Main image (l-r): Macquarie’s 2018 STEM superstars: Dr Devika Kamath, Dr Lizzy Lowe and Dr Kate Selway.

Macquarie’s STEM superstars named, smashing gender assumptions about scientists

Three Macquarie University academics from the Faculty of Science and Engineering have been named in 2018’s list of the superstars of STEM, announced last week by Science & Technology Australia (STA).

Macquarie’s superstars are Dr Devika Kamath, an astrophysicist, Dr Lizzy Lowe, an urban ecologist, and Dr Kate Selway, an Earth scientist.

Superstars of STEM aims to smash society’s gender assumptions about scientists and increase the public visibility of women in STEM.

“We need more young women taking up STEM in schools and universities so it’s fantastic to have these role models in STA’s Superstars of STEM program,” says Professor Barbara Messerle, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

To read more about the exciting announcement, click here.

Macquarie helps mark 200 years of light

(l-r): Michael Rampe and Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton, at the Macquarie Lighthouse birthday celebrations.

30 November marked the 200^th birthday of the Macquarie Lighthouse, an important heritage site that features on our own University’s crest and logo. Macquarie helped mark the occasion with the on-site launch of a unique digital resource – developed in partnership with the Sydney Harbour Trust – that uses ground breaking 3D technology to give virtual visitors a true-to-life sense of this historical icon.

Project leader Michael Rampe gives a fascinating insight into the project (including the drone footage of a secret tunnel entrance that made national news) in Teche, or follow the project’s progress in the video below.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Programs and Pathways) Sean Brawley also recently penned a piece for The Lighthouse on the rich history of the Macquarie Lighthouse.

Partnering for Success conference in Thailand

(l-r): Kevin Hwang, Endah Handini, Matthew Monkhouse, Nicole Brigg (Pro Vice-Chancellor, International), Hope Tancino and Simon Tran.

Macquarie International’s South East Asia and Eurasia team recently hosted a Partnering for Success conference in Thailand to bring together over thirty education partners in the region for two days of networking and presentations.

The program included a session from Professor Lan Snell on Future Challenges for Education (blended or F2F) and a session from Dr Abas Mirzaei on Building and Maintaining a Healthy Brand: Strategies for Success. A serious and hard-hitting program was complemented by early morning Yoga and a Master-Chef evening dinner where agents in mixed groups had to collaborate to prepare winning dishes.

SE Asia now accounts for over 18 per cent of Macquarie University’s international enrolments with over 500 students commencing each year from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

‘Vulnerability in policy and law’ workshop a huge success

Attendees of the ‘Victims, survivors, innocents? Exploring the mobilisation of vulnerability in policy and law’ workshop.

On Friday, 23 November, Dr Sonya Willis, Teresa Somes and Francesca Dominello from the Macquarie Law School and Dr Adele Garnier from History, Politics and International Relations hosted the ‘Victims, survivors, innocents? Exploring the mobilisation of vulnerability in policy and law’ workshop. The event was a huge success and was well-attended by staff across a number of departments in the Faculty of Arts.

Associate Professor Susan Goodwin, a sociologist from the University of Sydney, delivered a thought-provoking keynote address, ‘What does ‘vulnerability’ do? Problematising ‘vulnerability’ as a key word in contemporary policy and practice’. This set the tone for the workshop as participants critically explored the notion of vulnerability and whether it has or could be mobilised to promote social justice in law and policy.

Funding for the event was through the Faculty of Arts, Ethics, Governance and Justice Research Stream. The organisers would like to thank Head of Sociology, Professor Gabrielle Meagher and Associate Dean of Research, Professor Catriona Mackenzie for their support in organising the event. Special thanks also to colleagues across the Faculty of Arts who in presenting and/or attending the workshop helped make it a success. The Vulnerability stream is an emerging research group in the Faculty of Arts. If you wish to know more and express interest in this area, please don’t hesitate to contact the organisers; Francesca Dominello; Dr Adele Garnier; Teresa Somes; and Dr Sonya Willis.

Australasian Actuarial Education and Research Symposium

Some of the action from the two-day Australasian Actuarial Education and Research Symposium.

On 5-6 December Macquarie hosted the Australasian Actuarial Education and Research Symposium (AAERS), one of the major conferences that brings together researchers, teachers and postgraduate students engaged in actuarial science and insurance.

Professor David Pitt, Head of our Department of Actuarial Studies and Business Analytics, says: “It has been wonderful for Macquarie to host this year’s Australasian Actuarial Education and Research Symposium 10 years after we hosted the inaugural AAER Symposium back in 2008. With 2018 marking 50 years of actuarial programs at the University, the symposium has been an excellent part of the celebrations.”

Target Zero: Zero Carbon, Zero Pollution, Zero Waste

Target Zero: Zero Carbon, Zero Pollution, Zero Waste conference keynote speaker Craig Reucassel, from the ABC’s War on Waste series, addresses the delegates.

Craig Reucassel, from the ABC’s War on Waste, was the keynote speaker at the Target Zero: Zero Carbon, Zero Pollution, Zero Waste conference held at our City Campus on 6-7 December.

The conference was organised by our Centre for Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Finance, and addressed some of the world’s most pressing environmental and social problems. Speakers from Macquarie included Centre Director Professor Martina Linnenluecke, Dan Daugaard, Professor Tom Smith and Professor Stefan Trueck.

Macquarie brings quantum technologies and physics research to high school students

(l-r): Jemy Geordy, Thomas Guff, Reece Roberts, Matt Van Breugel, Lachlan Rogers, Sarath Raman Nair.

Macquarie University staff and students recently brought the excitement of quantum technologies and physics research to high school students across the country who are considering studying physics.

Driving from Sydney to Perth and back on a coast-to-coast adventure, the Macquarie representatives visited schools and regional communities along the way.

Students were able to zoom into and measure individual atoms inside a diamond, get a virtual tour of the physics lab, and learn about what it’s like to work as a physicist. From bio-imaging to banking, emerging quantum technologies have the potential to transform many industries, and the scientists were excited to share this cutting-edge technology with the students.