November 10, 2021

Message to students - 10 November, 2021

Dear students, I hope this current exam and assessment period is proving successful for you all – no doubt all of your hard work and commitment over this past session will have served you well. And for those of you finished, I hope you’re enjoying some well-deserved down time.

Remembrance Day 

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day, marking the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18). We observe one minute’s silence at 11am in memory of the millions who have died or suffered during or after all wars and armed conflicts. We will remember them.

Scholarships at UOW 
A big congratulations to UOW student Bronte Johnson, recipient of the Jack Goldring Memorial Scholarship. Professor Jack Goldring was the founding Dean of UOW’s Law School and this scholarship is designed to honour and uphold Prof. Goldring’s commitment to social justice. I’d like to take this opportunity to remind all students of the scholarships available and to encourage you to apply if and when eligible.

UOW’s ground-breaking research 
Today The Australian announced 13 UOW researchers in their list of the 250 top researchers in Australia, via their Research Magazine for 2021. UOW was also named ‘Top research institution’ in the fields of: Electrochemistry, Nanotechnology, Materials Engineering, Manufacturing & Machinery, Humanities, Literature & Arts (general). I’m proud to say we have some incredible research and innovation happening across UOW all year round and I thought I would share a snapshot from the last few weeks alone!

• UOW’s Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS) received $2.44M in funding to enable fish-based livelihood innovation in the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. The project aims to address food distribution and increase access to safe and nutritional aquatic food.
• UOW researchers, Distinguished Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld and Dr Chris Degeling have been awarded a total of $1.5M in funding by the National Health and Medical Research Council to carry out their research. Professor Rozenfeld’s research will look at the side effects of radiation in cancer treatment, while Dr Degeling will focus on the societal impacts of COVID-19 in preparation for any future pandemics. 
• UOW Research Fellow Dr Marlene Longbottom was awarded an Indigenous Discovery Grant of $1.2m from Australian Research Council. The grant will help investigate how Indigenous community-controlled organisations in health, justice and child protection sectors develop and implement culturally grounded programs that improve the safety and wellbeing of young Indigenous people.
• Associate Professor Son Lam Phung, Senior Professor Salim Bouzerdoum, Dr Fok Hing Chi Tivive and several PhD students will be helping develop artificial intelligence for geospatial use, with $1.2m funding as part of the Federal Government’s program to strengthen Australia’s capabilities in this area. The project will aim to develop a machine learning tool that detects and classifies ocean vessels from satellite imagery. 
• Senior Professor Geoff Spinks was a winner in the Science Breakthroughs Of The Year category at the Falling Walls Science Summit for matching the performance of natural muscle in miniature surgical devices using artificial muscles created in the lab. 

National recycling week 
 
Finally, it is National Recycling Week! This awareness campaign was established by Planet Ark in 1996 and is held every year in the second week of November. Do you know all the ins and outs of recycling? Be sure to check out their recycling guide and continue doing your bit for the planet. 
 
The very best of luck with your remaining exams and assessments over the coming week. 

 
Trish