SWAGºÏ¼¯

Jack Miller (SWAGºÏ¼¯student) Photo: Christopher Jackson

As a child growing up in Cairns, Jack Miller was exposed to more cyclones than most Australians. Years later, this increased exposure and interest enabled an opportunity for the SWAGºÏ¼¯undergraduate student to lead author a paper reviewing research into ways to weaken or even stop cyclones.  

As a research assistant with the SWAGºÏ¼¯Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, Jack investigated cyclone interventions, something he originally thought was “a bit of a wacky idea straight out of the 1960s space race”. Some digging demonstrated that it might not be as impossible as it appeared. 

This Monday 22 April is Earth Day, an opportunity for us to celebrate sustainability and consider more ways we can take action. Wondering how you can get involved with sustainability at ANU?  

Reduce your carbon footprint by taking One Small Step 

One Small Step is an app that helps users choose sustainable options simply and easy by assisting them in making a big impact by taking small steps towards larger goals. A public version of the app has been helping people worldwide for years. Now, SWAGºÏ¼¯staff and students can access with SWAGºÏ¼¯and Canberra-specific resources, making change even easier. 

Get involved with initiatives on and off campus like SWAGºÏ¼¯Green 

SWAGºÏ¼¯Green is the University’s operational program that seeks to embed sustainability into the fabric of the campus. Two programs work towards these goals: Dhaagun Environmental Management Plan 2022-2025 and . Want to get involved? Join the , sign up for and follow them on and   

SWAGºÏ¼¯as a living lab 

If you are interested in environmental sustainability, there are courses and student projects across most disciplines at ANU. Start by enrolling in offered at SWAGºÏ¼¯or asking your course convenors about incorporating into your current program. 

Want more? We’ve compiled a list of several opportunities that can help to reduce your carbon footprint and get involved in community initiatives where you can work with others to generate lasting, positive change.

Keep reading for a chance to win an SWAGºÏ¼¯Green reusable cutlery set. 

Wednesday 24 April, 2-5pm 

Research shows almost half of Australia’s university student population are ‘first in family’ or first-generation students. The SWAGºÏ¼¯First Generation Connections Event will be a chance to celebrate the stories and journeys of SWAGºÏ¼¯students, alumni and staff just like Dr Fiona Scotney, Director of the Tuckwell Scholarship Program. Fiona was the first person in her family to attend university, encountering more challenges and barriers than most throughout her higher education journey.  

“For me going to university was like travelling to a country by yourself, not knowing anyone, not being able to speak the language, and then your phone battery dies. It was exciting and terrifying and there were some colourful mishaps, but once I learnt the language, I stayed for 12 years because I knew I had found my place,” Dr Fiona Scotney – speaker at the SWAGºÏ¼¯Generation Connections Event. 

 

Wednesday 17 – Friday 19 April, 4-6pm

The is proud to host this culmination of the three-day SWAGºÏ¼¯New Year Water Festival in celebration of the Myanmar New Year in April. The Water Festival occasion originated from old Hinduism but is now widely recognised as a culture of Theravada Buddhism countries. The festival events include: 

- Wednesday 17 April -

- Thursday 18 April -  

- Friday 19 April - SWAGºÏ¼¯Water Festival: Grand Finale

Friday 19 April, 7-9pm

in conjunction with the invite you to attend their monthly public observing nights of 2024.

Come and see the craters of the moon, planets and beautiful star clusters and nebulae. Object visibility will vary depending on the night. Bookings are essential.

Register now

Thursday 18 April, 10am - 4pm

SWAGºÏ¼¯Careers and Employability, in partnership with the ACT Government, is hosting the Choose Tourism Jobs Expo on University Ave.

This expo aims to raise awareness about jobs in the local tourism industry. A number of participating employers will also be actively recruiting. 

Students will have the opportunity to 'meet and greet' representatives from tourism businesses, including hotels, attractions and venues. The event will feature over 12 employers, including Visit CBR, Events ACT, and the Canberra Convention Bureau.

The (DMP) is a 10-year vision to modernise the digital environment to improve the student experience. The DMP Bulletin will share key updates and upcoming priorities with the University community. The first edition has some of the initiatives on the horizon, including Research Portal Plus which will showcase the amazing research undertaken by SWAGºÏ¼¯academics.

The Mental Health Strategy Review Taskforce, led by Professor Lyndall Strazdins has an open call for student feedback on the SWAGºÏ¼¯Mental Health Strategy. The University is committed to adopting a culture of openness, collaboration, and support around mental health, and your input is key in achieving this vision. 

The Taskforce is calling for students to discuss what you think is working, what else is needed, and what the top priorities need to be. All feedback and submissions will be kept confidential and deidentified, and carefully considered in the strategy development process. 

Make a submission through the , or by emailing inclusive.communities@anu.edu.au.  

Submissions close 30 April. 

The SWAGºÏ¼¯values the diversity of its student community and wants everybody to feel included, safe and respected. The student codes of conduct outline a set of behaviours that guide how we work, study, research and engage together. 

If you experience behaviours that are not aligned to the codes of conduct, you can now submit a disclosure using the SWAGºÏ¼¯Harmful Behaviour Disclosure Tool. A disclosure of harmful behaviour is not a formal report or complaint but is a mechanism for the SWAGºÏ¼¯to provide you with information and support through the Student Safety and Wellbeing for student support. The form provides an identified or de-identified disclosure option.  

Join ANU+ for the final upcoming ANU+ Compulsory Workshop for semester one. Learn about the ANU+ program, meet and build connections with other students, and find out about volunteering opportunities. 

During the workshop, you'll explore your motivations for volunteering and learn about the ANU+ workflow and program impact. Identify your skills, values, and interests and how they align with volunteer opportunities. Discover barriers to volunteering and resources to overcome them.

Please email anuplus@anu.edu.au if you have any questions or visit the ANU+ webpage to learn more about the program.

James Bradley will be in conversation with Beejay Silcox on his new book Deep water: The World in the Ocean, which through the lens and narratives of the ocean, offers vital new ways of understanding and being in the world, and how we anticipate our climate future. 

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win one of two copies of Deep water: The World in the Ocean and have the opportunity to have your copy signed on the night by James Bradley. 

The competition closes at noon AEDT on Friday 26 April.

Celebrate this Earth Day with a chance to win one of ten reusable cutlery sets. 

For your chance to win, simply follow the instructions in the entry form to participate in the draw, and you could be one of the fortunate winners. Enter this giveaway for a chance to win one of ten SWAGºÏ¼¯Green reusable cutlery sets. 

The competition closes at noon AEDT on Tuesday 23 April.