Helping to train Australia’s next generation of researchers in the art of sharing their wisdom with the nation, the ABC has announced that in 2020, its TOP 5 scheme will be expanded to artists and arts scholars for the first time.
Applications for this year’s TOP 5 media residencies are now open for early-career researchers and practitioners in the arts and researchers in science and the humanities. Successful applicants will undertake a two-week residency at ABC RN with some of Australia’s best broadcasters, learning communication skills and developing content across radio, television and digital platforms.
The inaugural ABC TOP 5 Arts, in partnership with the University of Melbourne and the Australia Council for the Arts, is available to early-career graduate PhD arts scholars and graduate arts practitioners across the visual arts, performance, design, architecture and screen.
This year, ABC TOP 5 Science is offered in collaboration with new partner the Australian National University, which brings a wealth of experience in research engagement to the program, including through its Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. The Science program is available to PhD-qualified early career researchers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical research.
ABC TOP 5 Humanities, offered in partnership with the University of Sydney for the third year, is available to PhD-qualified early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences.
ABC Head of Specialist Aidan Laverty said the ABC TOP 5 program was essential to building the communication skills of future big thinkers. “The ABC is proud to give a voice to Australia’s brightest emerging arts minds, alongside our residencies in science and the humanities,” he said. “Audiences increasingly crave credible material and informed debate, particularly in this unsettling era of social isolation.”
“At a time when both the tertiary and arts sectors are struggling with the impact of COVID-19, we are excited to work with the University of Melbourne, Australia Council for the Arts, the University of Sydney and the Australian National University in enabling some of our brightest minds to share their knowledge and expertise on a mass scale. Expert voices and creative voices are more important now than ever,” said Mr Laverty.
Applications for the ABC TOP 5 in Science, the Humanities and the Arts are now open and close on 1 June 2020. For more information, including entry criteria and application forms, visit: www.abc.net.au for details.
Image: Giulio Saggin / ABC News