Dear students, I hope you’re enjoying your study recess and are taking this time to do what’s necessary for your personal exam and end of semester assignment prep. There’s no one-size fits all method, so be sure to take some time out if you need.
Achieving carbon neutrality by 2030
In exciting news, I’d like to congratulate all UOW students and staff for their commitment to achieving a sustainable and clean future for our communities. As of World Environment Day on 5 June, UOW has formally committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. The progress of the University’s commitment will be overseen by the Sustainable Futures Committee under the leadership of Professor Tim McCarthy. Over the past decade, UOW has reduced its carbon footprint through educational, engineering and purchasing improvements, but there is still much to do. I am absolutely delighted to see UOW moving forward in the right direction toward achieving a sustainable future, and we will proudly continue engaging with student advocates through the Student Advisory Council and industry partners to keep our 2030 net-zero commitment on track. We’ve also partnered with The University of Newcastle to transition our respective local regions toward lower carbon economies supported by an appropriately skilled workforce. I’m really excited to see what is possible in this space - let’s keep at it team!
Research and achievements roundup
It’s time for a research and achievements roundup. Here are just a few examples of the work and accomplishments coming out of UOW in recent weeks:
- UOW receives a $100,000 donation to support brain cancer research
- UOW study reveals the affect social determinants have on wellbeing in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Greatest Menace, a ground-breaking audio series co-produced by UOW academic, wins gold at New York Radio Festival
- UOW Researchers set to collaborate with more than 70 organisations to fight antimicrobial resistance
- UOW PhD graduate, Dr Jessie Posar was recently announced the recipient of the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering Scholar Gold Medal, with her thesis exploring the use of novel materials to monitor the bodies exposure to ionizing radiation during radiotherapy treatment
New affirmative consent laws
As a University community, we welcome with open arms NSW’s new affirmative consent laws which came into effect on 1 June. The new laws mean that a person does not consent to sexual activity unless they say or do something indicating their consent. We are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all members of our community and in response to student feedback, are moving to make the Consent Matters Module mandatory for all students from the second half of this year. This training is designed to help everyone understand what consent looks like and identify situations where it can’t be given. To find out more visit the Safe and Respectful Communities website.
Sending you all my warmest congratulations for getting this far through semester. The end is very much in sight! A quick reminder too about the fantastic exam prep week resources available to you.
My best,
Trish