We acknowledge the Kaurna people, the original custodians of the Adelaide Plains and the land on which the University of Adelaide's campuses at North Terrace, Waite and Roseworthy are built.
Interim ISER Director's message
As of 1st of June 2024, I have the honour and pleasure of becoming the Interim Director of ISER. This role has been established because Michael Goodsite has been asked to focus on merger activities and co-lead with a colleague from the University of South Australia, the Sustainable Green Transition (SGT) Signature Research Theme (SRT) working group. Please join me in thanking Mike for his outstanding service as inaugural Director of ISER.
I am looking forward to continuing to work with Mike now in his new capacity, together with ISER’s Deputy Director focused on Sustainability, Prof. Melissa Nursey-Bray, since both she and I are members of the SGT SRT working group. I will also work with Melissa to appoint a new mission lead for FAME Research Mission 4 (Accelerated access to clean and green technologies).
Prof. Greg Metha has moved into the role of Acting Director of the Centre for Energy and Technology (CET), and I will continue to work with him and my research colleagues in CET under these new arrangements. I will also continue as the Research Director of the Heavy Industry, Low-carbon Transition (HILT) Cooperative Research Centre. I am humbled and excited to take the leadership role for ISER in this very exciting time for the Institute and the University. I am looking forward to working with you all now in this new role.
Prof. Graham 'Gus' Nathan
Interim ISER Director
ISER Titleholders
Over the last couple of months, we have been delighted to welcome new ISER Titleholders to the team. Please congratulate and welcome Associate Prof. Sandra Cassotta, Dr Manju Menon, and Dr Kuishuang Feng. Keep up to date on our socials to view what they get up to!
Awards
Department of Industry project granted for sustainable recycling of critical metals from discarded mobile devices
The Department of Industry Science and Resources has released the outcomes of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund. Associate Professor Philip Kwong and Professor Volker Hessel were successful with a project on Sustainable recycling of critical metals from discarded mobile devices being awarded $733k (at a total project cost of $1.1m.).
Enduring Industry-Research Collaboration Award
Congratulations to Professor Graham 'Gus' Nathan on receiving the Cooperative Research Australia (CRA)’s prestigious "Enduring Industry-Research Collaboration" award. The award celebrates and recognises impactful partnerships with origins in the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program.
His work and partnerships on decarbonising the iron, steel, alumina, and cement sectors has had an outstanding impact, and we are thrilled for his great achievement. Congratulations Gus!
Centres in the spotlight
The Centre for Energy Technology (CET) resides in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SEME) and works closely with other Schools such as the School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences (SPCES). The Centre‘s overarching goal is to help accelerate society's transition to carbon neutrality, collaborating with government agencies, industry and other organisations to meet their goals, utilising their research capacity in sustainable power, fuels, networks and minerals.
Prof. Greg Metha is now leading the Centre as acting Director. The Centre is currently working towards identifying similar groups and researchers at UniSA for collaboration in preparation for the formation of Adelaide University. To keep up to date with CET's most recent initiatives, you can read more on their website.
Upcoming Events
Sustainability Spotlight Series - Vitivoltaics: Optimising solar power and wine quality under climate challenges, promoting green technology in the Australian Wine Industry
ISER invites you to join us at the Sustainability Spotlight Seminar series hosted at the University of Adelaide. Presented by Associate Professors Cassandra Collins & Armando Corsi, as part of these events, recipients of the Foci and Magnets for Excellence (FAME) Sustainability grants will showcase their projects and their progress to date. Reserve your spot now for Friday, August 30. For more information and ticket registration, click here.
HiTeMP Forum - Early Bird Ticket Prices Extended
The HiTeMP Forum early bird ticket prices are now extended to Friday, August 30, 2024! The Forum will allow the opportunity to interact with industry, researchers, and government agencies that are at the forefront of implementing the transition to net-zero emissions for high-temperature industrial processes used to produce materials such as iron, steel, cement, and aluminum. Click here to register now!
Out and about
Hydrogen Society Australia Event
During early August, Dr. Rachelle Kernen, Chair of the Hydrogen Society of Australia (HSA), hosted a successful event for the HSA, South Australia chapter. This networking event brought together students, researchers, professors, and professionals across the Hydrogen sector in Adelaide, South Australia.
If you are interested in participating or presenting at an HSA Research Symposium in October 2025 to celebrate National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day (October 8th 2025), please express your interest here
or send a direct message to Dr. Rachelle Kernen.
Global Sustainable Development Congress
A delegation of outstanding researchers and sustainability staff, hosted by our University's Global Engagement unit, led by FAME Sustainability Coordinator, Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray, including included Dr Dom MacAfee, Professor Rachel Burton, Dr Ariane Gienger, and Libby Hogarth. They travelled to Bangkok to present and participate in the Global Sustainable Development Congress.
They delivered a Master class entitled: “Collective Energy: Collaboration for Sustainable Futures” focused on how we live in and create sustainable cities, equitable energy transitions, and coastal fisheries management. This was a great opportunity to build new networks and hear from experts to understand how the higher education sector can lead change and build graduates with skills to face future challenges and achieve sustainable and socio-ecologically resilient communities. Click here for more information.
ISER Advisory Board Meeting
Hosted by our colleagues at SA Power Networks (SAPN), the ISER Advisory board meeting commenced with a tour of their Network Innovation centre in Marleston, hosted by Michelle Howie. The centre showcases the valuable work SAPN are doing to grow and improve the network through new technologies and to incorporate renewable energies such as solar. The formal part of the board meeting followed, where our new Interim Director, Professor Nathan, discussed his vision for ISER to focus on and align with the research challenges raised by state and federal governments and industry. A special Advisory Board meeting in September will discuss these areas of focus in further detail.
Socially Just Transition Workshop
At the beginning of July, we hosted a workshop, with keynotes from AP Meg Parsons (Uni of Auckland) and Dr Gerald Atampugre (Senior Policy Officer, International Water Resources Institute, UN and member of the IPBES) who both led a workshop on how to achieve a Socially Just transition. The workshop was well attended and began discussions around international research collaboration on this issue.
Connecting Green Hydrogen Conference
The Youth Program Ambassador, Prof Paul Medwell from the University of Adelaide, discussed the significant global challenges associated with transitioning to clean energy and highlighted the opportunities available to meet those challenges, including creating new jobs, developing skills, and providing training for young people.
IAG Conference Masterclass
ISER sponsored the Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, a meeting of over 200 geographers, many of them from overseas, to discuss scale and sustainable solutions. Speaker Sophie Thomson, TV Presenter and Gardener presented her keynote address. Her profound belief in gardening as a resource to face life’s challenges and as a way to nurture resilience and environmental care, aligned with the IAG conference theme.
SA Climate Leaders Awards
ISER was delighted to attend the SA Climate Leaders Awards 2024, hosted by the Premier’s Climate Change Council and Department of Environment and Water. The University of Adelaide was well represented in the list of finalists, with the Waite Arboretum’s Future Trees Climate and Biosecurity study, Dr Alice Jones Sowing Hope from the Environment Institute, and SPARC Hydrogen SPARC-H2: Zero-electricity low-coast solar hydrogen reactor, who are close partners with Professor Greg Metha and colleagues. Waite Arboretum won in the Research and Education category; and SPARC Hydrogen was the winner of the Small to Medium Enterprise category. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. More information is available at Department for Environment and Water - 2024 SA Climate Leaders Award…
Useful resources
ISER's Sustainability-related Course Portal assists in finding a course or program related to any of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from undergraduate programs to postgraduate coursework. If a sustainability-related course is not featured on the list, please contact us to update.
ISER has widely promoted the Sustainability Experts Portal amongst our stakeholders. Through this portal, they can explore the leading-edge work of the University of Adelaide experts transforming technologies, products, policies, and practices to support sustainable development goals locally and globally. Register here to be added to the portal.
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Resources for UoA researchers
Pivot-RP is a comprehensive, searchable database of international research funding opportunities and collaborators across all disciplines and funding types.
Learn how to use the tool, get support to create a curated list of funding opportunities by emailing Research Services, or register your EOI to request individual or group training sessions.
Submission opportunities
All ISER affiliates are encouraged to contact us to provide feedback; propose an Impact Story; submit any upcoming events in alignment with Sustainability, Energy and Resources areas; or request support in these research fields.
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