From business to research, Australia’s biggest challenges will require people who can ask good questions, investigate competing ideas and follow the evidence wherever it leads.

The warning is clear: policymakers are running out of time. Ignoring higher education policy now risks leaving Australia underprepared for climate disruption, the critical minerals transition and the AI revolution.

From world-class scientific research to economic, environmental and social value, universities are vital for circulating knowledge and talent. Professor Robyn Murphy, Dean of the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment at La Trobe University, makes the case for why universities must sit at the centre of Australia’s economic future.

Australia’s scientific workforce is leaking lifeblood, with critical areas showing significant capability gaps. Australian University Science talks with academics around the country to find the answers.

Universities play a pivotal role in national innovation systems. Graduates must be ready with the practical skills needed to meet deadlines, deliver value and operate in competitive markets. These 3 universities show us how.

A joined-up tertiary system –  also known as harmonised learning – can boost workforce mobility, strengthen skills development and support seamless progression from vocational training through to advanced research, and it’s already started across Australia.

Closing the gap between training and employment outcomes requires coordinated action, with initiatives from the University of Wollongong and Western Sydney University pointing the way forward.

A national push for critical minerals exposes a weakness in our geology workforce, but also creates a rare chance for universities to rebuild it.

Universities must rethink how science is communicated, who gets to speak and who is heard.

As funding shifts toward mission-led outcomes, universities face growing pressure to justify every research dollar — but what happens to curiosity and creativity?

Universities are evolving the format and content of the Bachelor of Science to keep it modern and relevant. So how will it transform next?

From insufficient role models to challenging pathways, intersectional obstacles making it harder for students to choose science. How do we help clear the way?

Professor David Lloyd champions STEM apprenticeship programs and other targeted initiatives designed to expand access to university education.

Professor Craig T. Simmons, SA Chief Scientist explores the many outputs of Australian University science.

ACDS President Professor Jacqui Ramagge introduces the latest issue of Australian University Science magazine.

To mark National Science Week 2025, the Australian Council of Deans of Science is urging Australians to recognise the vital role of university science education

A message from Professor Melissa Brown, President, Australian Council of Deans of Science.

Professor Ian Chubb shares how Australian university science churns out both groundbreaking research and the sharp minds we need for the future.

International student income has contributed to Australian universities becoming globally recognised institutions.

A timeline celebrating 30 years of the Australian Council of Deans of Science (ACDS).

In a post-COVID world, new trends are emerging in university teaching and learning.

Over recent decades, the sharing of university facilities has sparked new opportunities for research excellence.

Since the 1990s, increasingly large datasets have led to amazing findings, but bring wicked challenges that university researchers are racing to solve.

The latest issue celebrates innovative collaborations between universities and industries that are driving more impactful and rewarding partnerships.