Developers of slag-to-phosphorous process and 3D printed thongs among Australia’s most innovative engineers

Engineers Australia has released its fifth annual list of Australia’s Most Innovative Engineers.

Thirty professionals, described as developing “creative and innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges” were named in 10 categories.

The three manufacturing and automation category engineers were:

* Dr Farshid Pahlevani – developing a world-first, single-step process that transforms steelmaking slag and coffee waste into a sustainable source of agricultural phosphorus;

* Brett Casson – designed the world’s first commercially available 3D printed thong (pictured); and

* Adolfo Fernandez – designed a program that incentivises carbon savings, provides mechanisms for buildings to self-optimise energy consumption, creates a commercial model where projects are funded by operational savings and enables a platform where researchers have a testbed for innovation.

“Celebrating these innovative engineers is an opportunity to showcase the many ways engineers improve our everyday lives. This ‘behind-the-scenes’ work should rightly be taking centre stage, and this list allows us to do just that,” said Alex Kingsbury, one of the judges, in a statement.

A full list of the engineers can be viewed here.

Picture: supplied