Macquarie University

Over 500 Year 11 and 12 economics students from 21 schools across NSW visited Macquarie University this week to hear from prominent Australian leaders at the Echo Economics Conference.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Dr Steven Kennedy and Productivity Commission Chair Danielle Wood shared insights on unlocking Australia's economic dynamism and the role of future economists.

Students were inspired to be curious, and the best place to start is studying economics, according to the Echo organisers, our keynote speakers and Professor Leonie Tickle, Executive Dean of Macquarie Business School.

“If you’ve ever wondered whether what happens in the university lecture theatre has an impact on the world, I can tell you that it does,” Professor Tickle said.

“I really hope that I see some of you back at Macquarie in the future to start your own remarkable paths here.”

No quality control, no accountability, no idea what you're actually inhaling.

Macquarie University's Professor Brian Oliver breaks down what's really in illicit ci******es, as ni****ne consumption climbs almost 40% since 2017.

Read more: https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/2026/june-2026/four-out-of-five-ci******es-smoked-in-australia-are-illegal.-whats-in-them

New research from Macquarie University has found removing everyday positive mental health behaviours for just two weeks can rapidly trigger symptoms of depression and anxiety in otherwise healthy adults.

The study helps explain how depression and anxiety can emerge from the loss of these daily behaviours:
- Maintaining realistic thinking
- Engaging in meaningful activities
- Having goals and plans
- Keeping healthy routines, including sleep
- Staying socially connected

Read more: https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/2026/june-2026/big-5-for-mental-health

Where you live matters, even for bees 🐝

New research has found Australian native bees face very different levels of risk from rising temperatures, depending on where they build their homes.

Bee species that nest in plant stems appear to be at the greatest short risk, while those that nest in the ground are more able to evade extreme heat.

Dr Carmen da Silva from Macquarie University was part of the research team who tested the heat tolerance of dozens of species.

Read more: https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/2026/june-2026/bees-and-climate-change

Macquarie University has reached its highest-ever position in the QS World University Rankings, rising 12 places to 126th globally.

The result places Macquarie in the top 1.5 per cent of more than 8,800 institutions worldwide, and marks a climb of 121 places over the past decade.

Nationally, Macquarie is now ranked 11th in Australia and in the top 10 for both graduate outcomes and employer reputation, reflecting the University's commitment to student success and real-world impact.

Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton said: "To climb more than 120 places in under a decade is a testament to our shared ambition and to the strength of our vision as a university focused on real-world impact."

Read more: https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/media-releases/macquarie-soars-to-new-heights-in-prestigious-qs-world-university-rankings

Emeritus Professor Robert Harcourt is one of five winners in Nature's 2026 photo competition, captured at Ningaloo Reef while documenting a whale shark feeding event.

The Macquarie University Professor of Marine Ecology was in the water when a silvertip shark crept up on his colleague mid-dive. Mike didn't notice. He was focused on microbes.

"Swimming next to a 12-metre whale shark is both humbling and exhilarating," says Harcourt.

Read more: https://macquarie.university/4ejKrOL

Macquarie University researcher Dr Kyle Zawada has mapped nearly 166,000 km² of reef with a genuine chance of surviving, three times more than previously thought.

Only some of these reefs are currently protected, but through the 50 Reef+ study, science now exists to protect the rest.

Today, the Wildlife Conservation Society, SkyTruth, and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Ocean Initiative are making this research data publicly accessible for the first time.

The study's findings are available through the 30x30 Progress Tracker, a free interactive platform that lets users track progress toward protecting 30% of the planet by 2030.

Explore the maps: https://macquarie.university/3QrCmzD

Macquarie University Business student and Sport Scholar Lachie Bayliss has been selected to represent New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup 🏆

Balancing elite sport with university study is no small achievement. Alongside his studies, Lachie has been playing for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League and will now play for the All Whites on one of football's biggest stages.

Congratulations, Lachie! We'll be cheering you on from Ubar on the 16, 22 and 27 June 💙

Read more: https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/2026/june-2026/lachlan-bayliss-fifa-world-cup

Did you know shark fins, dried seahorses and sea cucumbers are among the most illegally trafficked wildlife in the world? They are smuggled through airports and in the mail every day, often hidden in plain sight.

Researchers at Macquarie University have developed an AI system that can spot these items in airport luggage scans with up to 95% accuracy, using CT scanners already in use at airports around the world.

Read more: https://macquarie.university/3QxQMhL

A few autumn snaps from campus 🍂