Last week, I got to spend time in the newly forming ANU College of Systems and Society at a happy event, celebrating our Kim Jackson scholars in the School of Engineering with alumna, Kim Jackson herself. It was an excellent moment to acknowledge our amazing students, faculty, staff and alum, and to dream a little bit about the future we are all making together. Very cool.

Yesterday morning, I returned to the College again to see my extraordinary colleagues and friends in the School of Cybernetics, the school I helped co-found in 2020. I wish it had been a happier visit because I am so proud of them and their work and the culture they have built and continue to nurture there. Over the weekend, the four-month negative media campaign attacking our university turned to the ANU College of Systems and Society, naming individual staff. The hurt and harm these types of articles cause to individuals is distressing, as is the harm it causes to reputation which can impact attracting further talent, investment and funding streams. ANU is being portrayed as a place that isn’t what I know it to be, or what its purpose is as the national university and I also want to thank and acknowledge the colleagues and students who continue to support ANU.

In these moments it can be hard to know what to say or do or how to respond - but how we turn up matters.

Read more: VC message, North Stars

Due to health reasons affecting the Provost, this week's online townhall session has been rescheduled to Thursday 20 March at 10am. The registration link remains the same—if you haven’t already, register now to join the discussion. 

Due to this change, the consultation period and feedback period has also been extended to Friday 21 March 2025, giving you more time to share your input. Updated details are available on the Renew ANU website. We encourage all staff to participate and share their perspectives. 

Thank you to everyone who submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the VSS. We received over 300 EOIs, reflecting significant engagement across the University. 

The Recruitment Approval Committee (RAC) will review EOIs next Wednesday 26 March and make final decisions. EOI outcomes will be communicated to staff and their leaders by Monday 31 March. Please note that EOIs for roles deemed critical to the ANU mission will not be approved by the RAC. Managers will help to relay these decisions directly to those staff members. 

As you may be aware, the University has been the target of an ongoing media campaign since December last year. Over the weekend, this extended to the ANU College of Systems and Society, naming individual faculty and citing incorrect information. The article implied that no budgetary impact is being applied to the School of Cybernetics – this is incorrect. The School is already absorbing double the budget reduction of any other academic unit in the College, which has eased the burden across all our other academic units.

The University is addressing inaccuracies and misrepresentations with the reporting outlet, and providing support to those staff who were named.

The School was launched by Professor Brian Schmidt in 2021 as a bold and important response to a changing world for universities and society. Along with the traditional disciplines, this new School was established as part of the University’s mission to develop skills and capabilities fit for navigating the complexities of current and future technological, social and ecological systems. The Master of Applied Cybernetics has been internationally recognised through the QS Reimagine Education awards.

ANU is proud of the work of the School of Cybernetics, our faculty and students, and the College remains committed to their success and role in achieving our mission as the national university.

Steve Eggins

Dean, ANU College of Systems and Society

Both the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) and the Australian Government’s Harmony Week take place this week. While Harmony Week celebrates diversity, it is also an opportunity to engage in respectful conversations about racism to drive awareness and change. ANU is committed to fostering a respectful environment and is a proud signatory of the Human Rights Commission’s "Racism. It Stops With Me" campaign.  

Staff resources: Racism and discrimination support; Procedure on the prevention of discrimination, harassment, and bullying, ANU antisemitism statement; Human Rights Commission Factsheets.

Need support? The Staff Respect Consultant offers confidential, person-centred support on issues including racism, discrimination, and harassment. Email the staff respect consultant, call 02 6125 6763, or book an appointment online. To report behaviours that breach ANU’s codes of conduct, use the Harmful Behaviour Disclosure Tool. 

The Australian Government has banned Kaspersky software on federal devices due to national security risks. The link below outlines the University's position, potential privacy concerns, and recommended next steps. Learn about alternative antivirus options and government guidance to help keep your devices secure. 

Learn more: Kaspersky ban

Image: Waters is researching dramatic female voices for her PhD at ANU. Photo credit: Creswick Collective.

The performing arts has always been an industry that worships youth, especially in women, but for a certain kind of opera singer, career success can be decades in the making. 

Dramatic female voices — female singers with a vocal range darker and heavier than sopranos — do not truly come into their power as vocalists until their late thirties or early forties. ANU opera singer Katrina Waters is moving this challenge to centre stage. 

Read more: Loud, large and unladylike, the difficulties of having a dramatic female voice 

Image: The first cohort of the William Ah Ket Leadership Program. Photo credit: ANU Centre for Asian Australian Leadership.

The first cohort of the William Ah Ket Leadership Program has successfully concluded after a transformative week of leadership development. Hosted by the ANU Centre for Asian Australian Leadership and supported by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, the program empowers emerging Chinese Australian leaders with the skills to drive meaningful change. 

Read more: Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership

Wednesday 26 March, 6pm 

In the desert future of 2033, water is scarce, and anarchic hero Tank Girl (Lori Petty) must save the world from the tyranny of the Water and Power Corporation with the help of friends. Tank Girl uses animation, live-action, animatronics, CGI and more to bring to life the ’90s British indie comic created by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett. 
 
Join us for a lively discussion on the many facets of interpreting this cult classic, including a focus on the power and role of sand and sandscapes in the film. 

Register now: Tank girl screening 

Friday 4 April, 9am–2pm 

The inaugural Myanmar Policy Forum will explore new research on Myanmar’s armed resistance and rebel governance, shedding light on the country’s escalating political and humanitarian crisis. Experts will examine the implications for regional stability and discuss how the international community can respond to one of the world’s most volatile conflicts. 

Register now: Myanmar Policy Forum 2025 

Wednesday 26 March, 6-8pm 

Why is finance so important? How do stock markets work and what do they really do? Most importantly, what might finance be and what could we expect from it? Join us for a public lecture by Professor Philip Roscoe, RSSS Visiting Fellow in Sociology, on his book How to Build a Stock Exchange: The Past, Present and Future of Finance (2023). 

Register now: How to build a stock exchange 

Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17 – March 23) is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by acknowledging their skills and talents.

A Neurodiversity Toolkit was developed by the Australian Disability Network to help organisations provide better work environments and support to neurodiverse staff and customers. You are welcome to connect with the ANU Staff Disability Network: available for staff with disability and allies. 

Staff with disability can find out more support on the ANU Disability Action Plan SharePoint which also has information for staff, managers and supervisors or those wanting to improve team inclusion.

Learn more: Neurodiversity ToolKit

ANU is offering free flu vaccinations to support staff health and wellbeing during the upcoming flu season. Vaccinations are available on campus at the ANU Medical Centre (by appointment) and ANU Pharmacy (walk-in), or off campus at Terry White Chemists using a voucher (available in HORUS from April 2025).

Read More: Free Flu Vaccinations

 

Starting Monday 2 June, automatic email forwarding from ANU accounts to external mailboxes will be disabled for all staff and Visiting and Honorary Appointments (VaHAs). This means incoming emails can no longer be automatically forwarded to non-ANU addresses. Students and shared mailboxes may be included in a future phase of this roll-out.

The University is legally responsible for protecting staff, student and ANU data. Disabling automatic email forwarding to external providers helps safeguard sensitive information and reduces the risk of sharing it with unintended recipients.

For more information, review the FAQs. For further help contact the ANU Service Desk at (02) 6125 4321. 

The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are national awards that aim to raise the profile of science and science engagement by celebrating outstanding achievements. Entries have opened for 2025, with 20 prizes on offer across the categories of Research and Innovation, Leadership, Science Engagement and School Science.  

Applications close Monday 14 April, 7pm.  

Learn more: 2025 Eureka Prize 

Are you within the 44+ and 18-26 age range? Are you interested in connecting across generations and contributing to the design of a movement-based game?  

 The ANU School of Computing is offering a unique opportunity to take part in research focused on designing movements that convey meaningful narratives. Participants will receive an AUD $20 e-gift card for each workshop. 

If you or someone you know is interested, please email erika.wood@anu.edu.au. 

Earth Hour is more than just switching off the lights, it’s a powerful reminder that every choice we make impacts the planet. On Saturday 22 March at 8:30pm, millions around the world will switch off in solidarity for the environment.  

Real change happens in the choices we make every day. That’s why ANU Green has put together a sustainability guide with practical ways to reduce your impact at ANU. From smarter energy use to sustainable commuting, small actions add up. Get started today because every choice matters.  

Learn more: Earth Hour 2025, switch off to make a difference 

Have you ever stumbled across a suspicious email and wondered what to do? In this helpful guide written by the Information Security Office you will learn how to respond to receiving a phishing email and what to do if you have clicked on a suspicious link.  

Learn more: Phishing reporting guidelines 

Awarded biennially, the Crisp Book Prize recognizes outstanding political science research by early or mid-career scholars. 

Congratulations to Dr Maria Tanyag (Department of International Relations, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs) for winning the 2025 prize for her book, The Global Politics of Sexual and Reproductive Health. 

Wi-Fi coverage refers to the area where a wireless signal is available and reliable. Think of it as an invisible bubble surrounding an access point.  

Achieving optimal coverage requires strategic placement of access points, taking into account physical barriers such as walls, floors, appliances, and reflective surfaces like mirrors and metal, which can impact signal performance.  

At ANU, we’re actively working to enhance Wi-Fi coverage across our campuses. Our goal is to provide you with a seamless connection, empowering you to collaborate and stay connected from your device—anywhere, anytime.  

Learn more about our efforts to improve Wi-Fi coverage at ANU. 

ANU Security - (02) 6125 2249 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing 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. Whether it's a work-related issue or a personal one, the University encourages you to seek 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.