The Nature Index of elite-journal publishing was buried in blather last week, as Australian universities talked up their performance on popular league tables. Understandably so, given many do not appear in the state of Nature, however the results are spun.
The Nature Index measures university staff contributions to 82 journals the compliers consider top quality.
The University of Queensland had the highest-profile performance, with the other members of the Group of Eight strongly represented. But the next tier of institutions is interesting, demonstrating areas of expertise, and/or research strategies delivering dividends. Notably performers include Macquarie U and the University of Wollongong on six lists, Curtin U on five and RMIT and Griffith U on four each.
All research organisations (unis, industry, government NGO, healthcare, not for profit) lists
All disciplines: the University of Queensland is number in Australia and 110th in the world. It is followed by Monash U (119), UNSW (130), UniMelbourne (158), ANU (178), UniSydney (228), UWA (347), CSIRO (372), UniAdelaide (389), UniWollongong (436) and Curtin U (489).
Chemistry: no Australian institution is in the global top 100. The local top ten (in descending order) is: Monash U, UNSW, UoQ, UniMelbourne, UniSydney, ANU, UniAdelaide, UniWollongong, RMIT and CSIRO.
Earth and environmental science: UNSW (44), ANU (53), UoQ (86) make the global top 100. The Australian first ten are: UNSW, ANU, CSIRO, UoQ, Curtin U, UniMelbourne, Monash, UTas, UWA and Macquarie.
Life sciences: The University of Queensland at 60 is the only Australian institution on the all-research organisations global 100. The rest of the local top ten are: UniMelbourne, Monash U, UniSydney, UNSW, ANU, UWA, Walter and Eliza Hall, James Cook U and the University of Adelaide.
Physical sciences: No Australian institutions in the world’s first 100. The national top ten is, ANU, UNSW, Monash U, UoQ, UniWollongong, UniSydney, UniMelbourne, UniAdelaide, Griffith U and UWA.
University-only lists
All disciplines: UoQ is first placed Australian university at 92nd in the world, followed by Monash (99), UNSW (108) UniMelbourne (131), ANU (148) UniSydney (186) UWA (279), UniAdelaide (310), UniWollongong (341), Curtin U (375), Macquarie U (398), Griffith U(403) UTas (425) and RMIT (457)
Chemistry: no Australian university is on the global top 100. The local top ten is, Monash U, UNSW, UoQ, UniMelbourne, UniSydney, ANU, UniAdelaide, UniWollongong, RMIT, Curtin U.
Earth and environmental science: UNSW (39), ANU (39) UoQ (62), Curtin U (99) make the global top 100. The rest of the local top ten is; UniMelb, Monash U, UTas, UWA, Macquarie U and Griffith U.
Life sciences: UoQ is ranked 49th in the world, followed by UniMelbourne at 89 and Monash at 91. The other seven in the best ten Australian institutions are, UniSydney, UNSW, ANU, UWA, James Cook U, UniAdelaide and Macquarie U.
Physical sciences: No Australian universities in the global 100. The top institutions in the country are: ANU, UNSW, Monash U, UoQ, UniWollongong, UniSydney, UniMelbourne, UniAdelaide, Griffith U and UWA.
Nature and Science journal-group
All institutions
The University of Queensland is 92 on the world top 100 for all institutions. The first Australian ten are UoQ, ANU, CSIRO, Monash U, UNSW, Macquarie U, UniofAdelaide, UWA, UniMelbourne, CSIRO Land and Water.
University only list
UoQ (61) and ANU (92) are in the global 100. The local leaders are: UoQ, ANU, Monash U, UNSW, Macquarie U, University of Adelaide, UWA, UniMelbourne, UniSydney, RMIT