ANU alumna Sonali Varma has been named one of nine Australian Rhodes Scholars for 2026. A passionate advocate for youth mental health, Sonali will study psychiatric epidemiology at the University of Oxford to strengthen links between data-driven research and lived experience.

“My time at ANU was genuinely transformative,” she said. “It gave me the foundation to pursue postgraduate study and the confidence to continue serving my community.”

Sonali is the 12th ANU graduate to receive a Rhodes Scholarship since 2019.

Learn more: ANU alumna Sonali Varma awarded 2026 Rhodes Scholarship

A team of researchers from ANU, led by Dr Keqing Huang and Dr The Duong from the School of Engineering, has achieved a major efficiency breakthrough in solar energy research. They have reached the highest efficiency levels ever recorded for devices using tin oxide as the electron transport material.

“It means more than a quarter of the sunlight hitting the cell is converted directly into usable electricity,” Dr Duong said.

Learn more: ANU team create record-breaking solar cells

With exams underway, it’s important to create an environment that allows you to study effectively.

If you’re living in a room on campus or creating a study nook in your bedroom at home, you can use these six steps to the perfect study space to build a space that helps you focus and stay motivated. This includes how to arrange your desk and chair, adjust lighting, consider the size of your workspace and more.

If you’re after a change of scenery, check out the five best study spots on campus.

Wherever you study, make sure it’s a space that works for you.

You are now able to self-identify your current gender at any time through ANUHub without needing to provide supporting documentation.  

Navigate to the ANUHub homepage > Personal Data > Profile > Personal Details > Biographic > Gender to update your gender.

If you experience any technical difficulties throughout this process, please contact Student Central.

For further information about the context for this change and the support available to students affected by this change, visit Updates to gender data collection for ANU students.

ANU is reviewing its Student Discipline Framework, and a draft is now available for feedback.

Read the Draft Recommendations Report to help shape the framework. 

Share your feedback via the survey or register to attend an information session to learn more: 

Learn more: Final call for the feedback on the Student Discipline Framework draft recommendations

In the lead-up to the launch of the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-30, we’re continuing our weekly spotlight on the themes that shape it.

This week’s focus is ‘listen more, learn more’. It highlights how the Strategy supports capacity building and reflective evaluation across our community.

Theona Gevorgian, a Work, Health and Safety Consultant at ANU, explains how Mental Health First Aid training and injury prevention initiatives build the skills and confidence we all need to support each other.

Learn more: Listen more, learn more

LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool, but it can also expose sensitive information. Learn how to protect yourself from phishing, impersonation and data scraping by managing what you share and who you connect with.

Learn more: Keep It Professional – protect your identity on LinkedIn

For ANU student Mikayla Helms, being part of a strong and welcoming community has been key to her experience – both as an undergraduate student and as a proud First Nations woman.

Learn more: Student Stories – Mikayla’s journey of culture, confidence and chasing medicine

The University Risk Office is hosting International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) between Sunday 16 November and Saturday 22 November. This year’s theme is Preventing Fraud is a Team Effort, reminding us that every member of our community has a role in protecting the integrity of our University.

This means:

You can do your part by registering to attend the 2025 ANU Fraud and Corruption Awareness Seminar, hosted by the University’s Risk Office, and featuring a guest presenter from the National Anti-Corruption Commission. This session will be held online on Monday, 17 November at 2pm.

You can also view the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre’s webinars that are open to all staff.

Thursday 6 November, 12–1pm

The Fox International Fellowship is a graduate student exchange program between Yale University and other world-renowned partner universities, including ANU. The program aims to identify and contribute to the education of outstanding students who, by virtue of their academic and extracurricular record, can be expected in the future to participate in guiding the world toward a more peaceful order.

Register here for Fox Fellowship information session

Thursday 6 November, 6–7pm

Award-winning author Sofie Laguna will be in conversation with Karen Viggers about her new novel The Underworld.

The Underworld is for every reader you know; thinkers, laughers, empaths, quirky folk, queer folk, nostalgists, the young and those getting on.

Register here for Meet the author: Sofie Laguna

Thursday 6 November 7.15–8.15pm

Join the ANU Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership for its Annual Lecture with Marina Go AM, Chair of Adore Beauty and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

Marina will discuss the importance of Asian-Australian representation in leadership roles and how to drive meaningful change.

Register for 2025 ANU Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership annual lecture

Monday 10 November, 6–7pm

Julianne Schultz will be in conversation with Allan Behm on the updated edition of her book The Idea of Australia: A search for the soul of the nation. Asking the questions, what is the ‘idea of Australia’? What defines the soul of our nation?

Its publication complements the October SBS four-part series, hosted by Rachel Griffiths, inspired by, and based on, Julianne’s book.

Register here for Meet the author - Julianne Schultz

The Australian Centre on China in the World’s flagship journal has been ranked number one for impact in Area Studies for 2024 and now it has earned a Social Science Citation Index JCI of 4.43. This means it is outpacing leading titles in political science, sociology, international relations, anthropology and economics. The latest issue covers topics from Tibetan political disenfranchisement to academic self-censorship in China.

Learn more: The Australian Centre on China in the World’s flagship journal, The China Journal, hits a new high

ANU staff and students have free and unlimited access to the ACTS Conference 2025 – The Future of Sustainability, running virtually from Wednesday 5 November – Friday 7 November 2025.

Across three days, hear from sustainability experts, explore best practice and connect with peers across Australasia. ANU staff and students can register for free and receive unlimited access to all sessions. 

Don’t miss the chance to be part of the leading sustainability event for the tertiary education sector. 

Learn more: Don't miss the ACTS Future of Sustainability Conference

Do you have a photo you’re proud of that you’d love to have featured in On Campus?

We’ll now be featuring your photo submissions in each edition of On Campus to showcase your moments, scenes and perspectives that make our University special.

This week’s picture comes from Lewis Tremayne who captured the entry of the ANU College of Law saying, “I always stopped to admire this spot when walking from Coombs to Ursula Hall. There's something about the symmetry and orderliness that catches me!”

Share your photo with us using this form and include a short note about why you chose it and what makes it special to you.

Help is available if you need it. If you are dealing with a personal or university-related issue, ANU encourages you to seek support through the Student Safety and Wellbeing team by emailing student.wellbeing@anu.edu.au or calling 02 6125 2211, Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm.

You can also visit our Urgent Support page for a list of 24/7 and crisis support options.

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call ANU Security at (02) 6125 2249