The University extends its congratulations to the 60 alumni whose contributions to Australia have been recognised in this year's Australia Day Honours.

The Hon Tom Uren (DArch 2002) has been awarded the highest honour, being named Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC), "For eminent service to the community, particularly through contributions to the welfare of veterans, improved medical education in Vietnam and the preservation of sites of heritage and environmental significance."

As Minister for Urban and Regional Development in the Whitlam Government, Uren initiated many projects that have had a deep impact on Australian cultural life, including the development of the Australian Heritage Commission and the restoration of derelict inner city areas such as the Glebe Estate and Woolloomooloo. He also played a significant role in halting the building of a freeway through Glebe, and his advocacy for tree planting contributed to the development of Greening Australia.

Find out more

View the full list of alumni who received 2013 Australia Day Honours.

A standout audition where he shared his lifelong passion for prime numbers has seen University of Sydney alumnus and Sleek Geek, Adam Spencer selected to present at the 2013 annual TED conference, to be staged in the US in late February.

Spencer was part of a group of University alumni, students and professors who auditioned during the Australian leg of a worldwide search conducted by TEDx organisers in 2012. Watch his presentation above.

The worldwide search took in 14 cities across the globe, including Amsterdam, Bangalore, Doha, Johannesburg, London, Nairobi, New York, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, Tunis and Vancouver.

In 2012, the University of Sydney partnered with the Sydney offshoot of TED, TEDxSydney, for the first time ever as exclusive education partner.

TED2013 will be staged from 25 February to 1 March in Long Beach and Palm Beach, California and will be watched online right across the globe.

Click here to view a video of Adam Spencer's talk.

Each year, the University of Sydney recognises exceptional achievement by conferring an honorary degree and outstanding service to the University by awarding the title of Honorary Fellow of the University.

Nominations for the 2014 honorary degrees and honorary fellowships  are now invited,  and will be accepted by the Senate until 30 April 2013.

Honorary degrees have been conferred by the University of Sydney since 1952, when His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir John Northcott KCMG CB MVO, Governor of NSW and Official Visitor to the University 1946–52, received a Doctor of Letters honoris causa. Since then, honorary degrees have been awarded to Dame Joan Sutherland AC DBE, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC, and one of Sydney College of the Arts' most successful graduates, Marc Newson.

Most recently, on  10 November 2012, the University awarded honorary degrees to actor Cate Blanchett, double platinum musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees, Nobel Prize-winning pathologist Robin Warren, and author Kate Grenville.

The title of Honorary Fellow of the University has been awarded since 1985, and is awarded to individuals who have supported the interests and welfare of the University, promoted its academic purposes, fostered links between it and other institutions, enlarged education opportunities within it for people with limited prospects and assisted with resources. This year, Sydney alumna  Emeritus Professor Ann Sefton AO from the Sydney Medical School will be awarded with the title of Honorary Fellow of the University.

Nominations addressing the relevant criteria need to be sent to Dr William Adams, Secretary to Senate, by 30 April 2013. Details regarding eligibility to be nominated, the selection criteria and preparing/submitting nominations are available at the  honorary awards website.

Alumnus Benjamin Pope is preparing to start a PhD at the University of Sydney in 2013 after an amazing 2012 that saw him work with a Nobel Laureate, observe the work of world leaders in astrophysics and travel to an observatory in Hawaii.

Having completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney, Ben spent 2012 finalising his honours thesis, for which he received a University medal, and spent part of the year on exchange to the University of California, Berkeley.

"My exchange at Berkeley solidified my intention to pursue astronomy as a career," says Ben. "I had the opportunity to work for the Infrared Spatial Interferometer group, headed by Nobel Laureate Charles H Townes: it was a rare privilege to gain laboratory experience in laser applications under the technology's inventor."

Ben majored in Physics at the University, and when the opportunity for exchange presented itself, chose Berkeley for its reputation in this field.

As he prepares for his PhD, Ben believes we're in the midst of a revolution in astronomy. "For the first time in history, astronomy can deliver hard data on the questions of how many planets there are in the galaxy, what they are like, how they develop, and most excitingly, whether any of them are habitable or may harbour life," he says.

"This project is arguably one of the most exciting in modern science and I am very keen to play my part in this endeavour".

From April 4–7, the Conservatorium of Music will be the setting for the 2013 Musica Viva Festival, where our brightest performers will come together with the Australian Youth Orchestra and a stellar line-up of international artists.

From Verbrugghen Hall concerts, featuring the stars of chamber music; through to showcases of work by students of the Conservatorium, as well as a host of other musical experiences, the Musica Viva Festival is a must-see for all music lovers.  Feature artists include pianist Lambert Orkis and cellist Pieter Wispelwey mentoring the bright young musicians.

Book now or call 1800 688 482.