Research Online

With Edith Cowan University's (ECU's) decommissioning activities wrapping up at the former Mount Lawley Campus, work is now under way to give students and staff a living piece of the legacy. The diligent grounds team at the former Mount Lawley Campus are looking to prune the roses on campus for the final time this July before their welfare is taken over by the state at the end of the year.

ECU student alumna Kat Chaplin has won a place at the exhibition Hatched: National Graduate Show 2026 at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Kat recently successfully completed her Bachelor of Arts at ECU with a Visual Arts major. This year's Hatched brings together the work of 21 outstanding early-career artists from across Australia, offering visitors the opportunity to experience a diverse range of exciting new contemporary art in the beautiful heritage-listed PICA building.

The victory cements ECU Racing's place among the world's elite student engineering teams and adds another chapter to the program's remarkable success story. Designed, engineered and built entirely by ECU students, Gwen impressed judges across the competition's rigorous engineering, manufacturing, business and on-track performance categories over five days of action to claim the overall championship.

A new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) confirms the presence of fungal food resources is important for supporting the reintroduction of two threatened marsupials to the Shark Bay World Heritage area, which could simultaneously advance species conservation and ecosystem restoration. This study, led by Edith Cowan University PhD Candidate Rebecca Quah, took place at six sites across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including Dirk Hartog Island in Shark Bay.

Ten Edith Cowan University (ECU) pre-service teachers from early childhood, primary and secondary education were given a first-hand opportunity to experience rural and remote education in Western Australia’s Kimberley region as part of the 2026 On Country Study Tour. The nine-day trip included visits to Derby District Highschool, Kimberley School of the Air, Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School and One Tree Children's Services.

One of the leading voices in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and education, Oxford University post-doctoral researcher Dr Sara Ratner, has shared her insights into the ethical and effective use of AI as part of an Education Sector Leadership Think Tank event. Hosted by the Fogarty Foundation and Forrest Research Foundation, in partnership with Edith Cowan University (ECU), Dr Ratner was the keynote speaker at the AI in Education event.

The story behind the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts' (WAAPA's) newest percussion instrument is a fitting tribute to one of the Academy's most staunch supporters. In memory of his late wife, Penny, Ron Crittall has generously donated a world-class Marimba One Xylophone to WAAPA, reflecting the couple's longstanding connection to the Academy. Professor David Shirley, ECU Executive Dean of WAAPA, said Ron and Penny have been dedicated supporters of WAAPA since it was first established.

More than 100 Western Australian high school students were given a firsthand experience of university life at Edith Cowan University's (ECU's) Joondalup campus as part of the UniPrep Schools Program, On Campus Experience Day. The Year 11 and 12 UniPrep Schools students from partner high schools, including Ballajura Community College, Bullsbrook College and Duncraig Senior High School, took part in discipline-specific workshops, toured ECU facilities, and engaged with student ambassadors.

Eight Edith Cowan University (ECU) researchers have earned grants totalling $800,000 in this year's WA Near Miss Awards (WANMAs). The WANMAs are sponsored by the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund, a Western Australian government-backed scheme, which earmarks funds targeting the health and medical research sector. Thirty-nine Western Australian scientists in total have picked up the funding, in two categories: early and mid-career grants, and Investigator grants.

Professor Elizabeth Watkin from Edith Cowan University's School of Science realised a life-long dream when she recently lectured at the famed Natural History Museum in London. Invited by the Elemental Engineering Hub – a collaboration of research groups that work to make mining greener - Professor Watkin gave an insightful look at the role of microbial biotechnology in transforming biomining processes.