UNSW's Engineering the Future

Demand for electric vehicles is soaring in Australia and around the world. But in 30 years' time, will we still need to charge our cars before hitting the road, or will autonomous vehicles powered by new technologies become the norm? In this episode of Engineering the Future, STEMM journalist Neil Martin speaks with Richard Hopkins, UNSW Professor of Practice and former Head of Operations for...

From improving government services to boosting business efficiency and tackling inequality, artificial intelligence is already transforming the way we live and work. But could it help reverse Australia's productivity slowdown? In this episode of Engineering the Future, Dr Sue Keay , director of UNSW’s AI Institute , joins STEMM journalist Neil Martin to explore why Australia must embrace AI to...

Engineering touches almost every aspect of our lives. From building our roads and powering our homes to developing the medical equipment that will help save lives — the demand for engineering skills continues to grow.  But Australia is facing one of its biggest skills shortages, with more than 60,000 engineers needed over the next decade. In the latest episode of Engineering the Future podcast, Pr...

For more than a century, quantum mechanics has challenged how we understand the universe. Once confined to theory and thought experiments, quantum is now powering real technologies – and the next 20 years could redefine how we live, work, and connect. In this episode of Engineering the Future, host Neil Martin speaks with UNSW Associate Professor Jarryd Pla , and Professor Peter Turner from Sydney...

Using renewable energy such as wind and solar to create environmentally friendly electricity is great - but what can we do to replace the use of fossil fuels in industrial sectors that can't easily be electrified?  This can include heavy manufacturing, aviation, maritime transport, and chemical production. These industries need high-density energy or specialised fuels and processes that electricit...

PFAS—also known as "forever chemicals"—are in your water, your clothes, your food packaging, and even in your body.  They’ve been widely used for decades to make products resistant to heat, stains, grease, and water, including non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, and stain-resistant fabrics.  But engineers, regulators, and the public are increasingly concerned about their long-term imp...

Not all healthcare is created equal.    Whether it’s a postcode that limits your services, a language barrier at the clinic, or a system that overlooks accessibility - too many people are being left behind. But how do we build healthcare systems that can fairly serve its communities regardless of postcode, income, or identity?    In this episode of the Engineering the Future podcast, UNSW’s biomed...

📧 Have you ever fallen victim to a phishing email? You're not alone.   Cybersecurity threats are growing more sophisticated every day, making the protection of personal and corporate data more critical than ever. As artificial intelligence reshapes both attack methods and defence strategies, what are the risks of not securing our infrastructure against emerging threats? Lecturer at UNSW Schoo...

From smart homes and cities to business and healthcare, smart technology is promising to enhance efficiency, convenience, and connectivity in daily life. But with it comes growing concerns about data security, reduced privacy, and the control of information.   Dr Sebastian Sequoiah-Grayson , Senior Lecturer in Epistemics at UNSW's School of Computer Science and Engineering, and senior experien...

Too much water in the form of flooding, or too little water in the form of drought. Two of the biggest global challenges when it comes to water are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum.   UNSW Associate Professor Kristen Splinter , and water engineering executive  Daniel Lambert  join STEMM journalist Neil Martin to talk about the potential solutions to those crucial problems. They discuss...

Industrial decarbonisation is a fundamental way Australia and other countries around the world can achieve 'Net Zero' emissions targets by 2050, and therefore fulfil promises made in the Paris Agreement to help reduce climate change.   David Eyre, CEO of the UNSW Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation, and engineering and manufacturing executive Shay Chalmers join STEMM journalist Neil M...

Supersonic commercial planes are making a comeback, but it may be only high flyers that can afford them. For everyone else, our cities could soon drastically change as flying cars (but not as we imagine them) are set to extend the reach of our cities and slash commute times. UNSW senior lecturer in aerospace design, Dr Sonya Brown, and sustainable aircraft designer Andrew Moore join STEMM journali...

800 million people currently go to sleep hungry, but 1 in 4 of us are predicted to be obese by 2035. Securing access to food for everyone and making it sustainable for our planet are some of our greatest challenges. Professor Johannes le Coutre, the leader of UNSW’s food program, and Katherine Samaras, Laboratory Head of the Garvan Institute and specialising in diabetes and obesity prevention, joi...

UNSW researchers are largely responsible for the way the world uses solar power today. Decades of innovation on photovoltaic cells from people at this very university have helped the world get a running start on the global green energy transition. But there’s more work to be done. A lot more.  Executive Director for the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics, Professor Renate Egan, and Vice-...

It might seem like something out of Star Trek, but people controlling so-called ‘smartbrains’ with their own thoughts could happen sooner than you think. And it doesn’t stop there. Innovations in biomedical technologies is speeding the progress of things such as artificial lab-grown organs, nanorobots inside the body, or computers hardwired to the brain which is becoming common in the next 20 year...

As the world is expected to gain 2.2 billion new urban residents by 2050, emerging technologies will dramatically transform the way growing populations live, work and commute in urban areas. What will this mean for the future of urban engineering? Transport engineering expert, Associate Professor Taha Rashidi, and geotechnical engineering expert, Dr Asal Bidarmaghz look up to the skies and discuss...

The energy landscape is evolving and it’s demanding change in the way we produce and consume energy in a more sustainable way. But how can our industry leaders, policymakers and household users reap the benefits of new technologies to meet these demands? Director of UNSW Digital Grid Futures Institute, Professor John Fletcher , and CEO of UNSW Energy Institute, Dani Alexander , joins STEM journali...

The on-going debate on nuclear feels like a constant battle of weighing the benefits of low carbon electricity generation against the public perception of potential risks. Nuclear engineer and lead of UNSW’s Nuclear Engineering program, Dr Edward Obbard , and Lieutenant Colonel Jasmin Diab, join STEM journalist, Neil Martin, to discuss exciting developments in nuclear engineering and discuss what...

As the world shifts towards renewable energy production, experts predict that mining will play a critical role in the extraction of minerals necessary for technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries. Head of UNSW School of Minerals Energy Resources Engineering, Professor Ismet Canbulat, and Rae O'Brien, Executive General Manager of Mining Excellence with Cente...

AI-powered programs like ChatGPT can do everything from plan an itinerary for your next holiday or help you write a resume or business proposal. But with all great technologies, there are risks and challenges. AI expert and Chief Scientist at UNSW's AI Institute, Professor Toby Walsh , and Stela Solar , Director of the National Artificial Intelligence Centre hosted by CSIRO's Data61, join...

UNSW’s Engineering the Future podcast is a space for thought-provoking conversations about the bold ideas that will impact society over the next two decades.  From exciting developments in nuclear technology and major transformations in the mining industry, through to the universal impact of Artificial Intelligence, we speak with leading academics and industry leaders about the technological marve...