Apply now for the One Big Idea program

Applications for the 2025 One Big Idea program are now open, and we encourage all UNSW academics and PhD candidates to apply.

Now in its ninth year, One Big Idea (formerly UNSOMNIA) is a professional development program which provides UNSW academics and PhD candidates with the opportunity to finesse their presentation skills, and to showcase their ideas and work to broad audiences. Managed by the UNSW Centre for Ideas, the One Big Idea program aims to support academic career development with expert training in public speaking, content development for external audiences and profile building. 

The program will run from the beginning of May until the end of October 2025, and applicants will be selected from across UNSW’s faculties, affiliated centres and institutes.

One Big Idea – this year’s theme

This year’s program is themed around One Big Idea, and with so many innovative and groundbreaking approaches within UNSW we look forward to seeing what our academics suggest! Applicants are encouraged to respond to the concept of One Big Idea and how this relates to their work, with this prompt becoming the basis of a 10-minute talk that participants will develop over the course of the program.

What are the benefits?

At the completion of One Big Idea, participants will have a range of bespoke digital assets at their disposal – videos, podcasts, headshots – along with the opportunity to present at a live event to promote their work and career. 

Participants from previous program cohorts have described the benefits of participation in One Big Idea as providing: 

• media opportunities on television and radio
• invitations to contribute to prestigious journals, magazines and newspapers, and present at international conferences
• a boost in their academic profile
• opportunities to engage with broader audiences through external events
• the development of a pan-faculty network of like-minded academics with potential for future engagement. 

Who can apply?

One Big Idea is open to UNSW academics, researchers and PhD candidates from all faculties, centres and institutes. 

How to apply? 

Read more information and guidelines on the One Big Idea application page.

Applications close: 11.59pm, Sunday 23 March.