Faculty of Engineering
Digital Sciences Initiative Newsletter
December Edition 2024
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Welcome to the last DSI Newsletter for 2024, it has been another great year and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with the DSI for their contributions throughout the year. Reflecting back on our accomplishments in 2024, I am particularly proud of the work we did in organising an engaging and impactful colloquium focused on digital transformation across the agriculture and medical sectors.
We also supported two ARC Industry Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) bids in the areas of medical imaging, rocketry and access to space. We provided seed funding through the DSI Ignite program to promising projects that aimed at addressing significant societal challenges through the use and development of innovative digital tools. One of the most exciting outcomes of this initiative was the hosting an AI Safety Forum that saw strong engagement from across academic, industry and government participants. We held a retreat in late 2024 to explore opportunities for further, large scale collaborative efforts addressing areas of unique strength which have the potential to meet key national and international challenges and to transform industry sectors.
While we have had strong contributions to the DSI from many people this year, I would particularly like to thank Dr. Dan Corbett who led our DSI Defence theme. Dan has decided to move on to new and exciting opportunities in Adelaide and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday period and all the best for 2025. We look forward to continuing to provide support for large, multidisciplinary projects in the digital sciences.
Prof. Stefan B. Williams
Director, Digital Sciences Initiative
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DSI 2024 Year in Review
- Supported and provided resources for grant funding applications to a total value of $26M (Submitted- $16M, Successful- $7M, Unsuccessful- $3M)
- Provided support and resources for two ITTC submissions ($16M)
- Organised and led the Inaugural Digital Transformation Colloquium fostering discussions on the potential of digital transformation in Agriculture, Health, Energy, Infrastructure, and Society
- Showcased 25 of our young researchers through a poster presentation session and 1min lightning talks
- Led a DSI Retreat with over 55 academics from across all faculties to discuss themes for potential funding opportunities
- Funded 12 DSI Ignite Research projects to enhance cross and inter-disciplinary collaborations
- Organised a strategy workshop supported by McKinsey and Company with our research missions to inform the overarching DSI strategy
- Contributed to the white paper to help shape the National Defence Science and Technology Group Innovation Science and Technology (IS&T) strategy
- Championed the report submission on Adopting of AI to the Senate with feedback from academics across the university
- Launch of the Australian Rocket Systems Training Network n September 2024
- 8 Seminar presentations
- Organised numerous meetings, Industry visits, workshops to facilitate grant submissions
- Supporting Government and Industry partnerships whilst working closely with the External Engagement team in the office of VP to identify new strategic partnerships for the University in the digital sciences
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DSI Ignite Grant Funding Scheme
The DSI Ignite Project Funding scheme was launced in August 2024 to boost collaborative activities. The key objective of the scheme was to engage researchers across the University to conduct a rapid feasibility study on new ideas for digital sciences and develop these ideas into concepts or technology that can attract further investment from the Government and/or industry. We had an overwhelming response with 46 applications requesting funding totalling >$900K, covering a diverse range of topic areas.
The figure shows a breakdown of topic areas, with significant numbers of projects focused on AI and machine learning as well as digital health and advanced manufacturing. We were able to provide support for 12 projects including co-investment from the Net-Zero Initiative (NZI), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and the Faculty of Engineering. The list below provides an overview of the project titles and faculty involvement. We will be providing updates on the outcomes of these projects in future DSI newsletters.
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Funded Projects|
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Digital CO2 Catalyst: Australia’s First Net-Zero Database
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Domain specific screening of mechanomedicine against the von Willebrand factor to discern their roles in thrombosis
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BME, Centenary Institute, Heart Research Institute, IMPETUX OPTICS, S.L., LUMICKS B.V.
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Reconstructing Visual Experiences from Brain Activity using Generative AI: A New Path to Decoding Psychiatric Disorder
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CS and Brain and Mind Centre
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Australian AI Safety Forum 2024
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University of Melbourne, Law, School of Mathematics, Good Ancestors Policy, Gradient Institute
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Enhancing Mixed Reality: Quantifying and accommodatin the effects of situational impairments on mixed reality headsets.
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FE, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, ADP
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Software-hardware co-optimisation for ptychographic
imaging
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ECE, School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Photonics, Taiwan
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CortiChip: A wearable biosensor platform for objective
assessment and digital benchmarking for cortisol and
other clinically relevant molecules
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BME, Sydney Brain and Mind Centre, Westmead Clinical School, AMME
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A hybrid digital twin tool for Magnetic based Satellite
Attitude Control and Map of the Earth Magnetic Field at Low Earth Orbit
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AMME, Physics, Deneb Space
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Building Resilience in The Face of Cognitive and Information Warfare
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Multi-Physics Simulation of Sorption-based Battery Thermal Management for Electric Aircraft
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Customised Orthopaedic Implants: Bridging Digital Innovation and Patient Care
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CE, BME, Equinox Medical, Canberra Hospital
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Image2Implant Seed Funding
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BME, CE, SMH, CS, ECE, Lifehouse and FMH
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DSI was to proud sponsor the inaugural Australian AI Safety Forum through the 2024 DSI Ignite Grant Funding Scheme, in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The proposal, led by Professor Kimberlee Weatherall (School of Law) and Professor Geordie Williamson (Director, Sydney Mathematical Research Institute), in partnership with the University of Melbourne, Good Ancestors Policy and the Gradient Institute, focused on addressing questions of safety in AI. This forum was the first of its kind in Australia, and focussed on discussing the International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI and its implications for Australia. This brought together over 100 researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders in early November to address the challenges posed by AI.
More details of the event can be found here.
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Large Centre Bids
DSI supported and provided resources towards two ITTC bids submitted in Nov 2024 to a total value >$16M cash and >$21M in-kind.
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ARC Training Centre for High-Speed Propulsion, Rocket & Launch Systems (HiPR-LS) , led be Professor Matthew Cleary. The HiPR-LS submission represents a collaboration among four leading Australian universities (USYD, Monash, UQ, and RMIT), involving 20 academic Chief Investigators and 24 Partner Organisations, including four industry primes, a diverse range of innovative Australian SMEs, and both national and international government and industry bodies. An additional 14 stakeholders from across the national and international space and defence sectors are part of the broader HiPR-LS ecosystem.
ARC Training Centre for AI Medical Imaging Transformation (AIMIT) led by Professor Fernando Calamante. AIMIT represents a collaboration among three universities (USYD, Monash, UQ), involving 18 academics along with CSIRO and 11 industry partners from across the spectrum of medical imaging. The Training Centre aims to transform Australia’s Medical Imaging industry by providing a new generation of AI Imaging Change Leaders who will bridge the academia-industry gap.
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The DSI retreat was held in Pyrmont on the 27th of Nov 2024 to consider the development of large grant bid submissions that DSI could potentially support in 2025. We welcomed over 55 attendees, including a good mix of academics from post-docs and mid-career researchers through to senior academics and members from the Research Support and Strategy team of the central Research Portfolio. We had participants from almost all faculties including Engineering, Business, FASS, Science, School of Law.
We began the day with a briefing from the Research Portfolio team on strategies leading to large centre bids and a panel discussion with academics and the Director of Research Strategy sharing their experience on the process of putting the large centre bid together, engagement with the industry and lessons learnt. Throughout the day we worked together to identify six research themes for prospective large centres in 2025.
The collaborative energy in the room was wonderful and the groups engaged productively in exploring new research themes. We received positive feedback about new connections being made and work has continued in developing new project opportunities. The ideas shared at the retreat will help shape our strategy for next year and we hope to shortlist a couple of these exciting opportunities to support in 2025.
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Congratulations!
for his Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence 2024- Partnering with Impact for his work on AI algorithms and tools for Biomedical data analysis.
Professor Jinman Kim is the mission co-lead for DSI Health Imaging and it gives us immense pleasure to be part of this success.
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Professor Salah Sukkarieh and team for being awarded $3.2 million in funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to integrate the electrification and smart mechanisation of two-wheel tractors with precision agriculture for improved productivity and sustainability of Cambodian agriculture. Learn more about the project here.
Professor Sukkarieh was also interviewed at the DSI Agriculture Industry Demonstration Event at Allynbrook event (more details below) by Reuters. The video can be found here.
Professor Salah Sukkarieh is the mission lead for DSI Agriculture.
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McKinsey Day of Service
On October 25th, we had the privilege of collaborating with a team of five from McKinsey & Company during their Day of Service to help shape the future of DSI’s activities for 2025. The McKinsey team guided a group of academics and strategists from the University of Sydney in defining DSI’s unique value proposition, identifying key priority outcomes and how to respond to government/industry requirements and strategic directions.
Together, we explored prioritisation criteria, including impact, DSI’s distinct advantages, scalability of funding opportunities and operational capability. Additionally, they provided insights on structuring the DSI retreat and crafting a prospectus. Seven themes were shortlisted on the day that was later suggested at the retreat to workshop ideas.
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DSI Smart City Installation
Early this year DSI supported the DSI Smart City Installation project which is a live visualisation of data from around Sydney. A projector displays live public transport, maritime and flight data on a Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) 3D model of Sydney. It is mounted to an exterior wall in the undercover tunnel between PNR and J03.
Next year, there will be a competition inviting staff and students to submit new features to the Smart City installation for a chance to win prizes. The project was led by Dr. Benjy Marks and Dr Francois Guillard from the School of Civil Engineering.
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DSI Agriculture Industry Demonstration Event
The DSI and ACFR Ag group organised a hands-on demonstration day on the 22nd of November at Allynbrook, in regional NSW, to showcase how advanced robotic, sensing, and sampling systems can work together to gather insights on soil nutrients, moisture levels, pasture yield, and forage conditions. Combined with novel AI systems, this powerful toolkit helps determine optimal foraging strategies for smarter, more sustainable grazing practices. There was a mix of attendees from Farmers NSW, local farmers and graziers.
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Shaping the Future of Defence Research: Collaborative Workshops with DSTG
In October, three online collaborative workshops were held, bringing together Technical Leads from the University of Sydney and leaders from DSTG, including Dr. Ping Cao. These workshops focused on three key Defence areas and provided a platform for co-designing future research programs to address critical challenges and opportunities. By leveraging expertise from DSI and the broader University of Sydney community, the workshops aimed to align research efforts with the urgent priorities of Defence. It is anticipated that these sessions will pave the way for larger-scale programs to support Defence objectives
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Insights in the future of R&D in Defence
The workshop in early December provided valuable insights into the evolving role of R&D in the Defence sector. Chaired by Professor Dan Corbett, the DSI Defence and Space members were fortunate to hear from special guests Professor Stefan Williams (Director of DSI), Dr. Ping Cao (USYD Relationship Manager – DSTG), Dr. Sophie Calabretto (Associate Director, Defence Innovation Network and Senior Defence Scientist – DSTG), and Fergus McLachlan AO, FRSN (Strategic Advisor, National Security, The University of Sydney).
Attendees explored the impact of Defence-related R&D and drew from the extensive expertise of the speakers to identify areas where the University should focus its efforts. Discussions highlighted opportunities to strengthen collaborations across the Defence and Space sectors, foster innovation, develop future workforces, and establish commercialisation pathways with industry partners.
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Thank You!
The DSI Team would like to thank Professor Dan Corbett for his support, enthusiasm and leadership to the DSI Defence mission, as he moves to Adelaide in 2025.
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Human potential for digital sciences
The panel discussed disability, care policy and economy of Australia, our region and the world and talked about solutions through true user led co-design, communication and cognitive assistive technologies and the vital role of digital sciences in this space.
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Our November seminar was on Insights into the failure of composites and additively manufactured structures in challenging environments by Professor Phil Withers from University of Manchester in the UK where he has pioneered numerous landmark initiatives to deliver fundamental, industrially focused research in materials science and engineering.
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Our final seminar of the year was presented by Dr Bo Majewski from Google Research Australia on Urban Forest Mapping. This presentation discussed a machine learning approach that combines public tree inventories with Google's aerial and street-level imagery to efficiently identify and classify urban trees, paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective urban forest management.
This was an online event, and the session was co-organised with the Research Education team at the Faculty of Engineering and was well attended by students and academics.
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The DSI team would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the support, collaboration, and dedication of everyone involved in the Digital Sciences Initiative.
May your holiday season be filled with joy and happiness, and the New Year bring exciting opportunities. We look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2025!
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