February 2026

Elder and Aboriginal activist Vincent Lingiari, Singer Ted Egan, and a 1960s University of Newcastle’s linguistics student, Nona Harvey all crossed paths with a Nunggubuyu man from the Northern Territory called Dexter Daniels. They described him variously as him as “stand-out”, “a very imposing figure” with “film-star looks”, “austere and very focused”, “clearly a leader who had lots of respect”. Although, none knew him well, Dexter Daniels changed their lives. So why was he buried in an unmarked grave at Ngukurr, a very remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory’s Arnhem Land, and known by his own community as another old man?

Lasting policy reforms, almost always, have difficult beginnings. Think Medicare, the Superannuation Guarantee, or the National Disability Insurance Scheme. They have proven transformative for so many Australians. Yet all three measures weathered early criticism over their impact on social equity, wage pressure and increased public spending.

Lara Godde first became involved with HunterWiSE as a Year 8 student in 2018. At the time, she wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted to do with her future, but participating in the program proved to be a turning point.

From taking apart video game consoles as a child, to winning software development competitions in school, University of Newcastle Computer Science student Saihajleen Kaur has always dreamt of being behind the scenes of computer tech development.

A new art exhibition has emerged from a four‑year study led by University of Newcastle researcher Associate Professor Hedda Askland, exploring how the Hunter Valley can navigate its post‑mining future.

Applications are now open for students studying Visual Communication Design or Media and Communication in 2026 as plans come together for the 2026 Singapore Study Tour and the 2026 Annecy Visual Communication Design Study Tour to France.Applications for both tours close 5pm Friday 27th February

New science has revealed some of the Gwydir Wetlands’ iconic coolabahs and river red gums are up to 500 years old.

Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) has unveiled a major upgrade to imaging capabilities with the installation of a new Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Cima.X Fit MRI scanner at the Hunter Medical Research Institute Imaging Centre, strengthening the region's capacity for world-class medical research.

Researchers are preparing for the arrival of a new state‑of‑the‑art instrument that will accelerate studies into some of the most aggressive cancers.

Families from across the Hunter Region explored the hidden life beneath their feet these school holidays, joining University of Newcastle environmental science academics for hands on coastal workshops at Nobbys and Stockton beaches.

From renewable energy breakthroughs to robotics challenges, future engineers had the chance to experience first‑hand what their careers could look like.

Many high school students learn mathematics well, yet few have a clear picture of the careers it can lead to. The Young Mathematicians Program (YMP) was created to change that.