Space Technology and Industry Institute

Swinburne’s Space Technology and Industry Institute combines internationally competitive capabilities in astrophysics, aerospace, aviation, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence to tackle challenges at the forefront of human understanding and imagination.

The new institute will propel innovation and economic growth in a global sector projected to be worth $1 trillion by 2040. It fosters education at every level, from vocational training to PhD.

Partnerships

The Space Technology and Industry Institute can connect you to the innovative work of Swinburne’s internationally renowned Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing as well as the three Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence that Swinburne is a part of:

• Gravitational Wave Discovery
• Dark Matter Particle Physics
• All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions
   

Lunacy - 3MT Asia-Pacific WINNER

Congratulations Matthew Shaw, a PhD candidate in the Space Institute whose presentation on the production of metal on the Moon took home both the first place prize and the peoples’ choice award this year in the university competition. Matthew and his presentation ‘Lunacy’ went on to win at the 2021 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Final against 7 other finalists from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Well done Matthew.

The 3MT competition challenges PhD candidates to present their thesis in an engaging way to a lay audience in three minutes or less. It takes competitors months to hone their scripts and practice the speech to make sure that it is engaging and informative. Presenters this year spanned many areas of research including engineering in neuroscience, shorebird mapping, movement motivation, archaeology, and many more. All the finalists’ presentations are available to watch on the Swinburne Commons.

Space junk

Professor Alan Duffy, astronomer and director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute discusses how Australia’s helping to fight the snowballing threat of space junk.

In a bid to avoid the Kessler Syndrome, a disastrous chain reaction of colliding debris in orbit, artificial intelligence (AI) will play a crucial role in determining a system of space safety.

Swinburne University and partners are engaging in a project called ‘Responsible AI in Space’, a collaboration between space scientists, law and policy experts, the space industry, government and practitioners in the emerging field of AI assurance.

Read the full article in The Age.

Engagement and highlights

The Swinburne Space Technology and Industry Institute team and invited guests.

Space Technology and Industry Institute Showcase

Held 2 March 2023, this showcase highlighted the work of Swinburne’s Space Technology and Industry Institute and the partnerships it has forged with industry leading organisations. The event was hosted by founding Institute Director Professor Alan Duffy, with Swinburne Chief Scientist Professor Virginia Kilborn welcoming delegates and partners.

Featured speakers included Dr Timo Stuffler, Director of Business Development at OHB System AG in Munich, and Ms Lynette Tan, Chief Executive at Singapore Space & Technology Ltd; and panels comprising leading industry professionals shared details of cutting-edge research.

The showcase saw wonderful engagement and feedback from participants, highlighting critical skills and challenges to assist in focusing the institute’s strategy. There was positive interaction between staff, colleagues and industry partners, with networking opportunities for research professionals.