Our cover story introduces an exciting new centre to be based at UNSW Art & Design that will revolutionise the way scientists approach medical visualisation.

Due to open later this year, the Expanded Perception and Interaction Centre (EPIC), is a groundbreaking multidisciplinary facility that brings together 21st Century design thinking and some of the most sophisticated high-resolution 3D and immersive technology yet created. It will be a game changer for research that relies on visualising complex information and large data sets. The centre’s potential for broader public engagement in medical issues and in mental health is immense.

This type of collaborative research is a natural fit for UNSW and I congratulate the multidisciplinary team responsible for bringing the centre to reality and for creating an exemplar of UNSW’s strategic focus on academic excellence, and global research impact.

As we begin to roll out the 2025 Strategy to establish UNSW as Australia’s global university in the world’s top 50, we will be announcing a series of ambitious initiatives. I am pleased with developments in creating the leadership team that will spearhead the implementation of the strategy – with a series of new appointments at Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vice President, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean level.

On the community engagement front, the year started on a high note with the annual Gandhi Oration, delivered by Peter Greste, the Australian journalist jailed on unjustified terrorism charges in Egypt. The record turnout to hear Peter’s talk ‘Journalism in the Age of Terror’ was a testament to UNSW’s reputation as a thought leader committed to events that bring the community together. You can read an edited excerpt of Peter’s oration on page 20.

Finally, I’m thrilled to see the incredible work of one of our leading social policy researchers profiled in this issue of the magazine (page 8). You can read about the exciting work of Lyn Craig, our newest ARC Future Fellow and an inaugural PLuS Alliance Fellow. A world-leading researcher in her field, Lyn exemplifies the kind of academic who will be central to UNSW achieving its ambitious goals for the next 10 years.

Professor Ian Jacobs