It would appear that the old adage stands true: celebrities, disasters and sex sell. We've compiled this list of the top 10 news stories visited on the QUT website in 2011. Enjoy!
1. QUT back to business after the floods
2011 kicked off dramatically in Brisbane with parts of the city going under water. The City Cat terminal at our Gardens Point campus was washed away, and the car park and a few buildings were slightly affected. Staff and students poured to the website to keep updated during this time - making this the most visited news item of the year.
2. Danielle's perfect score
In December Law/Business student Danielle McCarthy graduated with a perfect grade point average of 7. This story went gangbusters on the QUT Facebook page, receiving more likes and comments than any other story of the year. It then proved to be the most widely read web story after the floods!
3. Technology makes storing radioactive waste safer
There is so much amazing research going on at QUT, but the most popular research story for the year revealed that QUT researchers had developed technology capable of removing radioactive material from contaminated water, which could aid clean-up efforts following nuclear disasters.
4. Indian superstar "honoured" to receive QUT accolade
To say that Amitabh Bachchan is a Bollywood legend is to understate the impact that this man has in India, and in other parts of the world. When Mr Bachchan was awarded an honorary doctorate by QUT in October this year, our Indian students flocked to get a glimpse of the man they said was like a "God" to them.
5. Soccer star hits the books at QUT
We have around 300 elite athletes studying at QUT, many of whom are household names. Former Brisbane Roar captain Matt McKay spoke with us about his Bachelor of Education studies earlier this year.
6. Hollywood's film school of choice opens at QUT
It was hot news when the New York Film Academy, the school of choice for family members of Hollywood luminaries including Steven Spielberg, opened a new campus at QUT in June.
7. QUT research ranked world-class
Who doesn't love having their work recognised with an impressive ranking?
8. Underbelly coup for acting grads
Yep, more celeb news to tantilise our readers! This time, we were spruiking the success of QUT acting grads Anna McGahan and Anna Lawrence, who played the roles of Nellie Cameron and Irene Bruhn in the popular Australian TV series Underbelly: Razor.
9. James is taking on the Real World
Engineering graduate and Rhodes scholar James Tilbury has been somewhat of a celebrity in his own right after appearing in the 2011 QUT television commercial. He had big shoes to fill, following on from Kaya "cwoffee" Lobaczewski.
10. One in three women suffer post-sex blues
Another extremely popular research story from 2011. Need we say more?
Media contact: Michaela Ryan, QUT media officer, 07 3138 4494 or michaela.ryan@qut.edu.au
