Media Highlights - February 2025
From the history of the letter ‘x’ to the discovery of King Thutmose II’s tomb, see where Faculty of Arts academics made headlines this month.

Professor Tina Soliman Hunter, from the Macquarie Law School, was quoted in Petroleum Australia regarding offshore wells.
Dr Govand Azeez, from the School of International Studies, was interviewed on SBS about DeepSeek.
Lise Waldek, from the School of International Studies, provided comment to Times about the role of YouTube in Australia’s social media ban for minors.
Professor Michelle Arrow, from the School of Humanities, provided comment to ABC News about the significance of Germaine Greer's international bestselling book The Female Eunuch.
Professor Ray Laurence, from the School of Humanities, was interviewed on ABC Nightlife about life in Pompeii.
Honorary Senior Research Fellow Narcyz Ghinea, from the School of Humanities, provided comment to The Saturday Paper regarding US President Donald Trump's America First trade policy.
Mary-Ann de Mestre, from the Macquarie Law School, provided comment to AFR Weekend regarding succession law in Australia.
Dr Alex Simpson, from the School of International Studies, was interviewed on 666 ABC Canberra regarding the ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ Netflix series.
Distinguished Professor Bronwyn Carlson, from the Centre of Critical Indigenous Studies, contributed an article to The Conversation regarding a statue of musicians Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter in Melbourne.
Professor Peter Greste, from the School of Communication, Society and Culture, authored an article in The Guardian regarding his hunger strike in support of activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah.
Professor Katie Barclay, from the School of Humanities, was in conversation with 2CC regarding the letter 'x' and how it came to be used to represent love and kisses.
Professor Katie Barclay, from the School of Humanities, was in conversation with 105.7 ABC Darwin regarding the letter 'x' and how it came to be used to represent love and kisses.
Honorary Professor Alan Walmsley, from the School of Humanities, provided comment to MSN United Arab Emirates regarding the Gharandal excavations.
Dr Toby Davidson, from the School of Humanities, was in conversation with ABC – Late Night Live about Australian poet Francis Webb.
Dr Dalbir Ahlawat, from the School of International Studies, contributed an article to Japan Times regarding a meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Professor Katie Barclay, from the School of Humanities, provided comment to The New Daily regarding the letter 'x' and how it came to be used to represent love and kisses.
Dr Dalbir Ahlawat, from the School of International Studies, was mentioned in India Post regrading a keynote presented at Maha Kumbh 2025.
Professor Michelle Arrow, from the School of Humanities, was interviewed on 702 ABC Sydney – Drive about the work of historians and how social media might change historians' methods.
Dr Ceridwen Dovey, from the School of Communication, Society and Culture, provided comment to Space Australia about her latest book, Only the Astronauts.
Dr Karin Sowada, from the School of Humanities, was interviewed on ABC NewsRadio about the discovery of King Thutmose II’s tomb. This interview was syndicated across the ABC radio network.
Dr Karin Sowada, from the School of Humanities, provided comment to ABC Evening News regarding the discovery of a tomb in Egypt belonging to King Thutmose II.
Associate Professor Karen Pearlman, from the School of Communication, Society and Culture, was mentioned in FilmInk for winning the Best Australian Short Award at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival.
Professor Katie Barclay, from the School of Humanities, was interviewed on ABC – Nightlife regarding the letter 'x' and how it came to be used to represent love and kisses. This interview was widely syndicated across ABC radio.
Associate Professor Penny Van Bergen, Dr Emma Burns and Dr Hua-Chen Wang, from the School of Education, contributed an article to The Conversation about the best type of note-taking for learning.
Professor Surya Deva, Dr Ebony Birchall and Dr David Birchall, from the Macquarie Law School, have contributed an article to The Conversation regarding a new report which found some of Australia’s largest companies are failing to commit to human rights.
Professor Michelle Arrow and Professor Tanya Evans, from the School of Humanities, and Associate Professor Jonathan Symons, from the School of International Studies have contributed an article to The Sydney Morning Herald regarding the impacts of the housing crisis on university life.