University of the Sunshine Coast

18/10/2026

We're looking forward to bringing our latest Building Better public series – Tweens, teens and screens – to Moreton Bay later this month.

This is going to be a ripping panel discussion on the impacts of screen time and social media. Featuring psychology and mental health experts Dr Rachael Sharman and Professor Daniel Hermens, the panel will also include well-known social media creator and UniSC student Spencer Abbott and his mother, Kerri Abbott, for an in-depth look at the many perspectives on this topical issue.

Hosted by Norman Swan, all these are events have a great success – this is another one worth getting to if you can. Follow the link for details.

Screen time and social media are reshaping how young people think, behave and experience the world.

15/10/2026

Students and researchers onboard a CSIRO research vessel made a fascinating observation – an area around the wreck of Althea II was surrounded by an almost perfect circle of pock marks in the seabed made by marine life.

Follow the link to read about what this observation could mean when it comes to locating submerged wrecks underwater.

Researchers on board the CSIRO's Investigsator explain how mysterious holes on the seafloor can point to the position of

13/10/2026

Sharks would have to be one of the most divisive animals on the planet – eliciting love, fear, hatred, curiosity and debate in plenty of people.

But, despite being regularly talked about, there is still so much we don't know about them – including migration patterns.

Dr Ross Dwyer contributed to this collaborative article analysing those gaps in knowledge and suggesting approaches to closing them.

Follow the link for a fascinating read about these ocean beasts.

Almost 11,000 kilometres. That’s how far one white shark swam while travelling from South Africa to Western Australia, b

11/10/2026

The spy in the machine.

Our vehicles are collecting huge amounts of personal information about us, including location and travel data, as well as audio and video information, often transmitting it to manufacturer systems and cloud services – this much we've known for a while.

But what wasn't widely realised until recently was how easily vehicle systems could be hacked, until a recent ABC story highlighted the issue.

Cybersecurity expert and former FBI agent Dr Dennis Desmond explains the risks and shares advice for anyone considering buying a new car.

Earlier this week, the ABC reported a cybersecurity expert hacking a BYD Shark 6 hybrid ute. The expert gained control o

08/10/2026

Erin had plenty of self-doubt before she enrolled in university, including a long-held fear of public speaking.

But she says she underwent such a transformation during her uni journey that she graduated at the top of her class and went on to deliver the graduate address in front of a packed audience at her own graduation.

Her love of ecology played a big role in her success, with a Special Research Project exploring how acoustic devices can help keep whales and dolphins safe among the highlights of her degree.

“I tried to get involved in as much fieldwork as possible and gain hands-on experience, because that’s what I found to be the most valuable form of learning,” she says.

Follow the link to read more about Erin’s experience.

From being unsure if university was her ‘thing' to being recognised as a student exemplar, Erin Pascoe has ridden the wa

07/10/2026

05/10/2026

Propolis is all the buzz – and we're stoked to be at the forefront of it!

Our researchers are part of a group who has been given a $3 million boost by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to develop new products for the food, health, medical and cosmetic sectors from the sticky substance made by bees to seal their hives.

The mixture of plant resins, beeswax, essential oils and pollen is highly regarded in both traditional medicine and modern research, primarily for its potent antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties – and our researchers have been investigating it it for years.

Follow the link to read the details about this latest development.

The University of the Sunshine Coast is helping pioneer an Australian propolis industry after its research identified ri

01/10/2026

Chatting with Sue, it's difficult to capture the vastness of her life in a short story. She has lived so many lives already and continues to embrace life and pursue it to its fullest.

She's succeeded in and changed her career path so many times, despite the daunting prospect of stepping into the unknown each time.

But at the heart of it all, her true calling has always been working with people.

Now studying criminology, she's continuing to focus on working with people – in this case, to find new ways to keep communities safe.

Follow the link for a glimpse into her remarkable journey.

Sue Sweeney reinvented her career three times before embarking what she believes is her true – working with people and c

30/09/2026

Great opportunity here for small and family businesses up north – we're offering FREE business short courses designed specifically for small and family businesses across Far North Queensland.

We've worked with industry to design these courses to focus on the challenges and opportunities businesses are facing:
✅ Leveraging AI
✅ Business Planning
✅ Continuity and Resilience
✅ Workforce Development

These are starting soon and will be available online or in-person.

Delivered in partnership with Business Queensland 🤝

Follow the link for more details and to register.

UniSC in partnership with the Queensland Government offer a suite of free planning courses to help businesses and organi

29/09/2026

Maths is often portrayed as students working quietly, in isolation.

But that's a myth – if you ask teachers, most of them will tell you the best maths classes are full of students "talking, questioning, exploring, collaborating, trying different strategies and learning with and from one another."

Rebecca Burtenshaw (yes, that's her pictured below!) has busted this and some of the most common other myths about learning and teaching maths. And she should know – she's completing her PhD on the topic.

Follow the link to read her insights.

There are a lot of myths around learning and teaching maths, including what "success" looks like – PhD candidate Rebecca