The Faculty of Science, in partnership with Rock Art Australia (RAA), invite you to join us for a fascinating public lecture which follows Dr Damien Finch’s research journey to identify the ages of some of Australia’s oldest rock paintings.

On International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11), we’re highlighting some of our PhD supervisors and their research students who are conducting fascinating research and inspiring the next generation of Women in Science.

A cosmetic and biopharmaceutical R&D expert, Janice Yeo has a breadth of experience working in both academia and industry throughout Southeast Asia. Read on for her insights into the two approaches to research, and her advice for the next generation of scientists.

Science Alum Sharon Willoughby’s fascination with plants and stories has taken her from Melbourne to London, where she is head of Interpretation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Her task is to communicate the story of the science behind the Gardens’ beauty to its visitors. Below, Sharon explains why plants are the perfect vehicle for storytelling, and how a scientist’s passion can bridge the gap between research and public understanding.

2020 could be the spark that ignites a positive future for us and for the climate - so what could our hypothetical future look like in 2029?

Along with our students and staff, the University of Melbourne's vibrant science community is made up of tens of thousands of alumni, donors, volunteers and industry partners.We have always valued our connection and your support, and despite this year's unpredictable circumstances and remote connections, we have seen countless examples of the tremendous power of our community.

Science communicator Dr Jen Martin tells the story of her special family connection to the Martin's toadlet. Jen's story is an excerpt from Animals Make Us Human, a collection of essays from writers, photographers and researchers written in response to the 2019-20 bushfires. Proceeds go to the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Recent Master of Environment graduate Indumathi Arunan has interned with the City of Melbourne’s Climate Resilience Team, and with both the Indian Institute for Human Settlements and Iora Ecological Solutions in Bangalore. Below, Indumathi shares her intersectional approach to sustainability, and what it’s been like entering the field in 2020.

Science Alum Rachel Lowry is the Chief Conservation Officer at WWF Australia, Past President of International Zoo Educators Association and former Chair of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership. We recently caught up with Rachel to get her insight into the state of conservation in Australia, and what it takes to make an impact.

Take a journey through the historic Burnley Gardens with three Alumni and staff members, Sascha Andrusiak,  Dr Chris Williams and Andrew Smith.Discover our urban food jungle and some of Chris’ novel crops, learn tips on keeping your garden healthy in winter and beyond, and come behind the scenes with us as we take you through the nursery and greenhouses!Then read the supplementary Q+A, where our experts answer audience questions.

Our coral reefs are in decline, with the increasing frequency, intensity and duration of mass-bleaching events during summer heatwaves a global catastrophe in the making.Ultimately, the only solution to reversing this decline is to address the root cause, global warming, but time is running out and many reefs may disappear forever without emergency interventions. Researchers around the world are exploring novel approaches that could buy coral reefs precious time.During the 2020 University of Melbourne Science Festival, Professor Madeleine van Oppen and Dr Wing Chan explained how assisted evolution works, and shared their exciting early successes in breeding heat-tolerant corals.Catch up on the webinar below.

University of Melbourne Alumni from around the world discuss how to make the most of your UoM network after your degree.

Dr Kudzai Kanhutu is an infectious diseases specialist at Royal Melbourne Hospital. The 2019 Superstar of STEM recently spoke to us about the importance of varied experience for healthcare workers and not letting “ingrained lowballing” get in her way.

Four University of Melbourne alumni, three of whom are Faculty of Science alumni, have been awarded prestigious Cambridge Australia Scholarships, allowing them to commence their postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge in October 2020. Read on for their aspirations.

The historic Burnley Gardens are home to more than just a diversity of plants; they also host memories that span multiple generations. Situated on the land of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people, the site has seen extensive transformation since the establishment of a garden to cultivate new plants for the Victorian colonies in 1861. Now home to the University of Melbourne’s Master of Urban Horticulture and other related courses, we trace some of the garden’s more recent changes through three alumni perspectives.

The BioInspiration Hallmark Research Initiative (HRI) at the University of Melbourne presents a series of live, online interviews with prominent researchers in bioinspired technologies, design and architecture. If you missed them live, you can catch up on each talk on-demand below.

Science Alum, IPCC lead author and BOM research team leader Dr Pandora Hope shares how a love for cross-country skiing led to a career in climate research.

Catch up on this fascinating conversation about the future of (animal free) meat with two Science Alumni: Vow Chief Scientific Officer James G. Ryall and Director of Cellular Agriculture Australia Bianca Le.

Get ready for spring with expert horticulturalist Sascha Andrusiak in this month's Melbourne planting guide.

Living through Australia’s Millennium drought saw Hanya Gartner redirect her desire to make an impact into the sustainability space. The Master of Environment alum is now Sustainability Manager at The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Recently, she spoke with us over Zoom about her journey into sustainability, common misconceptions, and why an interdisciplinary approach, centered around environmental justice considerations is critical to solving environmental problems.

Since 2020 has meant a lot more time spent at home for many people around the world, bringing nature indoors is more important than ever. Who better to offer insight into indoor gardening than researchers from the Green Infrastructure Research Group (GIRG)? Tune in to find out which indoor plants our green experts love, along with tips and tricks for keeping them happy.

Amy Coetsee is a Threatened Species Biologist at Zoos Victoria. She is engaged in protecting the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, with the aim to recover the species from the threatened species list. Read on for Amy’s tale of hope and perseverance.

As a practicing landscape architect, Zoë Metherell saw that land transformation could have a positive impact on biodiversity. Now nearing the end of her PhD, Zoë talks us through her interdisciplinary research journey, and why she is optimistic about the future.

Vicky Au is the Engagement and Strategy Lead on the CSIRO Hydrogen Industry Mission. We recently met with Vicky to discuss her exciting new role, the lack of diversity in STEM and how she approaches mentoring.

BSc graduate Garry Sien has gone from majoring in computer science to being a leader in the tech space, with extensive experience in the Asia Pacific. Currently based in Hong Kong as a Principal Advisory Consultant for Alibaba Cloud, Garry doesn’t let distance get in the way of giving back as a STEM Industry Mentor.

The July Lectures in Physics series ran every week throughout July in 2020. Catch up on the full series below to learn how physics is applied to solve a broad range of problems, from the origins of life to epidemiological modelling.

By weaving Indigenous knowledge and physics together, Associate Professor Duane Hamacher and BSc student and Yorta Yorta person, Jessie Ferrari, recently shared how the animals, seasons and stars come together in Aboriginal Astronomy.  Read Science Alum Catriona Nguyen-Robertson's overview of the webinar below.

Caleb McElrea is a science communicator, wildlife photographer and filmmaker. It’s an occupation that combines comedy, conservation, and close encounters with cassowaries. Read on for insight into Caleb’s adventures in wildlife filmmaking.

Learn how to make the most of your June garden in this month's planting guide with expert horticulturist Sascha Andrusiak.

Timothy Shue started the ICLEI Young Writers Network when he noticed a gap between the passion and education of young researchers, and their confidence to effectively communicate their research to the wider community. In this insightful Q+A, Tim and fellow Science Alum Amélie Uhrig discuss the power of effective science communication in climate change discourse.

If you missed Dr Jen Martin present Discover the Sights and Sounds of Antarctica, you can now catch up on demand.

Oceans produce over half of the world's oxygen and absorb 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. Within them are coral reefs that contain some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, and provide habitats and shelter for a host of marine organisms. They also protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and storms. Now, it is up to us to protect them.Dr Wing Chan, a postdoctoral researcher of the University of Melbourne, researches coral reef restoration and conservation, and ocean warming and acidification. Wing is also passionate about science outreach and sharing her love of the ocean. Read her reflections below.

After completing a PhD at the University of Melbourne, Marissa Parrott landed her dream job with Zoos Victoria. She now dedicates every day to the conservation of wildlife and, despite increasing challenges, she still holds out hope for the future.

How can challenging scientific naming conventions better reflect 60,000 plus years of Indigenous Knowledge about landscapes and medicine? Bachelor of Science student Sidney Ruthven shares her experience of discovering three new species of fungi, and the exciting decision she made next.

In this month's Spotlight on a Crop, Sascha Andrusiak and Dr Chris Williams talk us through everything we need to know about planting and harvesting garlic.

Science Alum Henrietta Farr is undertaking a graduate program with VicRoads (now part of the Department of Transport) while directing Vocal Vibes, an a cappella women’s choir, on the side. Find out how she keeps her love of music and nature alive in and outside of work.

The Science Gallery's Disposables installations ran in 2019 - but if you missed out, no worries. We're here to take you back in time and guide you through it! Learn how Science and Art are tackling issues around sustainability in this bio-inspirational episode of Event FOMO.

In the first of a new monthly series, expert horticulturalist Sascha Andrusiak talks us through what to plant in Melbourne this May.

As a global community, we must work beyond our national borders to protect threatened species and maintain biodiversity. Read more on Pursuit.

Australia needs new business models between industry and agriculture to inspire investment in trees on farms. Read more on Pursuit.

How can we take advantage of the benefits associated with nature while we're staying home to flatten the curve? University of Melbourne researchers discuss in this article, recently published on The Conversation.

Experience Antarctica through the eyes and ears of science communicator Dr Jen Martin in this article for Triple R.

Want to help save wildlife after the fires? Find out how you can do so, even if you life in a city, with these practical tips from University of Melbourne researchers.

Shona Cameron sits on the national Banksia Foundation Sustainability Award judging panel, has managed safety at 25 airports and freight facilities across the country, is a mentor in the STEM Industry Mentoring program, and is also taking on a Master of Engineering. How does this young Science leader do it all?

New Jersey-based Peter is a pharmaceutical consultant. He provides services and advice to pharmaceutical companies in terms of how to best position their new drugs for commercial success. So how did a scientist, first trained in research, carve out a successful career within Science, from research, to marketing and now in consulting? What is the importance of understanding the business side of science? How are mentors important? Peter shares his personal journey with us.

Larger animals tend to live longer than smaller ones, but within the dog kingdom it pays to be short. Here’s why.

In order to know why an ice age ends, we need to know when it ended. Now, new research is working to solve one of the enigmas in palaeoclimatology.

As a chemist, Faculty of Science alum Dr Georgina Such has dedicated her career to investigating nanoparticles to improve the delivery of drugs and vaccines. Recently, Georgina has taken on the role of Associate Dean (Diversity, Inclusion & Women in Science). Discover why below.

Research into our gut microbiome – or our ‘second brain’ – has already produced vast amounts of data, but we are only scratching the surface of our own complex ecosystems

Amy is a Threatened Species Biologist at Zoos Victoria. She is engaged in protecting the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, with the aim to recover them from the threatened species list. She is also smashing gender stereotypes and inspiring women and girls as a 2019 Superstar of STEM.This is Amy’s story, her perspective on the recent bushfires and how we can all maintain hope through action.

Join us on 28 March for a volunteer data-collection event. Bring a friend and contribute to our understanding of the impact that living breakwaters have on the health of our coasts.

University of Melbourne researchers are redesigning wheat to create healthier versions of one of the world’s favourite foods – bread

When Gerald realized he was “very capable, but impossible to manage”, his solution was to start his own company. Now a successful entrepreneur living in the San Francisco Bay Area, his current focus is CompilerWorks, which Gerald describes as “a software company that is very geeky”. Gerald recently spoke to us about the importance of interdisciplinarity, what really makes a good startup, and the subjectivity of ‘success’.

The Science Dean’s Thank-You Reception was a celebration of the world-changing innovation that occurs when scientific and philanthropic visions collide.

Veronica Allen is CEO & Managing Director of IBM Singapore. Her impressive career trajectory epitomizes the globalized workforce that characterizes the business field today.

Many Australians blame our variable climate for the recent severe bushfires and crippling drought, but researchers say these ‘natural’ disasters are not natural at all

I believe my science background will be invaluable in providing a fresh and innovative perspective to my future endeavours in the corporate sphere.

“As society becomes more and more technical the interaction between law and technology will become increasingly important. We are currently in a very interesting time for the junction between science and law”.