|
Director's Message
Dear Colleagues,
This week I wanted to draw your attention to an event taking place tomorrow as part of National Reconciliation Week. ANU is hosting the official Welcome to Country for the Canberra leg of the Walk for Truth, with a smoking ceremony at the ANU Scar Trees near Chifley Meadow from approximately 11:15 am. The walk is a national journey focused on truth-telling, healing and reconciliation, led by Travis Lovett, a Kerrupmara Gunditjmara man and Executive Director of the Centre for Truth Telling and Dialogue at the University of Melbourne. I will be walking and would love to see others there. Registration details can be found here.
This week's research highlight comes from the Department of Fundamental and Theoretical Physics. A new paper in Physica B: Condensed Matter by PhD student Yanzhi Guo and our Associate Director HDR, A/Prof Vanessa Robins, applies a mathematical tool called persistent homology to the challenge of quantifying structural order in disordered and quasi-crystalline systems. By analysing how geometric features appear and disappear across length scales in simulated particle configurations, the paper develops a framework for identifying the boundaries between short- and medium-range structural order that requires no predefined parameters and can in principle be applied across a wide range of condensed and soft matter systems. Congratulations to Yanzhi and Vanessa.
As always, we encourage everyone, especially our awesome HDR students, to submit their own work for a future research highlight here.
Speaking of supporting our HDR community, we are looking for one or two additional HDR Convenors to join the team. It is a rewarding school-wide role and expressions of interest will open again shortly.
Congratulations to Dr AJ Mitchell, who has been appointed as Academic Board's representative on the University Research Committee. As you might remember, AJ was re-elected to Academic Board earlier this year, and it is great to see him taking on this additional responsibility.
Finally, as you would have most likely seen the ARC has announced two additional rounds of existing schemes: Future Fellowships 2027 and the Industrial Transformation Research Program 2027.
Jodie. |
|
|
ANU Staff Card Printing And Collection
New and replacement staff cards will now be printed and collected from different locations.
New staff cards are printed and collected from the Provisioning Team at Chancelry 10B (Lower Ground Floor) by appointment.
Replacement cards are printed and collected from ANU Security in the Fulton Muir Building (Building 95). Staff can just drop-in.
For building access enquiries, please email security@anu.edu.au. » read more
|
|
|
Stardust Trapped In Antarctic Ice Reveals Solar System’s Past
|
|
Iron-60 discovery in Antarctic ice reveals: Local Interstellar Cloud leaves its mark.
Our Solar System is currently passing through the Local Interstellar Cloud, a region of highly diluted gas and dust between the stars. On its path, Earth continuously accumulates iron-60, a rare radioactive isotope of iron produced in stellar explosions. This has now been confirmed by an international research team through the analysis of Antarctic ice tens of thousands of years old. From the steady but time-varying influx, the researchers conclude that the radioactive isotope has been stored within the cloud since a long-past stellar explosion. » read more
|
|
|
|
Ideas On Tap | June 18
A night of big ideas and great conversations
Ideas on Tap is a relaxed, cross‑sector pitching and networking event bringing together researchers, manufacturers and industry organisations working at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2–5 across space, quantum and cyber. The event focuses on early‑to‑mid stage ideas with clear potential for collaboration, translation or commercial impact. This event is perfect for researchers, industry advocates and working professionals to meet and connect in a laid-back atmosphere.
Date: Mon 18 June 2026
Time: 4:30-6:30pm
Location: Work Club Two24 Bunda, 224 Bunda Street #Lvl 13
Register » read more
|
|
|
|
Defence Trailblazer | Commercialisation Bootcamp
As part of the DINAMIC Innovation Program from Defence Trailblazer, applications are now open for live Commercialisation bootcamps:
In-Person
Location: Canberra
Date: 10-11 June
Online
Location: Online
Date: 17-18 June
Format: 2-day intensive workshops
Cost: Free » read more
|
|
|
Tech For Sustainability Hackathon – Your Ideas In Energy, Environment, Social Sciences And Health
The Embassy of France in Australia is organising a Hackathon, titled 'Tech for Sustainability Hackathon – your ideas in energy, environment, social sciences and health', taking place at Adelaide University on 22–23 June 2026.
This two-day event will be organised in partnership with Adelaide University, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the French–Australian Laboratory for Human–Machine Teaming (the IRL Crossing), and offers a unique opportunity for young French and Australian researchers, regardless of their field of expertise, to develop a start-up proposal and create a new business or service over a relatively short period of time. The event will conclude with a conference dedicated to AI and sustainability and an awards ceremony and a networking session will then close the two-day Hackathon.
Applications close 1 June 2026
For more information please contact education.canberra-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr |
|
|
Call For Presenters - College of Science & Medicine 3MT Competition 2026
Take your research to the College, the University and the world!
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an international competition for HDR candidates to showcase their research.
Using plain language and with only a single PowerPoint slide, candidates have three minutes to present to a non-specialist audience on what their research is and why it is important.
3MT is a great opportunity for you to develop presentation skills that are crucial for your future careers, regardless of whether they are inside or outside of academia.
The winner of the CoSM 3MT competition will represent the College in the ANU 3MT final, and the ANU winner will go on to compete at the Asia-Pacific event, to be held at the University of Queensland.
Eligibility
To participate in this competition, please check if you meet the following criteria:
- You have completed your Confirmation of Candidature (CoC) or Thesis Proposal Review (TPR). If you are unsure, please contact our office on hdr.cosm@anu.edu.au.
- You haven't won the CoSM 3MT Competition in the past.
- You are available to present at the COSM 3MT event, Wednesday 25 June, 10.00–12.00pm, noting this is an in-person event and there is no option to present virtually.
It’s a great opportunity to showcase your thesis in just 3 minutes!
If you are interested in participating in this competition, please speak to your primary supervisor before registering your interest here. » read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation Day Public Holiday
Monday 1st June 2026 » read more
|
|
|
College Hot Desking In Physics
HR, RM & Finance Teams
Thursday Mornings
Lv2 Tearoom, Bldg 160 |
|
Staff Movements
Prof Greg Lane will be on leave from 11/5/26 until 29/5/26
Michaela Froehlich will be acting HoD during this time |
|
|
University Travel
- When booking travel for any type of University business, it is mandatory to use ATPI - » read more
|
|
|
Departmental seminars
Mr Xianming Meng - 2 June
New features in light diffraction at edges
» read more
|
|
|
Know your administrators...
Nikki Azzopardi, Belinda Barbour, & Petra Rickman » read more
|
|
|
|
Know your HDR Convenors...
Dr Michaela Froehlich
Dr Lilli Sun
HDR Convenors
A/Prof Vanessa Robins
Associate Director HDR |
|
|
|
Know your Student Reps...
Lingxiao Li, Lakshmi Raja, Jessica Wierbik, Sheil Sequeira, Luke Johnstone & Taskil Dastoor
hdrsreps.physics@anu.edu.au |
|
|
|
HR Support For CoSM SharePoint
The People and Culture division have re-aligned work within functional teams to improve consistency and quality of advice across the University. » read more
|
|
|
|
Free Flu Vaccinations
The University is committed to supporting staff health and wellbeing during the upcoming flu season. Free vaccinations are available this year, with three options to choose from:
1. On campus at the ANU Medical Centre (appointment bookings are available from 31 March 2026)
2. On campus at the ANU Pharmacy – book via the QR code on the Safety and Wellbeing webpage or attend as a walk-in
3. Off campus at a Terry White Chemist. Access the TWC voucher code in HORUS (valid until Friday 31 July) » read more
|
|
|
|
