UNSW's Engineering the Future

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 stay competitive and improve living standards. They also discuss why developing Australian-made AI would ensure the country benefits from the value it creates while strengthening national sovereignty. Visit our website for Dr Keay’s bio and the full transcript of the conversation. Read more of our stories on productivity:Australia is showing how a rich country gets poorer UNSW Sydney lands $3m Defence project to build next generation AI ‘Dangerously unprepared’: UNSW expert says Australia must regulate AI and invest in research Humanoid home robots are on the market – but do we really want them? Let’s connect: Don’t miss out on more conversations about the technologies shaping our world. Subscribe to Engineering the Future on your favourite podcast platform and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest research and news from UNSW Engineering. Acknowledgement of Country We would like to show our respects and acknowledge the Bedegal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which our Kensington campus is situated on, and to Elders past and present.

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 Quantum Academy, about the breakthroughs and roadblocks of the quantum world. From GPS-free navigation and ultra-secure communications to the promise of quantum computing, we reveal where the engineering stands today, what’s coming next, and why Australia is uniquely placed to lead the charge. For the full transcript of the episode and to learn more about our speakers, visit our ⁠⁠website.Read more of our stories on quantum technologies:This purple diamond could one day amplify signals from deep spaceHow a world record ‘squeeze’ could offer comfort for dark matter huntersUNSW engineers help crack key challenge in scaling quantum computersThis metaphorical cat is both dead and alive – and it will help quantum engineers detect computing errorsDon’t miss out on more conversations about the technologies shaping our world. Subscribe to Engineering the Future on your favourite podcast platform and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠ to stay up to date with the latest research and news from ⁠⁠⁠UNSW Engineering⁠⁠⁠. Acknowledgement of Country We would like to show our respects and acknowledge the Bedegal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which our Kensington campus is situated on, and to Elders past and present.

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 impact. In this episode of Engineering the Future, environmental engineers, UNSW Professor Denis O’Carroll and Andrew Mitchell from ADE Consulting, joins STEMM journalist Neil Martin to unpack the science behind PFAS and how they ended up in our environment. They explain the new detection and removal methods used to clean up PFAS, and emphasise the need for better regulation, public awareness, and the development of better alternatives of the chemical. For the full transcript of the episode and to learn more about our speakers, visit our website.Read more of our stories on PFAS: Specific ‘forever chemical’ found at unexpected levels in firefighting foam New method to degrade PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ found effective in the lab PFAS 'forever chemicals' above drinking water guidelines in global source water Trying to solve the 'forever problem' of PFAS pollution Don’t miss out on more conversations about the technologies shaping our world. Subscribe to Engineering the Future on your favourite podcast platform and follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ and BlueSky to stay up to date with the latest research and news from ⁠UNSW Engineering⁠. Acknowledgement of Country We would like to show our respects and acknowledge the Bedegal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which our Kensington campus is situated on, and to Elders past and present.

📧 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 School of Computer Science and Engineering and former NASA researcher, Dr. Hammond Pearce, and Director of InTune AI, Sharat Madanapalli, joins STEMM journalist Neil Martin to unravel the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and how to safeguard your privacy online. For the full transcript of the episode and to learn more about our speakers, visit our website. Read more of our stories on cybersecurity: What to do about deepfakes: opportunities and problems as AI tech makes leaps and bounds Today’s top cybersecurity threats for consumers, and how to fight them Beware the dangers of data breach fatigue An award-winning breakthrough in computer science education The internet of things: protecting network assets and infrastructure Let’s connect: Don’t miss out on more conversations about the technologies shaping our world. Subscribe to Engineering the Future on your favourite podcast platform and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest research and news from UNSW Engineering. Learn more about UNSW Institute of Cybersecurity. Acknowledgement of Country We would like to show our respects and acknowledge the Bedegal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which our Kensington campus is situated on, and to Elders past and present.

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 the importance of ensuring the ever-increasing global population has safe water to drink, and enough water to also grow suitable amounts of food, while also dealing with issues around flooding and sea level rises.