CERIT To Close It's Doors - PERMANENTLY - In December 2006

Notice of closure as emailed to CERIT clients, collaborators, friends and bulletin recipients

From:          Dr Chris Orton, Director CERIT, 10 October 2006

To:               All CERIT clients, collaborators, friends and bulletin recipients

Re:              Proposed Closure, Centre for Entomological Research & Insecticide Technology (CERIT) University of New South Wales.

 

Dear Colleagues,

It is with considerable sadness that I write to advise you that I have been instructed to put in place a plan to close CERIT at the earliest opportunity. Due to outstanding commitments to clients, effectively this means by the end of 2006.

Why has this become necessary ?

Most of you will be aware that government funding of Australian universities has declined in real terms over the past two decades. The finances of universities, including UNSW, now are under such pressure that extreme measures have had to be put in place to ensure that core activities can be maintained at an acceptable quality. One of these measures has been the introduction of 'space charges' which now are being levied against all Schools, Faculties, Centres and other units of UNSW. This measure transfers to these units, part of the infrastructure costs of the university. Schools and Faculties, being centrally funded by the federal government, deal with this (with increasing difficulty) by re-structuring their budgets. However for CERIT, which has to self-fund, this has resulted in a space charge of $132,000 per year for the foreseeable future which we would have to generate as new revenue. Being painfully aware of the perilous state of entomology in Australia and our limited means, but wishing to retain at least some of CERIT's present activities, my response to this situation was to offer to reduce CERIT's footprint by more than half and to direct the centre in an honorary capacity in the short term, in the hope of generating a new viable business plan in the longer term. However with further 'user-pays' charges to be considered, we still would face an additional annual charge of over $80,000 pa to keep the centre alive.

CERIT is one of the few UNSW centres which is focused entirely on industry linkage. In its 20 years of operation it has raised all of its direct costs (salaries, equipment, materials and operational overheads) through its research, training, quality management and other services provided to the urban and commercial pest management, animal health and associated industries. However the available business margin and the 'significant overheads' nature of CERIT activities have meant that its business plans never could cover all of its infrastructure costs (e.g. rent on space utilised, power, security, cleaning, etc). The point has been reached where UNSW can no longer bear these costs and unfortunately in the present economic climate, I am not confident of raising the level of recurrent funding needed to ensure CERIT's sustainability.

Achievements of CERIT

I am extremely proud of CERIT's achievements over the past 20 years. These have been made possible by the energetic, dedicated efforts of the present and past CERIT teams and I owe it to them to ensure that their hard work is acknowledged. Accordingly, I wish to share with you, some examples of the most significant contributions made by CERIT to the areas of Australian urban, commercial and animal health pest management - all thanks to the efforts of these fantastic people.

Since its inception in the mid-1980s CERIT has:

1. Carried out significant research programs which resulted in or contributed to (for example):

2. Developed over 30 insecticide efficacy testing protocols and assisted many companies in developing, testing, registering, QA-managing and fault-finding pest management products;

3. Developed numerous laboratory insect culturing methods and supplied live insects to a wide range of outside organizations for research, teaching, bio-security and other purposes;

4. Co-ordinated 10 annual industry briefing symposia on pertinent Australian urban & commercial pest management topics;

5. Co-ordinated for 3 years, the third-year UNSW undergraduate Biology unit 'Insect Diversity and Management'. This rated very highly in student feedback but sadly lost its funding in one of the many rounds of financial belt-tightening;

6. Raised significant, ongoing grant and industry funded research funds for UNSW which attracted government supplementation;

7. Established and implemented a protocol for analysis of insect adulteration of products and provided an independent analytical service for insect adulteration of products for the food and associated industries;

8. Assisted many companies to solve or plan to avoid, problems relating to insect infestations in industrial facilities, warehouses, food businesses and workplaces - in collaboration with other entomologists and pest managers;

9. Contributed to, supported, provided services to or chaired several industry committees and working parties (e.g. AEPMA, PestCert, industry insurers, ITAB);

10. Carried out several efficacy and safety reviews of insecticide products on behalf of the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority;

11. Wrote the quality criteria documents for Continuing Professional Development in urban and commercial pest management which were adopted by the PestCert industry accreditation scheme and the industry insurers. Currently CERIT acts as the principal appraisal body of CPD activities for the industry;

12. Provided entomological work experience and practical on-the-job training for more than 35 people;

13. Provided information or referred-on to other appropriate entomologists, many thousands of insect management enquiries (phone, email and mail) from the general public, industry and the media;

14. In July 2006, received an award from the industry accreditation body PestCert, "For outstanding contribution to the development and promotion of pest management industry professionalism".

15. And much more…….

What will be lost in the proposed closure of CERIT ?

The proposed closure of CERIT should be seen in the context of the current serious crisis in Australian entomology. I am advised by colleagues in other universities that it is no longer possible to undertake a degree providing comprehensive entomological training, anywhere in Australia * and that due to the small numbers of entomologists employed in Australian research institutions and universities, opportunities to undertake higher degrees in entomology now are severely limited. This means that, not only are we failing to cater for Australia's future needs for practicing entomologists to research and solve insect problems affecting our agriculture, health and bio-security but also we are failing to train the trainers badly needed by the urban and commercial pest management industry - which safeguards our quality of life and is our second line of defence in bio-security. It is ironic that on the day that the decision to close CERIT was communicated to me, Professor Max Whitten, Dr Jim Peacock (both former Chiefs of CSIRO Entomology) and Peter McGauran (Federal Minister for Agriculture - with responsibility for Australia's Quarantine) alerted the country to the fact that Australia's bio-security now faces a significant risk due to the lack of expertise in entomology and related areas.

Given the scarcity of available entomological training, the very few young Australian entomologists already in the system, the high probability of increased Australian insect problems accompanying global warming and recent serious incursions of insects with huge potential to threaten the quality of life of Australians (e.g. the Red Imported Fire Ant, the Yellow Crazy Ant and now the Electric Ant), the closing-down of any Australian entomological institution is pure madness!

Nevertheless, it is pertinent to examine some specific examples of what will be lost with the closure of CERIT. I have indicated with an asterisk, those examples where to the best of my knowledge, the service is either unavailable or of very restricted availability elsewhere in Australia:

1. New research programs relating to urban and commercial pest management, some of which are already in late stages of planning; *

2. Provision of live insects, particularly houseflies and blowflies, to other organizations - e.g. to Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service for bio-security testing, to companies for in-house product development and to educational institutions for teaching; *

3. Provision of CERIT Annual Industry Briefing Symposia, which have become the benchmark for Continuing Professional Development activities in the Australian urban and commercial pest management industry;  *

4. Provision of independent analysis & research services relating to insects adulterating product samples; *

5. A source of independent advice and referral to other information sources, for the general public, industry and the media on insecticide use and urban and commercial pest management;

6. Insect management product initiation and development advice, R&D services, Q-A and resistance analysis research, especially relating to urban and commercial insecticides; *

7. Independent advice and consulting services (provided in collaboration with pest management contractors) to companies wishing to overcome protracted insect pest infestations in manufacturing facilities, warehouses and workplaces;

8. A totally independent voice on urban and commercial pest management industry committees and working parties; *

9. A source of entomological research work experience for prospective new entomologists and pest managers interested in urban and commercial pest management; *

10. Facilities and expertise to rapidly screen chemical samples for several insecticidal modes of action. *

Potential for a Rescue Package for CERIT

Several people have asked about a potential rescue package for CERIT. From my knowledge of the financial situation at UNSW and after many months of working on the problem, while there is significant in-principle support, I do not believe that there is any chance of an internally-funded rescue. Our Faculty (Science) and School (Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences) both are under pressure from deficit budgets, so providing additional funding at the level of around K$80 per year is simply out of the question. As for external funding - I do not rate the potential highly here either, especially since the urban & commercial pest management industry peak body (AEPMA) and accreditation program (PestCert) both are working very hard to maintain financial sustainability. Also several recent attempts to identify other potential external CERIT funding have proved fruitless. However, I would be very happy to hear from anybody who can advise otherwise…….

Proposed program for CERIT closure

As you can imagine, the job of closing down a unit with a multitude of functions, that has been operating for over twenty years, is a complex one which will take months to complete. Also there are outstanding commitments to clients which need to be fulfilled. As I write this, I am assembling a closure program which still has to be finalised. However it is probable that CERIT's last day of business will be Friday December 15 so that any outstanding invoices can be transmitted to UNSW Admin for processing in the week before year end. If we supply insects or services to you, I would appreciate it if you could advise me at the earliest opportunity of any requirements from now until 15 December. Also, I would be happy to discuss with you, what prospects if any, exist for alternative supply after CERIT has closed.

Line of Accountability for CERIT

I have been asked by several people to indicate the line of accountability within UNSW for CERIT. This is as follows:

Senior entomologist directing CERIT Operations - Christopher J. Orton,  BSc.,  PhD.,  Director, CERIT, UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052, Phone (02) 9385 0347,  Email  c.orton@unsw.edu.au

Senior Faculty academic responsible for all UNSW Science activities - Professor Michael Archer, BA(MCL),  PhD., Dean, Faculty of Science, UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052, Phone  (02) 9385 7915,  Email  m.archer@unsw.edu.au

Senior university manager responsible for all UNSW Research activities - Professor Les D. Field,  PhD., DSc., FAAS, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052, Phone  (02) 9385 2700,  Email  l.field@unsw.edu.au

Future for CERIT team members

I have been asked also, about the future intentions of the CERIT team members. For the past year, the CERIT team has consisted of four persons. At this stage, I understand that their plans are:

David Lilly, Technical Officer - recently joined the staff of Eagle Pest Control as Technical Manager and is hopeful of pursuing a career in entomology.

Chris Virgona, Senior Visiting Fellow - has already activated his superannuation and expects to remain a Senior Visiting Fellow in the UNSW Faculty of Science but without laboratory facilities.

Patrick O'Rourke, Senior Technical Officer - still considering his future after he leaves CERIT in December.

Chris Orton, Director, - I intend to activate my superannuation and retain a connection to UNSW as a Senior Visiting Fellow in the Faculty of Science. I will continue to make whatever contribution I can, both to Australian entomology and the urban & commercial pest management industry. This will include continuing involvement in PestCert, AEPMA and ITAB NSW PMISC committees, some training projects, reviews for APVMA and limited consulting work. However I do not expect to have access to any laboratory facilities.

Regards,

Chris Orton

*  Reference: Entomological Education in the new millennium: will it go extinct ?

2005 Submission to Dept of Education, Science and Training by University of Queensland, School of Integrative Biology. Available at: http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/science_innovation/policy_issues_reviews/key_issues/setsa/submissions.htm                             <Click on the submission by University of Queensland, School of Integrative Biology>

[I have been informed that the situation at UQ has declined seriously even since this submission. UQ will dramatically reduce entomology subject offerings from 2007]

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Dr. C.J. Orton, Director                       

Centre for Entomological Research and Insecticide Technology (CERIT)        

C/- Biol. Earth & Envir. Sciences, UNSW SYDNEY  NSW 2052  AUSTRALIA

Phone:  +61 (2) 9385 0347   Fax:  +61 (2) 9385 0346  Mobile:  0407 850 347 

email: c.orton@unsw.edu.au     Website:  www.cerit.unsw.edu.au

Location: 2A Govett St Randwick NSW 2031  CRICOS Provider Code: 00098G  

CERIT is an Industry Linkage Centre of the University of New South Wales providing research and development, consulting and training services in insect pest management.

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