1 November 2024: The University of Canberra (ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø) launched its third annual Research Festival at the Canberra Centre today, which included the unveiling of a unique pop-up installation - the Life of a CBRn – an experiential timeline of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s research that illustrates how it engages with and impacts the Canberra community throughout their lives.
This year, the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Research Festival will put a spotlight on the University’s researchers, and the work that they do for the community. The Festival provides opportunities to create connections and explore opportunities to tackle complex problems together.
Professor Michelle Lincoln, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, expressed her excitement at expanding this year’s Festival beyond the campus, bringing ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s research even closer to the community.
“The University of Canberra’s research plays an active role in shaping Canberra, our region and its people, and this year’s Festival showcases what we do and how we do it,” said Professor Lincoln.
“ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s research is practical and applied, and our researchers engage industry, government and community to undertake real-world research that aims to develop solutions and improve performance, systems and experiences. We look forward to showing our community how we contribute to improving health outcomes, learning outcomes, sport performance, and the quality of life for our population across their lifespan. If looking after the environment is what you’re passionate about, you can learn about how we are looking to bring the green and golden bell frog back to the ACT – where it is extinct – and how we look after our waterways, the conversations we are leading in the civic leadership space, and much more.”
Associate Professor Simon Clulow, Faculty of Science and Technology, who leads the green and golden bell frog project was also present at the launch and said, “I think events like the Research Festival are so important because they provide a way to connect directly with local community. Engagement with community is critical – it is the local community that is both beneficiary and custodian of local, healthy ecosystems. If the community doesn’t care, we are fighting an impossible battle.”
With 20 events to choose from, there is something for everyone in this month-long Festival, and plenty of opportunities to engage with researchers. Some of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Research Festival highlights include:
- Life of a CBRn: An experiential timeline of a Canberran's life and how research from the University of Canberra has interacted with or impacted the community at different stages across their life. The pop-up exhibition will also host a range of events and activities during the Festival.
- : Celebrating Ginninderry’s unique community and environment. There will be a range of fun, family-friendly activities demonstrating the work by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø researchers to make Ginninderry a better place to live and play.
- : A collection of education-focused activities designed for children aged 0-8 years and their parents/carers to spark curiosity, creativity and love for learning.
- : A collection of hands-on activities at which the community can learn more about the science of sport and physical performance, and related research at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
- : An online event focusing on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's research into how sporting governing bodies manage of gendered cyber hate.
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Research Festival will run till 28 November. To explore the full program, visit the University of Canberra website.