Executive Dean’s Message - July 2021

Doesn’t the St Lucia campus look fabulous now that students are back for Semester 2? Many of the building barriers have gone, and final preparations are in place for Open Day on Sunday. Thanks to everyone for their hard work in preparing for Semester 2 and Open Day, and thanks in advance to the 100+ staff from the Faculty of Science who will be engaging with prospective students on Sunday.

Our Gatton Campus is also looking amazing and was in full swing yesterday, hosting the UQ Senior Executive Team and a visit from the State Development and Regional Industries Committee. We were treated to fabulous in-field presentations by researchers from SAFS, SVS and QAAFI, and were bowled away with the impact stories and also how much the campus has developed since previous delegations have visited. Sincere thanks to our fabulous engagement team who pulled everything together. Open Day for the Gatton Campus is on 15 August and preparations are well underway. Thanks to everyone involved in this event also.

Congratulations to Andrew White (SMP), who has been awarded a highly prestigious ARC Laureate Fellowship to develop artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, using Australia’s substantial investment in quantum technologies to bypass traditional approaches to AI. Well done, Andrew!

Congratulations also to Gwen Lawrie (SCMB) and colleagues for their publication entitled: 'Teaching changes due to COVID-19: UQ survey results and case studies'. A fascinating read and some excellent recommendations! Congratulations also to Amelia Wenger (SEES), who has been announced as a candidate for the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability 2021 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award for her work modelling the impacts of water pollutants to reduce pollution. To Fabio Costa (SMP) was among 12 Queensland scientists honoured at 2021's Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. And to Christina Zdenek (BIOL) who has been named as one of Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s top 5 emerging thinkers and communicators and will be undertaking a two-week media residency program with the ABC.

I am delighted to announce that Robbie Wilson (BIOL) has been appointed to the role of Academic Director, Hidden Vale Research Station (HVRS). HVRS is a distinguished teaching, research and community engagement facility incorporating the 4,500 ha Hidden Vale property at Grandchester in South East Queensland, developed as a partnership between UQ and the Turner Family Foundation, and that will soon return to be a Faculty of Science facility. In his new role, Robbie will lead, coordinate, facilitate and enhance outstanding teaching, research and outreach activities at HVRS, in partnership with the Turner Family Foundation, local and state governments, industry and community, and non-government and philanthropic organisations.

Thanks to the hundreds of Faculty of Science staff who contributed to the UQ Strategy Jam, to inform the development of UQ’s next Strategic Plan, through multiple events on online forums. An enormous number of fabulous suggestions were received and considered at the UQ Senior Executive retreat and the VC’s Senior Management retreat this month, where great progress was made in identifying priorities and goals for 2022 to 2025. Stay tuned for further announcements on this as the Strategic Plan takes shape.

All the best for a great Semester 2!

Kind regards,

Professor Melissa Brown
Executive Dean