Dear colleagues
UNSW Open Day is one of the most anticipated events on our calendar. On Saturday, 6 September, we welcomed more than 40,000 visitors to our Kensington and Paddington campuses. The day was filled with energy, excitement and discovery as prospective students and their families explored what our world-class University has to offer. Thank you to everyone who generously gave their time and energy to help make Open Day such a resounding success. Your efforts helped bring our University to life and undoubtedly inspired future students to join our vibrant UNSW community. This was the first UNSW Open Day I have missed, unfortunately, as I was required to be in Japan. But even in Japan I heard from parents, potential students and colleagues about what a success Open Day was. Again, thank you!
Above and top: UNSW’s wonderful Yellow Shirts welcome potential students at UNSW Open Day 2025. Top: Kensington campus. Middle and bottom: Paddington campus.
A memorable start to T3
Above: International students get up close and personal with Australian wildlife during T3 O-Week.
Term 3 O-Week was filled with the same enthusiasm and energy as Open Day, as our volunteers and ambassadors warmly welcomed new students, offering guidance, support and valuable insights into life at UNSW.
More than 350 international students visited the International Student Welcome Centre during the week, where they had the opportunity to learn about the wide range of support services available across UNSW and take part in welcome activities. A visit from Taronga’s Zoomobile (pictured above) was a highlight!
The Buddy Up program, designed to help students connect with UNSW before even setting foot on campus, wrapped up with a lively celebration that brought together more than 180 mentors and mentees. Buddy Up is a pre-orientation peer mentoring initiative, piloted for more than 530 students arriving in T3. What a wonderful way to build friendships, grow their networks and gain confidence about university life before classes even begin.
Thank you to the Student Engagement Team within the Student Life Team (PVC Student Success), who through these and other initiatives are creating meaningful experiences and fostering a sense of belonging for our students.
Building a safe and inclusive UNSW community
Recent activities at protests, incidents and public discourse have caused distress for people in our University and broader communities. I want to reiterate in the strongest possible terms that racism has absolutely no place at our University. UNSW is committed to building a safe and inclusive community that actively encourages and supports the rich perspectives that cultural, linguistic and religious diversity bring to teaching, learning and research. We must all foster a culture that tackles and prevents racism, celebrates diversity and ensures everyone in our community feels safe, valued and respected. Professor Sarah Maddison is heading a taskforce aimed at accelerating and improving our approach to tackling racism at UNSW on behalf of the University Leadership Team. We will keep you informed as the taskforce provides recommendations to make our University a safer and more accepting place to be.
Our collective dedication to creating an environment free from discrimination, hate and prejudice is a continuous responsibility that each of us must uphold every day. Every member of our expansive and diverse community at UNSW is responsible for contributing to a culture of respect, inclusion and speaking up. Remember that if you want to speak up about something you have experienced that doesn’t feel right, you can report it via the SpeakUp portal.
AHRC Racism@Uni survey reminder
In August, an email was sent to all students and staff on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), inviting participation in its national ‘Racism@Uni’ survey. If you have not yet completed the survey and would like to participate, check your inbox for your unique link to the survey. Everyone’s voice matters. Whether you’ve experienced racism or not, your input will help shape a safer, more supportive environment for all.
The survey is part of the commission’s study into the prevalence and impact of racism at universities. Its findings will inform AHRC recommendations to the government and university sector to foster safe, respectful, inclusive university environments for students and staff.
Big Ideas in just three minutes
As VC, I am fortunate to attend many inspiring events, and the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) is a standout. I had the honour of once again being a judge at the competition, where 19 exceptional PhD candidates delivered powerful snapshots of their research – each in just three minutes. Congratulations to Tiana Wang from the Kirby Institute and UNSW Medicine & Health, who won the top prize with her compelling presentation on a potential ‘superhero drug’, an RNA-based nasal spray designed to combat the Human T cell Leukaemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1). Tiana’s creative use of a superhero narrative brought clarity and impact to complex science and left a lasting impression. She now goes on to represent UNSW at the Asia-Pacific 3MT Finals and the Universitas 21 global competition. Congratulations to Tiana and all this year’s finalists who wowed both the judges and audience with their innovation and passion. It was a truly awe-inspiring evening! Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.
Student volunteers shine
Above: Professor Attila Brungs, Leah Hill, Professor Sarah Maddison, Natalie Nickson and Professor Vlado Perkovic with award winners Zili Chen and William Nguyen at the Hearts & Hands Student Volunteer Awards.
It was a pleasure to join our awesome student volunteers at a special event last night to celebrate their remarkable contributions. Whether mentoring first-year students, leading initiatives, supporting events or donning the iconic Yellow Shirts to welcome thousands during O-Week, these student volunteers do an amazing job at building a sense of belonging and community. We have 40 peer mentoring programs across UNSW with more than 700 students who volunteer their time in these programs. These volunteers play a vital role in creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment across our campuses. What strikes me most is not only the time they give so generously, but the spirit in which they do it – with empathy, passion and a genuine commitment to others.
UNSW enters major agreement with OpenAI
In an exciting advancement for the responsible use of AI at UNSW, and following our successful trials, UNSW has entered a major agreement with OpenAI to roll out its ChatGPT Edu platform to staff.
I made this announcement at the UNSW Societal Impact of AI Symposium this morning. The agreement will enable researchers, educators and professional colleagues to harness advanced AI tools on a secure platform, to complement and enhance research and teaching activities, while protecting intellectual property. UNSW is committed to ensuring that the University takes a responsible approach in rolling out this, the largest ChatGPT Edu agreement in Australia.
This agreement will give our UNSW community access to secure, practical tools that can support their work, while ensuring they can be used responsibly and in line with our values.
As we introduce these technologies, our focus is on helping colleagues explore how AI can add value in teaching, research and operations, while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, privacy and academic integrity.
I encourage you to read more about the agreement on the Newsroom.
Eureka! Three UNSW researchers win prestigious science prizes
Three UNSW researchers have won 2025 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes. Dr Hasindu Gamaarachchi was awarded the Macquarie University Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher. The prize recognises his development of a new scalable, efficient and accessible computer processing system, allowing more people to unlock the potential of genomic sequencing. Dr Aaron Eger, who founded the Kelp Forest Alliance, was awarded the Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science. The Alliance unites 340 organisations across 25 countries, with the aim of protecting and restoring the world’s kelp forests. The Living Seawalls team, which includes UNSW Scientia Associate Professor Mariana Mayer Pinto, was awarded the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Eureka Prize for Environmental Research.
There’s a reason why these prestigious awards are dubbed the ‘Oscars of science’ – they recognise the best of the best in research excellence, innovation and leadership. These scientists have shown that they are not only leading but shaping and redefining the fields they work in. Their contributions exemplify the calibre of innovation and dedication that drives meaningful progress for all society. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.
Furthering innovation connections in Japan
Above: UNSW’s Professor Attila Brungs, Professor Stephen Rodda and Marisa Watanabe with Masayuki Adachi, President of Horiba; Shinya Sasaki, Production HQ and Biwa Factory Director; Ikuko Tsuda, Distribution and DX HQ Director.
Last week, Professor Stephen Rodda, PVC Industry and Innovation and I visited Japan to further our commitment of building global partnerships and networks, particularly focused on tech and innovation, to help deliver on our Progress for All strategy ambitions.
With UNSW’s Country Manager for Japan, Marisa Watanabe, we met with leaders of several major Japanese companies across Shiga, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. We also held discussions with the presidents of the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, each genuinely committed to drive and adopt innovation.
We identified areas for future collaboration and opportunity including health, aging, advanced materials, cyber, quantum and had a strong sustainability focus with decarbonisation, net zero, the circular economy, renewable energies, hydrogen, energy storage (including alternatives to lithium), and recycling (including solar panels and batteries).
Opportunities for significant research programs as well as the transfer of PhD students and colleagues between our countries, student internships for upskilling and student experience were also discussed.
A partner showcase hosted by the Australian Embassy in Tokyo provided an excellent platform to present UNSW’s commitment to working in Japan and with Japanese companies. It also underscored the Australian government’s support for what we are trying to achieve and how it aligns with national priorities.
I look forward to developing our connections in Japan as we work towards our mission to advance Progress for All globally.
There’s more to read Inside UNSW…
- Professor Mike Archer, head of the Vertebrate Palaeontology Laboratory at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), has received the 2025 Robert Etheridge Jr Medal from the Australasian Palaeontologists and the Australian Geological Society. The high honour recognises his lifetime contribution to Australasian palaeontology. Congratulations Mike!
- We have another fascinating staff profile in this edition of Inside UNSW. Travis Rice, UNSW’s Senior Manager Multimedia and Immersive Technology, is combining art and emerging technology to push creative boundaries and reimagine filmmaking in the age of AI.
- Have you completed the Insight Staff Engagement Survey? If not, there’s still time. The survey is open until Wednesday 24 September. Your voice matters. Every response helps us build a workplace where you can thrive and do your best work.
- In this edition of Inside UNSW, learn more about foreign government harassment, how to recognise it and what to do if you witness or experience it.
- UNSW Conduct & Integrity has recently published UNSW’s 2024 annual report on Student Conduct and Complaints which provides an insight into the incidence of plagiarism, breaches of the UNSW Code of Conduct and Values, and student complaints.
As we head into T3, I wish you all the very best
Attila
Professor Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor and President
- Log in to post comments