Advertise on podcast: UNSW's Engineering the Future

Australia’s energy system is undergoing one of its biggest transformations in generations. But shifting to renewable energy is about much more than building more solar and wind farms. It also means changing how we power our homes, businesses, transport and industries – while making sure the energy system remains reliable, affordable and accessible.   In this special episode of Engineering the Future, UNSW Engineering Dean Professor Julien Epps sits down with the Hon Josh Wilson MP, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Assistant Minister for Emergency Management, to discuss Australia’s energy transition and the technology, policies and collaboration needed to deliver it.  From rooftop solar and household batteries to electrification, green industry and climate resilience, they explore the opportunities and challenges ahead as Australia works towards net zero emission targets – and why research, innovation and a skilled workforce will be critical to getting there.  Visit ⁠our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ ⁠for more information on the speakers and the full transcript of the conversation.  Read more of our stories on the energy transition:  The secret to better solar cells? Think like a baker ‘Balcony solar’ and plug‑in systems could help cut your energy costs. But only if rules change We can’t air-condition our way out of a hotter future, says UNSW expert UNSW technology to help bring solar and battery storage to apartments Can Australia green its heavy industry? It’s hard – but necessary  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.

Our voices reveal much more than the words we say. They carry clues about our identify, emotions, and even our health.  In this episode of Engineering the Future, Neil Martin speaks with Associate Professor Beena Ahmed about the rapidly evolving field of speech processing and how technology is learning how to decode the information hidden in our voices.  From voice assistants and authentication to healthcare and personalised education, they discuss how speech processing is already embedded in our everyday technology – and explore the challenge of distinguishing real voices from increasingly sophisticated AI-generated speech. Visit ⁠our ⁠website⁠ ⁠for A/Prof. Beena's bio and the full transcript of the conversation.  Read more of our stories on Telecommunications:  Turning speech therapy into child’s play Dr ChatGPT: How AI could help us live longer ChatGPT for medical data? Predicting the future of population health Hey Google, it’s time you listened closely to what our kids are saying Smartphone app to screen for early signs of dementia  ⁠ 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.

Imagine talking to a friend thousands of kilometres away who looks, sounds and feels as though they’re right in the room with you. That’s the promise of 6G: networks that don’t just communicate, they’ll also sense, understand and respond to the world around them.  In this episode of Engineering the Future, Neil Martin chats with Associate Professor Shaghik Atakaramians about how the next generation of telecommunication will deliver far more than just faster downloads. By combining connectivity with intelligence, future networks could their environment, predict changes and respond in real time.  Together, they explore how these technologies could enable safer autonomous transport, smarter cities, remote healthcare and education and even life-sized holographic communication.  Visit our ⁠website ⁠for A/Prof. Atakaramians's bio and the full transcript of the conversation.  Read more of our stories on Telecommunications:  Six things you need to know about 6G ‘Don’t scare the cat!’ Engineers find smarter way to measure quantum systems How ‘digital twins’ could help prevent cyber-attacks on the food industry Quantum technologies aren’t just the future – they’re already here and making an impactReimagining infrastructure through digital twin modelling 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.

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 the Red Bull Formula One team, about the advances set to transform the automotive industry.  From flying cars and smart technologies to cleaner, more sustainable forms of transport, they discuss the trends shaping the future of mobility - and what they could mean for the way we live, work and travel.  Visit our ⁠website ⁠for Richard's bio and the full transcript of the conversation.  Read more of our stories on cars: Onwards and upwards as Sunswift finishes fifth in Bridgestone World Solar ChallengeGrowing EV popularity is leading to queues at fast chargers. Could a kerbside charger network help? A new ad campaign is pushing Australians to use less petrol. Has this happened before? ‘Blood cobalt’ is disappearing from batteries – and cheaper, cleaner batteries are arriving 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.

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.

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, Professor Rita Henderson, UNSW Engineering’s Deputy Dean of Society Impact and Translation, and Kath Richards, Chief Engineer of Engineers Australia, chat with STEM journalist Neil Martin about what it takes to attract and retain diverse talent in engineering.  From sparking interest in schools to creating flexible, supportive workplaces, they explore how diversity drives innovation and why it’s so important in tackling the world’s biggest challenges. For the full transcript of the episode and to learn more about our speakers, visit our ⁠⁠⁠website. Read more of our stories on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at UNSW: UNSW’s Gateway shines, as Education Minister announces rise in domestic enrolments Girls in STEMM 2025: Building circuits, racing cars and shaping tomorrow Hands-on engineering hits the road with UNSW Makerbus Meet Keira Moran: Engineering student and co-recipient of the 2025 Inspiring Student Award Honouring excellence: women engineers celebrated as distinguished Ada Lovelace Medal awarded 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.

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 space How a world record ‘squeeze’ could offer comfort for dark matter hunters UNSW engineers help crack key challenge in scaling quantum computers This metaphorical cat is both dead and alive – and it will help quantum engineers detect computing errors 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.

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 electricity alone cannot provide efficiently.  That's where green fuels come in. In this episode of Engineering the Future, UNSW lecturer Dr Emma Lovell and industry expert Constantine Tsounis, join STEMM journalist Neil Martin to explain how they are made and why they are so important.  They discuss the process of turning renewable resources into biofuels, green hydrogen, biogas, and synthetic fuels to help drive the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions - making decarbonisation possible for even the hardest-to-abate sectors.  For the full transcript of the episode and to learn more about our speakers, visit our ⁠website. Read more of our stories on Green Fuels:   What is sustainable aviation fuel, and why are we not using it already?  UNSW researchers to scale up development of clean aviation fuel thanks to $1.2m TRaCE award  Roadblocks still abound en route to decarbonisation of Australia’s freight industry  A carbon levy on global shipping promises to slash emissions. We calculated what that means for Australia’s biggest export  Scientists use AI to make green ammonia even greener  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.

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.

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 biomedical engineer Associate Professor Lauren Kark, and Managing Director of Taking Paediatrics Abroad, Kathryn Currow, chats with STEM journalist Neil Martin, about the challenges of ensuring healthcare that is just for all and the importance of advocating for sustainable solutions and capacity building over mere financial investment. For the full transcript of the episode and to learn more about our speakers, visit our website. Read more of our stories on equitable healthcare:  It works! GeneEQUAL is improving health care for people with intellectual disabilityUNSW Kirby Institute’s remote testing program wins major university award UNSW medicine graduate awarded NSW Rhodes Scholarship  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.

📧 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.

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 experience strategist Dr Erika Whillas join STEMM journalist, Neil Martin, to discuss how smart technology will change the way we live and interact with our communities in the future - and how best to deal with the challenges it will undoubtedly create.

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.

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 Martin to talk about the challenges of decarbonisation as populations grow and demand for products such as cement, steel, plastic and ammonia rise as a result.   They will explain why fostering collaborations and partnerships is important to keep producing such important materials while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and provide analysis about new decarbonisation technologies, revealing how technical and economic feasibility is just one part of the whole process.

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 journalist Neil Martin to talk about the future of flight. They also debunk myths about hydrogen fuel dating back to the Hindenburg blimp disaster, discuss the use of drones to save lives by fighting bushfires, and explain the tricky balancing act needed to make flying more sustainable.