Dear staff,
As we reach the mid-point of the year, it might feel a little subdued on our campuses, but there’s still plenty of news to share from across the UQ community.
I’m pleased to report that UQ has jumped 7 places to be ranked 43rd in the latest QS World University Rankings that were released last week.
Also last week, the Federal Government announced that 2 UQ projects had received combined funding of $10.3 million through the MRFF’s National Critical Research Infrastructure initiative. The funding will be directed to: (1) enabling researchers at the Queensland Digital Health Centre to use machine learning to fight chronic diseases; and (2) establishing a new laboratory at UQ’s BASE Facility for the development of next generation mRNA vaccines and therapies.
In other great news, 6 UQ research teams were recently awarded $2.6 million in Round 2 of the 2022 ARC Linkage Projects scheme. This means that UQ topped the nation (along with UNSW) with 15 projects supported in the 2022 ARC Linkage scheme. I’d like to convey my congratulations and best wishes to the successful teams, who will now work in collaboration with their industry and community partners on a broad range of projects.
I’d also like to congratulate Professor James Ward, who recently won an award for outstanding research leadership at the 2023 Lowitja Institute Awards; as well as Associate Professor Joy Wolfram, who was a finalist in the Letten Prize, a prestigious Norwegian award for young researchers who are working on solving global challenges.
ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships 2023
We’ve received further wonderful news today with the ARC announcing that 4 UQ academics are among the 17 successful applicants, nationally, in the 2023 Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme. This means that UQ topped the nation in this prestigious scheme, in terms of both the number of Laureates, as well as total funding received ($12.8 million).
Congratulations to the successful UQ applicants – Professor Janeen Baxter, Professor Matthew Hornsey, Professor Yusuke Yamauchi and Professor Alpha Yap – on this very significant career achievement.
World Mining Congress
Last week, I delivered a keynote speech at the 26th World Mining Congress, here in Brisbane. This is the first time in its 65-year history that this significant global forum for the resources sector has ever been staged in Australia.
The University had a strong presence across the 4 days of the Congress, with our researchers delivering 40 presentations. Throughout, there was a consistent message about the importance of responsible and sustainable development of our critical minerals resources for the renewable energy technologies that will be needed to achieve the world’s net zero goals.
The Premier also launched Queensland’s Critical Minerals Strategy at the Congress, which sets out 4 key objectives to drive the responsible development of the state’s critical minerals sector. This important new strategy includes a commitment to work with UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute to develop a government-research alliance dedicated to critical minerals R&D and embedding circular economy thinking in the sector.
UQ official partner of Paralympics Australia
We also recently signed a new agreement that makes UQ the ‘Official Higher Education Partner’ of Paralympics Australia. This important new agreement will create opportunities for research, education, innovation, and community engagement that will be particularly valuable and impactful in the lead-up to Brisbane hosting the 2032 Paralympics.
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
You may recall that at the recent All Staff Forum, I discussed a proposal to change the name of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) to the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS). I’m pleased to report that this name change was endorsed at the UQ Senate meeting last week. The name change, which is designed to more accurately reflect the scope of offerings within the Faculty, came into effect on Saturday 1 July.
Two new Schools in the Faculty of Science
After a well-managed change process, I’m pleased to say that we have now officially established 2 new schools in the Faculty of Science – (1) the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, and (2) the School of the Environment – that will operate across both our St Lucia and Gatton campuses.
These 2 new schools will replace 3 previous schools: (1) the School of Biological Sciences; (2) the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences; and (3) the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
I would like to acknowledge the leadership of Professor Melissa Brown and Patrick Testa, and thank staff across the Faculty for their support as we’ve been managing the transition to this new school structure.
Consultation on an integrated Faculty of Health
As announced at the All Staff Forum, the Provost is chairing the consultation process to consider the merits of forming an integrated Faculty of Health that would combine the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.
I’d like to reaffirm that this will be a genuine consultation process, with the University leadership team eager to hear the views of staff, students, and other stakeholders. The consultation questions will be released later this week – and we will share further information about the consultation process in the coming weeks.
Celebrating Pride Month
Last Friday marked the end of Pride Month, a month in which we celebrate the rich diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community across Australia – and especially here at UQ.
I’m proud to say that the Progress Pride Flag now flies permanently over our three campuses, as a clear symbol of our commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, respect and inclusion that is free from harassment or discrimination. For those at St Lucia, we also lit up the iconic Forgan Smith Building, every night last week, in the colours of the Progress Pride Flag.
NAIDOC Week
This week we are celebrating NAIDOC Week at UQ with a program of events that is designed to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
I’m particularly looking forward to attending the inaugural UQ NAIDOC Week Keynote Lecture this Friday 7 July, featuring the eminent academic and intellectual, Professor Marcia Langton AO.
Congratulations to Professor Anita Heiss AM, who was a finalist in the 2023 National NAIDOC Week Awards, which were held on the weekend. Anita has become one of Australia’s most respected authors for her award-winning works and for helping young Indigenous people to tell their stories.
And on the topic of Indigenous achievement, congratulations also to the UQ Goorie Goannas who were crowned winners at the 2023 UniSport Indigenous National Titles held last week in Melbourne. This is the first time in the competition’s 27-year history that UQ has taken the title, which involves competitions across basketball, netball, touch football and volleyball.
Looking ahead
While it’s quiet on campus right now, we can expect to see increased activity over the coming weeks, with the St Lucia campus hosting 10 graduation ceremonies from 11 to 14 July. And then, the following week (17 to 21 July), will be Semester 2 Orientation Week.
I hope you have a wonderful week.
With best wishes
Debbie
