Deakin University - Science and Technology

Deakin University Waurn Ponds are hosting Year 9 and 10 students from 16 high schools across Geelong to compete in the ManuFutures Science and Engineering Challenge! 🌟🔬🧑‍🔬

Yesterday and today, students worked in teams on fun and engaging hands-on activities, including designing an earthquake-proof tower, building a hovercraft or bridge, providing electricity to a city, and mastering the science behind Indigenous fish traps.

The challenge is a national program, with participation last year reaching almost 20,000 students from more than 600 schools around Australia. It is designed to opens students’ minds to a range of career possibilities and encourages them to consider selecting STEM subjects in years 11 and 12.

Celebrating a decade of Innovation at Carbon Nexus! 🌿

Ten years ago, Deakin University's Carbon Nexus set out to revolutionise the carbon fibre industry, and wow, have they delivered! Nestled in Deakin's Future Economy Precinct at Waurn Ponds campus, this facility boasts the world's largest open-access carbon fibre pilot production line.

Deakin University is now a key player in a global industry. 🌍

Carbon Nexus has partnered with giants like Vestas, PETRONAS, Ford, SABIC, Boeing, and Solvay, producing Australia's first-ever home-grown carbon fibre! Led by Professor Russell Varley, they are pioneering sustainable carbon fibre from agricultural waste. 🌾 This partnership showcases Deakin's commitment to impactful, sustainable solutions.

Join us in celebrating this milestone and read more about our journey and future innovations by clicking the article below. 🥂

Deakin research facility celebrates a decade of carbon manufacturing Delivering industry focused and scalable research outcomes to regional Victoria has been a key goal of Deakin University’s Carbon Nexus, which marks its ten-year anniversary this month.

Deakin has climbed 36 places to enter the world's top 200 universities in the latest QS Top Universities rankings! This achievement cements our position in the top 1% of universities worldwide. 👏

We also recorded our strongest growth in the sustainability category, soaring 217 positions to rank 66th globally and 13th nationally. This reflects our commitment to integrating sustainability through quality education, innovative campus operations and research. 🌱

Read all about it below!

https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/news-and-media-releases/articles/deakin-reaches-top-200-in-qs-world-university-rankings-for-2025

Meet Dr. Ghazanfar Khan, a Senior Lecturer in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics here at Deakin University! 🌏

Growing up on a farm, Dr. Khan was fascinated by plants and wanted to understand how they grow and flower. This curiosity led him to pursue a bachelor degree in agriculture, which laid the groundwork for his interest in plant sciences.

Dr. Khan continued his studies with a Master in Genomics from Paris Cité University, exploring the genetic makeup of plants. He then earned a PhD in Plant Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, making significant contributions to plant genetics.

His research excellence earned him three consecutive postdoctoral fellowships, including two from the Swiss National Science Foundation and the DECRA award from the Australian Research Council. These achievements placed him at the forefront of his field, collaborating with leading scientists worldwide.

Today, Dr. Khan teaches in Deakin's Master of Biotechnology and conducts research in plant genetics. He advocates for hands-on learning, which is why this program emphasises laboratory experience and industry placements, ensuring our graduates are work-ready and can shape a better future.

➡️ If you're interested, you can learn more about our Master of Biotechnology program here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/course/master-biotechnology-professional

Did you know that our Waurn Ponds campus is powered by its very own solar panel microgrid? ☀️

The 7.5 megawatt renewable energy microgrid provides more than 30% of the campus’ electricity needs. 🔋 The solar panels are programmed to rotate towards the sun as it moves throughout the day, and are helping Deakin to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.

🎉 Celebrate National Reconciliation Week by visiting the DeakinSeaweed x Wathaurong Co-operative exhibition at Deakin’s Waterfront Gallery.

With pieces created across a series of workshops blending scientific and cultural knowledge, the exhibition celebrates cultural connection to seaweed through the artwork of young Indigenous people living on Wadawurrung Country.

Check it out this week, and join the launch night on May 30th to explore the art and meet the talented young creators over refreshments.

Revitalising Connection: DeakinSeaweed and Wathaurong Co-operative – Deakin Library Exhibition Deakin PhD candidate Zoe Brittain discusses the collaboration between the DeakinSeaweed Research Group and the Wathaurong Co-Operative.Revitalising Connectio...

We're thrilled to announce that Deakin University’s very own Nguyen Minh Chau, has secured 1st place in the prestigious ASDA Awards for Australia & New Zealand! 🏆

Nguyen Minh Chau's award-winning design, inspired by the idea of a sanctuary, offers guests a peaceful retreat that seamlessly blends natural elements with cutting-edge technology.

This innovative mix of practicality and luxury ensures easy maintenance and provides a soothing, onsen-like bath experience inspired by Japanese hot springs!

Join us in celebrating this incredible achievement! 👏

Take a closer look here: asda.americanstandard-apac.com/winners-2024/ASDA24-13062?prize=1st%20Prize&country=australia

A restoration plan for golden kelp forests in Port Phillip Bay is in motion – and it begins at the Deakin University Queenscliff Marine Science Centre.

Trials in July and December last year saw more than 50,000 baby kelp grown from microscopic spores on spools of twine and rocks, and now the Nature Conservancy Australia (TNC) is gearing up to plant hundreds of thousands more at Ricketts Point and Jawbone marine sanctuaries.

Deakin's Dr Jacqui Pocklington said by tweaking factors such as temperature and light, the team had managed to grow more than twice as much kelp compared with previous attempts.

See the excitement in action below! 👇

Hope for the baby golden kelp forests of Port Phillip Bay Hope for the baby golden kelp forests of Port Phillip Bay

Did you know? Cities consume nearly two-thirds of global energy and produce up to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions!

Deakin's Design for Circular Cities postgrad courses are the first of their kind in Australia. Developed in collaboration with industry experts, these courses address the Australian Government's priority sector of built environment, preparing you to shape sustainable urban landscapes.🌱

Join the booming circular economy industry with an Australian-first qualification Are you looking to advance your career and research skills in urban sustainability leadership? A design for circular cities postgraduate course at Deakin could be for you.

Excited about a career in engineering?

Study International spotlights top universities worldwide for engineering and science. And when it comes to preparing for the engineering careers of the future, Deakin stands out.

In a rapidly changing workforce, choosing to study at Deakin ensures you're equipped with the skills needed for success. The best engineering degrees get you ready for the real world, and at Deakin, practical work experience is key.

Take a look at this Study International article and find out what skills you need to succeed in engineering and science careers.

Preparing graduates for Engineering and Science careers of the future Thinking about a science or engineering degree? Look for universities that fuse theory with action. Learn more:

Passing through Waterfront campus this week? Drop into A+B Gallery and be inspired by the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards exhibition, coordinated by The Australian Institute of Architects

Browse this year’s Awards entries and be immersed in the most innovative work in contemporary Victorian architecture, hosted in Australia's first (and only) UNESCO City of Design, Geelong.

Open 9am–5pm weekdays until Tuesday 30 April. Free entry.

www.deakin.edu.au/student-life-and-services/events/victorian-architecture-awards-2024-waterfront-campus-exhibition/

Victorian Architecture Awards 2024 Waterfront Campus Exhibition Featuring a series of photographs drawn directly from entries in the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards, this exhibition is a showcase of contemporary Victorian architecture.

Our 'bias for beauty' has implications for animal conservation funding.

Deakin PhD student Meg Shaw's research shows cuter animals attract more donations – even when the 'cuteness' is Photoshopped.

Animal beauty is in the eye of the ... Photoshop expert In the digital age of trimming a waistline here and sharpening a jawline there - even Princess Kate is doing it - is it any wonder that our 'bias for beauty' has spilled into the animal world?

'Don't be afraid.'

This , we asked three world-leading scientists from Deakin IFM, DeakinA2I2 and iisrideakin what their advice was for women and girls inspired to get involved in STEM.

'Find something you love and go after it': Words of advice from three top scientists this International Women's Day We gathered advice from three of Deakin’s many world-leading female scientists this International Women's Day (IWD).

| Today is International Women’s Day. To celebrate, we are shining a light on some of Deakin's many inspiring STEM superstars in teaching and research, our students and alumni.

We urgently need new ways to protect wildlife after fires.

Researchers trialled one such tool: building artificial refuges across burnt landscapes. The results are promising, but Deakin's Darcy Watchorn and colleagues want to find out more.

Our native animals are easy prey after a fire. Could artificial refuges save them? We need every tool at our disposal to stop feral cats and foxes from decimating Australia’s incredible wildlife after fires. Artificial refuges show promise.

Meet the newly minted Dr Ben Newman, his research is helping making the materials we use more sustainable. Ben is just one of the 4,400 Deakin students in our largest ever graduation cohort. Celebrations continue at Geelong Waterfront this week. 🎉 🎓 https://buff.ly/3wdAPTD

In celebration of yesterday's International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Deakin Equity invites you to listen to the latest episode of the podcast Respect.Belong.Thrive: Women in Science, featuring Deakin STEM students and In2Science mentors. ➡️ https://t.co/WA19CzVbJ3

Congratulations to Deakin University's Dr Russell Kennedy and the Perpetual Pigments team on their Gold medal award at The Anthem Awards yesterday 👏 🥇 🎉 Their project involved extracting pigments from waste textiles and turning them into works of art.

Textile waste diverted from landfill, pulverised into powder to produce works of art Deakin scientists have developed a method to extract pigments from waste textiles, with the colours now transformed into works of art by Indigenous artists for a Geelong Design Week exhibition.

You've heard of Triple J's Hottest 100, now it's time for Australia's Hottest 100 scientists!

ABC Radio National Science presenter Robyn Williams lists his picks, including Deakin University's Euan Ritchie and Deakin Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute Co-Director Prof Svetha Venkatesh.

The Science Show’s Top 100 Australian Scientists - ABC listen People know their sports stars, and their rock stars. Why don’t they know the stars of science who have helped shape our world? The Science Show’s Top 100 Australian Scientists hopes to generate discussion and raise the profile of Australia’s world class scientists.

Around the world, native wildlife are dining on increasing numbers of exotic prey, but will it help solve the invasive species problem? asks Deakin University's Euan Ritchie.

Find out more in The Conversation Australia + NZ 👇🏼

Crocs love feral pigs and quolls have a taste for rabbit – but it doesn't solve the invasive species problem Invasive species such as deer, pigs and rabbits might help boost native predator populations.

Reflecting on Success: Deakin University's Blue Marble Study Tour 2023

The two-week Blue Marble Study Tour that brought together 29 students from Deakin’s partner institutions worldwide. In October and November, students from five different countries and nine different partner institutions immersed themselves in a Deakin journey with a blend of academic, cultural, and other experiences.

Students experienced our Burwood and Geelong campuses across the two weeks, with the program's highlights including guest lectures and workshops by leading academics from the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment.

For students such as Ngoc Minh, from Vietnam, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience life studying in Australia. “Thank you for giving me an opportunity to interact, learn and experience Australia. I will always cherish these moments” Ngoc said.

Students wrapped up their time with Deakin by making movies showcasing their experiences.