CASS academic excellence recognised at ANU Vice-Chancellor’s Awards

Three stellar academics from the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences were acknowledged for their depth of talent and outstanding contributions to the University at the 2020 Vice-Chancellor's Annual Awards.

The College’s recipients were:

Dr Samper Carro, who specialises in zooarchaeology and who recently made groundbreaking findings in relation to human subsistence strategies, said she was extremely glad to receive the Award for Early Career Academics: “I guess it is like the Oscars of Education!” she says.

“I believe inspiring the new generations is our role as academics, and this award inspires me to keep working hard to get students passionate about archaeology.”

Philosopher Associate Professor Lazar is the Project Lead on the $7.5 million Humanising Machine Intelligence ANU Grand Challenge. He loves doing philosophy because it helps him make sense of his life and the lives of others, and for the sense of discovery it enables.

“I love working on my current project, because it enables me to combine ground-breaking philosophical research with an ability to make a real positive difference in people's lives.”

The passion Associate Professor Bennett has for education stems from her deep and life-long connection with – and commitment to – all the ways that she engages with music as a scholar.

“"I don't think a day goes by where I'm not teaching, writing or performing, researching, listening to or writing about, music,” she says. “I'm constantly looking to the future and what might be possible to achieve."

A non-CASS staff member who was recognised for his contributions relating to the College was Mr Neill Daly, Associate Director (Projects) in the Facilities and Services Division. In addition to receiving the Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Service to the Campus Community, Mr Daly was awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Innovation and Excellence in Service. The latter was for his outstanding contribution to the capital works to reinvigorate the built environment of the Baldessin Precinct for CASS, including the new Research School of Social Sciences (RSSS) building.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt praised the great achievements of all ANU staff who “make our community a better place”.

"Whether you are in office administration, you are a marketing specialist, early career academic or researcher at the pinnacle of your career, we all contribute to creating a culture and environment for excellence," Professor Schmidt said.

The full list of ANU awardees is available on the ANU website.

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