Amid global disorder, the ANU National Security College is rising to the challenge of the times by providing a trusted platform for an authentically Australian national conversation on security, risk and resilience.

In March 2026, the college delivered three major and mutually-reinforcing initiatives, and launched the findings of the Community Consultations, a massive two-year project to understand what the diverse and dispersed Australian public actually thinks about security. 

Those findings provided the evidence base for the college's major biennial conference on 24-25 March, Securing our Future: A Ready and Resilient Australia. This proved a highly inclusive, democratic and respectful national conversation identifying opportunities for a truly whole-of-nation approach to security, cohesion and preparedness. 

With the Orion spacecraft scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego on Friday evening (USA time), ANU researchers are proud to have provided support to the Artemis II crew during their historical lunar mission, travelling further into space than anyone before.

The University’s Quantum Optical Ground Station (QOGS) at Mount Stromlo Observatory has performed incredibly as a test ground station for the Artemis II mission and has successfully received video from the Orion spacecraft. 

ANU Professor Francis Bennet, the Australian project lead for Artemis II, says:

"We were able to collaborate with NASA to build on complimentary skills. We appreciate the experts from NASA Glenn Research Center and Goddard Space Flight Center who joined us for weeks at a time to help us finalise our system testing, fine tune our optics and operate the extremely complex modem electronics. 

The project marks a culmination of work and applied research over many years with continued support throughout ANU. We are honoured to contribute to this historic mission and to showcase the University's capability to the world."

Professor Mark Polizzotto has won a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) award for his global study testing whether a daily tablet could replace chemotherapy for a cancer that kills up to half its patients in Africa. 

Professor Polizzotto, Clinical Director of Cancer Services at Canberra Health Services and Head of the Clinical Hub for Interventional Research (CHOIR) at ANU, received the David Cooper Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Award which recognises the highest-ranked clinical trial of the year. 

Watch a video recording of the Community Meeting held on Tuesday 24 March. The next Community Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 12 May.  

The University is carefully reviewing the findings of the Racism@Uni Report released in February and is committed to strengthening our prevention, reporting and response frameworks, and to being held accountable for the outcomes of our actions. 

The University has a Harmful Behaviours Disclosure tool that can link those that have experienced racism, or other harms, to information and support, or to provide the University with a record of the incident.  

Addressing racism requires sustained effort, cultural change and clear leadership. ANU remains committed to continuous improvement, open reporting and meaningful engagement with our community so that dignity, respect and inclusion are lived realities across our University. 

Congratulations to last week’s trivia winners, staff member Yiyi Zhao and student Ishani Kataria. Contact ANU Corporate Communications to collect your prize.   

This week’s trivia question is: When did Mount Stromlo Observatory become part of ANU?  

Put your knowledge of ANU history to the test and see if you can claim the title.   

The animated sci-fi comedy film, Hoppers, is a deceptively simple story that opens up complex ethical and scientific questions. 

Jerry (Jon Hamm), the mayor of Beaverton, has marked a forest glade for destruction, so commuters can save four minutes of drive time. The plan is environmentally assessed as feasible given no animals seem to live there. 

But Mabel (Piper Curda) fights to save the glade, using the newest technology to put her mind into an animatronic beaver robot. This allows her to communicate with the animals and coordinate their collective action. 

Dr Rebecca Lynne Hendershott, an ANU lecturer in Biological Anthropology, unpacks how the film reflects real scientific themes. 

What does the Middle East conflict mean for Australia and how instructive is the past in drawing parallels with the chaos of today?  Frank Bongiorno joins Mark Kenny to discuss this and the fallout for Australian politics.  

Registrations are now open for the 6th Professional Services Leadership Forum (PSLF) taking place on Thursday 16 April.  

The PSLF is sponsored by the Chief Operating Officer and delivered by a volunteer committee across the University, who are committed to building knowledge, capability and networks across professional service areas to support best practice and innovation.   

Find out more on the PSLF Team site.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing how we learn, teach and work. Your voice matters in shaping what comes next.  

ANU is partnering with the Digital Education Council, a global community for education innovation, to run the AI in Higher Education Survey in APAC (Asia-Pacific region). This short survey will gather your views on how AI is being used today and how it could transform teaching and learning in the future. 

Saturday 11 April, 10am-12pm 

Join Dr Rebecca Mayo and Professor Mitchell Whitelaw for a creative exploration of Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve. Discover local plant life through observation, hands-on art-making and digital tools, and engage with the living environment in new ways. 

Friday 17 April, 9am-3pm  

This symposium explores how digital tools are reshaping creative practice in glass and ceramics, examining the intersection of studio, industrial and engineering approaches. Consideration of Indigenous perspectives on technology and the role of material practices in building more sustainable futures will also be covered. 

Wednesday 22 April, 5-6.30pm  

Join Coral Bell School Professor Marcus Mietzner for the launch of his latest book on the former Indonesian president Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Professor Mietzner will be in conversation with Dr Eve Warburton, followed by an audience Q&A session.  

Thursday 23 April, 6-7pm  

Professor Matthew Rubery discusses the evolution of the audiobook, exploring the six pivotal phases of development. 

This lecture traces the audiobook’s development from the first experiments with recorded sound in 1877 to today’s smartphones and AI-generated voices.  

Candice Fox in conversation with Chris Hammer

Tuesday 14 April, 6–7pm

Susan Lever in conversation with Robert Hefner

Tuesday 21 April, 6–7pm

Media coverage can affect us in different ways. Support services are available for staff and students who may be impacted, and we encourage anyone needing support to reach out. 

ANU Sport is hosting Australian sports camps for their autumn program. Take advantage of a generous 30% discount for ANU staff by using code ANUAUT30 during checkout. Sports on offer include AFL, basketball, netball, rugby union and soccer. 

Every pill tells a story – some save lives, others fuel resistance. In A World of Resistance: India and the Global Antibiotic Crisis (Harvard, 2026), Professor Assa Doron (ANU School of Culture, History & Language) and Professor Alex Broom (University of Sydney) trace the movement of antibiotics across India, uncovering the intersecting pressures of medicine, markets and infrastructure that drive the rise and global spread of superbugs. 

How did you come to be at ANU? 

I first came to ANU as a Future Research Talent (FRT) scholar, which gave me a hands-on experience with the world-class facilities here, for three months. During that time, I literally fell in love with this amazing institution, always wanting to return, and within a year, I received the Maitri Scholarship, which brought me back to this amazing place to pursue my PhD. 

What are you most passionate about in your work? 

My entire project excites me; the whole idea of it gives me goosebumps each day. I work with small, nanoscale solid-state sensors, called nanopores, which I aim to use to develop a system that would detect biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease, years before the memories start fading; and that whole thought and purpose is what I'm most passionate about. 

What is your favourite spot on campus and why? 

While the whole campus awes me, my favourite spot would be the sunny banks of Sullivans Creek, the portion that you see as you walk from the South Oval to the Fellows Oval. The serenity there – amidst the bustle; with ducks quacking, and the sun hugging the bright green grass, in the backdrop of a breathtaking landscape, mesmerises me every single time. 

This week’s picture comes from Nicola Hall, post-graduate student in Masters of Applied Cybernetics.  

"This photo is special to me because it reminds me that the conditions do not always have to be perfect for me to keep growing!" 

Got a photo you’re proud of? Send in your picture using this form and include a short description about why your snap is special to you.  

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