UTS finalist hat trick at 'Oscars' of Australian science

The Australian Museum have announced their 2023 Eureka Prize finalists and three UTS researchers are among the best in the country for their contribution to science in Australia. 

The three academics are doing ground-breaking engineering and scientific research that is revolutionising satellite technology, improving beach water quality and transforming wastewater treatment facilities.
 

MetaSteerers (Distinguished Professor Karu Esselle and team)
Department of Defence Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia

Aiming for the stars, Professor Esselle and his team have been recognised for their work on defence antenna technology. Through the development of metasurfaces - ultra-thin disks that mimic the functionality of thicker materials - the team have managed to revolutionise antenna systems. Partnering with the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), their work is set to make defence communication and surveillance more efficient, secure, and precise.

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0:00:01 - Karu Esselle, UTS:

Metasteering is a method to steer the beam of any antenna. Take an antenna with a fixed beam and place a metasurface like this and rotate it to steer its beam.

We applied this method with our collaborators in the Defence Science and Technology Group to solve several national security challenges in Australia for example in telecommunications and surveillance.

Protecting water quality at Australian beaches (Professor Justin Seymour and team)
NSW Environment and Heritage Eureka Prize for Applied Environmental Research

Making a splash, Professor Justin Seymour and his team of researchers have developed a suite of innovative tools to pinpoint the sources of sewage pollution on NSW beaches. Improving the water quality of beaches in NSW has been a top priority for the Central Coast Council and the NSW Department of Planning and the Environment - who partnered with UTS on this research. Professor Seymour and his team have used microbial tracing and DNA sequencing technology to improve the water quality at 10 NSW beaches and aquatic environments.

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0:00:01 - Justin Seymour, UTS:

Australia’s beaches have tremendous ecological, economic and social value. But they’re often threatened by poor water quality and it’s sometimes difficult to determine the sources of water contamination.

We’ve developed a suite of sophisticated molecular microbiological tools that allow us to precisely identify the sources of contamination.

0:00:19 - Vanessa McCann, NSW Department of Planning and Environment:

This important research has allowed us to inform our sewer and storm water network upgrades to achieve significant improvements in water quality at popular beaches.

Sustainable wastewater treatment (Professor Qilin Wang and team)
NSW Environment and Heritage Eureka Prize for Applied Environmental Research

Wastewater facilities in Australia and around the world cause significant environmental damage. Professor Qilin Wang and his team have partnered with South East Water to create a new methodology for sewage treatment. This is not Professor Wang’s first nomination. In 2020 he won the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher for his work on technology that could turn wastewater treatment plants into carbon-neutral energy generators. His work this year focuses on removing undesirable microbes, pathogens, and antibiotic resistant genes from sewerage sludge.

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00:00:01 - Qilin Wang, UTS:

In collaboration with South East Water and Water Research Australia, we have developed a new technology that addresses the environmental challenges relating to wastewater treatment.

Our on-site closed loop solution reduces the discharge of antibiotic resistant genes, pathogens, microplastics and forever chemicals into the environment.

Our technology also cuts waste and discharge, carbon emissions and the physical footprint of treatment tanks.

UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Kate McGrath, says she is proud to see the work of these outstanding UTS researchers recognised on a national stage. 

“Congratulations to our Eureka Prize finalists – this is a huge achievement for them and their teams. Everyone at UTS is so proud of the great scientific research being conducted by these teams and we look forward to seeing the impact their work will make in the future,” she says.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 23 August 2023 and will recognise leaders across a diverse spectrum of science from environmental sustainability to cutting-edge technology, citizen science initiatives, leadership and mentoring.