Manufacturing news briefs - stories you might have missed

WA defence researchers awarded $1.19 million in grants

The Western Australian government has awarded eight grants worth $1.19 million in total to defence researchers as part of the annual Collaborative Research Grant (CRG) program. The funded projects cover a range of fields, including maritime surveillance, modelling for tracking misinformation, and diver communication systems. The program has run since 2019 and provides grants of up to $150,000.

Great Wrap achieves B Corp certification

Bioplastics startup Great Wrap is officially a B Corp Certified business, it announced on Linkedin on Monday night. This certification is for companies that have been verified to meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, the sustainable stretch wrap business said. Great Wrap added in the post that it aimed for certification since the beginning, and it spent months “showing B Lab that we meet the comprehensive performance standards…” it said. “Some of the most inspiring and sustainable brands are B Corps, including Patagonia, Who Gives A Crap and Emma Lewisham – we couldn’t be prouder to follow suit.”

All-Energy Australia expo returns in October

All-Energy Australia, the country’s largest clean energy event, has been announced for October. According to a statement from the organisers on Tuesday, the free-to-attend exhibition and conference will run from 26-27 October 2022 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, feature more than 290 suppliers and 200 expert speakers, and attract more than 10,500 industry professionals. “All-Energy Australia provides a platform for the industry to connect visitors with leading suppliers on our exhibition floor and drive conversations about the future of renewables at our multi-stream conference,” said Robby Clark, Portfolio Director at All-Energy Australia, which is organising the event in partnership with the Clean Energy Council. Registration and other information can be seen here.

Experts analyse rise in low-orbit hazards amid space junk increase

Flinders University experts say that rapidly evolving technology as well as space debris reported around the world signal the need for a new era for regulation of space. Their new report, “Low Earth Orbit, satellite constellations and regulation” calls on governments to pay more attention to the use of LEO as space laws and technologies race ahead at high speed. Experts from Flinders’ Jeff Bleich Centre have raised concerns on several fronts, commencing with the takeoff of commercial interest in satellite ‘mega-constellations’ in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). “While there are laws that cover space activities, they are already under stress because of the speed at which the commercial space industry is evolving,” said research associate in space law Joel Lisk. “Without… ambitious and progressive steps, we risk reducing commercial activity, lower levels of investment – and society will miss out on the benefits that can be derived from this important sector.”

Picture credit: www.nasa.gov

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