Exams for thousands of students at ANU commenced on Thursday 30 May, running until Saturday 15 June. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Grady Venville reminds everyone in our community to respect the needs of students sitting exams.

Read the full message 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Lachlan Blackhall speaking at the ANU EV charger launch event (Image: Jack Fox/ANU)

Last week, six newly installed electric vehicle (EV) chargers were launched on campus near the School of Art and Design. At the launch event, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury announced a second round of ACT Government funding to support 39 new charging stations across Canberra, including four more chargers on the ANU campus later this year. 

The EV chargers represent one of many ways the University, through the ANU Below Zero Program, supports our community and the ACT in reducing our collective carbon footprint. With these additional chargers, ANU will have a total of 11 on campus, including its first charger located in the Geology Close carpark. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Lachlan Blackhall says, "electrifying and decarbonising our transportation system is one of the keyways we can address the existential challenges of climate change.”   

Read more

PhD candidate Rosie Georgelin | Photo: ANU Advancement

When athletic clothing retailer Lululemon recently unveiled its first jacket made from recycled polyester, ANU Industry PhD student Rosie Georgelin felt a sense of pride and excitement. Along with a team of scientists from ANU-backed start-up Samsara Eco, her name was on the patent for the revolutionary fabric used in the clothes.  

Her research focuses on optimising enzymes to break down plastic into its monomeric forms to be recycled into new plastics. She also works on developing chemoenzymatic upcycling methods to transform plastics into other useful chemicals. 

Read more 

Photo credit: Sarah Biggerstaff/ANU

ANU Library received a donation of 71 books from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines at a turnover ceremony held during Philippines-Australia Friendship Day on 22 May 2024. The generous donation enriches our existing collections on the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region, serving as invaluable resources for research and education.  

The Menzies Library houses the University’s Asian Pacific collection, including some very rare and unique materials. Ambassador of the Philippines, Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega says she is pleased that the donation will make Philippine publications available to a wider audience through the ANU Library. 

Read more 

Wednesday 5 June, 1.30-2.30pm 

Level A-C academics are invited to join the upcoming online town hall meeting with ANU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Lachlan Blackhall. Professor Blackhall will share his strategic vision for the Research and Innovation Portfolio at ANU. This session will provide a platform for dialogue, offering an opportunity to engage directly with the DVCRI and ask any questions you may have. 

Register now 

Wednesday 5 June, 5.30-7pm 

In August 2021, the Taliban violently took control of Afghanistan, causing a humanitarian crisis with collapsing state institutions, severe restrictions on women’s rights, mass civilian exodus and threats of genocide. Afghan academics in Australia quickly mobilised to raise awareness, influence humanitarian aid and refugee policies and evacuate vulnerable individuals. This panel explores how ongoing trauma affects these researchers and activists, impacting their experiences and shaping care-informed research and engagement practices.  

This panel is part of the Department of International Relations 75th Anniversary Public Lecture Series. 

Register now 

Tuesday 11 June, 5.30-7.30pm 

Enjoy a special free screening of Refugium (2021), a thought-provoking short film that delves into themes of climate justice, colonial disruption, apocalypse and intergenerational justice. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A session with lead artists on the film and ANU academics.  

Register now 

Thursday 13 June, 6-7pm 
 
Jennifer Rayner will be in conversation with John Uhr on her new book Climate Clangers: The Bad Ideas Blocking Real Action. It calls out three bad ideas that are blocking action on climate change at the speed and scale we need right now. 
 
Register now

Content warning: The contents of this notice contain references to sexual assault, harassment and violence. If this content causes you distress or impacts your wellbeing, please contact staff support services via the Employee Assistance Program.  

This month the University published its third annual report on Sexual Misconduct Reports and Disclosures. You can read the report on the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response webpage. 

With the release of this report, the University continues to meet the requirements of the Sexual Violence Prevention Strategy which outlines the University’s long-term, evidence-based and strategic approach to effectively prevent and respond to sexual violence.  

ANU acknowledges that the work being carried out in this space is ongoing and thanks the students in our community who have trusted us with their stories and continue to advocate for change. ANU also thanks the staff working in this challenging space for their hard work and dedication towards creating a safer and more respectful university environment. 

If you have enquiries related to this announcement, please direct them to Professor Grady Venville, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at dvc.academic@anu.edu.au. 

Chief Operating Officer 

This key executive role is now live. A key member of the University’s Strategic Leadership Group, and a trusted partner to the Vice-Chancellor and Provost, this is an exceptional opportunity for a senior leader to advance the University’s administrative and operational excellence. Applications close on 30 June 2024 with the selection process to be finalised towards the end of 2024. 

We would like to extend our gratitude to Chris Price for his exceptional work and leadership as interim COO, ensuring continuity for both the Portfolio and the University. We send our warmest wishes to Chris as he embarks on his new six-month adventure in Boston to assume his Kennedy Fellowship at Harvard in early July. 

Our deep thanks to Jonathan Churchill for assuming the role of Interim COO while our extensive search process is undertaken. 

Interim Director, ANU Communications and Engagement 

The University is pleased to announce Steven Fanner has been appointed Interim Director, ANU Communications and Engagement (ACE).   

Steven will be known to many in the community for his role as Head of Government Relations, leading the University’s Office of the Commonwealth and Government Relations (OCGR) since 2020. He has played a pivotal role in crafting political engagement strategies, overseeing the University’s interactions with government and political stakeholders and successfully forging closer and more strategic partnerships between the University and Commonwealth Government agencies. 

With over 20 years’ experience in senior corporate affairs roles spanning public affairs, media, communications, events management and regulatory and policy affairs, Steven is an outstanding choice to lead our ACE team of experts and communications professionals across the University. Under Steven’s leadership over the next ten months, ACE and OCGR will continue to foster critical relationships with our key stakeholders including government, and will ensure responsiveness to our community, championing our institutional values and showcasing our dedication to our students, staff and community. 

Are you new to teaching? The Exploring Learning and Teaching (ELT) program is designed specifically for anyone who is new to teaching in higher education or wanting to consolidate their teaching practice. ELT offers a practice-based learning experience with peers that covers topics such as digital technologies, lesson planning and delivering engaging lessons. 

Starting Monday 15 July, this course can be completed as a week-long intensive with daily sessions or a month-long program with weekly sessions.  

Learn more 

The ANU Strategic Learning and Teaching Grants program will open for its second round on Tuesday 4 June. Funded by the Department of Education through the National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) Program, the grants will continue to support innovative projects aligned to the University’s key strategic learning and teaching initiatives. 

Applications close Monday 5 August. 

Learn more 

Are you considering applying for academic promotion? Come along to an in-person or online drop-in session for expert advice on applying to levels B-E1. Choose the session that best suits you, from Wednesday 12 June to Wednesday 24 July.  

Applications close Wednesday 31 July. 

Learn more

The University’s new researcher profile and publication system Research Portal Plus (RP+) will go live on Friday 28 June. RP+ will empower our research community to showcase their expertise, increase research visibility and global collaboration.

Academic researchers can now log into RP+ and prepare their profiles ahead of time. Please email any questions to the RP+ project team at: researchportalplus.pmo@anu.edu.au.

RP+ is a key initiative of the ANU Digital Master Plan.