Executive Dean’s Message - May 2022

Dear colleagues,

As we near the end of Semester 1, I would like to thank everyone for their amazing efforts and contribution to student learning so far this year. It has been a tough few months, with unprecedented weather events and ongoing uncertainty around teaching modes and budgets. Your commitment and resilience is applauded.

The outcome of the recent federal election brings with it some hope for the university sector. Notably this includes 20,000 additional university places and an aspiration to increase investment in research and development to three per cent of GDP. Policy statements indicate that science, technology, research and industry will be a priority, and propose the establishment of a $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund to support innovation and build capability and capacity in resources, agriculture, medical science, defence and renewables industries.

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of much-loved, former Director of the Gatton campus, Janelle Zahmel. Janelle was an incredible colleague and friend, who passionately advocated for UQ Gatton and she is going to be sincerely missed by so many around the campus and the wider UQ community. A public funeral will be held at 12.30pm on Saturday 4 June 2022 at Centenary Memorial Gardens, Wacol Station Road, Sumner. Further details will be in the Courier Mail and please remember UQ provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to access our confidential wellbeing and counselling service.

Last Thursday was National Sorry Day, and this week is National Reconciliation Week. These events provide an important opportunity for all of us to better understand the history of Indigenous people in Australia and to consider how we can contribute to achieving reconciliation. UQ is holding a number of events, including a display of First Nations artists at the UQ Art Museum. I encourage you to participate, and also to familiarise yourself with and contribute to UQ’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Some very big congratulations this month, including the award of a University Trailblazer to lead a new Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) project to boost commercialisation in the food and beverage industry, with a focus on regional development. This project will be supported by $50 million in government funding plus an additional $110 million in funding from a number of universities and industry partners. Well done to Melissa Fitzgerald (SAFS) and Neal Menzies (SAFS) for their contribution to the leadership of this significant achievement.

Congratulations also to Susanne Schmidt (SAFS) for a Special Commendation in the 2022 Australian Council of Graduate Research Awards for Excellence in Graduate Research Supervision. To Evelyn Deplazes (SCMB) for being awarded an Australasian Leadership Computing grant, and to staff who have been awarded UQ Global Strategy and Partner Seed Funding Scheme grants, including Risti Permani (SAFS) and Carissa Klein (SEES) and their colleagues.

Congratulations also to Andy Barnes (BIOL) for his inspiring radio interview on the sustainability and aquatic creatures and farming and Lachlan Bryant and Sarah Hamblin for securing industry sponsorships as part of the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarships program. And to our previous Associate Dean Academic and Professor of Astronomy, Michael Drinkwater (SMP), being appointed as an Emeritus Professor of The University of Queensland.

Nominations have recently opened for the 2022 UQ Awards for Excellence. Award categories are:

• Community (New in 2022)
• Innovation
• Service
• Reconciliation
• Diversity and inclusion
• Mental and physical health, safety and wellness
• Leadership

Please nominate your colleagues, so that they can be recognised for their outstanding work and contribution to UQ.

And a reminder that Faculty Board is on this Friday June 3 at 9am by Zoom. Please take a moment to register and join us for an update, launch of our new strategic plan and a consultation on how best to achieve on our shared strategic goals.

Kind regards,

Professor Melissa Brown
Executive Dean - Faculty of Science