STEM College 2020 Annual Donor Report
Associate Director’s message This past year changed our lives and community in extraordinary ways, and its impact was felt keenly at RMIT. Academics made the future of online learning happen now, racing forward to deliver quality education in new and exciting ways. Students responded in kind, swiftly adapting to these new learning styles and succeeding in the face of global change and uncertainty. You also stepped up to the challenges of last year by supporting our Student Hardship and Frontline Scholarships Appeals. In difficult times, it takes the strength of a community to make an impact and you were that community for the many who needed it. Established over 130 years ago through the philanthropic leadership of Francis Ormond, RMIT was built on community generosity. In 2020 alone, you and your fellow donors supported 8,000 relief grants and 400 food and care packages for students in need during the pandemic, 697 philanthropic scholarships and prizes, and 30 tech grants for Vocational Education students. Your commitment to supporting the University is changing lives and those who have benefitted from your kindness are sure to pay it forward in future.
Over the last year, we conducted a thorough review of the RMIT Philanthropy Fund to increase governance and deliver greater strategic growth to maximise your impact at the University. The new fund structure also reflects our ongoing commitment to investments with positive environmental, social and governance characteristics in line with the RMIT Responsible Investment Principles. Therefore, we have exited the Low Carbon Global Shares Fund and invested into a new Sustainable Global Shares ex Fossil Fuels Fund, which excludes companies with fossil fuel reserves, as well as those with significant involvement in fossil fuels. Just as you support RMIT to create better opportunities for our future leaders, we want to be sure that your donation shapes the world for the better too. Thank you for your continued support of RMIT and the students, researchers and staff who make our institution great. We hope you enjoy reading about the incredible impact your generosity has at the University. Amy Harrington Associate Director, Philanthropy RMIT University
Ariana Kikkert
2020 in numbers Total number of philanthropic scholarships issued
611
Recipient of accommodation scholarship
“This Scholarship is a true aid and makes me feel as though it is not just myself being supported, but also my family.”
Scholarship recipients from a low SES background achieved success rates seven percentage points higher than all domestic students who did not receive a scholarship, and eight percentage points higher than low SES students who did not receive a scholarship* *2019 figures
280 College of Design and Social Context
255 STEM College
76 College of Business and Law
$2.8m
30
400
8,000
philanthropic funds disbursed across RMIT
Tech Grants supported for Vocational Education students
students received philanthropically funded emergency food and care packages during the pandemic
relief grants were awarded to students during the COVID-19 crisis, generously supported by donors
366
E-week
184
97%
students supported through the Global Leader Experience online
Jacques Nasser supported Entrepreneurship Week (E-week) to move online
attendees at the online 2020 Impact Series
of scholarship recipients felt their scholarship to be very important or extremely important in supporting them to continue their studies
STEM College Westpac Scholar hacking social change through technology First-year software engineering student and aspiring tech innovator Hanh Huynh is driven to solve global social issues using her skills and passion in technology. Awarded a Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship, which provides financial and personal development for technology students excited about its potential for good, Hanh is particularly passionate about sustainability. “Sustainability is an issue that is important to me and one that we need to address urgently,” said Hanh. Growing up in North-western Victoria, some of her fondest memories revolve around the Murray River, but Hanh has witnessed the impact of climate change as water levels sink and bushfires ravage rural Victoria in recent years. “I hope that I can use technology to help mitigate some of the effects of global warming, or at least help solve global issues with a focus on sustainable solutions.”
Hanh said the Westpac scholarship is a lifechanging opportunity that has expanded her aspirations to create social change. “Not only does the Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship provide me with financial support, more importantly it supports me with a network of people and opportunities, allowing growth as an individual and as a leader,” said Hanh. “I’ve been able to learn from others and connect with likeminded, yet diverse individuals, passionate about technology and social justice.”
STEM College Boosting our ageing immune cells Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow Dr Kylie Quinn has led new research showing that older immune cells must fight to survive, highlighting the ways ageing affects our immune system strength.
Dr Quinn’s research is supported by the Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation and the Maxwell Eagle Endowment Award, established from a generous bequest to RMIT by Maxwell Eagle.
As we get older, our immune or T-cells, lose their effectiveness and our susceptibility to disease increases. Key to controlling viral infections and cancers, T-cells were previously believed to work best in tandem with a fast metabolism. However, this new research shows that it’s instead a sign they are working hard just to live.
Established in 1996, the Endowment is dedicated to research into alternative therapies and factors relating to what is known as spontaneous remission, or an unexpected improvement or cure from a disease that usually progresses.
“Immune cells need to be able to divide like mad when responding to an infection and then survive to give us protection next time they see the same pathogen,” said Dr Quinn. “Metabolising faster usually helps them do this but the souped up metabolism in these older T cells is not helping them function better – rather it’s a stress response.” Dr Quinn and her team hope these findings improve the design of immunotherapies and vaccines for older people, and develop new diagnostics that measure people’s ‘true’ age and health.
“Ultimately we want to support healthy ageing by designing ways to improve T-cell metabolism during cell-based immunotherapies such as CAR T-cell therapy, and boosting T cell activation in new vaccines,” said Dr Quinn.
STEM College Fellowship supports research on a sustainable coating to fire-proof houses Thanks to a L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science fellowship, chemical and civil engineer Dr Kate Nguyen will advance her pioneering RMIT research into a sustainable coating to fire-proof houses. Dr Nguyen was one of five female scientists from Australia and New Zealand to be recognised with the fellowship in 2020. Founded by L'Oréal and UNESCO in 1998, the For Women in Science program has supported the research careers of more than 3,100 women in over 117 countries. Dr Nguyen is passionate about greener and bushfire safe buildings, and her advanced fire-resistant coating is an important and environment-friendly breakthrough. “Like millions of Australians I watched with horror the bushfires that ravaged part of the country, particularly here in Victoria. I hope my research can protect many homes in fire-stricken areas,” said Nguyen. Building materials like expanded polystyrene increase thermal efficiency, but in bushfire conditions, one kilogram of these highly combustible insulation materials is the approximate equivalent of one litre of petrol.
Dr Nguyen’s ceramic-like coating is made by reusing industrial waste that would ordinarily go to landfill, delivering an environment-friendly coating that can provide a protective envelope over a building. It's also made through a process that emits up to 90 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional manufacturing approaches. “Climate change is increasing bushfires each year, and the global pandemic means we’re spending more time at home, so it’s more important than ever to make our homes safe,” said Nguyen. “We know bushfires are growing in severity, with the natural progression of climate change, so we need to find new and innovative measures to protect our vulnerable communities.” Nguyen hopes her fire-resistant coating can provide protection for millions of houses in bushfire-prone areas and is working to make it available within a year.
RMIT Philanthropy GPO Box 2476 Melbourne VIC 3001 Australia 03 9925 5220 giving@rmit.edu.au