The number of highly cited Australian researchers has tripled since 2014, according to a global list compiling scientific content, impact and collaborations from 1900 to the present day.
The Highly Cited Researchers 2019 list, compiled by the Web of Science Group, included 6,216 researchers from nearly 60 countries. Of the total, 3,725 of these are in specific fields while 2,491 are under cross field performance.
Despite its relatively small population, Australia had 271 researchers recognised, taking up 4.4 of this year’s list.
The US had the largest share at 44% (2,737 highly cited researchers), followed by China (Mainland) and UK at 636 (10.2%) and 516 (8.3%) respectively.
This year’s report also noted that the number of highly cited researchers coming from Australia has tripled in the past five years from only 80 researchers in 2014.
Research institutions were also noted to have recruited a number of highly cited researchers as well as fostered their own home-grown talent since that time.
However, ranked by institutions, no Australian university or research institution made it to the top 10.
Harvard University has the highest number of highly cited researchers at 203. Ranking second, Stanford University had 103 researchers who made it to the list. The Chinese Academy of Sciences placed third with 101 researchers.
Among Australian universities, the University of Melbourne has the highest number of researchers at 34. The University of New South Wales Sydney and University of Queensland followed closely with 30 researchers and 29 researchers, respectively.
The University of Sydney managed to contribute 14 researchers to the list, while Curtin University and the University of Wollongong each contributed 7 researchers.
University of Sydney Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Duncan Ivison said that they have “invested significantly” in their researchers, having launched various internal funding schemes to support the mentorship system for young researchers as well as funding for innovative research and infrastructure.
Since 2011, the University also noted that it has invested heavily in multidisciplinary research in a bid to create solutions for pressing and complex problems.
Part of a bigger picture
David Pendlebury, a Senior Citation Analyst at the Institution for Scientific Information, said the recognition and support for the HCRs also shows the importance of an institution’s – and even a country’s – plans for efficient and accelerated advancement.
“The Highly Cited Researchers list contributes to the identification of that small fraction of the researcher population that contributes disproportionately to extending the frontiers of knowledge,” he said.
“These researchers create gains for society, innovation and knowledge that make the world healthier, richer, more sustainable and more secure.”
The Federal Government, which has been announcing the approved research grants in tranches through the Australian Research Council and Discovery Early Career Research Award recently highlighted the need for Australian research output to have “real-world benefits.”