MAKING FUTURE INDUSTRIES

Making Future Industries Emerging technologies, new product development and the future of work.

Challenge Leader SENIOR PROFESSOR GEOFF SPINKS

The United Nations recognises that technological progress is a vital part of achieving the SDGs, but we must look at new technologies holistically and strive to avoid introducing new problems as we solve others.

The Making Future Industries challenge has a critical and direct role in achieving the UN SDGs of Decent work and economic growth (Goal 8); Industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9); and Responsible consumption and production (Goal 12).

Historically, the practices embodied in these goals have actually created major problems like inequality, resource depletion, pollution and contributed to the climate crisis. The real challenge is to bring first-world standards of living to the entire planet while simultaneously reversing the effects of climate change, loss of biodiversity and depletion of natural resources.

The interdisciplinary approach of the Global Challenges Program creates the ideal platform to develop technologies with a strong focus on ethical, social, environmental as well as economic imperatives.

A major new initiative of 2019 will take this approach to investigate the ethical, legal and social implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health and social care. The interdisciplinary team includes AI developers and statisticians along with medical, legal and business researchers. The project is timely and will inform the future development of new AI algorithms.

Another major initiative of 2019 could succeed in taking the Global Challenges approach to the wider community. The opening of the UOW Makerspace on the University’s Innovation Campus aims to advance the ‘maker movement’ in our region with an emphasis on collaboration and knowledge sharing.

We’ve already seen groups tackle big problems, like plastics recycling. Our aim is to develop the makerspace into a socially-responsible innovation hub by encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration of ‘citizen engineers’.

One early finding is the benefits that come from bringing diverse people into a space and encourage them to explore and experiment in a collegial and supportive atmosphere.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTH CARE

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in healthcare to screen, diagnose conditions, plan treatments and predict prognosis. In social care services, AI can also be used to provide services, advice and decision-making. This new project is investigating the ethical implications that arise from this new technology.

The AI Ethics in Health and Care project will establish a new interdisciplinary research program at UOW that addresses the ethical, legal and social implications of using AI. The interdisciplinary team, led by Professor Stacy Carter, has developed an academic survey about artificial intelligence.

Reaching over 2000 Australians, the survey hopes to gauge a better understanding of the knowledge, opinions and attitudes of everyday Australians surrounding AI in health and social care. This will provide necessary insights into how best to adapt the technology to benefit society.

UOW MAKERSPACE PILOT LAUNCHED TEETH PROTECTIVE WEAR

The UOW Makerspace is a public creative space open to a diverse range of ‘makers’, of all ages and abilities, from creatives through to engineers.

A joint initiative of the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Science Space and the Global Challenges Program, the UOW Makerspace provides access to a wide range of equipment including laser cutter, several 3D printers, sewing machine, heat press and general hand and power tools.

A number of successful workshops were run in 2019, including the making of Christmas ornaments for adults and families, school holiday workshops, and workshops in collaboration with the Connections for Life with Dementia project.

Education Engineering Materials science

Dental healthcare is a major issue globally as a vast number of people do not have access to professional dental care, leading to high rates of dental problems.

The Teeth Protective Wear project is developing a possible solution, with the team investigating whether nanoparticles and their application to the tooth surface can create a barrier between the tooth and bacteria.

Led by PhD researcher Dan Yang, this project could have a major impact on dentistry and healthcare practices, and has potential to be used in some of our most vulnerable communities.

Health Materials engineering Microbiology Science Social sciences

Business Information technology Law Medicine and health Social sciences

UOW MAKERSPACE PILOT LAUNCHED

The UOW Makerspace is a public creative space open to a diverse range of ‘makers’, of all ages and abilities, from creatives through to engineers.

A joint initiative of the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Science Space and the Global Challenges Program, the UOW Makerspace provides access to a wide range of equipment including laser cutter, several 3D printers, sewing machine, heat press and general hand and power tools.

A number of successful workshops were run in 2019, including the making of Christmas ornaments for adults and families, school holiday workshops, and workshops in collaboration with the Connections for Life with Dementia project.