The Week in Review

This week the campus was teeming with new students here for a rapid immersion in university life. Many of us were involved to ensure they had a warm welcome and were settled in. Meanwhile others were occupied writing articles and research grants and exchanging knowledge with industry and other universities.

BE Researcher Acknowledgement: Congratulations to Professor Martin Loosemore who has been appointed by the NZ Government to serve on their National Science Review Panel. The panel Martin has been tasked with addressing the: Building Better Homes Towns and Cities Challenge. Read more.

BE Researchers Report from the Field: Late last year four BE researchers – Professor Chris Pettit, Professor David Sanderson, Dr. Laura Crommelin and Dr. Simone Leao – travelled to Arizona to meet with PLuS Alliance colleagues from Kings’ College London and Arizona State University. After a jam-packed week of strategic discussions and collaborative planning, there are now a number of exciting research projects under development. And hopefully more opportunities to visit ASU and the Arizona desert soon.

BE Social Engagement: It's been a busy week for Professor Martin Loosemore. He was also involved in the launch of the Westmead Connectivity Centre. Featured in the picture above are the first 8 Indigenous candidates who have benefited from the training at the Centre. Many of the first cohort include refugees, disabled, women and ex-offenders. 

Professor Loosemore says:
"Featured in the picture above are the first 8 Indigenous candidates who have benefited from the training at the Centre. They will all get jobs in the construction supply chain as a result of the training they have been given. Over the period of the project many more candidates suffering disadvantage from a variety of backgrounds will be trained and given sustainable employment through the centre. UNSW’s role has been in the development of the centres through our joint research with Multiplex over a decade and in the ongoing measurement of the social outcomes". Read more.

BE Book Publication: Congratulations to newly appointed Senior Lecturer Joshua Zeunert of the Landscape Architecture Program, who has a new book out, the Routledge Handbook of Landscape and Food, that he co-edited. Read more.

BE in the Media: Public toilets are an essential amenity, but most of them aren't places we'd want to visit unless we really have to. In his latest article in The Conversation Dr. Christian Tietz asks: What does the failure to provide public toilets we actually want to use, say about us? Read more.

BE Inter-University Initiatives: Dr. Mariano Ramirez chaired the Learning Network on Sustainability (LeNS) Oceania Summer Symposium at RMIT. The symposium was attended by sustainable design academics from RMIT, University of Canberra, Swinburne University of Technology, and Monash University. The symposium was funded by a $5,000 grant from the ACUADS (Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools).

BE Disciplinary Experts: Associate Professor Oya Demirbilek, as well as Industrial Design Alumnus Stephanie Pemberton, have been appointed to the jury of this year's Good Design Awards. UNSW Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla has also been appointed to the panel. The high professional standing of our colleagues is acknowledged through such appointments. Well done all. Read more. 

BE PhD Scholarship TopUp: Multiplex Construction PhD Top-up Scholarship aims to build better communities through social impact investment in the construction industry. UNSW Built Environment invites applications for a top-up Scholarship Semester 1, 2018. Read more.

As it was O Week on campus, many of us welcomed our new students to the BE community, with introductions, program activities, tours and even a picnic with staff. Thank you all for making it a great welcome to our new students.

Until next week,
All the best,
Helen