University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne, a 172-year-old Australian institution, is in the news for several reasons. Recently, its pioneering female Vice-Chancellor, Emma Johnston, passed away due to cancer complications. The university also faced controversy involving a law professor, Dr. Eric Descheemaeker, who claimed that 'Blak' activists were negatively influencing the law school. He settled a discrimination case related to his attempted sacking after his email was leaked. The university's research is also highlighted, with a study indicating that efforts to reduce sulphur in shipping fuel, while beneficial for human health, may have intensified coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. These events underscore the university's position as a significant institution facing internal challenges and contributing to important environmental research.