NEWS
Media successes celebrated
Online gaming research and commentary on terrorism and US politics have proven to be winners at RMIT’s annual Media Star of the Year awards.

Associate Professor Alberto Posso and Professor Joseph Siracusa shared the glory, with both taking home the Media Star of the Year Award.
Posso’s examination of how online gaming helps student performance was referenced and quoted in the media across the world, while Siracusa has had an extremely busy year discussing the US election, the terror attacks in France and Brussels, and foreign policy.
The Media Star of the Year awards were initiated in 2004, to recognise academic staff who contribute to the University’s profile and reputation through engaging with the media on their research and areas of expertise.
In the 12 months to the end of August, more than 400 RMIT academics were quoted in news stories in media outlets across the globe.
RMIT research that featured prominently in the media this year included self-cleaning textiles, the role of technology in sexual violence and harassment, self-propelling liquid metals, using smartphones to detect dangerous air pollution and the role of Melbourne’s music laneways in attracting tourists.
The winners
Media Star of the Year 2016 – Associate Professor Alberto Posso, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing
Media Star of the Year 2016 – Professor Joseph Siracusa, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Rising Media Star 2016 – Dr Anastasia Powell, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Global Media Star 2016 – Dr Rajesh Ramanathan, School of Science
Community Impact Media Star 2016 – Professor Michael Buxton, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Public Commentator Media Star 2016 – Dr Binoy Kampmark, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Research Media Star 2016 – Distinguished Professor Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh, School of Engineering
College of Business Media Star 2016 – Professor Sara Charlesworth, School of Management
College of Design and Social Context Media Star 2016 – Alan Pears AM, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
College of Science, Engineering and Health Media Star 2016 – Dr Mark Gregory, School of Engineering
Other top performers
Associate Professor Con Stavros, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing
Professor Sinclair Davidson, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing
Dr Vincent O’Donnell, School of Media and Communication
Professor Bruce Wilson, European Union Centre
Dr Bradley Clarke, School of Science
Dr Melinda Jackson, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences
Professor Gavin Wood, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Professor Jeff Lewis, School of Media and Communication
Associate Professor Adrian Dyer, School of Media and Communication
Professor Linda Brennan, School of Media and Communication
Adjunct Professor Peter Norden AO, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Dr James Waldie, School of Engineering
Professor Marc Cohen, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences
Associate Professor Asha Rao, School of Science
Aunty Kerrie Doyle, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences
Professor Peter Fairbrother, Research and Innovation
Story: Louise Handran