What’s happening

A couple of months ago, economics student Alex Jayasuria took to the international stage (albeit virtually) to represent Australia at the United Nations COP26 summit.

Through receiving a 2021 Global Voice Scholarship, he was able to work on a public policy paper giving several recommendations to fight climate change.

"Climate change is no simple warming of the weather. It’s mass migration, it’s an instigator of cultural tensions, it’s the destruction of complex natural systems, and it’s killing the development of impoverished countries," says Alex. "I am from Southeast Asia, where income inequality and the disparity between standards of living within the region are substantial. I am lucky to have been gifted a better quality of life and I intend to use this to help those less fortunate than me. It is through economics and public policy that I’ve found the instruments to create change."

Click on Curtin Commons via the link in our bio to find the full interview with Alex.

#CurtinCommons #sustainability #cop26 #climatechange #economics #scholarship ...

Welcome back everyone to what is going to be another exciting year for Curtin! We hope you enjoyed a restful holiday break.

Are you new to our pages or keen to discover what it means to be a Curtin graduate or friend? Click on the link in our bio to explore our website, update your details or read the latest stories in Curtin Commons and subscribe to our monthly newsletter!

We have a lot in store for you in 2022, with more events, expert insights and inspiring stories from your fellow graduates. Stay tuned! ...

Another year gone already - and what a year it's been! 🎉

We've had the pleasure of sharing so many of your amazing stories - whether you're a graduate, staff member, student or community member. We launched Curtin Commons, our first ever online publication to showcase your incredible talents and achievements. We hope you've enjoyed the reading so far!

Together, we've generated incredible support for causes that will directly contribute to positive change, such as improving student's mental health, creating scholarships for mature-aged First Nations women, and providing food supplies for students struggling financially because of the pandemic.

Thank you to everyone for being part of our wonderful Curtin community. We hope you have a joyful holiday season and we'll see you again next year for more exciting stories and opportunities to make tomorrow better for all 💖 ...

Why do violent extremism groups form? And how can we prevent them from forming?

The Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN), led by academics Dr Tim Rich and Dr Eva Bujalka, hopes to find answers to these questions. Established just five months ago, they’ve already held several events, including their sold-out launch that was keynoted by Labor member Dr Anne Aly MP.

“These [domestic extremists] include involuntary celibates (incels), the alt-right, and vaccine sceptics,” says Dr Tim Rich. “The groups all have different views and goals. But at the end of the day, they are motivated by a sense that the prosperity they were promised would come from globalisation, liberalism and free market economies has not manifested for them.

“While it’s easy to attribute the anti-vaccine unrest in Melbourne, for example, to just a few radical troublemakers, the stark reality is that a lot of ideas behind these incidences have growing salience in significant sections of our society. They’ve been seeping into our politics and digital spaces for years now. We would be complacent to think we are immune to such challenges here in Australia, especially if we enter a crisis.”

Find out what the experts think about ending violent extremism in Australia by clicking on 'Curtin Commons' in the link in our bio.

📷 Dr Tim Rich and Dr Eva Bujalka from CERN.

#CurtinCommons #CurtinResearch #extremism ...

Kit Leake began noticing that his wife Eileen’s memory was deteriorating. He encouraged Eileen to see her GP and one of their worst fears was realised - she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

“I went to my doctor and said: ‘I feel like my head is not working properly’,” says Eileen.

But then the couple learnt about the Curtin University-led Probucol in Alzheimer’s Disease Study (PIA-Study), which is exploring an effective treatment for slowing the decline in memory and thinking skills.

Read about Kit and Eileen's journey to end Alzheimer's in Curtin Commons via the link in our bio.

📷 Kit and Eileen Leake.

#CurtinCommons #alzheimersdisease #dementiaresearch ...

An enormous thank you to the Curtin community for donating to 'Share the Dignity' bags.

These bags provide hygiene and sanitary products to women, girls and anyone who menstruates that needs support - often they are fleeing domestic violence.

Curtin staff and friends came together to donate over 50 very well stocked bags - an amazing effort that will make a real difference for people in need! Thank you.

📷 Photo by Brad Coleman. Image courtesy of John Curtin Gallery.

#ItsInTheBag #CurtinCares #periodpoverty #sharethedignity ...

Congratulations to Dr Yalimay Jimenez, who recently graduated from Curtin with a PhD in chemistry.

"When my oldest child was three years old, he was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder," says Yalimay. "At the time I was one unit away from taking my doctoral exams in Venezuela but I could barely manage to work due to the number of therapies my son had to go to. Our family was my number one priority. I decided to withdraw from this degree.

"Years later, my husband and I could not deal with the economic and humanitarian crisis in our home country anymore. We planned to move to Australia; we worked hard... we persevered. My husband said to me, 'now is your time.' He did all he could to support my dream. He is my best friend and my biggest ally.

"I have no regrets about my PhD journey. I was more mature, did it in my second language, and in a research group that pursues excellence. All the challenges I faced and overcame - it was worth it!"

Yalimay is now working as an exploration geochemist but plans to continue her education and publish her Masters thesis while gaining further experience as a data scientist in the environmental and mineral industries.

👏 Thank you for sharing your story 👏

Tag a #CurtinGrad with an incredible story in the comments and we may feature them on our page!

📷 Photo of Yalimay Jimenez and her family at her graduation ceremony, supplied by Yalimay.

#CurtinGrad #PhD #education #learning #chemistry #geology #geologist #scientist #inspiring #Venezuela #student ...