The three workshop themes for this year's Conference were chosen to address the key goal of the UGPN, to target global issues, and are aligned with specific UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference also features several panel and networking events to ensure you maximise your opportunity to interact with delegates and form new collaborations.
The Health and Wellbeing Workshop will be focused on the major health challenges our society will face in the 21st century and how we can adopt interdisciplinary approaches to tackle those. As a group of researchers with expertise ranging from the molecular to the clinical and the whole-of-society level, we will work collaboratively to define how we can best generate impact and identify how our capacity to do so is best integrated within the UGPN network. We will focus on using those different disciplines to re-imagine community health systems in the context of a rapidly changing technology landscape and a growing awareness of the connection between health and our environment. The Health and Wellbeing Workshop is led by Distinguished Prof Antione van Oijen and Associate Prof Lyn Phillipson.
Themes: Ageing & One Health
Sustainable Development Goal:
The Industries for the Future workshop will address two key fields: the emerging and rapidly evolving technologies and innovations associated with delivering future energy needs which are cost effective and environmentally sustainable, led by Distinguished Prof Zaiping Guo and the nascent and frontier area of Space Research, led by Dr Susanna Guatelli.
This group is dedicated to creating a stage for exchanging the latest research results and sharing advanced research methods for researchers, across the four Universities. The theme of Industries for the Future will cover a range of issues including;
Themes: Future Energy & Space Research
Sustainable Development Goal:
The Sustainable Planet Workshop will encompass three subthemes addressing some of the key issues facing our planet. Senior Prof Sharon Robinson and Dr Michelle Voyer will lead will lead this theme which will consider a range of issues associated with sustainability of our cities and oceans, in the context of Climate Change.
Themes: Climate Change, Cities for the Future, Blue Economy
Potential subthemes are likely to include:
Sustainable Development Goal:
Gender Equity and Reduced Inequality
Chair: Professor Jennifer Martin (DVC R&I)
SDG 5 & 10: Gender Equity, and Reduced Inequality
Chair: Professor Tim Marchant (Dean Research)
SDG 17: Partnerships in Education
TOURS: DAY 1-Monday March 30 4pm-5pm
The UOW Innovation Campus (iC) is a 33 hectare greenfield site housing a range of business, governmental entities and research bodies which we like to call the ‘ideas network’ - a community of researchers, teachers, learners and doers, dedicated to supporting and accelerating achievement by delivering robust academic and industry output. We believe in supporting organisations, individuals and our region to realise their purpose and ambitions faster by connecting to an ideas network dedicated to global impacts.
On this tour you will visit some of UOW’s cutting edge facilities
Australian Institute of Innovative Materials (AIIM): Which is a purpose-built facility to transform multi-functional materials research into commercial reality. The researchers at AIIM are at the cutting edge of developing and applying new and innovative materials.
Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC): Is a 6 Star Green Star- Education Design v1 accredited, multi-disciplinary facility that hosts a wide range of research and industry collaborations to address the challenges of making buildings sustainable. We are pioneering new approaches to retrofitting techniques to create more effective places to live and work.
iAccelerate: Is a vibrant ecosystem where the cleverest of ideas take shape. This is a unique business accelerator and incubator program at the University of Wollongong (UOW), where startups, scaleups, social enterprises and entrepreneurs thrive.
Day 1: March 30: 6pm – 9pm
The conference dinner will be held at one of Wollongong's finest eateries Lucia's by the Sea.
16 Cliff Rd, North Wollongong, NSW (opposite the Novotel)
Day 2: March 31: 5pm – 7pm
This evening's networking event will be held in the Science Space (iC): The Science Space is the proud home of the DIGISTAR 6, Australia’s #1 most digitally advanced Planetarium. The 4k laser projection system is a first for Australia and allows the public to experience science and technology like never before.
(Dinner not provided at this event)
Innovation Campus (iC) 60 Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW, 2500
Day 3: April 1 30: 9am- 10:30
UOW Wollongong Campus tour
Molecular Horizons: Molecular Horizons will be dedicated to impact-driven research where the world’s best molecular research will be put into practice to improve and save lives – illuminating how life works at a molecular level and solving some of the biggest health challenges facing the world. To enable this world-leading research UOW has invested in a suite of revolutionary technology including Australia’s most powerful biological electron microscope, the Titan Krios cryo-EM microscope.
Early Start: This is the place where curiosity rules. A place where research, education, and community come together for the benefit of all children. Home to Australia's only children's museum, Early Start Discovery Space, Early Start has a global reputation for leading research that addresses community needs, improves understanding of child development and influences both policy and practice.
Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI): IHMRI a not-for-profit charity that supports researchers in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region of New South Wales. Discover how you can be a part of the world-class health and medical research happening right here in Wollongong.
Day 3: April 1: 12:30
Details to be confirmed