Macquarie runners raise $7k for dementia research
A team of 35 runners turned out to raise money for dementia research at Macquarie at the recent Blackmores Sydney Running Festival. The Dementia Research Centre team raised $7453 this year, beating their previous best effort and placing at number 28 in the event’s list of charity fundraisers.
The youngest member of the team was just 16 months old, and the oldest was 73, with runners taking part in the Half Marathon, Bridge Run and Family Fun Run.
This was the first time since 2019 the BSRF had been held as an in-person event due to COVID restrictions, with the Macquarie team running their own courses in local streets in 2020 and 2021.
DRC Manager Amie Law said the team also raised awareness among the other runners and spectators with their “Help to Cure Dementia” t-shirts in Macquarie colours.
“We had complete strangers come up to us to thank us for running for dementia, or ask about our shirts,” Amie says.
“We were really pleased with the turnout on the day and we’d like to thank everyone who supported us or took part. Next year, we’re going to up the ante – we hope to fund a $30,000 PhD scholarship with our fundraising, so watch this space!”
The DRC also organised a barbecue on campus to mark Dementia Action Week (19-25 September), raising another $613.
Thanks to Kevin Kelly and his Hotel Services Team at Macquarie University Hospital for catering, and to everyone who bought a barbecue lunch on the day.
If you’d like to donate to the DRC, it’s not too late.
Pictured in feature image (L to R): Dr Fiona Bright and Dr Annika Hummel
Astronomy Open Night 2022: A stellar evening for the local community
After a two-year hiatus, the University’s Astronomy Open Night returned for an evening of intergalactic activities that engaged and entertained space aficionados of all ages on Saturday 17 September.
Fun and exciting activations took place throughout the event, which sold out its 2000 tickets a week beforehand.
Visitors enjoyed the clever scientific tricks in the physics magic show, took trips to telescope park to see the stars, attended a range of talks from Macquarie academics, students and industry experts, and drove interactive robots in the specialised robotics room. The Planetarium activation was a big hit with attendees, giving them a peek into the expanses of the universe.
Visitors also had full access to our on-campus observatory facility, utilising the University’s professional in-dome telescopes, guided by friendly staff.
This year’s event had it all and couldn’t have been possible without the support of colleagues across the Faculty and the University, as well as the 200 volunteers who helped out on the night.
Dr Lurion De Mello’s visit to Malaysia
Dr Lurion De Mello from the Department of Applied Finance recently visited Malaysia on an Education Malaysia Australia familiarisation trip. While there, he visited six universities and took part in a roundtable discussion attended by the Australian Ambassador to Malaysia and ministry of high education Malaysia. The trip focused on encouraging Australian students to spend more time in Malaysia, either on exchange or under the New Colombo Scholarship program.
While there, he also took part in the signing of the condolence book at the Australian embassy in Kuala Lumpur on the passing of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Macquarie hosts the National Chinese Eisteddfod Competition
With the support of the Faculty of Arts, Chinese Studies in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature (MCCALL) recently hosted the 2022 National Chinese Eisteddfod Competition, co-organised with the Chinese Language Education Council of NSW. 1500 students, aged 4-18, from 46 schools competed in poetry recital in Cantonese and Mandarin.
The major event brought more than 3000 visitors to the Wallumattagal Campus on the day, including The Hon. Scott Glynn Farlow MLC who represented the Minister for Multiculturalism to deliver an opening speech, with SBS (Cantonese and Mandarin) covering the event. Mr Farlow spoke on the importance of language learning and preserving cultural heritage in communities for NSW and Australia. He extended congratulations on behalf of the Hon. Mark Coure MP and Premier Dominic Perrottet.
Pictured (from L to R): Mr Lijun Wang (one of the adjudicators) , Ms Phoebe Alexander (the MC), The Hon. Scott Glynn Farlow MLC, Associate Professor Shirley Chan, Dr Jane Hanley, Mrs Jenny Chu (CLEC)
The NSW Equity Consortium (NEC) program comes to Macquarie
The Widening Participation Unit worked in partnership with Macquarie School of Education to deliver the NSW Equity Consortium (NEC) program. NEC is a collaboration between Macquarie University, UNSW, UTS, and five partner high schools, to engage students in ‘imagined futures’ ideation, within their English classrooms. Macquarie students were recruited as Equity Ambassadors, working in schools over five weeks. Macquarie’s NEC program engaged over 800 students from Bass High School, Bonnyrigg High School, Cabramatta High School, Prairiewood High School, and Punchbowl Boys’ High School.
The program concluded with University Experience Days (UED) on the 19, 20, and 21 September, giving students the chance to explore the Wallumattagal Campus and experience a taste of university life. UED activities included exciting presentations from HDR representatives from Macquarie’s four faculties, sports and activities facilitated by Campus Life with the help of the Macquarie Quidditch Team, and campus tours.
Macquarie Law School prize night
The Macquarie Law School recently held their annual prize night to officially recognise and celebrate the achievements of last year’s student cohort. The event was hosted on campus for the first time since 2019, with over 250 staff, students, sponsors and guests in attendance. This year’s event featured Professor Talal Yassine OAM as the special guest speaker, who is a Macquarie University alumnus and current Managing Director of Crescent Wealth.
First [EX]plore Conference a huge success for student engagement
The first [EX]plore Conference was held on campus on Monday 12 September, aiming to celebrate the research of year 12 school students doing HSC Extension Science. More than 200 delegates made up of school students and teachers from 25 different schools across the state attended, as well as representatives from NSW Department of Education and the Educations Standards Authority (NESA). Fourteen students gave talks, and another 45 students presented posters. During the day the students also toured our campus, experiencing real research in more than 20 research labs and facilities. The event was run by the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, ENGAGE outreach committee, the Faculty of Science and Engineering Outreach and Engagement Team, as well as Dr Paul Jaschke, Marilia Fernandes Erickson, Sally Hurst and Kristina Rhee from the School of Natural Sciences.
Pictured: NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte addressing students at the [EX]plore Conference.
The Great Book Swap
Macquarie hosted ‘The Great Book Swap’ from 6 to 8 September to raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) and commemorate Indigenous Literacy Day. There were stalls set up across Wallumattagal Campus at the Library, 18WW, and Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre. The goal of raising $1,000 was surpassed on the second day because of the generous donations received. Macquarie raised a total of $2,557.20.
The money will be used by the ILF to gift new, carefully chosen books to children in remote communities across the country. Thank you to the more than 20 student and staff volunteers who did shifts on the book swap stalls and thank you to all those who donated books before the event, your donations meant that many people were able to enjoy ‘new to you’ books. After the final day, all leftover books were donated to a Lifeline Book Depot that will redistribute the books to Lifeline shops.
Women in Sensing – The Rise of FemTech
The inaugural Women in Sensing event was held at Macquarie last month, in collaboration with the NSW Smart Sensing network. The Women in Sensing series focuses both on women in sensing – the researchers, entrepreneurs, founders and leaders driving innovation in smart sensing; and on sensing for women – sensing technologies that respond to the particular needs of women. The focus for this event was FemTech.
The event was opened by Professor Lucy Marshall, outgoing Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Engineering at UNSW and incoming Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering at Macquarie University. The opening address was followed by an expert panel of women researchers and entrepreneurs discussing a range of issues around the opportunities and challenges in FemTech and complex health issues faced by women.
Pictured (L to R): Dr Noushin Nasiri, Head of the NanoTech Laboratory, Macquarie University & NSSN Ambassador, Allira Hudson-Gofers, Principal and Practice Group Leader – Engineering and ICT Patents, Spruson & Ferguson (moderator), Dr Marlien Varnfield, Principal Research Scientist and Group Leader, CSIRO, Professor Bamini Gopinath, Cochlear Chair in Hearing and Health and Professor, Macquarie University Hearing, Dr Aleisha Davis, Chief Clinical Officer, The Shepherd Centre, Dr Melina Georgousakis, Founder, Franklin Women, Dr Rowena Mobbs, Specialist Clinician – Neurologist, Macquarie University Clinical Associates, Centre for Ageing, Cognition, and Wellbeing
Back to homepage