For Australia to deliver on its economic ambition we must actively increase female participation in science and innovation. As NSSN Deputy Board Chair, and passionate advocate for diversity in STEM, Dr Jill Freyne writes, there is a desperate need for leadership, investment, and structural change to ensure Australia’s science and tech future is inclusive, ethical, and effective.

We asked seven experts from universities, industry, and government how sustainability can deliver real-world impact, reduce costs, and create a competitive edge for manufacturers.

Read the NSW Smart Sensing Network’s response to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ Strategic Examination of Research and Development (R&D) consultation.

Australia’s push for net zero by 2050 relies heavily on its manufacturing sector, which is already delivering innovative solutions like green concrete and carbon-tracking tech to cut emissions and drive sustainable impact, the Western Sydney Manufacturers Forum heard last week.

This month: Read about the four innovative teams which will share $360,000 of NSSN Grand Challenge funding for impactful projects; Nicholas Haskins writes about the power of triple helix collaboration; and meet some of the trailblazing women in science to lead the NSSN Women in Sensing Summit.

Next generation ‘Fitbits’ to track the health of livestock, and an Australian-first prospective study that will advance understanding of the impact of hearing interventions on human health are two of four projects which have secured funding in this year’s NSSN Grand Challenge Fund.   

The power of triple helix collaboration is a key driver of innovation and economic growth in NSW. As NSW Smart Sensing Network Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Haskins writes in this month’s thought piece, the NSSN is a successful example of this model.

From pioneering quantum research to transformative AI applications, the NSSN Women in Sensing Summit 2025 will bring together trailblazing scientists, industry leaders, and innovators to explore the cutting edge of sensing technology.  

Creating valuable graphene from a byproduct of sugar cane and converting agricultural waste into ethanol were some of the cutting-edge waste-to-profit technologies presented at the NSSN’s Creating Profits from Waste event last week. 

This month: learn how the Western Sydney Manufacturers forum will help businesses comply with new emissions rules; read about our Creating Value from Waste: Profits not Costs event; and meet our two new Board members.

An innovative UNSW project supported by the NSW Smart Sensing Network has been awarded a federal grant to develop a rapid and affordable scanning technology for the identification of grass seed infestation.

Dr Marilia Lyra Bergamo is a computer artist and a lecturer in Design and Digital Art at the University of Newcastle. Her research focuses on the intersection of art and technology, examining how sensors play a fundamental role in the interactive processes of physical interfaces.