The joint lead in a RMIT University team on Functional Materials and Microsystems, researcher Professor Sharath Sriram (pictured), has been appointed as the new President of Science & Technology Australia. In a statement from STA lauding the materials scientist and engineer as a “Visionary ‘connector of commercialisation’ and research rockstar”, STA said Sriram possessed an…
A team of researchers led by RMIT have used machine learning to cut years off the development of perovskite solar cells, according to the university. Perovskite solar cells are the subject of a global race among researchers, and have potential cost benefits over silicon, said lead author Dr Nastaran Meftahi from RMIT University’s School of…
@AuManufacturing today launches a new series on researchers led by UniSA who are seeking companies to develop surface processing capabilities, in a planned Surface Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre. Here, Peter Roberts sets the scene – what can manufacturers expect from a new Surface Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (SMCRC)? SMEs who collaborate with each other and…
A new RMIT University-led study on food waste presents an opportunity to design and manufacture better cold storage solutions, according to one of its authors. The research – supported by Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre and Meat and Livestock Australia – was published by MLA and titled “Practices of meat consumption and cold storage…
Scientists led by researchers from RMT University in Melbourne have invented an experimental wearable device that generates power from a user’s bending finger. It can also create and store ‘memories’, in what the researchers call a promising step towards health monitoring and other technologies. The innovation features a single, super-thin nanomaterial incorporated into a stretchable…
National cleantech conference will no longer run Nectar Creative Communications, the organiser of the National Cleantech Conference & Exhibition (NCTCE), has said the event “will not be taking place in the foreseeable future.” In a message to those on its mailing list, Nectar said the event’s “success and importance… were evident in the overwhelming positive…
What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading. 5) Incitec Pivot hit by acid production shortfall Fertiliser and explosives group Incitec Pivot is facing a reduction in fertiliser output from its Phosphate Hill plant in Queensland even as it moves to complete the sale of its…
A study led by RMIT University and University of South Australia has shown the effectiveness of black phosphorus-based nanotechnology in battling “superbugs”, pointing the way to possible adoption in wound care products and implants. In a statement from UniSA on Thursday, the “nano-thin superbug-slaying material” is described as “effective against a broad range of drug-resistant…
RMIT University Sustainable Systems Engineering and Industrial Design student Alexander Burton has been named national winner of the James Dyson Award competition for his REVR invention, a retrofit allowing the simplified conversion of an internal combustion engine car into hybrid-electric. According to a statement from the James Dyson Foundation on Wednesday, REVR (Rapid Electric Vehicle…
An RMIT University team has shown promising results from insect-inspired “microscale spikes” for titanium implants and other surfaces, demonstrating drug-free anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. According to a statement from the university, the features on the “micro-pillared titanium surface pattern” were about the height of a bacteria cell and designed to address drug-resistant “superbugs” which are…