3A Institute echoes ANU history of radical tech thinking

With so much focus on the future of technology as the College of Engineering and Computer Science embarks on a multi-year transformational program - it was timely to take a moment to reflect on the history of the college and how it has always pushed traditional boundaries.

On Tuesday 26 February the 3A Institute (3Ai) unveiled its new sign, with distinguished guest of honour and ANU Alumni, Honorary Professor Glenn Dickins present.  

Glenn was one of the first ANU Engineering undergraduates in 1993, and was pleased to be sharing the milestone with a new group of pioneers. 

He works as the Principal Architect of Convergence at Dolby Laboratories, and has experienced life in all levels of academia at ANU in the science and technology field - from undergraduate to honorary professor. 

Glenn noted that there are parallels between his 1993 first cohort and the 3Ai’s first cohort, who are undertaking an innovative curriculum in a new applied science. Both groups took a leap into the unknown and were participants in designing what future programs at the ANU would look like.

The 3A institute is headed by Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell, who was appointed as the first of the new ANU Entrepreneurial Fellows, and founded the Institute in 2017 with the mission of building a new applied science to manage a world where artificial intelligence gets to scale.

The ceremony was also attended by College Dean, Professor Elanor Huntington, who surprised Glenn with a photo of his own first cohort in 1993. The 3Ai first cohort then posed for their own history-making photo.

This occasion was followed by the College of Engineering and Computer Science Welcome Party, which kicked off what will be a transformative year for the College, with the implementation of the Strategic Intent & Initiatives strategy.