School and Centres

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The ANU College of Systems & Society programs, courses, and research opportunities are offered under our world-class schools and innovative centers. We also have several on-campus centres, strategic collaborations, and partnerships.

We find and solve problems of global importance, and help design, build, regulate and secure the future.

We offer transformative educational experiences and conduct high-impact research. Our people explore, learn, teach, work, invent, and discover for the betterment of humanity.

We are a vibrant and diverse community of more than three thousand students, staff, and visitors. We are inclusive, open and respectful, reflecting the diversity of our nation.

Our alumni can be found in all corners of the world, and in all walks of life; their accomplishments and impact are an important measure of our work here.

We can claim with justifiable pride our traditions of excellence in research, creativity in quality education, being at the intellectual forefront of whatever we do, and taking a progressive and forward-leaning view of our disciplines.

School of Engineering

The School of Engineering is a creative mix of staff and students that embrace the breadth of engineering professions from materials and manufacturing, to robotics, solar energies and technologies, telecommunications and systems. Our research covers a broad range of areas in engineering, including Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Mechatronics.

School of Computing

The ANU School of Computing offers programs that combine knowledge and understanding of computer science and technology, with experiential learning for skills development. Our education programs focus on the disciplines of computer science, computing, information technology, and software engineering. They emphasise foundations, creativity, design and engineering processes. Our research is concentrated in Computing Foundations, Intelligent Systems, Computational Science, Data Science and Analytics, and Software Innovation. We have research collaborations with CSIRO Data61, Australia’s leading digital research network, and a number of international organisations.

School of Cybernetics

The School of Cybernetics is establishing programs that blend education, research and engagement to create a new generation of practitioners who are ready to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. Cybernetics is at the heart of our work and is a tool that sparks new ways of thinking and possibilities for the future. Through our programs we are building a new branch of engineering to safely, sustainably and responsibly scale cyber-physical systems. We focus on systems as a unit of analysis and driver of action for industries working with complexity and we are generating new approaches to shape the future through and with technology.

Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science

The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) is the leading centre in Australia for research, education and practice in science communication and engagement. CPAS was the first science communication centre in Australia. It was one of the first globally to recognise the importance of communicating science in ways that engage public audiences, including with underserved communities and young people. It was established to teach, research and conduct outreach activities in the disciplinary area of science communication. Today, CPAS is a global leader in the field, with collaborations across our region and the world. CPAS is based in the ANU College of Systems and Society from 2025, with students drawn from all areas of science and cross-disciplinary areas of the social sciences, humanities, law and policy. As science and its relationship to society is changing in unprecedented ways, CPAS is reimagining science communication for the 21st century.

Fenner School of Environment and Society

The Fenner School of Environment & Society is a world-leading centre for cross-disciplinary environmental and sustainability research, education and policy-relevant advice. Through cutting-edge research and insightful analysis, our academic experts create social, economic and environmental impact and deliver real-world solutions to address complex environmental challenges. Our mission is to encourage sound environmental policy and governance outcomes that support sustainability.

Mathematical Sciences Institute

The Mathematical Sciences Institute (MSI) aims for research and educational outcomes of the highest possible quality. This is achieved by world wide collaborative research, nurturing quality students, increasing the international profile and the efficiency of the organisation whilst ensuring administration and support functions effectively. MSI fulfils both a national and international role as a ‘research institute’ in mathematical sciences. MSI delivers undergraduate and Honours teaching in mathematics at ANU and supports an extensive postgraduate research program. It offers a range of courses and programs catering to students who wish to study the subject for its own interest, its applications, or a combination of both.

Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program

The Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program is pioneering pathways for the integration and optimisation of energy storage in electricity grids and markets globally. With a strong focus on interdisciplinary research, development and demonstration (RD&D), the program is delivering nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Co-Lab: an ASD-ANU collaboration

A centre of excellence for ground-breaking research, capacity building and nurturing the talent Australia needs to secure our national interests. Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and The Australian National University (ANU) have entered into a 15-year partnership centred in the ASD-ANU Co-Lab, a new unclassified research facility on the ANU campus.

CSIRO Data61

CSIRO’s Data61 is Australia’s data innovation network, that transforms existing industries and creates new ones through the application of science and technology. As an applied Research & Development partner of ANU, Data61 has capabilities in cybersecurity, confidential computing, IoT, robotics, machine learning and analytics, software and programming to behavioural sciences and more.

National Computational Infrastructure

The National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) Facility is an initiative of the Australian Government, hosted at ANU. The national facility houses the nation’s most powerful supercomputer (Gadi), highest performance research cloud, and leading data services stack.

World Wide Web Consortium

ANU plays a major role in guiding the future of the Web as host of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Australia Office. The W3C is an international consortium of over 400 member organisations that work together to define international standards and guidelines to shape the future of the Web. As host of the W3C Australia Office, our researchers have the opportunity to work with leading companies in the web space, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook. ANU is helping W3C serve the needs of the community in technology, research, business, industry and government, while staying at the forefront of the latest developments and ideas in Web technology.