The Symposium was opened by Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter

University of Exeter and University of Queensland Celebrate Flagship Partnership

The University of Exeter hosted the fourth annual QUEX Symposium on 3 and 4 April, celebrating their flagship partnership with the University of Queensland.

The QUEX Institute brings together world-leading expertise at both institutions to focus on the crucial interdisciplinary themes of Healthy Living, Global Environmental Futures, and Digital Worlds and Disruptive Technologies.

The Symposium was opened by Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter, and included a keynote by Professor Karen Hudson-Edwards, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland, on ‘Mining for Environmental Sustainability & Connecting Communities’. 

This speech showcased one of the main research areas in which Exeter and Queensland have the shared expertise to address a major global challenge, examining how we can meet the ever-growing demand for critical minerals to reach challenging sustainability targets, in a manner which also protects and enhances the communities in which mineral extraction takes place.

In particular, the symposium provides opportunities for the QUEX Institute’s ever-growing community of PhD students, with 52 students now supported by the Institute.  Students have the chance to discuss their ideas and hone their skills in a vibrant and supportive environment, as well as the opportunity to attend skills development sessions, including an impact and commercialisation workshop, a grant writing panel, and sessions on the principles of authorship and policy engagement.

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A number of academic lectures and workshops were also convened around the main QUEX Themes, attended by around 90 of the QUEX community, both in person and online from Australia. Workshops covered topics as diverse as ‘(R)evolutions in Online Healthcare’, ‘Emerging Contaminants and Ecosystem Risks’, and ‘Technology and Design at Work’, bringing together academics from both institutions to share research and build new connections.

Professor Lisa Roberts said: “I am thrilled that we’ve been able to bring the QUEX community together in person again for the first time since the pandemic. The University of Queensland is one of our most valued international partners, with whom we share a common mission and purpose. Our research areas are well-matched, and our researchers have so far secured external funding totalling around £14m (A$25.5m), as well as producing nearly 100 world-leading research publications.

“Working together we are able to amplify our impact, harnessing the world-class work and facilities at both institutions to generate outstanding research and train the next generation.” 

The QUEX Institute will shortly be seeking further expressions of interest for PhD studentships and will be launching new rounds of seed funding to build connections between both academic and professional services staff.

Date: 26 April 2023