Welcome to the last edition of The Sensor for the year. While 2020 was a challenging year, it is worthwhile to pause and reflect on all that humanity has achieved in the face of a global pandemic. Our collective response to COVID-19 was marked by innovation, community and resilience.

Bushfires are a seasonal occurrence in Australia. However, in summer of 2019/2020, the nation experienced an unprecedented fire season. In this thought piece, NSSN Engineer Dr Ayu Saraswati reflects on some of the applications of Artificial Intelligence in bushfire prevention, mitigation and response.

The NSSN Annual Retreat took place on 17 November 2020 at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science. At this year’s retreat, the NSSN team came together with the NSSN Board and leadership to reflect on the achievements of the year and to chart the Network’s course for the coming year.

NSSN Co-Director Professor Benjamin Eggleton and his team at the University of Sydney Nano Institute, and Professor Stephen Madden from The Australian National University, have been awarded the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia.

The NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) sponsored the Royal Society of NSW and Four Academies Forum 2020, After COVID-19: Creating the Best of Times from the Worst of Times, held on 5 November 2020 at Government House, Sydney.

Published in the Australian Printer magazine, "Navigating Australia's emerging circular economy" explores the ways in which Australian printers can participate in the emerging circular economy using new technologies.

The Jericho Smart Sensing Laboratory has been recognised at the 2020 dmi: Design Value Awards with an Honourable Mention for delivering significant value through the excellence of Design for the Royal Australian Air Force. (Image courtesy of University of Sydney).

From working with industry partners in boosting Australia’s recycling capability to researchers from across our network receiving a total of seven awards in the 2020 Premier’s Prizes for Science and Engineering, this edition of The Sensor is all about success stories.

A University of Sydney team has won the Australian research challenge set down by global agribusiness innovator, Bridge Hub. The Sydney Nano team, led by Professor Chiara Neto and Professor Martijn de Sterke, is working on passive collection systems that can extract water out of thin air. Image courtesy of University of Sydney.

In FY19/20, the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) cemented its position in the NSW innovation ecosystem
and contributed to NSW’s position as a leader in smart sensing innovation.

NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) Ambassador at UNSW Professor Ewa Goldys has won the award for Leadership in Innovation in NSW at this year’s NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science and Engineering.

Researchers from three leading universities in NSW are collaborating with industry leaders to enhance Australia’s plastic recycling capability.