Labor welcomes today’s announcement that Professor Brian Schmidt AC FRCS will be appointed as Australian National University’s (ANU) new Vice-Chancellor.

 

Professor Schmidt will replace outgoing ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young when his term ends in February 2016.

 

His appointment heralds exciting times for ANU. Professor Schmidt will be the first Nobel Laureate appointed to head the university. He will make an outstanding contribution to public debate.

 

Labor looks forward to working closely with Professor Schmidt when he takes up his challenging new role leading one of Australia’s most respected institutions. ANU has a unique relationship with the Australian Government as the only university established under Commonwealth legislation.

The university was established in 1946 by a Labor Government led by Ben Chifley and Labor has always valued the contribution it makes to cutting edge research, public policy and teaching some of the nation’s best and brightest students.

 

Professor Schmidt moved to Australia and joined the ANU's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics more than 20 years ago.

 

Over that time his pioneering work into the acceleration of our expanding universe has seen him awarded a Nobel Prize in 2011 – the first time since 1915 that an Australian was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.

 

Professor Schmidt is a strong advocate for higher education and the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths in building Australia’s future jobs and prosperity.

 

Labor congratulates Professor Schmidt on his appointment.

 

WEDNESDAY, 24 JUNE 2015

 

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                                         THOMAS MOORHEAD 0427 126 355