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UNSW
ISSUE 2 2018
magazine
Something special
is brewing
Meet the UNSW students
going into business with
Ugandan farmers
to change our
coffee habits
Voices of reason Power to the people Stopping the croaks
Kaldor Centre marks five years Australia’s first winner Using DNA to end the cane
of influencing refugee law of the Global Energy Prize toad’s long march
IN THIS ISSUE
02 / CONTENTS
ISSUE 2 2018
08
From the Vice-Chancellor
Welcome to the
second edition
of UNSW Magazine
for 2018.
I
’ve reflected a lot this year on the Professor Martin Green,
contribution education makes to reducing the Director of the
Australian Centre for
inequality. The economist Surjit Bhalla Advanced Photovoltaics,
calls education the ‘new wealth of nations’, was awarded the Global
arguing that the benefits education brings Energy Prize in Moscow
– but it was not just his
by developing human capital, rather than award. He thanked the
financial capital, are key to achieving equity “thousands of solar
and prosperity in 21st century societies. researchers” who had
worked at UNSW and
At UNSW, nurturing those benefits so we elsewhere to make
can make a positive impact locally, nationally advances in photovoltaics
and globally is our most important role. available commercially to
people around the globe.
In this issue of UNSW Magazine, you will
encounter stories of our people who are using
the opportunities UNSW has provided to Inside
direct their creativity and intellect towards 04-07 / Upfront 18 / Building on co-operation
improving our world. University news, research and appointments Supporting Pacific Islands on poverty reduction
Our cover story is the inspiring tale of
08 / Sun shines on solar pioneer 19 / Dining out on cannibals
Brody Smith and Darcy Small, who along with Scientia Professor Martin Green is the first New TV/web series has plenty of bite
fellow UNSW students are helping farmers Australian winner of the Global Energy Prize
in Uganda bring their coffee to Australia. 20 / Halting the toad’s long march
10 / Cover story: From the grounds up How unlocking the DNA of the cane toad will
The students say the financial security that
The student-led project bringing equity and help stop the unloved species in its tracks
the business provides to the farmers makes income to Ugandan farmers
this collaboration so meaningful, but I can 21 / Fellowship a high note
confirm the coffee tastes pretty special too. 12 / Voices of reason on refugees Nicole Murphy, recipient of the Australia
Focusing on the facts about asylum seekers Ensemble Emerging Composer Fellowship
Another outstanding UNSW person
profiled in this edition is Scientia Professor 14 / Waste not, want not 22 / Top-end fight on climate change
Martin Green, who has been a giant of solar There are better environmental solutions A plan to cool Darwin … and save lives
than burning waste
energy technology for more than three 23 / Breaking ground in Myanmar
decades. His reflections on becoming the 15 / A head start on trauma A football project is generating social change
first Australian to win the prestigious Global Sculpture project improves understanding
of post-traumatic stress disorder 24 / Framework for star wars
Energy Prize are well worth reading.
Rules of engagement, beyond our planet
Continuing the focus on global impact, 16 / Tries and tutes
this issue also celebrates five years of the Wallabies star mixes student life with rugby 25 / Outback ideas for reliable energy
Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, Solving the intermittent energy supply problem
17 / Scholarships a key to success
profiles waste warrior Scientia Professor Resources supporting indigenous people 26 / New reading
Veena Sahajwalla, and follows the work of have especially helped one UNSW family Ten books on the issues that matter
UNSW’s Institute for Global Development in
tackling the UN’s Sustainable Development
Cover image: Brody Smith and Contributors: Louise Caldicott, Lucy Carroll,
Goals. Martin, a member of the Zukuka Bora Natalie Choi, Selina Day, Isabelle Dubach, Cecilia Duong,
There is a wealth of amazing talent at farmers’ collective in Uganda. Lachlan Gilbert, Chrissie Hall, Meredith Hall, Kay Harrison,
UNSW and so much to be proud of at the end UNSW Magazine is published by the Belinda Henwood, Penny Jones, Mikayla Keen,
of another year. I hope that you feel as much UNSW Media and Content team. Ibrar Khan, Ben Knight, Len Leanfore, Lauren Martin,
Email: media@unsw.edu.au Neil Martin, Diane Nazaroff, Kate Newton, Julia Nichols,
pride in our community as I did when reading Issue 88 ISSN 2209-282X Freya Norman, Rachel Packham, Dominique Pendleton,
this issue. Managing editor: Peter Harrison Veena Sahajwalla, Rachel Seymour, Ivy Shih, Kate Stanton,
Professor Ian Jacobs Designer: Bill Farr/MediaXpress Lori Youmshajekian
UNSW Magazine
UPFRONT
UPFRONT / 03
DOUBLE AFR AWARD SUCCESS
• UNSW Sydney has taken home two awards
at the AFR Higher Education Awards, for
UNSW’s Hero Program and The Maker Games.
The awards identify leading programs in
areas of innovation, education, student
wellbeing and community engagement.
The UNSW Hero Program won in the Learning
Experience category for helping build the
graduate capabilities of students. The
Engineering faculty’s Maker Games took
out the Industry Engagement category for
Professor Rosalind Dixon: “Being a great academic is only Professor Sally Dunwoodie accepts the Eureka Prize pioneering a cross-disciplinary team-based
possible when you have great colleagues and students.” for Scientific Research. Photo: Eureka Prizes prototyping competition.
Dixon named best legal Biomedical discovery
academic in Australia earns Eureka Prize
F U
or the second year in a row, a UNSW NSW Professor Sally Dunwoodie, a
Sydney law professor has won the prize world-leading biomedical researcher
for best legal academic in Australia. at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research
Professor Rosalind Dixon has been Institute, is the winner of the 2018 Eureka
named 2018 Academic of the Year at the Prize for Scientific Research.
18th Annual Lawyers Weekly Australian Law The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes PURSUING MIND-MACHINE LINK
Awards. It is a repeat for UNSW Law after recognise 10 finalists from UNSW and their
Associate Professor Michael Legg won the affiliated teams for excellence in science • UNSW Sydney researchers Dr Leonardo
Silvestri and Professors Francois Ladouceur
same prize in 2017. innovation and research, leadership, science and Nigel Lovell from UNSW Engineering
The awards recognise the year’s best work engagement and school science. (pictured) have been awarded a US Naval
Research grant to advance the development
across 30 categories including programs Dunwoodie and her multidisciplinary team
of chips to read neural activity from the
from in-house, corporate, business, have been recognised for their discovery of the brain. This could lead to the creation of
innovation and pro-bono areas. UNSW Law potential of vitamin B3 to treat a molecular a brain-machine interface to restore lost
is a partner for the Awards. deficiency causing miscarriages and complex functions in disabled people. The researchers
are pioneers in neural interfacing, inventing
Dixon, who was recently elected as birth defects.
the first chip that uses fibre-optic technology
co-president of the International Society The finding could prevent developmental to measure signals from the brain and which
of Public Law, says the award reflects the defects through a common dietary could revolutionise the way millions of
outstanding people at UNSW. supplement, which might transform the way people interact with technology.
“I feel very honoured to receive the pregnant women are cared for around the
$8M BOOST FOR CHINA
award,” Dixon says. “Being a great academic world.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP
is only possible when you have great In a separate category, filmmaker Adam
colleagues and students and I feel deeply Geiger has won the Department of Industry, • The development of the Torch Innovation
fortunate to have both.” Innovation and Science Eureka Prize for Precinct at UNSW has taken another
significant step with the signing of an
Dixon’s research and teaching focuses Science Journalism. agreement between UNSW and Jiangsu
on comparative constitutional law and He won for the ABC film Can We Save Industrial Technology Research Institute.
constitutional design, constitutional the Reef, hosted by UNSW Dean of Science The UNSW-Jiangsu Industrial Technology
democracy, theories of constitutional Professor Emma Johnston. Research Institute Collaboration Fund is an
$8 million investment that will support 10
dialogue and amendment, socio-economic The documentary explores the massive major projects in technological innovation
rights and constitutional law and gender. impact of coral bleaching on the Great undertaken by UNSW researchers and
Her current focus is on fragile democracies, Barrier Reef. Chinese institutes. Professor Ian Jacobs,
or the threat posed by democratic Johnston, an award-winning marine President and Vice-Chancellor of UNSW
Sydney, says the investment will provide
backsliding, and what law and legal ecologist, examines the issues of when and a further boost to collaboration between
institutions may be able to do about it. how science should intervene to put hardy UNSW and China that will drive innovation
Dixon, with UNSW Economics Professor new coral species on the Reef, and whether in the fields of advanced materials,
Richard Holden, is leading UNSW’s Grand the pitfalls of new genetics could do more biotechnology, energy, and environmental
engineering.
Challenge on Inequality. harm than good.
UNSW Magazine
04 / UPFRONT
UNSW LEADS MAJOR PROJECT
IN NEW AIRPORT PRECINCT
• In an Australian first, the NUW Alliance
(the University of Newcastle, UNSW Sydney
and the University of Wollongong) and
Western Sydney University will jointly
deliver a world-class higher education and
research presence in Western Sydney. The
‘Multiversity’ will be part of the Aerotropolis
precinct at Badgerys Creek. The universities
have signed a Statement of Intent with
the NSW government to deliver the new
Dr Aliza Werner-Seidler, Dr Michelle Tye Professor Jason Abbott and Health Minister Greg Hunt at higher education institution, a campus that
and Dr Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina. the launch of the National Action Plan for Endometriosis. will create strong links to local industry,
tailored vocational education and training,
Researchers are Abbott set to lead and STEM-focused schooling. The Western
Sydney Aerotropolis will be a thriving
Tall Poppy winners endometriosis trials hub for education and leading industries
including advanced manufacturing,
T U
aerospace, defence and agribusiness.
hree UNSW researchers have won NSW Sydney Professor of
2018 NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Gynaecological Surgery Jason Abbott REES APPOINTED TO
Awards from the Australian Institute is to chair Australia’s first National THE SUPREME COURT
of Policy and Science (AIPS), recognising Endometriosis Steering Group for the next • UNSW Law
their commitment to the country's scientific five years. alumna and
research and communication. Australia’s first National Action Plan Eleven Wentworth
chambers member
Dr Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina, a senior lecturer for Endometriosis has been launched Kelly Rees has
from the School of Biomedical Engineering, to improve the quality of life of patients been sworn in to
has been recognised for research into effective through better treatment and diagnosis, the bench of the
treatments for damaged heart tissue caused and to provide an outline for the path to Supreme Court of
NSW. Justice Rees
by heart attacks. Her research explores the ultimately find a cure. (pictured) is the 11th woman appointed
use of bioengineered tissues, such as cardiac Of the $4.7 million in funding pledged by to the Court, having been a commercial
patches, that can replace dead and damaged the government, $2.5 million is dedicated barrister at the Bar for 20 years. She took
heart tissue. to rolling out the National Endometriosis silk in 2012. “As a specialist in commercial
disputes, property and insurance law,
Dr Aliza Werner-Seidler and Dr Michelle Clinical and Scientific Trials Network professional liability, and commissions of
Tye, both from UNSW Medicine and the (NECST Network), allowing patients to inquiry, Ms Rees brings a wealth of legal
Black Dog Institute, have been recognised take part in a coordinated national research knowledge to the bench,” NSW Attorney
for their work in mental health, including program to improve diagnosis and treatment General Mark Speakman said before the
appointment was made.
depression and anxiety prevention programs plans.
for young people. Abbott will lead the national trials RETHINKING ORIGINS OF LIFE
Werner-Seidler has developed a network, which will include an online EARNS FILM FESTIVAL AWARD
smartphone application called Sleep Ninja, capability, matching biological samples • The UNSW TV documentary Life on Earth
a gamified app to prevent insomnia and and databases to facilitate the roll out of – and Mars? was named Best Documentary
depression symptoms based on cognitive large-scale clinical trials. at the inaugural Cano Mocs and Docs 2804
Film Festival, an event for documentaries
behaviour therapy. The intervention is being “Ten percent of women have
and mockumentaries on STEM themes. The
taken to trial in 400 NSW schools. endometriosis,” Abbott says. “It is a documentary explores how a discovery
Tye has been recognised for her recent substantial cause of morbidity and lost in the Pilbara region by a team from the
work on improving early detection and productivity. It has a major impact on Australian Centre for Astrobiology at UNSW
challenges the belief that life on Earth
prevention of suicide. She has been trialling fertility and often occurs when women are
originated in the oceans, and what that
innovative, evidence-based prevention establishing careers, further education and means for the search for evidence of life on
programs such as the Good Behaviour Game family. One of the most difficult things is it Mars. The film festival was held at The Age
(GBG) in primary schools, which is based can stop women reaching their full potential. of Fishes Museum in Canowindra, in central
western NSW, and supported by the Country
on behavioural and emotional regulation “The spotlight on the disease makes it
Education Foundation, which supports
through delayed, shared reward. She is also easier for women to talk about it and helps young people to pursue post-high school
using suicide data to develop suicide risk debunk the myth that endometriosis is just education and training. The documentary can
profiles for local regions. bad period pain.” be seen at – https://youtube/UdMKO2l-DzA
UNSW Magazine
UPFRONT / 05
TRIO CHARGES INTO 40 UNDER 40
LIST OF SOLAR LEADERS
• Three rising stars from UNSW’s School
of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy
Engineering (SPREE) have made the
prestigious “40 Under 40” list for solar
professionals. The award recognises those
aged under 40 whose work is influencing
solar technology development at a global
level. Faculty of Engineering Dean Professor
Delegates from UNSW Sydney join the China Centre Mark Hoffman says Associate Professor
team at the official opening, from left: Laurie Pearcey, Bram Hoex (39), Scientia Fellow Dr Brett
Fiona Docherty, An Daochang, Professor Ian Jacobs, Graeme Associate Professor Lucy Marshall is looking to change
Hallam (32) and Post-Doctoral Fellow
Meehan, Xie Jiangang, Ding Huanhuan and Rachel Wei. attitudes and correct misperceptions.
Dr Alison Ciesla (32) thoroughly deserve
the recognition and prestige that comes
New China innovation centre Engineering faculty takes with the award.
to become research hub the lead on equality SIMMONS ADMITTED TO
ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON
U A •
NSW Sydney has opened a new ssociate Professor Lucy Marshall has UNSW Sydney
interdisciplinary centre focused been appointed Associate Dean for Scientia Professor
on innovation in the heart of one of Equity and Diversity for the Faculty of Michelle Simmons
has joined nine
Shanghai’s major hubs for higher learning, Engineering at UNSW Sydney, the first such other Australian
modern industry and technology. position created by any UNSW faculty. scientists officially
The UNSW China Centre in the Yangpu Marshall, until recently a Future Fellow admitted this year
Changyang Innovation Valley was opened in the School of Civil and Environmental to the world’s
oldest independent
by UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Engineering, will work with Professor scientific academy,
Professor Ian Jacobs. Eileen Baldry, who holds the corresponding the Royal Society of
The Centre will support the University’s role for UNSW. Together they will work London. The Royal
mission by advancing research and on plans, practices and policies to provide Society is a self-governing fellowship made
up of the most eminent scientists, engineers
education partnerships, recruiting an inclusive, equitable and respectable and technologists from the UK and the
international students and developing environment for all staff and students. Commonwealth.
opportunities for UNSW students in China. Marshall will also chair the faculty’s Simmons (pictured), the 2018 Australian
The University’s China-based alumni equity, diversity and inclusion committee. of the Year, is believed to be the first female
quantum physicist to join the academy in its
will also benefit from employment and “This role is really important for the 358-year history.
networking opportunities. The Centre will faculty – and it’s well aligned with the
work with leading companies to identify University’s 2025 strategy,” Marshall says. DE SOMER APPOINTED
industry trends and prospects. Gender equity is high on her agenda. MEDICINES CEO
Jacobs said the new office solidified Reaching the target of women holding • UNSW Medicine
UNSW’s links to China and gave UNSW 40 per cent of senior positions in the faculty alumna Elizabeth
de Somer has
an edge in one of the world’s largest by 2025 will require changes in attitude.
become the first
economies. “I think there’s a perception that the woman to be
“As a leader in international education and number of women who come through appointed chief
in the China market, it is critical for UNSW engineering ... is quite small and that this is executive officer
of Medicines
to have a permanent presence in China’s the reason why the proportion is small at
Australia, the
largest city,” said Jacobs. “We believe in the academic levels as well,” she says. country’s peak
potential of global partnerships to transform “But that’s not correct. If we have a look body representing
society for the better.” at our PhD students, we have 40 per cent the innovative medicine industry.
Ms de Somer (pictured) has worked
The Centre is managed by UNSW women, for example, in my school.”
at the front lines of the medical field for
International China Country Director But gender equity won’t be her sole focus. decades, as an intensive care nurse, clinical
Rachel Wei and puts UNSW closer to “Socioeconomic diversity is something that trials coordinator and Clinical Research
its strategic partner Shanghai Jiao Tong I think is particularly important. We’ve Associate. After completing her Master of
Pharmaceutical Medicine, she moved away
University. It will also put UNSW in the also looked at cultural diversity and we
from clinical research into regulatory affairs
same business park as key Torch Innovation have some plans to make sure that our PhD and manufacturing, before entering the
Project partner TusHoldings. population is representative.” world of medicines policy.
UNSW Magazine
06 / UPFRONT
WONG APPOINTED TO
MALAYSIA’S TOP COURT
• An alumnus of UNSW Law is the first
person in the school’s history to be
appointed to the apex court of a nation.
Justice David Wong, who graduated from
UNSW with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1976
and Bachelor of Laws in 1977, has been
appointed to the Federal Court of Malaysia.
Justice Wong, who has just ended five
years of service on the Court of Appeal of
Malaysia, says the Law Faculty has been
The Australian High Commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu, Timothy Walker, Christos Tsiolkas and instrumental in his career.
speaks at the opening of the new India Centre. Mary Zournazi at the NIDA workshop.
KAYESS’ UNITED NATIONS
DISABILITY POSITION
New India Centre supports Tsiolkas and Zournazi dementia
landmark research partnerships play workshopped at NIDA • Rosemary
Kayess, the
T A
Interim-Director of
he new UNSW India Centre in New Delhi simpatico moment over a casual UNSW’s Disability
is part of the University’s efforts to build meal sparked an artistic collaboration Innovation
Institute, has been
a strong presence in India and further between Christos Tsiolkas and
elected to the UN
build Indian-Australian relations. Mary Zournazi that has spanned more Committee on the
Under the India 10 Year Growth than seven years. Rights of Persons
Strategy, UNSW has been making targeted The award-winning author and the UNSW with Disabilities.
An internationally
investments in developing transformative academic and filmmaker met at a Greek
respected lawyer,
partnerships in India. authors’ event 20 years ago. Tsiolkas – now researcher and
Led by distinguished Indian diplomat best known for his international success, academic, Kayess
and former Consul-General to Sydney, The Slap – was discussing the work that (pictured) is a
Visiting Fellow at UNSW Law, and Senior
Ambassador Amit Dasgupta, the centre would become his novel Dead Europe.
Research Fellow at UNSW’s Social Policy
will support the University’s efforts to Zournazi was struck by the power of his Research Centre. Her research and advocacy
build research and education partnerships writing and they stayed in touch. Years later, include access to justice, social inclusion,
in India and will be a hub to facilitate she discussed with Tsiolkas ideas for a play housing and employment. Kayess says she
is proud and humbled at her election and
the recruitment of high-quality students about family, dementia and the ethics of care.
looks forward to the task ahead.
spanning undergraduate, postgraduate and In 2011, they began exploring characters and
higher degree research cohorts. situations. LEADING THE CHARGE ON
The centre will also support UNSW’s The work-in-progress script centres DISRUPTIVE CHANGE
growing portfolio of in-country programs on Augie, a father with dementia, and his
• UNSW Law has
such as the Global Business Practicum. relationship with his carer, as well as issues partnered with
UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor International of care, responsibility and inheritance. KPMG and King &
Wood Mallesons
Laurie Pearcey says the office solidifies In September this year, having written
to establish the
UNSW’s links to India at an exciting time in three drafts, Zournazi and Tsiolkas presented Chair in Disruptive
the Australia-India relationship. their manuscript for a workshop. Innovation and
“In order to build our engagement with “We’ve been the actors, now we actually Law. The five-
year partnership
India in the long-term, it is essential that have to have other people embody the roles
supports research
we become part of India’s rapidly evolving so we can start to see the characters, start to and education
academic and research ecosystem and an see the language, and what’s working and not in the financial
active partner in building India’s intellectual working,” Zournazi says. technology
(fintech) and regulatory technology (regtech)
and social capital,” he says. Actor Lex Marinos, a UNSW alumnus, read
sectors. UNSW Scientia Professor Ross
The opening came within a week of the role of Augie in the NIDA workshop, with Buckley (pictured), a world-leading scholar
the release of Australia’s India Economic Camilla Ah Kin reading his carer, Yuli. in international financial regulation, is the
Strategy to 2035, which is set to shape The workshop explored elements of the inaugural chair. The establishment of the
Chair places UNSW, and Australia, at the
Australia’s India policy. Education featured drafts under the dramaturgy of acclaimed
forefront of disruption and technological
as the priority sector to drive ties between Australian playwright and screenwriter change that is significant to legal, banking
the countries over the coming decades. Stephen Sewell (The Boys, Chopper). and other sectors globally.
UNSW Magazine
UPFRONT / 07
ENGINEERING HUB OPENS DOOR
FOR WESTERN SYDNEY STUDENTS
• UNSW Sydney is launching an Australian-
first collaboration with Western Sydney
University to develop a world-class
Engineering Innovation Hub in Parramatta.
The universities are developing a custom-
designed, 15-storey Hub in the Parramatta
CBD to house a joint undergraduate
engineering program, and corporate offices,
to be completed by 2021. Announcing the
enterprise, the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian,
Professor Deborah Lupton will conduct research relating Members of the UNSW Business School alumni panel said it was a “visionary concept”. UNSW
to digital health and translational research. Yanti Ropeyarn and Rebecca Harcourt. President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian
Jacobs noted the joint venture would create
Lupton to research how Business plays big role in a new standard in engineering students. “We
are proud to partner with Western Sydney
data helps track health NAIDOC women’s conference University to deliver a state-of-the-art
facility for teaching, research and industry
P U
collaboration in the heart of Parramatta.”
rofessor Deborah Lupton, UNSW’s NSW Business School played a vital
newest hire under the Strategic Hires role in this year’s NAIDOC Aboriginal HARCOURT AWARDED AC
And Retention Pathways (SHARP) and Torres Strait Islander Women’s
• One of Australia’s
program, will explore how digital health Conference, which organisers say was the most eminent
technologies, big data and self-tracking largest gathering of Indigenous women in economists, UNSW
Business School’s
apps are changing the way we manage more than 32 years.
Professor Geoffrey
our health. The school was a major sponsor and Harcourt, has
Lupton was a third-year sociology students, staff and alumni were involved been awarded the
undergraduate at ANU when she studied as ambassadors, speakers, panellists and highest honour
in the Queen’s
two subjects that would set the direction of curators. More than 600 Aboriginal and
Birthday 2018
her academic career. Torres Strait Islander women attended the Honours List. Harcourt (pictured) was made
“One was Sociology of Health and the conference, which had the theme Because of a Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia
other one was Sociology of Everyday Life, Her, We Can. “for his eminent service to higher education
as an academic economist and author,
and I just found them fascinating,” says the UNSW Business hosted a panel of alumni
particularly in the fields of Post-Keynesian
internationally renowned researcher, who that discussed how Aboriginal and Torres economics, capital theory and economic
will start at UNSW next year. Strait Islander women are navigating thought”. Harcourt has had a distinguished
“They both raised really interesting change. It was chaired by Rebecca Harcourt, academic career spanning almost 60 years,
including several decades at Cambridge
questions about how people engage with UNSW Program Manager for Indigenous
University.
their experiences with health and illness, Business Education.
their practices of trying to protect their The panellists stressed that, despite a lot of ALUMNA APPOINTED
health, or if they are sick, where they seek work having taken place towards improving MACQUARIE CEO
support and information.” Indigenous representation in the workforce, • In what’s
Lupton will conduct research relating to there was still some way to go. been hailed as
digital health and translational research, Lucy Brereton, Indigenous Programs one of the most
significant female
heading up two programs: Critical Digital Coordinator at the Commonwealth Bank, appointments of
Health Studies and Living Data. said people who are employed should aim for the year, UNSW
Lupton says Living Data will investigate decision-making roles – and be supported to Law and Business
the data generated by people using digital make their way up. alumna Shemara
Wikramanayake
health technologies – and how people make “We need to work towards our own has been named CEO of Australia’s biggest
sense of it. In Critical Digital Health Studies, businesses and build intergenerational investment bank, Macquarie Group. The
she will build on her research in digital wealth,” Brereton said. 56-year-old rises to the role, replacing the
health technologies. Also on in NAIDOC Week was UNSW’s retiring Nicholas Moore, from her position
as Head of Macquarie Asset Management.
“What I’m finding … is that even though Indigenous Winter School program, which Wikramanayake, who graduated from
everyone Googles initially, they still value provides Indigenous high school students UNSW in 1985, was last year recognised for
medical expertise and want to place their with a week-long taste of university life, her achievements and leadership with a
trust in what their doctor can tell them.” aiming to foster lifelong learning. prestigious UNSW Alumni Award.
UNSW Magazine
08 / GLOBAL IMPACT
GLOBAL
REWARD FOR
THE FATHER OF
PHOTOVOLTAICS
Martin Green’s groundbreaking
career has been recognised with
a new international honour.
By Louise Caldicott
U
NSW Professor Martin Green
has become the first Australian
to receive the prestigious Global
Energy Prize. In a ceremony in Moscow,
he was recognised for his research,
development and educational activities
in the field of photovoltaics.
The annual Global Energy Prize
was presented to Green by Russian
Minister of Energy Alexander Novak
in Moscow, Russia. The award
honours outstanding achievement
in research and technology and
is designed to address some of
the world’s most pressing energy
challenges.
Reflecting on his award, Green
thanked his wife, “my own renewable
resource”, for giving him the
freedom to pursue his passion.
He also paid tribute to the
“thousands of solar researchers
Director of the Australian
Centre for Advanced
Photovoltaics Martin Green
with his award in Moscow.
UNSW Magazine
RESEARCH QUALITY / 09
who have worked in the field for many years, largely through the work of his students in “The time of solar has arrived and this is
including those at UNSW and elsewhere establishing manufacturing centres in Asia. good news for the world,” Green said in his
who have helped not just make PERC [solar His record-breaking achievements stretch acceptance speech.
cells] a reality, but also to bring it to market across decades. In 1989, his team supplied “The PERC cells pioneered by
and to have driven such scale”. the solar cells for the first photovoltaic UNSW now reflect 50 per cent of world
Green, who is Director of the Australian system with an energy conversion efficiency production. During that time, we’ve seen
Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW, of 20 per cent. And in 2014, he headed the solar move from expensive energy to
was honoured for having “revolutionised the development team that first demonstrated inexpensive energy. Our work on PERC
efficiency and costs of solar photovoltaics, the conversion of sunlight into electricity has driven that.”
making this now the lowest cost option for with an energy conversion efficiency of UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor
bulk electricity supply”. 40 per cent. Professor Ian Jacobs congratulated
He shares the prize and RUB39 million Professor Green on his achievement.
($820,000) prize money with Russian ‘We are proud of Martin’s “This award cements Martin’s position
scientist Sergey Alekseenko, an expert in as the leading photovoltaics researcher
thermal power engineering. inspirational leadership and in the world. His work has delivered
They were selected from 44 contenders transformational outcomes in renewable
from 14 countries by a committee of pioneering research which is energy for more than three decades and will
leading scientists. helping address the challenge continue to produce major economic and
The prize is rated as one of the world’s social benefits.
99 major science awards by IREG List of of climate change.’ “This honour is as exceptional as it is
International Academic Awards with a fitting and we warmly congratulate him.”
PROFESSOR MARK HOFFMAN
reputation score of 0.48 (a Nobel Prize has UNSW Dean of Engineering Professor
a score of 1.0). The 10 finalists this year Mark Hoffman said: “The global impact of
included businessman and engineer Among his many breakthroughs, the work of Martin and his research team
Elon Musk. he invented the PERC solar cell, which has been profound. They have created
Green is a world-leading specialist in accounts for at least a quarter of the world the highest efficiency solar cells using
both monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cell manufacturing capacity and has techniques that have made them accessible
silicon solar cells, and the research group a rapidly increasing market share due to to the world through commercialisation.
he founded in UNSW Engineering is the its greater efficiency over other types of And all of this has been achieved in
largest and best-known university-based cells. PERC solar cells are now becoming Australia.
photovoltaic research group in the world. a commercial standard throughout the “We are proud of Martin’s inspiration
The enormous reductions in costs in world, with sales exceeding US$10 billion leadership and pioneering research which
photovoltaic solar systems in recent years in 2017 and predicted to exceed is helping address the challenge of climate
directly related to his scientific efforts, US$1 trillion by 2040. change.”
Energy award is the latest in a long line
The use of Professor Martin Green’s PERC solar he was awarded the Karl Boer Solar Energy Medal
cells (solar cells with passivated emitter and rear of Merit for “significant pioneering contributions
surface) is predicted to save at least $750 million to the promotion of solar energy as an alternative
in power-production costs in Australia alone over source of energy”.
the next decade. In 2004, he received the World Technology
Green is also co-inventor of the laser-doped, Award in the field of energy, and in 2007 the
selective emitter solar cell, used in solar panels SolarWorldEinstein Award for “outstanding work in
which were sold by the company Suntech between the field of solar energy”. He is the holder of many
2009 and 2011. patents and the author of eight books as well as
He is also a pioneer in the area of perovskite more than 750 publications.
photocells, which he believes could be used The Global Energy Prize was established
as a supplement to silicon solar panels, with a in Russia in 2003 through the Global Energy
combination of the two materials potentially able Association, with the support of Russian Energy
to further reduce the cost of electricity. companies Gazprom, FGCUES and Surgutneftegas.
So it's no surprise that Green is the winner The winners are chosen by a committee of 20
of many scientific and industry awards. In 2003, leading scientists from 13 countries.
UNSW Magazine
10 / COVER STORY
From the
grounds up
Student-led coffee start-up
Bugisu Project is thinking
big, with gender equality, fair
distribution of profits and a
zero waste policy as defining
goals of the business, write
Kate Stanton and Penny Jones.
Driving development in Uganda: Bugisu Project’s
Darcy Small and Daniel Okinong.
S
ome of the world’s best coffee grows “Daniel blew us away, not only with his funds into charities and NGOs in Uganda.
along the fertile slopes and valleys of knowledge of local agricultural practices but In Australia, Bugisu Project will also be
Mt Elgon, an extinct volcano in eastern also world economies and business,” Smith a zero-waste coffee supplier by packaging
Uganda, students Brody Smith and Darcy says. “He told us about the experiences coffee in reusable jars and composting
Small learned when they visited the country of the coffee farmers and the multiple coffee grounds they collect from the partner
last year. challenges they face. businesses.
Sydney’s coffee connoisseurs have since “They’re creating this high-quality Small says Bugisu Project has been a labour
confirmed it. “It just has a really nice, unique product. But for a lot of geographical, of love, but one they couldn’t have pursued
taste,” says Smith, a sixth-year Biomedical historical and political reasons, they have not without the help of their UNSW contacts.
and Mechatronics Engineering student. been able to get their product out there.” “We are by no means experts in ethical
The pair travelled to Uganda to work Their conversations with Okinong were procurement, or setting up an import/export
with local agriculture students as part of an the catalyst for Bugisu Project, a student business,” says Small. “But that’s been the
exchange between UNSW Engineering and start-up that aims to supply ethically- exciting thing. We’re talking to as many
Uganda’s Gulu University. sourced coffee from Ugandan farmers to people as we can and learning as we go.
They were particularly struck by the Australian businesses. “It’s a complex space that even experts
disconnect between coffee-obsessed “Australia has an $8 billion coffee market make errors in, so we want to do our research
Australians back home and the people and people are becoming more ethically properly.”
growing coffee beans in Uganda. aware and interested in transparency with When Smith and Small returned to
“It was just the absurdity of how little these the supply chain,” Smith says. Australia, they consulted with the UNSW
farmers are paid for their produce and how “With Daniel’s early help, we realised we Engineering Student Opportunities team,
much we pay for a cup of coffee in Australia,” could generate ongoing impact in Uganda recruited a few more students and started
says Small, a fifth-year Photovoltaics and through an ethical business that satisfies firming up their business model.
Solar Energy Engineering student. Australia’s love of coffee.” They joined a UNSW pre-accelerator
The two learned of the Bugisu coffee- This month, Bugisu Project commenced program and undertook a one-week coffee
growing region surrounding Mt Elgon their soft-launch with five Australian trial with several Sydney workplaces, which
through their conversations with Daniel workplaces on board. They’re planning for were able to give their stamp of approval to
Okinong, a Gulu University student who a large-scale launch in early 2019. As a not- the Bugisu beans.
grew up nearby. for-profit, the enterprise plans to channel “That’s when we realised that, yes, it
UNSW MagazineCOVER STORY / 11
A taste for it: Bugisu project’s
Monica Wang, Brianna Kerr,
Brody Smith and Darcy Small
hope to have 15 companies
on board by January.
‘We’re giving people coffee that
is more than just coffee …
There are profits being
generated for good.’
BRIANNA KERR
Photo: Chrissie Hall
really is high-quality stuff,” Small says. make sure that what we are planning to do companies to jump on board,” she says.
In July, Smith and Small travelled back is aligned with what the experts in Uganda By January of 2019, Bugisu Project hopes
to Uganda to visit farmers, potential think is important,” Small says. to have partnered with 15 companies, all
development partners and experts in the Back at UNSW, students Brianna Kerr and paying to provide Ugandan coffee to their
international coffee trade. Monica Wang joined the project as Director employees.
They spent the first week in Mbale, the of Impact and Director of Finance. Kerr, They are also working on a system that will
town beneath Mt Elgon, visiting farmers and in her final year of Development Studies, allow them to collect coffee grounds and use
researching how the coffee is produced – with says the team signed their first official them as ingredients in skin care products,
Okinong as their guide and cultural advisor. funding partnership with the Love Mercy which can then be delivered back to the
“It was really cool to be running this Foundation, a Uganda-focused organisation businesses for their use.
trip ourselves, and Daniel was excellent at run by UNSW alum Caitlin Barrett. “Our ongoing vision is to demonstrate
interacting with local people and helping us Love Mercy runs Cents for Seeds, a the idea of circularity – the way our coffee
learn as much as we could.” program that provides loans in the form of grounds go back into useful products and our
The team also met with Zukuka Bora, a seeds for Ugandan women to plant crops. finances go back into Uganda,” says Small.
farmers’ collective that educates farmers and “When the boys went to Uganda, gender “We want to use our business to demonstrate
makes sure they’re being fairly paid for their equality was something they identified as an that you can successfully run a not-for-profit,
produce. issue, particularly in terms of unrewarded pay your staff and generate amazing impact.”
“We visited several of the large coffee and informal labour,” says Kerr. “Women in
companies in the town, to cross-check Uganda can use the seeds they receive from
what we’d learnt about Zukuka Bora and we Love Mercy to grow enough produce to feed If your workplace would like to generate
spent a few days on the mountain visiting their families, repay their loan and use the lasting impact by drinking specialty coffee
the farmers themselves to verify everything excess to send their children to school or with a smaller footprint, get in touch with
we’d heard first hand,” Small says. invest in a small business. the team for a trial.
They spent the second half of the trip in “We’re giving people coffee that is more Go to www.bugisuproject.co or email
the Ugandan capital, Kampala. than just coffee. When they drink Bugisu, team@bugisuproject.co for more information.
“We met as many different experts in the they are doing more than waking themselves
development space, the cultural space and up. There are profits that are being generated Bugisu’s captivating Virtual Reality showcase of the
the environmental space as we could to that are doing good. So it’s a no-brainer for coffee’s origins is also available on request.
UNSW Magazine12 / A JUST SOCIETY
Voices of
reason on
refugees
Frustrated by the distortions,
two refugees funded a centre
focused on the facts about
people seeking asylum.
I
t was October, 2013 just a month after
Tony Abbott had won the federal election
on the back of his ‘stop the boats’
campaign. Within days of coming into office,
the new government had created Operation
Sovereign Borders – a military-led, border
security operation – which was the first step
in a series of hard-line asylum policies.
It was hard to believe that this was the
same Australia which, after the Second
World War, had taken in 170,000 refugees
from Europe, and which had welcomed
Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s.
Over the course of the past two decades,
this wealthy, multicultural country
had drifted away from well-established
principles of protection for refugees, and
from the international leadership it had
shown in shaping and supporting the 1951
Refugee Convention. Now, Australia’s
backslide was accelerating at speed, driven
by the momentum of ugly politics. As sharply
as borders defined its territory, border policy
was dividing its community.
Into this atmosphere UNSW Sydney
launched the Andrew & Renata Kaldor
Centre for International Refugee Law. It was
supported by two philanthropists who had ‘One of the vital roles a centre
come to Australia as post-war refugees. “We like ours can play is in keeping
didn’t hesitate,” says Andrew Kaldor AM.
“We had become increasingly frustrated by governments to account.’
the misinformation, the lack of evidence in
JANE McADAM
the debate about asylum-seeker issues.”
UNSW MagazineTHE KALDOR CENTRE ANNIVERSARY / 13
The prevailing, proliferating politics team of outstanding researchers, including that can help to highlight good practice and
gave an immediate urgency to the Centre’s Professor Guy S Goodwin-Gill from Oxford, inform the general public.”
mission, which is to produce rigorous recognised as a pre-eminent scholar on The Centre’s research also feeds into
research on refugee law, and to bring the international refugee law, and senior strategic litigation – and it is in the process
results of that work to bear on public policy research associates Madeline Gleeson, of creating a new network of scholars who
and debate at the Australian, regional and Dr Claire Higgins and Dr Sangeetha Pillai. can support that more widely. Likewise, the
international levels. “The legal and policy landscape has shifted Centre’s growing global Emerging Scholars
“It was an enormous privilege to be considerably in the past five years, and the Network helps rising academic stars learn
charged with creating and leading the Centre has been at the forefront of debates, from one another, including through an Asia-
Centre,” says its director, Scientia Professor reminding governments of the international Pacific Research Group that is encouraging
Jane McAdam. “But I also felt the weight of legal obligations they have voluntarily further scholarship within the region. The
responsibility.” Centre also has formed partnerships with
The Kaldor Centre quickly became a the Refugee Studies Centre at the University
global go-to source for insight and analysis, of Oxford, and the UN High Commissioner
noted for its in-depth academic research, for Refugees (UNHCR).
its accessible popular books, and its now- UNHCR’s Regional Representative,
essential weekly brief on refugee news from Thomas Albrecht, has called the Kaldor
around the world. Centre the best organisation of its kind he
“In an increasingly polarised debate has seen around the world in the past 30
around forced migration, a voice of reason, years. “No other entity has achieved such a
based in evidence, in law, is an incredibly catalytic role,” he says.
valuable thing – and that’s what the Kaldor UNSW Dean of Law George Williams AO
Centre brings,” says Guardian journalist is immensely proud of the Kaldor Centre’s
Ben Doherty. “This is not just an issue accomplishments. “It has rapidly established
for Australia, this is not just an issue for itself as the leading research Centre of its
this region, or for rich countries or poor kind anywhere in the world. It is distinctive
countries, but this will be one of the great not only for the quality of its research, but
global challenges of the 21st century.” for the impact it is having on public debates
The need for the Centre is arguably ever in Australia and around the world.”
greater: the number of people displaced ‘Public and policy engagement This is particularly so when it comes to
worldwide has reached a new record high the links between climate change, disasters
is really part of our DNA
each year since the Centre was established. and displacement, an area where McAdam’s
At the same time, some world leaders – at the Kaldor Centre.’ scholarship has been pioneering. “The Global
United States President Donald Trump, Compact on Migration contains important
FRANCES VOON
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, language on protecting people moving the
and Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far- context of climate change and disasters.
right National Rally party – have stoked accepted, and by which they remain bound,” [That] would not have been possible without
fears about people seeking asylum. Other says McAdam, lauding the team for not the conceptual work done by the Kaldor
leaders, meanwhile, have shepherded only continuing their longer-term research, Centre,” says Walter Kälin, Envoy of the
and championed two new international but also for the reports, policy briefs and Platform on Disaster Displacement.
instruments designed to engender greater parliamentary submissions produced in “Everything we do at the Kaldor Centre is
international cooperation on people response to current debates. ultimately about securing safe, durable and
movement: the Global Compact for “Public and policy engagement is really humane outcomes for the world’s displaced
Refugees, and the Global Compact on Safe, part of our DNA at the Kaldor Centre,” notes people,” McAdam says.
Orderly and Regular Migration, which will Executive Manager Frances Voon. “We exist Andrew Kaldor agrees. “Renata and I
be adopted by the United Nations General to generate research with impact – and that are delighted by the Centre’s success. We
Assembly in December. means that we are constantly making sure feel privileged to be involved with such a
The Kaldor Centre deals directly with all the findings of our research are shared with brilliant team. But attitudes and policies
of these contemporary dilemmas. those who are able to influence policy … toward refugees and displaced peoples are
“One of the vital roles a centre like ours can through media commentary, engaging with hardening around the world,” Kaldor says.
play is in holding governments to account,” policymakers through briefings and high- “The work of the Centre is needed now, more
says McAdam, who has been joined by a level round-tables and convening events than ever before.”
UNSW Magazine14 / RECYCLING
WASTE
NOT,
WANT
NOT
If waste is burned for
energy, recyclable material
is lost forever. There are
better solutions, writes
Veena Sahajwalla.
T
he vast recycling problem Microfactories with A team of researchers at the Centre This new recycling process has the
facing communities around a footprint of just for Sustainable Materials, Research potential to deliver economic and
50 square metres
Australia has been a ticking could turn waste into
and Technology (SMaRT), have environmental benefits wherever
time bomb. valuable resources, developed a range of technologies to waste glass is stockpiled, and is
With China’s restriction of imports says Professor reform waste into valuable materials modelled on our recently launched
Veena Sahajwalla,
of foreign waste now responsible for Director of the Centre
to be used in existing and new electronic waste microfactory.
increased stockpiling around the for Sustainable manufacturing processes. Microfactories can operate on a site
nation, prices for waste streams such Materials, Research In a paper published in the as small as 50 square metres and can
and Technology.
as glass are at a low point. It is now international publication Journal of be located wherever waste may be
cheaper to import than recycle glass. Cleaner Production, the team reveals stockpiled.
The realisation that something our latest research about a cost- We are now building the world’s
needs to be done about this growing effective new process for transforming first microfactory that can effectively
waste problem has come slowly to mixed waste glass into high-value take recycled containers and
governments around Australia. building panel products such as materials put out in council bins and
The call by former federal engineered stone, without high- convert them into reformed materials
Environment Minister Josh temperature processing technology. such as metals alloys, plastic filament,
Frydenberg for the incineration of particle boards and glass panels for
waste to generate energy should The people speak building products.
only be part of the solution. The first of a series of surveys by Our microfactories eliminate the
Similarly, while Senate committee UNSW to assess community attitudes need for costly machinery, save on
recommendations of a ban on single- to recycling finds that 65% of people the extraction of yet more natural
still believe that recyclables they
use plastics by 2023 and a national materials, and reduce the impact of
put in council bins will end up in
deposit container scheme are landfill. The survey highlights growing burning and dumping waste.
commendable, a solution is available. disillusionment with recycling. A solution is at hand to treat the
The process of burning waste to Just under half of respondents problem at the sites where the
believe ecofriendly initiatives will have
create energy means that recyclable stockpiles are growing, addressing
no effect in their lifetime. Just over 70%
materials are lost forever as say they will recycle more if material the waste and recycling problem and
renewable resources. This isn’t the is more reliably recycled. More than create revenue.
ideal way to look at materials – metals 90% say it is important for Australia to
invest in microfactory technology to
can be repurposed, and many plastics This article was originally published in the
reform the most common waste.
can be reused a number of times. Australian edition of The Guardian.
UNSW MagazineSCULPTURE BY THE SEA / 15
A head
start on
trauma
UNSW’s participation in
Sculpture by the Sea was
a major step in improving
understanding of
post-traumatic stress
disorder, writes Lucy Carroll.
S
culpture by the Sea, one of the world’s sequence that depicted the lived experience “PTSD is a major global challenge and
biggest outdoor sculpture exhibitions, of PTSD from the viewpoint of a returning capturing an experience of PTSD through
this year featured a work by a UNSW soldier.” video and the eyes of someone who has the
team exploring the complexity of mental The video was based on research from disorder is highly valuable in providing a
illness through video and sculpture. UNSW Medicine’s School of Psychiatry, window for others to better understand the
It was only the second time a video UNSW Psychology, and interviews with debilitating nature of this condition that
installation was part of the exhibition, male and female ex-service personnel who often can go undiagnosed,” Steel said.
now in its 22nd year and visited by about are UNSW Canberra alumni. “We are all familiar with the term PTSD.
half a million people annually. The work One of the contributors whose What we don’t often understand is how
was among 100 sculptures by artists from experiences of living with PTSD informed someone can shift from high functioning to
around the world on the two-kilometre the video was Benjamin Farinazzo, a sudden impairment. PTSD can dramatically
coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama. former Australian Army Officer and UNSW change a life, disconnecting people from
The interactive installation, Look Inside graduate who was diagnosed with PTSD family and friends. While it may resolve for
My Mind, was a collaborative work by after his return from East Timor where he some people who develop the condition, all
UNSW’s visual content manager Matthew served as part of the INTERFET Forces. too often it can become a chronic condition
Gill and his team, with UNSW Medicine, Experiences of PTSD, such as and cause difficulties not only for those
UNSW Psychology and UNSW Canberra. intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, directly affected but those who support and
Positioned at the steps on the edge of heightened physiological reactions such care for them,” he said.
Tamarama’s Marks Park, Look Inside My as hyperventilation and anxiety, and Professor Steel, a psychologist and the
Mind, was a 2.5 metre androgynous, ageless dissociative symptoms such as derealisation, inaugural St John of God Professorial
resin head that gave visitors an imagined numbing and detachment, were represented Chair for Trauma and Mental Health, a
glimpse into an experience of post-traumatic through the video. partnership between Richmond Hospital,
stress disorder (PTSD) through a looping Professor Zachary Steel, from UNSW UNSW Medicine and the Black Dog
video seen through multiple viewing stations. Medicine’s School of Psychiatry, emphasised Institute, leads a joint research program in
“On closer inspection the viewer realised that raising public awareness of PTSD was mental health, working closely with veterans
there were three viewing holes positioned crucial in improving understanding about and emergency service first responders
around the head,” said Gill. “Within the the mental health disorder and removing as well as refugees, asylum seekers and
sculpture is a three-minute audio and visual stigma at a community level. populations affected by displacement.
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