Seminar: “Shaping strategy and investment in the world of research infrastructures” by Susie Robinson, 17.03.2025, 15:00 p.m., Jülich (IBG-2)
Invitation to the seminar by Dr. Susie Robinson.
Title: Shaping strategy and investment in the world of research infrastructures
Date: Monday 17th of March
Time: 15:00 CET
Location: IBG-2 Geb. 06.2 R. 406 large seminar room
Abstract
Research infrastructures have a unique and important part to play in the research and innovation ecosystem. All research efforts rely on research infrastructure – tools, technology, methodology, and the human expertise required to get the most out of it. Often, this happens at the local level (institutional infrastructure), but national and continental-scale infrastructures exist to provide technology and expertise that may be out of the reach of individual research institutions or groups. Such large-scale infrastructures also have the critical mass, profile, resourcing and degrees of organisation required to:
- scan over-the-horizon for future research frontiers and their related infrastructure requirements
- develop complex services delivered by globally significant experts
- coordinate and convene to ensure a complementarity of research infrastructure investment and modes of operation at national, continental and even global scales.
This seminar will explore the unique world of research infrastructures. It will draw on Dr Susie Robinson’s experiences as a government funder of research infrastructure, as a leader of Australia’s continent-scale national research infrastructure for plant phenotyping and looking ahead as the incoming Interim Director General of EMPHASIS, Europe’s plant phenotyping research infrastructure, as its establishment gathers pace.
Short CV
Dr. Susie Robinson is the incoming Interim Director General of EMPHASIS and is currently supporting the EMPHASIS Coordination Office as a consultant advisor. She led the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF), a world-class research infrastructure underpinning new developments in plant phenomics, to accelerate the development of new and improved crops, healthier food and more sustainable agricultural practice. The APPF saw three-fold funding growth and an expansion to many new nodes, partners and investors during her time at the helm.
Susie’s career has also seen her work across a range of senior and executive roles in the UK and Australia. This includes a portfolio of change and performance improvement projects for the University of Cambridge; as CEO of Higher Education Consulting Group, a specialist strategy consultancy in Australia; as Director, International and Industry Engagement for the Australian Technology Network of Universities; and in a range of roles in the UK and South Australian Governments in the portfolios of innovation, research, higher education, treasury and finance, and public sector performance. Susie has further professional interests in corporate governance and is a Chartered Company Secretary, with Board experience across a number of leading not-for-profit entities in Australia and the UK. Trained in the sciences and business management, she holds a PhD from Cambridge University, UK. In her spare time, she is a keen accordionist.
Kontakt
Dr. Roland Pieruschka
Senior Scientist
- Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften (IBG)
- Pflanzenwissenschaften (IBG-2)
Raum 303