August 22, 2023

Message to students - 22 August, 2023

Dear Students, I hope you’re all well. Welcome to those of you who’ve just started Trimester 3, whether you are commencing or returning students. I hope you’ll embrace challenges as opportunities and approach your learning with energy.

National Science Week: Celebrating the joy of exploration 

National Science Week, Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology, brought a burst of excitement to our campuses last week, showcasing captivating research areas and promoting a diverse range of disciplines, from Lego robotics and reptile displays at Shoalhaven Campus to celebrating Aboriginal astronomy at UOW’s Science Space and STEM discussions at Wollongong Campus. I hope you had a chance to participate in one or many events. One of the highlights of the week was Professor Dana Bergstrom’s thought-provoking Allan Sefton Memorial Lecture, ‘Is Antarctic science worth the carbon miles?’, which was a potent reminder that as we explore the frontiers of knowledge, we must do so with a deep sense of responsibility and respect for our environment.  

Salute to our 3MT champions 

The annual 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition’s UOW final happened last week, and I was thrilled by the impressive efforts of our PhD candidates – it is no mean feat to condense your research into three minutes! This event has always been a highlight of UOW’s academic calendar and one of my favourites, as it shows our students’ dedication, creativity and passion for discovery and learning. The ability to present clear, concise and compelling oration is essential for all researchers. As we work to solve the challenging problems confronting our planet, we need more confident and articulate researchers so that our innovation and expert knowledge are communicated, understood and taken up. I commend all of the finalists – you have worked so hard to prepare for your presentations. A very special congratulations to Molly Kirkpatrick from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences (EIS), whose presentation on sensors in space secured her the top spot and a place in the 2023 Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition Final. Great job, Molly! Further salutes for the runner-up Cassandra Nikodijevic from the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health (SMAH), who was discussing whether eating nuts can lead to weight gain, and Yuwei Sun from the Faculty of Business and Law (BAL), who got a People’s Choice Award for delving into the person-organisation fit and misfit in China. 

Your voice shapes our path: Student Experience Survey 

Your insights have always guided our journey towards positive change. There’s still time to share your feedback in the Australian Government’s 2023 Student Experience survey, open until Sunday 27 August. Your feedback from previous years has helped us shape many things, including access to support services so that you can get the right help when you need it most. To access the survey, visit uow.info/ses or use the direct link in the email sent to your UOWMail. 

Wishing you all an inspiring and fulfilling learning journey ahead.

My best, 

Trish