

Benefits and Problems of a Consortium Approach

Realizing the Benefits, Overcoming the Problems

VIMS' Role in the Consortium

Building on the Consortium Approach

Conclusion

References


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Building on the Consortium Approach (continued)

However, I think there are opportunities outside Australia which, if consortium members determine that they wish to pursue them, will require a more structured approach. The marine research and education expertise in Victoria is second to none, and would be very competitive in providing services which meet the needs of countries in Asia and the Pacific region. VIMS presently is exploring whether we, collectively, should do this, and whether some formally-constituted and appropriately-named operating entity will be required. These discussions take our consortium approach to a new level of significance.

As for VIMS itself, the consortium approach has clear implications. Figure 1 showed a plateau in the growth of VIMS programs in the last two years. While the effects of the recession on VIMS' activity can be clearly seen, there is another, more important signal—that some of the activity that VIMS is able to generate will lead to growth in partner organizations, rather than in VIMS itself. The implications of this are being explored in formulating VIMS' corporate strategy to cover the period to 1996. In it, we recognize there will be constraints on growth of VIMS' programs, for the best of reasons—that VIMS will be striving to ensure growth occurs in areas in which it does not have the special capability, because it resides in one of our partner organizations.

VIMS will continue to grow, but slowly. The exception will be if it acquires responsibilities and activities outside its present ones. For example, VIMS and the Port of Melbourne Authority are presently evaluating whether a coastal engineering research and technical group, presently residing in the PMA, should join VIMS. This type of rationalization, should it occur, will preserve an important capability and add to the collective strength in Victoria.


Organisations in Australian Science at Work - Victorian Institute of Marine Sciences

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Hammond, Laurie 1992 'A Consortium Approach to Marine Science', Education, Antarctica, Marine Science and Australia's Future: Proceedings of the Phillip Law 80th Birthday Symposium, 23 April 1992, Royal Society of Victoria, pp. 63-70.

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