For a brief moment there before the pandemic, we all embraced keep cups for our morning coffee. Since then, disposable coffee cups have come back with a vengeance—and with all the environmental problems they cause. But what if your disposable cup could be recycled into something useful? Like asphalt?
As asphalt is a composite material (a combination of two or more materials with different properties), it lends itself to being made from recycled components. State Asphalt, a NSW manufacturer of asphalt and bitumen products that are used to construct state roads, wanted to explore the use of coffee cups and other waste streams to create asphalt additives.
They partnered up with UNSW to develop PAKPAVE Roads, based on technology that will divert up to 10,000 tonnes of paper and plastic waste into construction materials. A pilot commercialisation program will see PAKPAVE Roads used in two construction projects in Western Sydney. The roads will recycle 135,000 paper cups, 85 per cent of which were collected in the Penrith LGA, reducing raw material requirements and resulting in a 24 per cent decrease in carbon footprint. In addition to environmental benefits, PAKPAVE Roads offer superior durability and crack resistance, improved wet weather skid resistance, and decreased noise levels due to their surface texture.
Inside the mind of a genius
Dedicated to exploring the life of arguably the greatest creative genius the world has ever known, THE LUME Melbourne is opening Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius in March, an unparalleled experience that promises to be the most ambitious, immersive and breathtaking yet.
It’s been two years since Van Gogh at THE LUME forever changed how art is experienced in Australia, presenting masterpieces such as Starry Nights in an accessible way everyone can enjoy—and on a scale that captivated audiences like never before.
With the opening of its fourth experience this year, prepare to step inside the world’s most famous works of art as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper come to life on THE LUME’s colossal canvas at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Art intelligence
For the past 36 years, the Australian Network for Art & Technology (ANAT) has cultivated opportunities for artists to create experimental work in and with science and technology.
ANAT’s flagship residency program, ANAT Synapse, involves Australian research organisations hosting artists in residence to undertake a period of creative research and practice. This year it is funding artist Keith Armstrong to restore a cleared block of land at the Samford Ecological Research Facility in Brisbane into a high conservation-value forest. They plan to develop ‘Art Intelligences’ (AI) that grow and evolve symbiotically with the forest. The aim is to understand how to develop art forms capable of growing and evolving alongside a regenerating forest, while also actively benefiting that forest’s health.
Armstrong aims to embed artworks capable of slowly finding, and then occupying, their own intelligent ‘niches’, within the forest’s ecology. They will be sustainably built, interconnected installations using a palette of ‘lively materials’ capable of detecting changes in colour, light, movement, and growth. Data sensors will provide online traces of the work’s evolution. The project aims to directly benefit the forest through ecological actions, such as robotic water systems, soil conditioning, organic material transfer, cultural burning, and attracting pollinators.
Outcomes will be presented at ISEA 2024 in Brisbane and online, combining ecological science, botany, data science, environmental art, and sustainable media arts to create a model for artists and scientists with similar goals.
It’s back, baby
Following the success of last year’s SXSW Sydney, which saw more than 100,000 people engaged with the latest in film, music, games and ideas, organisers have announced the dates for SXSW Sydney 2024.
It will take place at Darling Harbour again from 14-20 October, and again will involve the Conference (this year boasting some new content tracks), the expanded Tech & Innovation Expo, the Screen Festival, the Music Festival and the Games Festival, along with the Public Access events at Tumbalong Park.
Keep an eye on sxswsydney.com for announcements as to who will be there.
Quit buggin’ me
Sometimes the neatest way to solve a problem is to solve a different problem. Take that of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), a pest endemic in many parts of the world, and a major biosecurity risk to Australia. The law requires logistics companies to fumigate each shipping container before it formally enters the country—logistically challenging.
Now a team from the University of Melbourne has helped Melbourne-based transport logistics company L. Arthur Transport by applying this very methodology to problem-solving. Rather than looking at one technical solution, the team conducted a system-wide investigation, interviewing people involved in all stages of the process—from when the container is unloaded from the ship to the time it leaves the port.
After considering multiple solutions, the team proposed introducing software to expedite the approvals process, and changing the arrangement of shifts.
The team’s final report enabled L. Arthur to make significant changes and has streamlined the BMSB quarantine process, increasing productivity.
Life finds a way
The miracle of birth has been made all the more miraculous for millions of people by IVF.
But despite the science and skill involved, the process isn’t guaranteed to succeed, and usually relies, to some degree, on subjective visual decision-making by specialists. That subjective, human element means success rates can vary between clinics.
But a South Australian expert in AI enhanced healthcare, Dr Michelle Perugini, has now developed an AI-based platform, called Life Whisperer, to help to take the guesswork out of the process. The web-based system is non-invasive, instant, low-cost and easy-to-use, and is scientifically demonstrated to help achieve better IVF outcomes and improve clinic efficiency.
Green steel
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and Swinburne University of Technology have established a new partnership to tackle global decarbonisation with innovative green steel and mineral processing R&D. The collaboration will build national research capability across the Australian innovation system to help the industry investigate low-emission steel technologies to guide future demonstrations and industry development. 
The ‘Sustainable Mineral Processing and Green Steel Program’ partnership will address key net zero challenges for the mineral resources industry, including developing low-carbon routes for iron, steel and critical metals, as well as improving recycling technologies.
“Green steel makes up a key part of Swinburne’s flagship research area ‘Innovative Planet’,” said Swinburne chief scientist Professor Virginia Kilborn.
“This partnership is another active step taken by Swinburne towards global decarbonisation to achieve net zero.”
It’s back, baby
A couple of years ago, Nick and Taylor Brbot adopted a rescue cat called Elsa. Recognising Elsa’s longing to experience the great outdoors, but worried about her susceptibility to skin cancer, keeping her indoors was paramount to her health and the safety of the wildlife around them.
With Nick’s background as an environmental scientist, they were acutely aware of the risks outdoor exposure posed to Elsa and Elsa’s impact on the native Australian environment.
This ignited their quest to find a solution that would bridge the gap between Elsa’s curiosity and her safety. Enter the Catventure Harness. This jacket style harness has comfort, security, and style.
Designed to fit like a second skin, the Catventure Harness ensures that feline explorers can enjoy the outdoors without compromising their safety or comfort.
Find out more at catharnessaustralia.com.au.
