Executive Dean’s Message - December 2022

Dear colleagues,

Warmest wishes for the upcoming festive season and all the best for 2023. A huge thank you to everyone across the Faculty of Science for your amazing contribution to the University of Queensland this year!

As you will be aware, the Faculty of Science has been undertaking a project referred to as the Distribution of Disciplines Project. The aim of the project was to reduce fragmentation and overlaps of disciplines, duplication and competition for students, and uneven distribution of student EFTSL and budgets. This project has involved streamlining of teaching in the broad area of environmental science and consideration of options for structural change. After extensive consultation with staff and UQ leadership, a Final Organizational Change Paper has been developed. This document outlines the establishment of two new Schools within the Faculty of Science: the School of The Environment and the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, replacing the School of Biological Sciences, the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. This change has now been approved by the Vice-Chancellor and implementation will commence in 2023. We encourage everyone to visit Sharepoint and read the Final Organizational Change Paper if they would like further information.

As you may recall, our Associate Dean Academic, Susan Rowland, has been appointed as the new Vice-Provost at The University of Sydney and will be leaving UQ in February. The faculty is currently seeking its next Associate Dean Academic and I encourage staff with a passion for teaching and learning and academic leadership to consider applying. Applications are now open until 11pm AEDT on Sunday 29 January. You will find full details on the role via Workday. I am very happy to discuss this role with interested candidates and can be contacted via email in the first instance.

Congratulations to Professor Jenny Seddon, Associate Dean Research, who has been appointed as the new Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research at James Cook University.

Jenny’s contribution to UQ cannot be understated. As Associate Dean Research, Jenny has overseen an increase in industry partnered research funding, instituted a suite of researcher development training, established the ScienceLink EMCA mentoring program, and led a project on the future directions of partnered research in the Faculty of Science. She led the successful Science with Impact seed funding scheme, established the Covid Research Recovery Funding and was instrumental in several strategic funding and RSP funding applications. She has led units through periods of change, including Science Contracts and the closure of Gatton Piggery. Jenny has been an active mentor, supporter and coach of early-mid career academics, Deputy ADRs and Centre Directors. Jenny has also been an accomplished T&R academic in the School of Veterinary Science since 2004, including a period as Deputy Head of School, playing a leading role in the successful accreditation in 2018, and leading a veterinary education twinning project in Vietnam. Her research has established her with an international reputation when it comes to the use of genetic tools to address ecological questions in support of the conservation of wildlife. Her passion for quality student-centred veterinary education is sure to have left an indelible mark on many students. As DVCR at JCU, Jenny will provide strategic leadership of the research division as a key member of the university’s executive, including building strategic alliances and partnerships, and advancing the profile of the university.

Jenny will be finishing at UQ in mid-March 2023 to take up her appointment at JCU in mid-April. The UQ DVCRI and I will commence a process for appointing the next Associate Dean Research and interim arrangements will be determined in the new year.

Thanks again and enjoy a well-deserved break.

Kind regards,

Professor Melissa Brown
Executive Dean - Faculty of Science