Swinburne Research Changemakers Conference 23rd July 2019

9:40am- Professor Ross Garnaut AC: Professorial Research Fellow in Economics, Uni Melb

Professor Garnaut had the good fortune of being surrounded in this early home institution by world leaders. He gave the four quarters of his professional and research life:
1st quarter summarised as understanding the forces of global development, incomes, capacity etc and how it was taking root in the Asia Pacific.
2nd quarter began with Bob Hawke asking Ross to be his economic advisor, engaging in economic reform and redesigning policy to integrate Australia into new opportunities.
3rd quarter took Garnaut back to ANU as ambassador to China, building a research and education base.
4th quarter began 2007 when asked to do a report on the things Australia would need to do to mitigate climate change.

Drawing new maps by 2 methods- inductive reasoning (certainty, reasoning based on known reality) and deductive/mathematical reasoning
Inductive flaws- observations we draw upon are never of the whole universe and there is a need to adjust the maps as our attention is drawn to new aspects of reality.
Deductive flaws- while the logic may be perfect, the relevance of the conclusions is based on the relevance of the premise.

Last quarter of career on climate change and energy and Garnaut’s report from 2007 to 2008 took the most energy and work since his PhD thesis. This was an elaborate analysis of issues with the conclusion that it would be costly to move to a renewable energy based economy and energy production, but it would be more costly eventually to deal with climate change. The views from this were that the cost of doing nothing was cheaper than doing something – “which was silly”. Reaction against this saw the carbon price removed, although there are some important institutions still remaining as a result. Most importantly the new energy systems are turning out less costly than the old ones which creates a special advantage for Australia. We are blessed with renewable energy sources and so if we don’t mess it up we will become a world leader in renewables plus also minerals (iron oxide for instance) in a zero emissions world that will become converted to metal via hydrogen processes. Advanced manufacturing will be driven by:
The cost of renewable energy (need to replace carbon based with renewable based)
Capacity for carbon capture and storage
The “Black Swan” event in Australia will be the unforeseen change in costs of renewables and the ability of Australia to take advantage of them.

10:10am- Dr Cathy Foley: Chief Scientist for the CSIRO

There is a Quantum revolution, with more circuits being fabricated every year than the number of ants on the earth! Quantum computing, algorithms, ‘digital twins’ for humans, the environment etc where we can experiment in real time. Australia is bottom of OECD in communication and translation. Disruption comes from small teams, impact comes from bigger teams. Academic and industry institutions joining allows projects to scale up, start up businesses.

11:10am- Addressing the Changemakers – Panel Discussion:

Big projects as evolving organically and not usually part of some big plan, mostly small projects originally, so start with a small pilot to show and demonstrate to industry partners. Perseverance is important, building a research team that can continue after the initial project is finished to continue working in that area.

12:25- Research Career Planning for Impact

General discussion

Fellowships for international experiences, objectives to learn overseas culture, what’s happening in os research, collaborations etc.

Quality is the most important thing! Keep learning new things throughout the career. Contributing to the big picture by identifying and solving problems.
Research impact- what is the consequence to change policy, to create benefit (user benefit, research benefit)? Impact must be clear whether citations funding or other.

There’s academic research, industry research, where are you positioning yourself to make the greatest contribution? Getting external support funding and assistance, looking for the right opportunities, getting support from mentors, looking for the right strategy to build your career and find the right work-life balance.

Being a parent is an issue particularly for women, and the more successful people are those without children. If asked to take place in media engagements, make sure its in your area of expertise, and it’s useful as these are time consuming.

It is your responsibility to look after your own outputs (books chapters, journals, whatever) therefore they must be of high quality because they are tied to your name. You are benchmarked across the faculty, institution.

You must make something happen; you are responsible for the whole university.

Time is limited. Weekends and holidays become consumed with personal research outside of work time which is consumed by university work. Set your ambitious targets.

Enjoy it and focus on your own interests. Identify what you are good at and aim to be the best at it.

Is social media impact?

Twitter can be useful for sharing information, relevant stories, building relationships, communication with possible collaborators.
Be professional, be authentic. However research impact comes down to citations, peers talking about your work.
Social media is good for disseminating their research but not as a measure of quality.
Think about university reputation, approach posting with a positive attitude, this can damage the university and your research.

What is the most effective method of change re policy, research?

14:00 – Industry Panel

Dr Amanda Caples – lead Scientist of Victoria – Operationalising Innovation: Align and connect people and technology to solve challenges: Governments invest in science and innovation to grow the economy, build jobs. Looking to inspire higher levels of STEM engagement. Looking in the right places for innovation (the “streetlight problem” of looking in the places where innovation is easy to see but not thinking outside the box). Jobs are created by businesses that are answering client needs. Proposition; understand who is your customer, what do they want, and draw upon the innovation ecosystem surrounding them. Looking to improve connections between customers and university/innovation providers and flow on to policy change.
Professor Peter Choong – Sir Hugh Chair of Surgery and St Vincents Hospital Chair of surgery: Law school drop out (studied concurrently while chief medical officer- apparently a little too much to do.) also a keen horse rider- asking this large animal to do things, understanding persuasion. 50% of work is joint replacement surgery and 50% is related to cancer. What can we do to help people with disabilities. Runs a NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence focused on joint replacement. How do you find the right patient? How does the patient know their options? What are the alternatives to surgery? As a surgeon dealing with cancer patients (and removing limbs etc), part of his work is about giving back – looking at implants, advanced materials manufacturing for prosthetic limbs etc. Part of his success is focusing on his sphere of influence and knowledge, which grew to building a team of multi-disciplinary practitioners, to change practice and drive policy. Key to success- Passion (for your work) Focus (on what your doing and your goals) Meaningful (to yourself and more broadly) Competition (nothing wrong with it and important for getting the best out of yourself)
Ms Ebony Gaylor- Head of mobilisation and social change at the Australian Red Cross: First job out of university was at maximum security prison and found early social work education was pointless with some people. Moved into government as her “bearded career” in a variety of roles. Looking at the youth justice system as a long term complex problem. How do you take these problems and bring in other voices. Created an online youth panel where other youth sentence each other people in real time. Looking at circle courts in Koori communities at the same time. Accelerating heavily in online technology, bridging communities and sectors. Human centred design started to emerge. Working for the Red Cross currently.
Dr Elicia Wong as Director of Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Innovation Precinct: SI-Based Sensing Systems (Sensorin) Invention is a new technology, Innovation is adapting it to suit output/application. Post doctorate at Oxford, 2 startups with millions in revenue. Biotech sensor innovation and inventions. Invention is knowledge creation- using money and turning it into knowledge. Innovation is knowledge diffusion process- turning whatever knowledge you’ve created from the invention and turn it into money while providing a benefit to society If the invention is driven by a need in the market then the process will be relatively more straight forward.

What are the jobs of the future?

Dr Caples- There will be an increase in need for jobs that require humanistic skills. Many blue Collar jobs will cease to be, others will grow.
Ms Gaylor- Climate is a pressing factor that is influencing economy into the future. Skills that are necessary looking at automation are integration. What does the future of healthy connection look like.
Professor Choong- As a doctor we treat many and save few. Living in such an over regulated society sometimes its easy to stay quiet. But you have to speak up and be counted. Australia’s debt is something like 20-30% of GDP which gives room to grow and innovate.
Dr Wong- 3 spheres- regulatory, business, innovation. Here we can improve on the innovation environment involving creation and knowledge diffusion. Encouraging entrepreneurial mindsets in school and early on. Giving access to markets and access to finance. US have a long history of encouraging startups so the administrative burden is straightforward.

What should we be doing and how should we be interacting with these industrial partners?

Dr Caples- Climate change is one of our greatest challenges. Zero percent emissions by 2050. Currently identifying interim targets. Recent panel put forward a range at five year intervals. There is a public facing process for advice on these targets. Public transport is a challenge. Every project above 50 million dollars has a 50% local content requirement (gravel steel etc) this also will account for innovation and advanced materials input.
Ms Gaylor- Red Cross’ greatest challenge is assuming they have the power to solve this issues. What are the functions of a service like red cross? As a logistics provider for humanity- connecting strategic partners. Talking ‘human’ and ‘research’ and understanding how to merge the two languages. Change happens on different levels at different paces.
Prof Choong- 10-15% of health budget is wasted on unnecessary complications. Looking at resource management, people management- allowing innovation to take the place of tradition. How do we do it better? Old saying that the patient should be the centre of the doctor’s universe. You want interventions to be the most successful.
Dr Wong- How do you turn innovations and research into real-world outputs? How do we communicate inventions in a way that organisations can utilise it and turn it into an innovation?
1- Urgency in improving existing products or services
2- Industry awareness of a revolutionary product or service created within an academic setting

What one change would provide the most impact?

Ms Gaylor- Disruption. In order to see significant progress in big issues we need to change the way things are done. Academics need to find what’s wrong- look at the network effects
Prof Choong- Leadership. There is a poverty of leadership when it matters so much. We are currently surrounded by disappointing leaders across moral, ethical issues. Not signing up to nuclear disarmament for example. Political apathy and lack of direction as a major modern problem. University needs to promote solid thinkers and leadership. (How can I integrate that into my teaching- focus on class led activities and knowledge dispersal)
Dr Caples- Leadership is about creating a vision and installing the processes and sustainability to reach critical mass of change. Removing barriers between business, government and universities. Systematising relationships that are currently ad hoc and personal to the point where there is formalised connection of all 3 spheres.

Is there a place for philosophy in science and research?

Ms Gaylor- Yes. Looking at the intersections of science and humanitarian issues we often get caught up on ethics. New push to Humanitech- Blockchain derived method for ensuring personal data remains your property.

What advice for people going from researcher to entrepreneur?

Prof Choong- Everyone has at least one invention in them. But know when to snip- researchers need to know at what point to cease research and to publish/devise something to take advantage of the research.
Dr Caples- Less than 10% have the entrepreneurial spirit to get things done- don’t get in the way of something going to market if you’re not the person for that task. Storytelling and the need for communication- how do people talk to each other about data, complex ideas? Has anyone injected storytelling into this process?