We’re incredibly proud to see ANU expertise supporting humanity’s return to the moon.

Today’s successful launch marks a historic and exciting next chapter for human space exploration as the crew onboard the Orion spacecraft blast off to the moon.

It is the first time humanity has returned to the moon in more than 50 years and will send humans deeper into space than ever before.

ANU is proud to partner with NASA on this historic mission. The Quantum Optical Ground Station (QOGS) at Mount Stromlo Observatory will track, transmit and receive communications from the crew onboard Orion over the next 10 days.

Read more about how ANU is supporting the Artemis II mission at ANU Reporter. 

Congratulations to last week’s trivia winners, staff member Vivian Wong and student Vanessa Geidel. Contact ANU Corporate Communications to collect your prize.  

This week’s trivia question is: Which day in 1974 did Toad Hall open its doors? Hint: it is a popular day 

Put your knowledge to the test and see if you can claim the title.   

After five years behind scaffolding, University House is emerging restored and renewed, marking a major milestone in its return as the ceremonial heart of ANU. Following extensive heritage restoration after the 2020 hailstorms, this iconic mid-century building is preparing to reopen as part of the University’s 80th Anniversary celebrations in August. 

Staff and students are invited to get an early look inside University House through a series of guided tours. April tours are open exclusively to ANU staff and students, while May tours are available to a broader audience, including the wider ANU community. Places are limited and bookings are essential. 

Canberra’s autumn lineup offers festivals, sport, culture and relaxed weekend plans. 

Start with the National Folk Festival (2-6 April) for music and community vibes or head to the Easter Scavenger Hunt at Haig Park (5 April) for a fun outdoor activity. 

Get active at the Canberra Times Marathon Festival (11–12 April) or explore cultural events like VIVA Italia and Hallyu! The Korean Wave throughout the month. 

Sports fans can catch Raiders v Storm (17 April), while the Old Bus Depot Markets run every Sunday for a relaxed outing. The month concludes with the ANZAC Day Dawn Service (25 April). 

Find more details via Student Life ANU on Instagram or Events Canberra. 

The National Folk Festival officially kicks off this afternoon (Thursday 2 April), but music students at ANU are already enjoying a sneak preview of internationally acclaimed folk music.

Finnish folk trio T3HO has spent the week on the ANU campus in a creative residency made possible by a partnership between the National Folk Festival and the ANU School of Music.

T3HO members Esko Järvelä, Tero Hyväluoma and Antti Puumalainen have been leading workshops, mixed-ensemble rehearsals, creative technique sessions and a lecture-recital open to a wider student audience. 

Professor Christopher Sainsbury, Interim Head of School, said "The engagement with industry that the National Folk Festival and T3HO have provided has been a great enhancing experience for students."

The ANU+ volunteer fair connected students with a diverse range of organisations and causes they care about, highlighting how volunteering builds skills, connections and enhances wellbeing.

Explore the ANU+ program and start your volunteering journey today. 

Your Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a government-issued number required to graduate and access Commonwealth support (like HECS-HELP). If you haven’t set it up, do so now. It only takes a few minutes and helps avoid last-minute issues. 

If you receive an email about your USI from the Department of Education, check that your details match those on record at ANU, as small mismatches can cause delays. 

Once you have your USI, add it in ANUHub: 
NavBar > Menu > Personal Details > Unique Student Identifier 

If you need assistance or notice any discrepancies, Student Central can help. 

Quantum physicists at ANU have observed atoms entangled in motion. 

“It’s really weird for us to think that this is how the Universe works,” says Dr Sean Hodgman from the ANU Research School of Physics. “You can read about it in a textbook, but it’s really weird to think that a particle can be in two places at once.” 

Their experiment using helium atoms represents a major advancement over similar experiments using photons, which are particles of light. 

South Australia political junkies, Josh Sunman and Dr Emily Foley join Democracy Sausage to discuss the South Australian election wash-up and One Nation’s performance in it.  

Thursdays (23 April, 30 April, 7 May and 14 May) 
10am-12pm  

Want to strengthen your relationship with your supervisor? A new four-session, skills-based group program is opening soon.

Informed by Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), this program will help you build practical skills in communication, boundary-setting and conflict management, while maintaining positive relationships, both personally and professionally. You’ll learn to express your needs, manage conflict and stay aligned with your values, even under stress.

Sessions include discussion, reflection, short videos and mindfulness practices.

The group is facilitated by Sophie and Lou from the ANU Counselling Centre. Attendance across all four sessions is strongly recommended. 

Eligible domestic ANU School of Music graduates (Bachelor of Music or HDR completed within the past three years) working in jazz or contemporary practice as performers, composers or arrangers are encouraged to apply for the Niels Rosendahl Music Award, valued at up to $25,000. 

New entry deadline is Sunday 3 May  

This annual award provides financial support to a mature-age woman (25+) in her second year of full-time study of her first undergraduate degree who is experiencing personal disadvantage. It recognises students who demonstrate dedication to their studies while managing financial, personal or social challenges.

Entry deadline is Thursday 16 April.  

The 2026 Australian Good Design Awards are now open for entry, including the Next Gen (Under 30s) category. 

This free category is exclusively for Australian and New Zealand students and young designers (under 30) studying or practicing in design, architecture, fashion, engineering and other creative disciplines. Sponsored by RØDE, it offers cash prizes up to $20,000, providing emerging designers with recognition and a career boost.

Entry deadline is Friday 24 April.  

This travelling scholarship supports women undertaking a research master’s or doctoral degree to complete a short period of advanced research or coursework at an interstate or overseas institution. The scholarship aims to enhance the quality of research and academic development through funded study or research travel.

Entry deadline is Thursday 30 April.  

Can you trust the text, images and audio you see online? AI-generated content is getting harder to distinguish, and scammers are taking advantage of it. 

This AI-pril Fools Week (1-3 April), Cyber Sense is running a short campaign to highlight what to watch for and how to stay safe, whether content is AI-generated or not. 

Take part in daily quizzes (1-3 April) for a chance to win one of three coffee vouchers and a Cyber Sense tumbler. Each quiz completed earns you one entry (up to three entries in total).

OpenClaw is gaining attention for its powerful automation capabilities, but it also comes with serious security risks. Learn what it is, the risks involved, and how to stay safe. 

For broader cyber sense tips (including personal device use), follow @cybersenseanu on Instagram.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing how we learn, teach and work. Your voice matters in shaping what comes next. 

ANU is partnering with the Digital Education Council, a global community for education innovation, to run the AI in Higher Education Survey in APAC. This short survey will gather your views on how AI is being used today and how it could transform teaching and learning in the future.

Wednesday 8 April, 5.30–8pm  

Designed by the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) National Office's young professionals' team, Statecraft is a board game that adds fresh twists to classic strategy, challenging you to think, negotiate, and outplay your friends. 

Attendance is free for students and AIIA members. A limited number of free entries for young professionals are also available with code AIIAYOUTH2026. 

Sunday 12 April, 2–3.30pm  

The Drill Hall's 2026/27 lecture series, delivered by leading national and local art theorists, writers, artists, curators and academics, offers rich insights into visual art. Exploring topics from Yolŋu art and contemporary painting to global influences and local perspectives, the series is designed to inspire, stimulate and spark your creative and cultural passion.

Friday 13 April, 9.30am–5.30pm  

Young people’s voices, especially those of young women, are consistently underrepresented in the strategic and defence sectors, both in Australia and globally. Women in Strategic Policy (WISP) seeks to address this gap by increasing the participation of young women in Australian strategic and defence policy discussions.

Tuesday 14 April – Thursday 16 April, 9am-4.30pm   

The State of the Pacific (SotP) conference, is a biennially, flagship event of the Pacific Research Program. It highlights the Program’s active research partnerships and brings together scholars, policymakers, practitioners, business and community leaders and civil society representatives to address the region’s evolving challenges and emerging opportunities. 

Candice Fox in conversation with Chris Hammer

Tuesday 14 April, 6–7pm

Susan Lever in conversation with Robert Hefner

Tuesday 21 April, 6–7pm

The ANU Council Minutes for 18 February and 24 February are now available on the University’s website, following approval from ANU Council.

The Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Institute for First Nations Gender Justice is a world-first national asset based at ANU.  

On Wednesday 25 March, June Oscar AO, Chair of the Institute, launched the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan at Parliament House, saying “First Nations women are navigating trauma, holding families together, keeping culture alive and running youth hubs, healing centres and safe houses, often with little to no support from surrounding systems. The 2026–2030 Strategic Plan is our commitment to changing that.” 

Your commute can work for you on your time, at your pace and in your own way. Small changes can boost your wellbeing, cut costs and reduce petrol and diesel use. 

Discover practical tips and see how others in the community are incorporating low-emissions transport into their daily commute. 

Tucked away between Haydon-Allen and Copland Courtyard is a quiet little garden that most people walk straight past without ever noticing. The only way in is via a narrow dirt path winding through the bushes – easy to miss unless you’re looking for it. Once inside, the noise of the campus seems to disappear. It’s incredibly peaceful and sun-drenched for most of the day and feels almost hidden from the rest of the University. Perfect for a solo lunch, quiet reading or a moment of calm between classes or work.  

This secluded spot is a reminder that some of the best spaces at ANU are the ones you stumble upon by accident, offering moments of serenity for those willing to stray off the main paths. 

This week’s picture comes from Jessie Henderson, post-graduate student in archaeology.  

"I think the birdlife on campus is extremely underrated, and the magpies get a particularly bad rap. I’ve lived on campus for over four years now, and my best advice for first years is to take advantage of how quiet our campus is on Sundays. Sunday bird-watching walks have kept me sane during stressful periods of semester!"

Got a photo you’re proud of?  Send in your picture using this form and include a short description about why your snap is special to you.  

Help is available if you need it. If you are dealing with a personal or university-related issue, ANU encourages 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 ANU Security at (02) 6125 2249