Executive Dean’s Message - October 2025
Dear colleagues,
As Semester 2 teaching draws to a close, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone in the Faculty of Science for their contribution to teaching. Whether you’re an academic in a school, a staff member in student admin, a laboratory coordinator or tutor, a learning designer, a farm attendant at Gatton or scientific officer at one of our research stations preparing for a field work activity, or one of the many other contributors to teaching in the Faculty of Science, thank you!
I’m looking forward to next week’s UQ Teaching and Learning Week (3-7 November), a time to reflect on and celebrate the dedication of our educators across the Faculty. Best wishes to all staff nominated for the UQ 2025 Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which will be announced on Monday 3 November and the Faculty of Science T&L Awards, which will be announced on Friday the 7 November. We look forward to recognising the creativity, care, and impact of our teaching community!
This month also brought a powerful reminder of the lifelong value of curiosity-driven science. Professor Richard Robson, from the University of Melbourne was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work on metal-organic frameworks, materials now being explored for energy storage, catalysis, and environmental applications. Remarkably, the day after the announcement, Professor Robson was back in the classroom, teaching a first-year chemistry tutorial! His story is a testament to the quiet power of a life spent in both research and teaching, and a reminder that blue-sky science - often pursued over decades - can lead to transformative breakthroughs. As we celebrate our own teachers and researchers, Professor Robson’s achievement is a timely reflection on the importance of long-term fundamental research, and the institutions like UQ that support it.
With the end of semester upon us, it’s also a great time to start thinking about a well-earned break. As a reminder, the University will close from 5pm on Wednesday 24 December and reopen on Monday 5 January. Staff are expected to take leave on 29, 30, and 31 December, with Friday 2 January gifted as a leave day for eligible staff. If you’re working during this period, please speak with your supervisor about arrangements. And if you’re taking time off, enjoy the rest and opportunity to recharge!
Congratulations
Congratulations to Sagadevan Mundree (AGFS) and Paul Young (SCMB) on their appointment as Fellows of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences (QAAS). QAAS promotes excellence across the arts and sciences, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and contributes independent scholarship to public policy. This recognises their outstanding leadership, research excellence, and contributions to science and society in Queensland and beyond.
Congratulations to Helen Ross (AGFS) who has been elected as a fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. A pioneer in human-environment relationships and policy, Helen was among the first social scientists to contribute to environmental management and sustainable development in Australia. Her election recognises a lifetime of impactful scholarship and leadership in interdisciplinary environmental research.
Congratulations to Craig Williams (SCMB) and colleagues who have been awarded an MRFF (Alcohol and Other Drugs) grant for the project Preclinical Evaluation of a Novel Analgesic to Improve Pain Relief for People with a Current or Past Opioid Use Disorder. Craig’s teams’ research addresses a significant unmet medical need by developing a strong painkiller with minimal misuse potential aimed at improving pain management for individuals with a history of opioid use. The project has the potential to deliver major clinical impact in Australia and globally and contribute meaningfully to efforts to curb the opioid crisis.
Congratulations to Alan Rowan, Director of AIBN, who has been appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) at the University of Wollongong, commencing in January 2026. Alan is a globally recognised research leader and ARC Laureate Fellow who has made significant contributions to UQ’s research strategy and the advancement of bioengineering and nanotechnology. We thank Alan for his leadership and impact across the University and for being such a great colleague of the Faculty of Science over the past 9 years.
Congratulations to all Faculty of Science staff nominated for a UQ Award for Excellence. This year, 91 nominations were received across seven categories, recognising 388 individuals and teams across the University. A special congratulations to Maggy Lord (SENV), winner in the Community category. Maggy has personally engaged more than 600 students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds through school outreach workshops, helping to reshape perceptions of university and inspire future pathways in STEM.
Congratulations to Qiaomin Chen (AGFS), who has been awarded funding through the UQ Global Partnerships Funding Scheme for the initiative AgriNext: Advancing Agriculture through Innovation and Partnership, in collaboration with Zhejiang University, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Huazhong Agricultural University. This award is part of Round Two of the UQ Global Partnerships Funding Scheme, which supports strategic international collaborations across UQ. In 2025, seven initiatives were selected, receiving a total of $100,000 in funding.
Congratulations to Science alumni recognised in the 2025 UQ Alumni Awards celebrated at the Courting the Greats event on Wednesday 22 October.
- Julia Spicer OAM (Bachelor of Environmental Management, 2001)
Winner of the Gatton Gold Medal, Julia was recognised for her contributions to regional development, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Her work has strengthened rural and remote communities across Australia and exemplifies the power of regional leadership.
- Professor Jeffrey Dunn AO (Bachelor of Science, 1980)
Winner of the Colleges' UQ Alumni Award, Professor Dunn is a global leader in cancer control and psycho-oncology, known for his pioneering work in patient-centred care and international advocacy.
- Anna Podolsky (Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Science, 2012)
Winner of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award, Anna was recognised for transforming Australia’s pet food industry through sustainable innovation. As founder and CEO of Lyka, she has led the delivery of over 90 million carbon-negative meals to dogs across Australia.
Events
This month, I was honoured to attend the Westpac Scholars Queensland Celebration event, bringing together the 2025 UQ Westpac Scholars and members of the W100 Scholars Network. The Westpac Scholars Trust supports 100 emerging leaders through scholarships valued at over $4 million, offering leadership development, mentoring, global experiences, and a vibrant national network.
I was also delighted to attend the annual conference of the Australian Council of Deans of Science who met at the ANU in Canberra last week. It was fantastic to hear from Australia’s new Chief Scientist, the Productivity commissioner, the CEO of the Australian Research Council, the Interim Chief Commissioner of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission and the President of the Australian Academy of Science amongst many other speakers. It was wonderful to get an update and ask questions about the many, many changes happening in our sector and also lovely to catch up with my counterparts in other universities.
Other news
A sincere thank you to our Finance Team, Heads of School, and Faculty colleagues for your efforts during another busy budget planning period. We greatly appreciate the time, care, and collaboration that has gone into preparing documentation and participating in budget meetings across our schools, academic portfolios and professional service areas.
I’m looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming Faculty of Science All Staff Forum on Tuesday 11 November. The agenda will include a brief update from me, followed by a panel discussion on the future of teaching and research in science, hosted by Karyn Johnson, ADA and SENV and Avril Robertson, ADA and SCMB. I hope you’ll join us in person or online, with afternoon tea to follow at each of our campuses and sites.
Kind regards,
Professor Melissa Brown
Executive Dean – Faculty of Science