This month marks a major milestone for the QUT Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC) as it celebrates 10 years at the forefront of digital media research. Since its establishment in 2015, the Centre has played a pivotal role in shaping how we understand and respond to the fast-evolving digital media landscape, both in Australia and around the world.
To commemorate the occasion, the DMRC hosted a special 10th Anniversary Keynote Celebration, bringing together the Centre’s founding and current members, university leaders, international collaborators, and industry partners. This milestone event was not only a celebration of the Centre’s achievements over the past decade, but also a powerful reflection on its role in shaping the national and global digital media research agenda.
At the heart of the celebration was a keynote panel featuring four of the Centre’s leading scholars: Distinguished Professor Jean Burgess (Founding Director), Professor Axel Bruns, Professor Amanda Lotz, and Professor Michael Dezuanni. Together, they shared critical reflections on the DMRC’s journey over the past ten years, its research impact, collaborative ethos, and contributions to policy, public discourse, and innovation in the digital media space.
The panel offered thoughtful insights into the Centre’s evolution, from foundational research on social media and platform governance, to emerging studies on misinformation, AI, and the cultural dynamics of digital storytelling. As the digital environment continues to shift rapidly, the DMRC remains firmly positioned to address new and urgent challenges that lie ahead.
Adding a global dimension to the celebrations were heartfelt video testimonials from international colleagues and partners. These messages highlighted the DMRC’s distinctive global footprint, celebrating the Centre’s reputation as a leader in digital media research and its collaborative spirit in advancing knowledge across borders.
Continuing the following day was the 2025 DMRC Symposium, which convened Centre members, academic collaborators, and industry stakeholders for a future focused exploration of digital media’s most pressing societal and policy challenges. Sessions fostered dialogue on the Centre’s emerging research priorities and encouraged collaborative thinking on how to shape the next decade.
Notable achievements over the past 10 years have included:
Top DMRC Achievements (2015–2025)
- Outstanding Research Funding and Fellowships
- Secured $30 million in total grant funding
- Awarded: 12 ARC Linkage, 19 ARC Discovery, 8 DECRA, 1 ARC Laureate, and 1 Future Fellowship
- Establishment of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making & Society (ADM+S)
- Launched in 2020, this prestigious centre has become a national leader in investigating the social and ethical impacts of automation and AI.
- Hosting of the AoIR Conference (2019)
- The DMRC hosted the global Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) conference, marking a high point of international engagement and recognition.
- Global Research Leadership and Recognition
- The Centre is proud to be home to four ICA Fellows, reflecting its significant contribution to the international field of communication and media research.
- Launch of New Strategic Research Initiatives
- Generative AI Lab established in 2024, advancing research into creative and ethical implications of GenAI
- Australian Internet Observatory also launched in 2024, supporting data-driven research into online media and misinformation
Over the past ten years, the DMRC has solidified its position as a world-leading research centre, producing rigorous scholarship, mentoring the next generation of researchers, and shaping both policy and public discourse around digital life.
As the DMRC looks ahead to the next chapter, it remains committed to leading and advancing digital media research within Australia and across the globe.
To view images from these events, please visit our Flickr account here.