School of Science, Engineering and Digital Technologies

03/09/2026

🎓 Get Ready for Trimester 3 Orientation Week at UniSQ!

The School of Science, Engineering and Digital Technologies is excited to welcome our newest students as they begin their UniSQ journey.

Whether you're studying Computing, Mathematics and Statistics, Engineering, or Surveying, Orientation Week is your opportunity to connect with academics, meet fellow students, discover support services, and prepare for a successful trimester. Students can also access UniSQ's orientation resources through the UniSQ Let's Go platform and participate in campus and online activities designed to support their transition to university life.

📍 School Welcome Sessions
Toowoomba Campus
📅 Monday 7 September 2026
🕙 10:15 am - 12:15 pm
📍 T120, Building T

Online Session
📅 Monday 7 September 2026
🕕 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
💻 Via Zoom: check your email for detail or message us

Springfield Campus
📅 Tuesday 8 September 2026
🕐 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
📍 Auditorium, Building D

At these sessions, you'll:
✅ Meet our teaching staff
✅ Connect with students in your discipline
✅ Learn how to make the most of your studies
✅ Discover support services and opportunities available throughout your degree
✅ Get your questions answered before classes begin

Orientation Week commences on 7 September, with Trimester 3 classes beginning on 14 September 2026.

We look forward to welcoming the next generation of engineers, scientists, digital innovators and technology leaders to UniSQ.

01/09/2026

Exciting time ahead with this World-class facility. Well done, Ag & Environment team!

University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) researchers will be able to recreate a range of environmental conditions to investigate how plants respond to heat, drought, pests and diseases following a $500,000 upgrade to the University’s Plant Growth Laboratory in Toowoomba.

28/08/2026

🚀⚛️ AI + Quantum: Building UniSQ’s Future Research Partnerships

Last Friday, UniSQ hosted the AI and Quantum Technologies Symposium: Research, Industry and Future Partnerships as part of UniSQ Research Week at the Springfield Campus.

The symposium was initiated and led by Professor Yan Li, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at UniSQ, with strong strategic support from Professor Robert Sang, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research, Development and Commercialisation), and support from Professor Prasad KDV Yarlagadda OAM, Dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Digital Technologies.

Professor Sang opened the symposium and joined the full-day program, reflecting strong University-level support for building UniSQ’s capability, visibility and partnerships in AI and Quantum Technologies. Professor Yarlagadda provided strong School's support and welcomed participants on behalf of the School.

The event brought together more than 100 participants, including senior university leaders, invited keynote speakers, external panellists, industry and government representatives, UniSQ researchers, staff and HDR students. The program featured keynote presentations, technical talks, a panel discussion on moving from research capability to industry partnerships and impact, and UniSQ staff and PhD research showcases.

We sincerely thank our invited speakers and panellists Professor Xiaodong Li from RMIT University, Professor Seng Loke from Deakin University, Dr Kate Lomas from the Queensland Government, Dr Anna Tynan from Darling Downs Health, Ms Claire Pink from Quantum Australia, Dr Nariman Saadatmand, PhD from Rigetti, Dr Pradeep Kumar from Analog Quantum Circuits, and, as well as all session chairs, presenters, organisers and participants.

We are particularly grateful to Professor Sang and Professor Yarlagadda for their strong support in making this symposium possible.

The key message from the day was clear: AI and Quantum Technologies are enabling capabilities that can drive research translation, industry partnerships and real-world impact.

This symposium marks an important step in strengthening UniSQ’s research connections and building future collaborations across AI, Quantum Technologies and their many application areas.

27/08/2026

Sharing insights, tackling problems, shaping agriculture!

Students in UniSQ’s Master of Science, Agricultural Science specialisation recently presented poster pitches in Advanced Plant Production, exploring some of Australia's most significant crop pests and diseases.

Under the guidance of Dr Kirsty Owen and Dr Rebecca Zwart, students drew on current research to examine region-specific production challenges and evaluate plant breeding strategies that can improve crop resilience, productivity, and sustainability.

It was fantastic to see students share their insights and learn from their peers.

Link to the specialisation https://www.unisq.edu.au/study/degrees-and-courses/specialisation/agricultural-science-master-science

26/08/2026

🎓 Support our talented research students in the 2026 UniSQ Virtual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) People's Choice Award!

We’re excited to announce that our School’s Higher Degree Research candidates are competing in for the People’s Choice Award in the 2026 UniSQ Virtual 3MT!

Watch their presentations, learn about the exciting research being undertaken at UniSQ, and support your favourite candidate by liking their official video.

The video with the highest number of likes will win the People’s Choice Award and receive a $250 prize to support research-related activities. This award is always hotly contested, with past entries receiving thousands of likes—so every vote counts!

Voting closes at 5:00pm on Thursday, 10 September 2026.

Our students:
Bhagya Gannoruwa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLWlx86hcZ4
David C Petit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8U2T5vkDq0
Thanh Tu Nguyen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3dA5icEHqE
Sharne Neill - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRg4fLkBUvw
Siri Rattanaamporn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C78KFf_XIn0
Seemab Tayyab - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLjbcq2REn4
Peter Edge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYg52FO2E4M
Ayla Heron - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1zzuooKiu4
Rollins Suluia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYkaItOoac8

Details of People's Choice Award Voting Rules can be found from the following link: https://www.unisq.edu.au/research/graduate-research-school/current-hdr-students/opportunities/hdr-student-competitions/3mt

Best of luck to our students!

19/08/2026

Spotlight on water science!

In the second-year course Catchment and Water Resource Management (WAT2202) led by Dr Jackie Webb at the University of Southern Queensland, students conduct a backyard mini-pond experiment as the main assessment.

With a water test kit sent to them, students studying anywhere in the country were able to track changes in basic water quality parameters over the course of 4-6 weeks in which they pollute one pond and not the other.

Here all about the experience from one of our current students studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science

https://www.unisq.edu.au/study/degrees-and-courses/major/climate-water-science-bachelor-environmental-science

18/08/2026

A Story of Academic Excellence in Our School 🎓

Completing a PhD is a remarkable achievement. Completing the journey alongside a sibling makes it even more special.

At UniSQ's School of Science, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Dr Rose Entezam and Dr Alireza Entezam, sister and brother, recently earned their Doctorates in Civil Engineering under the supervision of Professor Ali Mirzaghorbanali and his team. Recently featured in the Ipswich Tribune, they demonstrate not only research excellence but also the strength of family support and perseverance.

https://ipswichtribunetoday.com.au/news/2026/08/08/unisq-students-graduate/

Working in geotechnical and civil engineering, Rose and Alireza produced an impressive body of research, including multiple high-quality journal publications and conference papers, while supporting each other through the challenges of doctoral study.

Their achievement is even more inspiring given the significant personal challenges they faced along the way, including health setbacks and the loss of their father. Through determination, mutual support, and dedication to their research, they successfully completed a journey that reflects the very best of academic excellence and resilience.

Congratulations to Rose and Alireza on this outstanding milestone. We wish them every success in the next chapter of their careers.

17/08/2026

Research Spotlight: Hydrogen Microgrids for Remote Communities!

Could hydrogen help power remote communities more reliably?

Dr Md Alamgir Hossain's latest article in The Conversation explores the potential of hydrogen microgrids while taking a practical look at the challenges that must be addressed for their successful adoption.

https://theconversation.com/hydrogen-microgrids-could-help-power-remote-communities-but-beware-the-hype-288095?

Hydrogen makes it possible to store renewable energy for longer – but has its limitations.

14/08/2026

UniSQ Toowoomba Open Day: Where Engineering, Science and Technology Come to Life 🏗️🔬💻

Join us at UniSQ Open Day Toowoomba and experience it for yourself through interactive displays, lab tours, research showcases and conversations with the people driving discovery and innovation.

Many of the experiences on display today are powered by UniSQ's School of Science, Engineering and Digital Technologies. From engineering and computing to robotics, agriculture, space science and advanced research, our staff and students are helping shape the future through innovation, discovery and real-world impact.

Whether you're exploring a future career, considering your study options, or simply following your curiosity, this is your chance to see engineering, science and technology come to life.

Register for UniSQ Open Day⁠: https://www.unisq.edu.au/study/why-unisq/open-day

12/08/2026

Queensland 2026 Young Tall Poppy Award!

Congratulations to Dr Rebecca McElroy for winning a Queensland 2026 Young Tall Poppy Award. Rebecca will attend the 2026 AIPS Science Summit and Gala Dinner at the University of Technology Sydney on 11th September, where the overall state winners, alongside the Industry and First Nation winners, will be announced.