This week Australia celebrates National Science Week, the nation’s annual celebration of science and technology. At UNSW Canberra, we’re celebrating the amazing science that takes place on campus every day.
This week Australia celebrates National Science Week, the nation’s annual celebration of science and technology. At UNSW Canberra, we’re celebrating the amazing science that takes place on campus every day. Here’s just a snapshot of some of the research you’ll find around the university:
“Dangerous climate change is a major threat to everyone's security.”
A proposed Coal Elimination Treaty – CET - could make a major contribution to preventing dangerous climate change, and save millions of lives, according to two UNSW Canberra academics.
Professor Anthony Burke, who worked on the research along with Dr Stefanie Fishel from the University of the Sunshine Coast and a Visiting Fellow at UNSW Canberra, said that the treaty being proposed is a “supply-side” mechanism to eliminate what is the world's largest single source of greenhouse emissions within a decade.
“Global climate governance needs new ideas that can drive faster action and while the signing of 2015 Paris Agreement was a great success, it is not achieving a fast-enough reduction in emissions,” he said.
See how such a treaty could combat Climate Change: https://bit.ly/3ghBh5D
This year has been a busy year for UNSW Canberra Space!
Following the successful launch of the M2 Pathfinder cube-sat in June, vigorous testing is underway for the next M2 satellite in preparation for its journey to and throughout space.
The M2 cube-sat is the third of three that have been developed by engineers and researchers at UNSW Canberra Space, under a $10M contract signed with RAAF in November 2017.
UNSW Canberra Space Director Russell Boyce said the M2 satellite builds on the work of M2 Pathfinder and will be used for maritime surveillance as well as building block demonstrations of various sensors, communications and on-board processing. This particular satellite will split into two in orbit, and demonstrate formation flying technologies as well.
“These versatile small satellites have re-programmable software defined radios on board and can change their purpose mid-mission, greatly improving their functional capabilities for multiple uses by Defence and civilian users alike,” he said.
Testing began in early June and will continue throughout the year to ensure the cube-sat is ready for launch.
Did an asteroid kill off the dinosaurs? Have humans landed on an asteroid?
June 30 was World Asteroid Day, the official United Nations’ day of global awareness and education about asteroids. Originally co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr. Brian May of the rock group QUEEN; Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart; Filmmaker Grig Richters; and B612 President Danica Remy, the day promotes awareness and provides knowledge to the public about the importance of asteroids in our solar system history, and the role they play in our solar system today.
We asked UNSW Canberra astrophysicist, Dr Ashley Ruiter, about all things asteroids.
Read more to find out if an asteroid really did kill the dinosaurs, and to learn more about asteroids: https://bit.ly/2YGrY9E
Is Facebook and other online technologies significantly impacting our behaviours?
UNSW Canberra academic Andrew Lapworth discusses how advancing technology can be used to understand and predict human behaviours.
Read more to see how this research can influence positive and productive behaviours: https://bit.ly/38B41nl
Why are our young women opting out of engineering and a career that has significant impact on our world and the way we live?
From cutlery, to buildings, to transport, to drug delivery and telehealth, to energy generation - engineers are core to our lives and livelihood."
UNSW Canberra's Dr Bianca Capra shares her thoughts on why we need to talk to young girls about engineering. Read the article here.