Australia’s Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers 2024

Nov 20, 2024

2 min read

This week, Clarivate released its list of Highly Cited Researchers 2024, recognising outstanding contributions to global research. While the Clarivate analysis includes worldwide data, here’s a snapshot of the Australian context, focusing on primary affiliations:

313 recognitions, 296 individuals: Several researchers are recognised in multiple ESI categories.
The University of Melbourne and The University of Queensland lead the country, tied with 39 recognitions each. However, UMelb has 39 distinct individuals, whereas UQ’s total includes 2 researchers recognised in two categories, leaving 37 distinct individuals.
Group of Eight (Go8): Australia's leading research universities account for 202 recognitions or 64.5% of the national total.
Combining the University of Adelaide (23 recognitions) and UniSA (4 recognitions) would place "Adelaide University" 4th nationally with 27 recognitions, surpassing standalone rankings (5th and =12th respectively).
Nearly 49% of Australia’s recognitions (152) are in the Cross-Field category.
Top ESI categories (excluding Cross-Field) are Clinical Medicine (17), Psychiatry and Psychology (16), Plant and Animal Science (14), Pharmacology and Toxicology (11), Materials Science (11), Engineering (11) and Environment and Ecology (10)

Why do Highly Cited Researchers matter? Citations are a vital metric of research influence, indicating how often a researcher’s work informs or shapes the work of others. These contributions are key to academic excellence and real-world impact. The Highly Cited Researchers list also contributes to institutional rankings like the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). This makes recognition not only a personal accolade but also a strategic asset for universities aiming to bolster their global standing.

Congratulations to all recognised researchers for driving Australia’s research impact and enhancing its global reputation! 👏

You can download my analysis here: