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  • In this publicly available video, Associate Professor Patrick Burr explains how innovative materials can harness uranium’s energy density, leading to more efficient energy production and reduced nuclear waste. He highlights how UNSW research addresses the critical link between materials innovation and the future of sustainable energy, and how understanding materials capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of fusion reactions can help us overcome the technical barriers to a truly transformative energy system that can address global demands.

  • In an interview with Sky News in December 2024, Edward Obbard commented on statements made by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton on the future of energy in Australia, bringing an educated and scientific perspective to the national conversation.

    “I think that this sort of ‘deadlineism’ we have, as in saying nuclear is too slow, is actually a form of procrastination, because given that in the future we’re going to have to shift to a grid that is nuclear and renewables, surely the only thing to do is to start as soon as you can. Not starting because you’re worried you won’t be done by 2030 or 2050 is basically procrastination, isn’t it?”
    Associate Professor Edward Obbard

  • The flagship magazine of the American Nuclear Society, Nuclear News, featured UNSW’s AtomCraft project in its October 2024 issue. The five-page article describes the AtomCraft team, the context around nuclear energy in Australia and the impact that the project is having on the fusion field and the next generation of students. The story features interviews with Associate Professor Patrick Burr and students Rose Naji, Anastasia Smyth, Arkansh Maheshwari and Rok Willesee, and mentions various Centre members and their research activities.

  • In his opinion piece, ‘More energy, less smog: It’s a step in the right direction’, Associate Professor Edward Obbard reflects on his time as a PhD candidate in the heavily polluted city of Shenyang, China, where coal dominated every aspect of energy use. This experience shaped his view of nuclear energy as a viable solution to provide millions with increased energy consumption and a better quality of life without the environmental toll of coal.

    Supporting Peter Dutton’s proposal for nuclear power in Australia, Edward Obbard highlights its economic and employment benefits, noting that a twin-unit plant could create more than 1000 long-term, high-quality jobs in diverse fields such as engineering, chemistry and project management, fostering regional development and supporting Australia’s energy transition. He also underscores a critical challenge in the Coalition’s nuclear plan: the lack of a sufficiently trained workforce.
    Read the full article

Featured in the media

A sample list of recent media articles and appearances featuring the research and activities of the Centre.