News

International Women in Mathematics Day marks the legacy of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman awarded the Fields Medal - the most prestigious award in mathematics. Celebrated annually on May 12, it calls attention to the women building on Mirzakhani's legacy today.

Congratulations to University of Queensland graduate Rishi Goel, who has been selected as a 2026 Gates Cambridge Scholar.

Australia is facing a capabilities crisis. Participation in both intermediate and higher-level mathematics has fallen to an all-time low nationally, with particular challenges outside of major cities where single-subject, specialist teachers can be scarce and pathways to university less accessible.

What lives with you? Not your housemates or your family — the other ones.

A University of Queensland physicist is turning broken laboratory equipment and experimental relics into innovative jewellery.

The University of Queensland’s Dr Cullan Howlett has been awarded the 2026 Pawsey Medal from the Australian Academy of Sciences for his outstanding contributions to physics research.

A new Australian start‑up, Cortisonic, has been spun out of research led by The University of Queensland, marking the outcome of more than 13 years of sustained collaboration between the Queensland Quantum Optics Lab at UQ and Lockheed Martin to develop alternative computing technologies based on sound, or ‘phonons’.

For Dr Adrian Dudek, mathematics isn’t just about formulas and problem sets – it is about discovering patterns, beauty, and powerful ways to understand the world.

University of Queensland research has identified why promising next-generation perovskite solar cells struggle outdoors, and how smarter materials design could dramatically extend their operating lifetimes.

The Turing Test for whether a machine can ‘think’ is as relevant in today’s world of rapid AI adoption as it was when it was first outlined in the 1950s.

The University of Queensland's Associate Professor Jacqui Romero has been announced as a 2026 Optica Fellow for her seminal contributions to quantum-structured light and her pioneering role in promoting quantum science in the Philippines

This year’s Nesbit Endowed Lecture in Pure Mathematics has wrapped up, shining a light on the extraordinary world of pure mathematics.

Just 6 years after graduating from UQ, Anna Podolsky turned a personal concern for her dog’s wellbeing into one of Australia’s most successful pet wellness startups.

Casual Academics are an essential and valued part of teaching in the School of Mathematics and Physics. Every year, the School hosts its Casual Academic Awards to thank all casual academics and recognise outstanding service.

Eight secondary school students, from years 10-11, travelled to UQ to participate in the School of Mathematics and Physics Astrophysics Work Experience Program on 15-19 September 2025.

Scientists have paved the way for next-generation quantum circuits by successfully making a semiconducting element commonly used in electrical devices superconducting.

University of Queensland researchers have made a microscopic ‘ocean’ on a silicon chip to miniaturise the study of wave dynamics.

Physicists have discovered new ways to understand turbulence in superfluids – exotic liquids that flow without friction – offering insights that could shape future technologies and fundamental physics research.

Regardless of what astrophysicist Professor Tamara Davis discovers about the universe, improving the public’s trust in science will always be more important to her.

The School’s annual Poster Day was held on Friday, 19 September 2025.