Executive Dean's Message - February 2021
Dear colleagues,
It is wonderful that Semester 1 has commenced. It was great to virtually welcome new students and engage with some of their parents and friends during O-week last week. And this week it’s been great to see students back on campus, and a get a strong sense that they are delighted to be here.
Huge congratulations to Jack Wang from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, who has been awarded the honour of Australian University Teacher of the Year. The award recognises Jack’s outstanding and fun approaches to engaging coursework students and exciting them about microbiology. Well done Jack!
Congratulations also to Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop from the School of Mathematics and Physics, for being awarded the 2021 C. E. K. Meed Medal by the Optical Society of America, recognising Halina’s ground-breaking work on the transfer of optical angular momentum to particles, with applications in biomedicine.
Congratulations to Stephen Gillard the Manager, Student and Academic Administration, Faculty of Science, who has been appointed Manager of Examinations and Timetabling for UQ. This is great recognition of Steve’s outstanding knowledge, capabilities and professionalism, and an excellent appointment for UQ. For the Faculty and our schools however, this will be a big loss and a sad farewell to a highly respected and valued colleague.
A few weeks ago UQ held graduation ceremonies for students who completed their programs in 2020. It was a surreal experience after months of not being able to hold such events, but wonderful to celebrate the successes of our students.
Last Thursday, I had the enormous pleasure of celebrating the launch of the Australian Research Council-funded five-year project, ‘A Deadly Solution: Towards an Indigenous-led bushfood industry’, led by Melissa Fitzgerald and Dale Chapman (SAFS), at Gatton. The project is a collaboration between UQ and Indigenous Traditional Owners and Custodians, to develop and commercialise native bushfoods.
International Women’s Day is on Monday 8 March 2021 and I am delighted to welcome you to celebrate this with colleagues and friends from across UQ at an event led and hosted by the Queensland Brain Institute. The event includes a screening of a documentary Picture a Scientist followed by refreshments.
Details are as follows:
- Date: Friday the 12th of March
- Time: 12-2pm
- Location: Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland View Map
Please RSVP here.
On the topic of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, I am delighted to announce that Rebecca (Bec) Dunlop (SVS) has been appointed the new Chair of the Faculty of Science Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee, replacing Helen Ross (SAFS) who has transitioned to the role of Professor Emerita. Congratulations Bec and thank you Helen for your outstanding leadership and custodianship of this committee.
Please note that UQ’s COVID-19 restriction scenarios have been updated to ensure UQ is prepared to respond quickly and safely to changes in Queensland Government restrictions. The matrix provides guidance on the levels of restriction UQ may implement in response to Queensland Government COVID-19 directions. Please familiarise yourself with restriction levels, the impacts for your area of the University and be prepared to respond as required.
The Faculty Executive Committee is currently developing plans to spend our allocation of the previously noted additional research support funding from the Federal Government for 2021 and 2022, to address the impacts of COVID-19 on research in 2020. We look forward to announcing new opportunities shortly.
Kind regards,
Professor Melissa Brown
Executive Dean - Faculty of Science