Beyond the boundaries: the newest discoveries shaping your future
Join us in Brisbane or virtually. Back by popular demand, join us for a fascinating evening with 5 UQ researchers who will pitch their mind-blowing work – breakthroughs that could transform the way we live.
From snake-venom gels that stop bleeding to wearable exoskeletons for motor-neuron disease, hypersonic heat-proof materials, brain-circuit insights driving new schizophrenia treatments and AI that sharpens life-saving decisions, we’ll spotlight cutting-edge UQ science with major real-world implications.
Event details
Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025
Time: 5:30pm for 6–9pm
Venue: UQ Brisbane City, Room 227, 308 Queen Street, Brisbane, 4000
Cost: $20 (includes two drinks and nibbles)
If you are unable to join us in person, please register to join the free virtual event from 6–7:45pm to receive the recording.
Presenters
Associate Professor Taylor Dick
School Director of Higher Degree Research, School of Biomedical Sciences
Associate Professor Dick leads the UQ Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory. Her research lies at the intersection of biomechanics, bio-inspired assistive devices and neuromuscular physiology.
One of her current projects applies this knowledge to develop targeted wearable robotic exoskeletons that help people with motor neuron disease move more easily and maintain independence.
Associate Professor Michael Heitzmann
Doctor of Philosophy '12, Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation '10
Director of Research, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering
Associate Professor Heitzmann leads a program that develops ultra-strong, heat-resistant materials for use in space and defence. He is an inventor on eight patents and a recognised pioneer in high-temperature composites. His team has created flight-ready parts for hypersonic experiments, demonstrating how advanced technology can move from the lab to real-world applications.
Dr James Kesby
Doctor of Philosophy '10, Bachelor of Science (Honours) '04
Affiliate Research Fellow, Queensland Brain Institute
Dr Kesby is a behavioural neuroscientist working to understand how psychotic disorders like schizophrenia affect the brain’s decision-making systems. Through close collaboration with both scientists and clinical teams, he leads a cross-species research program that bridges animal and human studies to reveal how brain circuitry drives decision-making in psychotic disorders.
Dr Amanda Kijas
Senior Research Fellow, UQ Centre for Clinical Research
Dr Kijas is a biomedical researcher exploring how materials and biological systems interact to tackle urgent medical problems. A major focus of her research is preventing death from uncontrolled bleeding, a leading cause of trauma fatalities. She is developing a fast-acting gel derived from snake venom to stop bleeding before hospital care.
Professor Tim Miller
Doctor of Philosophy '05, Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours) '00
IET-UQ Chair of Data Science and Professor of Artificial Intelligence, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Professor Miller's mission is to improve the capabilities of expert decision makers by using artificial intelligence to do the hard things. One of his current projects applies these ideas to healthcare, testing the First Step brief intervention model for alcohol and drug treatment. Working with treatment providers and policy experts, his team is evaluating its effectiveness, cost-efficiency and long-term sustainability to help meet rising treatment demand.
About Alumni and community events
UQ alumni and community events take place in-person and online, across the globe, throughout the year. UQ alumni are invited to join the UQ ChangeMakers platform to access early event registrations, benefits and discounts.
