The Research Centres Program initiated by the Federal
Government and supported by the mining industry has had a
major impact on geoscience research and education during the
past five years. Eight major university based-Geoscience
Research Centres are currently supported by the Government,
including four Key Centres of Teaching and Research and a
further four Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs). The
Research Centres Program has led to a concentration of high
quality research and teaching in areas of demand and strategic
importance creating strong university - industry linkages and a
source of well trained and motivated graduates. Over the last
decade Australia's reputation as a leader in mineral exploration
and ore deposit research has grown substantially, in part because
of the development of the Research Centres Program, and to
increased collaboration and interaction between research groups
and exploration geoscientists across the industry. During a period
when ore deposit research activity has been decreasing in other
countries (eg USA, Canada, Japan and most European countries),
equivalent research activities in Australia have been increasing,
within a well co-ordinated national framework. The future
challenge for universities and the mining industry will be to
maintain the momentum of the successful research centres in
order for the centres to become self-funding over a six- to
nine-year period.