How did an empty field in Acton become Australia's national university? ANU80, the new exhibition from ANU Archives, marks 80 years of ANU through records, photographs and plans. It features the people who shaped it, from Nobel laureates to pioneering women and generations of students.  

On display in the RSSS Building foyer until the end of 2026. 

ANU Chancellor Dr Gordon de Brouwer will join our next Community Meeting with the Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebekah Brown on Tuesday 13 October from 1–2.30pm in The Hall, University House.  

This is an opportunity to hear from the Chancellor and Interim Vice-Chancellor and ask questions. Lunch will be provided. 

Congratulations to two ANU researchers recognised among the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) 2026 New Fellows. 

Professor Dasgupta, Director of ANU Heavy Ion Accelerators, is recognised for her work in advancing nuclear science and research. 

Professor Fu, Head of the Department of Electronic Materials Engineering at ANU, is recognised for her contributions to cutting-edge materials science. 

Congratulations to Professor Toni Erskine from the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, who has been awarded the 2026 Jeffrey Grey Distinguished Chair at the Australian War College. 

Professor Erskine is the first Australia-based scholar to receive the honour and was selected for her leading work on AI in the military domain. 

As part of the role, she will engage with Defence and Australian Government audiences and deliver the 2026 Grey Oration on 22 October, exploring the growing role of AI in strategic decision-making during war.

As ANU staff, we all have a part to play in helping students thrive. But when a student is struggling to afford the essentials, focusing on study can be difficult.

To mark 80 years of ANU, we’re aiming to raise $80,000 for the ANU Student Urgent Relief Fund, helping students access food, medicine and safe accommodation during unexpected financial hardship. 

If you’d like to contribute, a one-off donation or workplace giving contribution can help students meet essential costs and continue their education. 

ANU researchers have engineered new optical coatings for LIGO, the global collaboration hunting gravitational waves from colliding black holes and neutron stars.   

The team developed ultra-precise optical coatings for LIGO’s specialised beamsplitters, helping improve the observatory’s ability to detect faint gravitational waves from across the universe. 

“We spent three years on very challenging research and development and put our heart and soul into building these optics,” said Professor Steve Madden from the Research School of Physics.  

“We really want to see this Australian contribution produce great results for international science.” 

We recently welcomed Fijian Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo and senior Fijian delegates to ANU to discuss Indigenous land rights and mining, and share relevant Australian experience.

The meeting explored the social, cultural and economic impacts of mining across its lifecycle, as well as how new technologies, research methodologies and data sovereignty can help build and empower resilient communities. 

Why has ancient Hindu poem, the Ramayana, endured across cultures for centuries? 

ANU Associate Professor Chaitanya Sambrani joins artists Savanhdary Vongpoothorn and Alfira O’Sullivan to explore how the ancient epic continues to shape art, culture and traditions across Asia.

Recorded at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the conversation accompanies the exhibition Avatar: Forms of Vishnu, co-curated by Associate Professor Sambrani and Melanie Eastburn. 

Immigration needs to be placed at the centre of Australia’s national story, according to economist, author and former senior public servant Mark Cully. 

Cully, a Visiting Fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy, discussed his new book, Waves of Plenty: Immigration and the Making of Australia, at a recent ANU Meet the Author event convened at the University. 

He was joined in conversation by Professor Alan Gamlen to reflect on the experiences of migrant families, the connections that help people settle, and the ways migration has changed everyday life. 

Since introducing monthly leave reminders, we’ve been sharing regular updates on the University's annual leave balances and encouraging staff to take regular breaks. In September 2026, the University’s annual leave liability was $49 million, up $1.2 million from August 2026 and $2.2 million higher than at the same time last year. 

If your leave balance is growing, now could be a good time to start planning your next break. Taking regular leave helps support a healthy work-life balance and gives you time to switch off and recharge. 

Check the ANU Enterprise Agreement to understand your leave entitlements and make the most of your leave. 

Vice-President (Advancement and Engagement) 

Applications are now open for the Vice-President (Advancement and Engagement).   
Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and working closely with the Chancellor, the Vice-President serves as a member of the University Executive Committee and provides strategic leadership across philanthropy, alumni engagement, government relations, strategic and executive communications, media, events and brand.  

Applications close Sunday 25 October, 11.55pm AEDT 

Thanks to all the staff and students who stepped and pedalled with us for Get Active ANU month during September. 

Congratulations to our final week winners: Faliq Nafi, Megan Gim, Athena Presto & Sara Toyoda.  

On a roll and want to keep it up? You can still join a free bike maintenance workshop at Mojo Cycles at 12pm Wednesday 7 October. The session covers bike maintenance basics including brakes, tyres, chains, and what to check before you ride. Spots are limited, so register today.  

Put your strength to the test at ANU Sport’s annual powerlifting meet on Saturday 17 October.  

Whether you’re looking to set a personal best, sharpen your technique or support your mates, the event is a chance to get involved in the ANU lifting community. 

Qualified judges will assess your form and provide guidance across the squat, bench press and deadlift. Plus, every competitor will receive a free T-shirt to remember the day. 

As we begin Safe Work Month, ANU is reinforcing the importance of psychosocial safety in creating a safe, healthy and supportive workplace. 

The new Psychosocial safety: ANU leader resource guide gives leaders practical information and resources to help understand psychosocial safety and take positive action in their teams. 

Leaders are encouraged to explore the guide, reflect on psychosocial safety in your teams and consider how it could support conversations following the ANYOU engagement survey. 

Explore the guide and register for an information session to learn more. 

The University’s Human Resource Management System (HRMS) is being updated to strengthen functionality, security and the overall experience for staff on Friday 9 October.

This update will go live on Monday 12 October, and will include a refreshed landing page for easier navigation, and enhanced Manager features. 

As part of the update, the University’s HR systems HORUS and HRMS will be unavailable from 10am Friday 9 October to 8am Monday 12 October. 

This outage will affect all system users, including both administrative (HRMS) and HR self-service functions (HORUS). 

If you have questions about the planned outage or need additional information, please email HRSystems@anu.edu.au or phone +61 2 6125 9622. 

Have a project that could benefit from fresh eyes? Host an ANU College of Business and Economics (CBE) student intern and bring fresh perspectives, analytical capability and new ideas to your work while helping develop the next generation of professionals. 

CBE is seeking staff to host an intern in Semester 1, 2027, with interns well suited to projects involving research, analysis and operational improvement.  

Have a project in mind? Please register your interest by Thursday 8 October. 

Do you like games and teaching? Come along to an interactive workshop with the ANU Gameful Learning Community of Practice to explore how game experiences can support learning and teaching.  

Open to all staff, the session will bring together experts and practitioners to explore practical gameful approaches, sample existing and emerging learning experiences, and consider how you could use them in your own teaching or learning. 

You’ll also have the chance to test existing experiences and prototype your own. 

How can we design learning experiences that help all students thrive? 

Join a series of three interactive workshops exploring practical strategies for inclusive course design, assessment design and lesson planning. Drawing on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and evidence-informed teaching practices, the sessions will give you the change to explore examples, reflect on your practice and share ideas with colleagues across ANU. 

Open to academic staff, course convenors, tutors, educational developers and interested professional staff.

Upcoming workshops: 

Associate Professor Marta Yebra from the ANU Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence spoke to ABC News about OzFuel, a new ANU-led satellite system designed to measure the flammability of eucalypt forests across Australia. They explained how the technology could improve bushfire forecasting and help emergency services better understand changing fire risks. 

Professor Frank Jotzo from the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy discussed with ABC News the role of carbon credits in shaping the future management of New South Wales national parks. Sarah Legge from the Fenner School of Environment & Society wrote in the First Nations News about the important role Indigenous Protected Areas play in conserving Australia's biodiversity and supporting First Nations land management. 

During the week, ANU experts also provided commentary on Australia's political direction, the Australian Government’s reaction to the Medicare hack, and the cultural significance of ancient Hindu poem. 

Sunday 4 October, 8.30am start 

The ANU community is invited to take part in the Oceania Sprint Orienteering Championships. 

Open to beginners and experienced orienteers, it’s a chance to experience an international-level sporting event on campus. Entry is $10, with registrations starting from 8.30am at Old Canberra House. 

Saturday 17 October, 5–10pm 

Celebrate 80 years of ANU at After Hours, a student-driven outdoor concert bringing our community together. Presented in partnership with ANUSA, it features Genesis Owusu, Rum Jungle, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Chloe Parché, and ANU Big Night Out winner Lamb Legz.  

Last chance to grab early bird tickets. Get yours before they’re gone! 

Tuesday 22 October, 5–7pm  

Professor Toni Erskine will deliver the 2026 Jeffrey Grey Oration, exploring how frontier AI companies are becoming new agents of war. 

Drawing on recent examples, she will examine the growing role of AI companies in military decision-making, the increasing reliance of states on their technologies, and what this means for accountability and control over the use of force. 

Wednesday 28 October, 5.30–6.30pm 

Join ANU Archives for the 2026 Annual Lecture, delivered by Emeritus Professor Grace Karskens, one of Australia’s leading historians of colonial Australia and cross-cultural history. 

Remembering Ballandella: re-reading the archive explores the conflicting historical accounts of four-year-old Ballandella, who was separated from her mother Turandurey during Thomas Mitchell’s 1836 expedition. 

Open the right collection at ANU and you’ll find hundreds of tiny objects staring back at you from another era of science. Seeds. Nuts. Pods. Strange shapes. 

Among the University’s specialist collections is a fascinating scientific reference collection of about 850 seed and nut specimens from more than 30 countries. Some are tiny. Some are strange. Some probably look nothing like what you’d expect a seed to look like. 

The specimens were collected across different places and times, with many accompanied by handwritten information recording where they came from and what they are. 

Each little specimen has its own story, turning what might look like a collection of seeds and nuts into a fascinating record of scientific history at ANU. 

ANU Security - (02) 6125 2249   

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialling from an internal phone), then call ANU Security.   

Media hotline 24/7 - (02) 6125 7979   

Contact the 24/7 media hotline for media queries regarding the University and its operations, or to track down experts that aren’t listed in our Experts Guide.

Help is available if you need it. The University has a range of information and services that can be accessed by managers and staff.

Whether it's a work-related issue or a personal one, the University encourages you to seek counselling support through the Employee Assistance Program.

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to this guide developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.