Established in June 2017, the QUEX Institute of Global Sustainability and Wellbeing is a pioneering collaboration between The University of Queensland (UQ) and University of Exeter (Exeter). The mission of the virtual institute is to deliver innovative research that addresses major global challenges aligned with three interdisciplinary themes. Through a range of strategic initiatives: collaborative research projects, joint PhD student programme, professional services staff fellowship, and an annual symposium the Institute seeks to promote and accelerate excellence and impact via the delivery of tangible outcomes. A number of these outcomes include publications, policy development, industry and business collaboration, and innovative education opportunities.

Following a review of the first three years of the Institute’s interdisciplinary themes, the three themes have been updated to Healthy Living, Global Environmental Futures, and Digital Worlds and Disruptive Technologies. These themes have been selected to take advantage of the strength and quality of research at UQ and Exeter and to support and encourage the development of interdisciplinary collaboration across STEMM and HASS colleges, faculties, schools and departments, as well as in response to the ever-changing world.

Healthy Living

The University of Queensland: Professor John Cairney

University of Exeter: Associate Professor Rob Anderson

Global Environmental Futures

The University of Queensland: Dr Sarit Kaserzon and Professor Peter Mumby

University of Exeter: Professor Catriona McKinnon

Digital Worlds and Disruptive Technologies

The University of Queensland: Associate Professor Stephen Viller

University of Exeter: Associate Professor Naomi Hawkins

The new theme leads will act as the direct link between the UQ and Exeter communities and work closely with the QUEX Management and Strategy Boards. They will be responsible for championing and representing their themes within their home institution and identifying opportunities to build collaboration with additional external partners, including industry, government and funding agencies.

We would like to congratulate our seven theme leaders on their appointment, and we look forward to working with them in promoting the development of their themes and the wider QUEX Institute.

At the same time, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our outgoing theme leads Jo Bowtell, Andy Cresswell, Ian Bateman, Iain Lang and Cath Haslam for their dedication and hard work to ensure the success of the first phase of the QUEX Institute.

For further details regarding these newly refreshed themes, please visit our respective webpages at https://global-engagement.uq.edu.au/quex and https://www.exeter.ac.uk/quex/themes/.