Bring on the 40th year!

39 years ago I walked through these doors to start the University of Wollongong (UOW) adventure - and what an adventure it has been! Together with many?colleagues at UOW - as well as collaborators across Australia and internationally - we have forged ahead in a number of areas of materials science research and, in particular, the use of New Materials and Advanced Fabrication?to tackle challenges in Energy and in Health.

In the course of this journey, I have had the privilege to work with many highly talented PhD students and Post Doctoral Fellows who have gone on to do great things. Doing a PhD requires great resilience to go with talent.Doing a PhD during Covid need resilience that was above and beyond - I salute you all!

Many of these students and Post Doctoral Fellows have gone on to contribute to existing and emerging industries. Many have been instrumental in the creation of new commercial entities deploying new technologies in Energy and Health. We have put the ability to create in the hands of the creative.

Research in a university environment can be a tough gig sometimes. It has been particularly tough of late. But we are buoyed by each other's commitment to deliver for the communities we work for. We are uplifted by every small step forward. Every opportunity to celebrate those advances builds our confidence in facing the next challenge.

I look forward to my 40th?year at UOW. We are poised to make further exciting advances on a number of fronts.?