ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃ

Image: Kambri precinct at ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃ. Photo: ANU.

In an opinion piece for The Canberra Times, Vice-Chancellor Professor Genevieve Bell reflects on the University’s journey to financial sustainability, the challenges of recent change, and the opportunities ahead as we approach our 80th anniversary.

Image: Fenner Hall, Kambri, ANU. Photo: ANU

Yesterday we saw the Senate vote on four motions for the production of documents by ºÚÁÏÌìÌÖ with the Senate voting against the motions. This is new territory for us and the sector more broadly and I want to be very clear that we have all watched the overreach of politicians into daily operations of American universities and the consequences have been far reaching. Here in Australia, there are many appropriate mechanisms to request information (including briefings from the ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃand questions at Senate Estimates or committee hearings) and we encourage all members of Parliament to engage with these mechanisms. We also welcome direct engagement from Senators, Members of Parliament and the ACT Legislative Assembly and have met with many of our federal and local representatives.

Read more: VC’s update – open conversations 

Image: The large and abrupt changes unfolding in Antarctica are “interlinked” and have global climate ripple effects, especially for sea levels and ecosystems. Credit: /Unsplash

ANU-led research that found Antarctica is experiencing abrupt and potentially irreversible changes to the continent’s ice, ocean and ecosystems has generated widespread national and international coverage, including , , , and the .

The researchers say the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is at severe risk of collapse. They say its collapse would raise sea levels by more than three metres and would have “catastrophic consequences for generations to come”. 

The work was led by Dr Nerilie Abram, a former Professor of Climate Science at ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃwho is now the Chief Scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD).

“Rapid change has already been detected across Antarctica’s ice, oceans and ecosystems, and this is set to worsen with every fraction of a degree of global warming,” Dr Abram said.

Image: Is Pooh Bear’s Corner a ‘traversing shrine’? Photo: Toni Eagar/ANU

One of Australia’s most iconic roadside shrines can tell us a lot about the joy of journeying, ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃresearch reveals.

There’s a point on the road to Batemans Bay that every Canberran knows.

Known universally as Pooh Bear’s Corner, the site is wrapped in legend. Found on the side of a heart-thumping curve in the road, this local landmark along the Kings Highway is crowded with countless stuffed bears, tigers, rabbits and other forest friends. 

Image: The 4th Annual Tuckwell Alumni Reception, ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃPhoto: Gita Raikar

On Friday 22 August, we had the pleasure of welcoming our Tuckwell Alumni back to campus for the fourth annual Alumni Reception. The event brought together past Scholars, the Head of Scholars House, Program Director, Fellows and staff, as well as Scholars in their final semester preparing to graduate.

Monday 8 September – Saturday 20 September  

What do you get when you put calligraphy, dance, song, music, art, craft, wellbeing, sport and games together? An explosion of eclectic culture; a potpourri of interactive experiences; a multicultural festival with a difference…

Presenting the 2025 edition of Immersia: Engaging with Asia and the Pacific, all set to come to the stage on campus from 8 to 20 September (with a special pre-festival treat the week prior).

Everyone across ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃand the ACT is welcome – the festival is fun, free and full of experiences that engage with the cultures of Asia and the Pacific.

The ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃSchool of Culture, History & Language within the ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃCollege of Asia and the Pacific, look forward to hosting you this September. So come along and dive right into some culturally enriching and fun experiences!

Tuesday 2 September, 6-7pm 

Join acclaimed journalist-turned-novelist Michael Brissenden as he discusses his gripping new thriller, Dust, with bestselling crime writer Chris Hammer. Set in a drought-ravaged outback town, Dust is a dark, compelling story of corruption, betrayal, and survival at the edge of society. With a vote of thanks by Canberra author Karen Viggers, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of crime fiction and conversation.

Register here: Meet the author - Michael Brissenden

Wednesday 3 September 

Join Australia’s preeminent conference on Japan, bringing together leading experts to explore the critical developments shaping Japan’s future – from economic trends and the energy transition, to politics and foreign policy in an era of global uncertainty. 

Monday 8 September, 9am – Thursday 11 September, 7pm 

This conference celebrates the life and achievements of Emeritus Professor Rodney James Baxter 1940-2025. It will highlight Professor Baxter's extraordinary career and pioneering contributions to exactly solved models in statistical mechanics, which continue to inspire profound developments in key areas of mathematics and physics. 

Monday 15 September 

ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃSport, in partnership with Club Lime, is offering an Adult Learn to Swim short adult swimming course for students with limited water experience or confidence. Build skills and confidence in a supportive setting — learn a skill for life. 
 

The University is considering its response to the allegations made about the actions of some senior officers and employees of ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃduring testimony before the Senate hearing into the quality of governance at Australian higher education providers on 12 August 2025.

A letter is provided to all ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃstaff and students in relation to this matter.

Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) funds a range of services for all students.

These services support your physical, personal, cultural, educational and financial wellbeing. They range from clubs, sporting and social events, to employment assistance and study support. SSAF also partially funds the works of key ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃassociations like ANUSA, Woroni, ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃSport and ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃObserver.

Moving into 2025, We would love to hear your thoughts on the SSAF spending for 2025.  Watch real stories and short animations that expose common scam tricks, then explore simple steps to stay scam-smart and protect yourself and our community.

Image: ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃducks. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU

We’re hunting dripping taps, running toilets and other sneaky leaks across ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃfor World Water Week, which runs from 25-29 August. Every report can save thousands of litres, cut costs and reduce the carbon footprint of water treatment.

Take the Spot and Report a Water Leak challenge via the One Small Step x ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃplatform to earn points toward the 2025 ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃGreen Awards. Awards run until 31 October 2025, so there’s plenty of time to make every drop count.

The national Student Experience Survey (SES) is open until end of August. If you are eligible to participate, you will have received survey invitation and reminders from the Social Research Centre in your student inbox. By completing the survey, you will be entered into a weekly prize draw for the chance to win a $1,000 prepaid e-gift card. For terms and conditions, please visit .

The ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃStrategic and Defence Studies Centre, together with Girls Run the World (an initiative connecting women with diplomacy), has launched the first edition of Voices of the Future.

This publication, written by participants in the Women in Strategic Policy program, an ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃinitiative that provides training, mentorship, and publishing opportunities for women under 35 interested in defence, foreign policy, and national security, highlights the importance of building public understanding and support for AUKUS — the security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The publication offers practical recommendations for how young Australians can be more engaged in national security conversations – not just as future leaders, but as active contributors today.

Leadership in Practice goes beyond traditional leadership training. Informed by the latest neuroscience and neuroleadership, this practical, high-impact program helps you:

This is leadership from the inside out.

Information Technology Services (ITS) is reviewing the ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃService Desk portal and would value your feedback.

Your input will help identify what’s working, where the pain points are and how we can streamline processes to make the portal more user-friendly.

Please take a few minutes to complete the short survey by Tuesday 2 September.

The ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃDisability Research Network invites proposals for our second Disability Research Showcase, to be held on Monday 27 October, themed Disability Research in Conversation: Celebrating creativity, community and impact.

Open to all ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃstaff, students and affiliates working on disability (broadly defined). Formats include short talks, workshops, panels/roundtables and creative works. The Showcase spotlights highlights the diverse, creative and impactful work taking place across our University.

Submit an abstract of up to 250 words by COB Sunday 8 September 2025.

It is Scam Awareness Week from (25–29 August 2025), a time to learn what to do when a scam crosses your path.

Watch real stories and short animations that expose common scam tricks, then explore simple steps to stay scam-smart and protect yourself and our community.

is the national regulator of higher education in Australia, and is an independent agency established under the .

TEQSA is responsible for protecting the interests of students and the reputation and standing of Australian higher education. ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃregularly engages with TEQSA on individual and sector-wide matters. On 19 August ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃsubmitted a Self-Assurance Report to TEQSA as the first step in a compliance assessment.

The Report, including cover letter and original request from TEQSA are now published on the ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃwebsite.

Read more: Update on TEQSA compliance assessment

Two major international conferences are coming to Canberra in October 2025.

Canberra will host the Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction (ACII 2025) from 8–11 October and the ACM International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (ICMI 2025) from 13–17 October.

These conferences will bring together global leaders in computing, AI, human–computer interaction, affective computing, design, engineering and the humanities.

Early bird discounts are now available and group bundles can be arranged for teams interested in attending keynotes, workshops, the main conference, or a combination of both.

For more information: email josh.andres@anu.edu.au

Wi-Fi speed refers to how quickly your internet connection can upload and download data. Download speeds affect streaming and browsing, while upload speeds matter for video calls and file sharing. Think of it as the speed limit on a digital highway, determining how quickly your data travels.

Fast and reliable Wi-Fi is essential for our University community to collaborate and connect seamlessly.

Curious about your Wi-Fi speed?

If your Wi-Fi speed is consistency slow, view our top tips to enhance your experience.

Help is available if you need it. If you are dealing with a personal or university-related issue, ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃencourages you to seek support through the Student Safety and Wellbeing team by emailing student.wellbeing@anu.edu.au or calling 02 6125 2211, Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.

You can also visit our Urgent Support page for a list of 24/7 and crisis support options. 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃSecurity at (02) 6125 2249