TEDxSwinburne
12 September 2024 for TEDxSwinburne.
Together for a better world
Swinburne has held its very first TEDxSwinburne event, exploring the theme ‘Together for a better world’. This event showcased big ideas and highlighted achievements from some of the brightest minds in the Swinburne community.
Our speakers, hand-picked from our Alumni and Academic community, presented on a range of exciting topics, including Dr. Sara Webb on ‘Five ways the universe is trying to kill us – and how we might survive’, Dr Jeremy Nguyen on ‘AI: the unexpected key to unlocking human empathy’, and Dr Miao Cao on ‘Towards curing epilepsy by tracking the eye of the storm’. View our full list of speakers, their topics and videos below.
Speakers
Dr Rebecca Allen
Why Less Gravity Means More for Australian Research.
When we think of space it is often the massive objects that come to mind – vast clusters of galaxies and
supermassive blackholes. Objects whose gravitational influence warp spacetime to the extreme, sometimes
so much so that there is no escape.
Even our own planet has enough mass that its gravity holds us firmly to the surface. But humankind has
found a way to overcome Earth’s gravity, venturing into space and even landing on the Moon. This presents
a different kind of gravitational challenge - a realm where gravity is so weak that the physics we are used to
changes completely. Fluids do not flow, there is no up or down, and our very bodies change dramatically.
With over two decades of science completed aboard the International Space Station to explore these effects,
there are still more questions than answers. But in just a few short years NASA’s Artemis mission aims to see
the first female and person of colour on the Moon and even hopes to one day create a habitat there. This
means going further and staying in space longer. To be successful, they need all the help they can get.
Australia’s space industry is comparatively young, but it has been leading research in key areas such as
health and agriculture that will provide much needed solutions. In fact, Australian students are paving the
way by sending their own experiments to the ISS empowering them to become the next space workforce
while supporting critical research at the same time.
Dr Rebecca Allen is the Co-Director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute at Swinburne University of Technology. She completed her PhD in Astrophysics at Swinburne where she used information from powerful telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope to study the evolution and growth of galaxies going back to when the Universe was barely a billion years old. Now, Dr Allen applies her scientific expertise to help support Australia’s growing space industry. To this end, she utilises cutting-edge research in areas such as microgravity experimentation and Earth observation to build climate change resilient communities and support health innovation. When she’s not studying space or using it for Earth, she’s inspiring and empowering future space leaders by communicating the wonders of the Universe and creating immersive, hands-on learning experiences.
Dr Miao Cao
Towards Curing Epilepsy by Tracking the Eye of the Storm
Imagine living a life with uncontrolled, unpredictable, life-threatening seizures. Imagine taking handfuls of anti-seizure tablets day-after-day that don’t work and only seem to dull your senses. Welcome to reality for millions worldwide and for tens of thousands of Australians. Imagine there is a way to escape this life imprisoned by seizures. The escape route is surgery: the pinpointing and removal of the seizure trigger area in the patient’s brain. But for every surgery candidate, there are up to 50 others who miss out. Why? One is a lack of awareness that epilepsy surgery can cure uncontrolled seizures. But the main reason, despite decades of research, is our inability to reliably pinpoint which brain area is generating these electromagnetic storms. Now, we have renewed hope in the form of 3D Field Imaging – a new way to track these storm-fields with pinpoint accuracy. We image the patient’s brain as a 3D field of electromagnetic signals generated by its billions of nerve cells. The current gold standard to detect these fields is invasive monitoring, whereby skewer-like electrodes are pushed through the skull into the brain to record seizures. But this samples <5% of the brain and is a poor gold standard. 3D Field Imaging is non-invasive and samples 100% of the brain in real time as the seizure storm-front starts as an electromagnetic spiral and spreads across the brain. More precise mapping leads to more effective surgery, allowing more patients to escape the living nightmare of uncontrolled epilepsy for a second chance at life.
Dr Miao Cao obtained his Ph.D. from The University of Melbourne in the fields of clinical neuroscience
and neuro-imaging. During his PhD training based at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, he developed a
unique combination of neuro-imaging and dynamical models to better localise brain regions that are target
for epilepsy surgery. Since 2021, he has further received post-doctoral research training at School of
Physics Peking University to develop novel dynamical models for electromagnetic source imaging, aiming
to better understand pathological and physiological neural dynamics. From 2024, he joined Swinburne
Neuroimaging as the National Imaging Facility (NIF) fellow.
From Awareness to Action: Confronting Gender-Based Violence in Vietnam
Gender-based violence (GBV) against women is a pervasive issue that transcends borders and cultures, leaving deep scars on individuals and communities alike.
In Vietnam, survivors of GBV face unique challenges as they strive to rebuild their lives post-rescue. This talk delves into the critical need to address and confront GBV in Vietnam and shares my strategies, experiences, and evolution tackling this society-level problem through a social enterprise. My vision is a future where every woman is empowered to thrive beyond her past experiences and a community where young people learn how to avoid GBV before it happens.
I will share real-life stories and outcomes providing GBV survivors in Vietnam with safe spaces, vocational training, and emotional support. I will also share my moves towards collective action and other practical means to break the cycle of violence and foster resilience among survivors.
Huong Dang is the founder and chief executive officer of HopeBox, the first social enterprise in Vietnam
to provide employment, training, and support to women affected by gender-based violence. Through a
six-month program, HopeBox offers safe training and working environment to survivors of gender-based
violence and skill-building workshops on income generation, professional development, trauma healing, and
compassionate communication. HopeBox also runs a production kitchen where women learn how to bake
and hand-make curated gift boxes, which generates 70% of their annual revenue. HopeBox engages service
providers and businesses at the community level to raise awareness about gender-based violence. In 2023,
Huong was selected as one of the twelves Obama Scholar, where she spent one year at Columbia University
in the City of New York and leadership training via the Obama Foundation. She also awarded the Yale World
Fellow in 2022 and joined a group of 16 world’s leaders to participate in a 4-month residential program at
Yale University. Huong currently serves as the Executive Director of Australia Vietnam Leadership Dialogue.
Huong graduated from Swinburne University of Technology and earned a Master of Entrepreneurship and
Innovation. Huong believes in the power of education and social impacts that can change the world for the
better.
Transforming Indigenous Community Housing in Australia
Professor John Evans knows that the key to unlocking opportunity in Australia’s Indigenous communities is the family home. Before Professor Evans became a leading sports scientist and was appointed Swinburne’s inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement), the proud Wiradjuri man from western New South Wales worked as a builder. Today, he leads an ambitious series of Swinburne projects, re-imagining community housing from the foundations up.
Showcasing a distinctly Australian response to a worldwide challenge– how to safely house growing numbers of vulnerable people, when the cost, accessibility, and sustainability of traditional building materials are increasingly challenging - John will share how his groundbreaking project seeks to revolutionise the world of building construction, incorporating cutting-edge technologies and locally sourced materials into sustainable homes, co-built by local communities. He will share his vision for how we can transform Indigenous community housing in Australia.
Harnessing the latest in innovative, low-cost materials and digital fabrication technologies - including 3D printing and embracing the principles of Manufacturing 4.0 - his initiative paves the way for transdisciplinary research and reskilling, offering a novel approach in building and community participation.
Professor John Evans is the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement responsible for leading, guiding
and governing the strategic direction of Swinburne University of Technology in relation to Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander initiatives and strategies. He is originally from Wiradjuri country in New South Wales.
Dr Evie Kendal
How to Make a City: Green Spaces Versus Hostile Architecture
All my life I’ve been lied to about homelessness. I was told the few people I saw sleeping rough were the extent of the problem and they were only there because they refused to live by the rules of the shelters waiting to take them in. I was told never to give money because it would just be spent on drugs, but most importantly I was told that homelessness was something that happened to other people – it could never happen to me or anyone I know.
This is untrue. For every rough sleeper you see there are 21 other people experiencing homelessness that you do not see. And most of us are only a misfortune away from joining them.
One response to the homelessness issue globally has been the rise of so-called “hostile architecture” – urban design features intended to dissuade certain behaviours in public spaces. Many target homeless populations, such as arm rests on public benches, or the more extreme ground spikes to stop people lying down. City planners justify these choices by claiming they make the city safer and more productive.
But what if instead of hostile architecture we made a more compassionate choice? Increasing green spaces in our cities has been shown to improve health, reduce crime, and doesn’t target our more vulnerable citizens for exclusion.
Everyone has the right to use public spaces. Hostile architecture cannot inspire people to seek better accommodations if these accommodations do not exist. Investing in public housing and building greener cities is better for everyone. This is how we can make a city a home.
Dr Evie Kendal is a bioethicist and public health scientist with research interests in health communication
and media, health education research, narrative studies, urban design, aerospace medicine, and the ethical,
legal and social implications (ELSI) of emerging technologies
Andrew Montague
The Power of Hands
When I was a boy, my father would sit on my bed and say good night to me. He would take my hands in his and study them and tell me, “These hands. Look at these hands, one day they will do wonderful things”.
For a young, shy boy, this moment started a change in me. Hands are the remarkable tools that represent our great status as a species. Hands speak a language all of their own. They tell us stories about their owners. They can open doors, start hearts, hold a flower or a gun. Right now it feels like we could use a hand that can bridge our differences. We all want to change our world but don’t know where to start. The tools for change hang at our sides. They can write the letter that starts the conversation. They can be a light touch on heavy shoulders. They can link hearts. They can start the change.
Recently, I held my 82 year old father’s hands. I realised something powerful. All the wonderful things that he saw in those young boys' hands all those years ago. I saw them in him. He passed those hands to me. He had changed me and gave me the power to change our world.
Andrew is a Melbourne born creative that has had a career across, film, TV, advertising and entertainment.
Andrew has helped start a studio in New York City, been nominated at Cannes for best director, and worked
at Academy Award winning companies in the US and UK. His studies in Fine Art and Film and TV along with
his deep knowledge of the making of things inform his everyday practice. He has a passion for storytelling
and stories, in whatever shape or form they take
Dr Jeremy Nguyen
AI: The Unexpected Key to Unlocking Human Empathy
Can machines teach us to be more human?
Artificial Intelligence and bias researcher Jeremy Nguyen reveals how AI can be the catalyst for a more empathetic world. Through real-world examples and practical insights, he demonstrates how AI can help us challenge assumptions, understand others' experiences, and bridge our own empathy gaps. The power of AI lies in our hands: we can wield it as a weapon against those we disagree with, or as a tool to build bridges, notice our own shortcomings, and better ourselves.
Discover the untapped potential of AI to transform human relationships and create a more connected future.
Dr Jeremy Nguyen co-leads a multi-disciplinary research team exploring the application of artificial intelligence
(AI) and machine learning (ML) to business problems and writing practices. Prior to his position at Swinburne, he
worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia, held teaching positions at the ANU and Griffith University, and was a
Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.With a background in economics, finance and writing,
his AI work has been featured in Forbes, a forthcoming O’Reilly textbook, and quoted by the President of OpenAI.
As a writer, he writes for television (Disney+, NBC Universal, SBS).
Dr Grainne Oates
Learning levelled up – an education revolution in the palm of every hand
In an era where technology and education intersect in unprecedented ways, let’s explore the transformative potential of gamified learning delivered through AI-powered applications, specifically leveraging platforms like ChatGPT. As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century education landscape, we must ask ourselves: How can we harness the power of AI to create engaging, personalised and effective learning experiences?
In a rapidly changing world, traditional educational paradigms often fail to meet the diverse needs of modern learners. By harnessing AI and gamification, we can revolutionise the way we teach and the way we learn, making education more engaging, accessible, and effective. Let’s embark on a journey to transform education for the better, one game at a time
Dr Gráinne Oates is a dynamic entrepreneur, educator and technology visionary with a deep commitment to
transforming education, Gráinne has leveraged her extensive experience in academia and business to create
innovative solutions that enhance learning outcomes. She is also a member of an exclusive club - less than
1% of all VC funding goes to female founders! With her AI-powered app Quitch, she has pioneered the use
of gamification and nano learning to improve student engagement and retention. Gráinne’s leadership and
vision have not only driven Quitch’s success but have also earned her recognition as a thought leader in the
educational technology space, inspiring and impacting learners globally.
Professor Pascale Quester
The Future of Universities
They say that change has never been so rapid…and yet, it will never be that slow ever again!
The same can very much be said of education, a human trait, a noble pursuit, and an increasingly contested field. At times invaded by politicians, often densely populated by teachers and academics, but seldom explored by many learners and often avoided by the wider public.
Join Professor Pascale Quester as she contemplates what university education might mean, or what it should be, in years and decades to come.
Professor Pascale Quester is the Vice-Chancellor and President of Swinburne University of Technology.
Before joining Swinburne in 2020, Professor Quester was Deputy Vice-Chancellor and President (Academic) at the
University of Adelaide (2011–2020). Professor Quester is an active and respected researcher in the areas
of consumer behaviour and marketing communications. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Business
Administration from her native France, a Master of Arts (Marketing) from Ohio State University in the United
States and a PhD from Massey University in New Zealand. In 2023, Professor Quester received one of
France’s highest honours, the medal of Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite. In 2007, she also received
France’s highest academic recognition by becoming Professeur des Universitiés Professor Quester holds a
number of positions in the higher education and business sectors, including board member of Universities
Australia, Chair of the UA Teaching and Learning, Student Success and Welfare Standing Committee, Deputy
Chair of Victoria’s Vice-Chancellor Committee and Governor of AmCham. Professor Quester has held several
visiting professorial appointments, including at La Sorbonne, Paris II, ESSEC Business School, and the University of
Nancy in France
Dr Linus Tan
Changing Our Flow of Creative Consciousness for Generative AI
Generative Artificial Intelligence continues to advance, not only assisting in creative endeavours but also raising profound questions about the nature of creativity itself. Can a machine truly participate in the act of creation, or does it merely replicate patterns devoid of human originality? How do these technologies influence the creative flow, and what happens when they are integrated into moments of inspiration?
This TEDx talk explores these intriguing questions through real-world experiences where the AI became a collaborator to the speaker’s creative process. It begins with an exploration of how AI can sustain and even enhance the flow state, a crucial element in creative work. The talk then delves into the challenges of idea fixation and problem framing, demonstrating how AI can break down barriers and open new pathways in creative thinking. Finally, the evolving partnership between human creativity and machine intelligence is examined, revealing how it is not just reshaping creative practices but also expanding the boundaries of what was once thought possible.
Linus is an architecture and design lecturer in the School of Design and Architecture, and co-director of s'more design, a design practice specialising in F&B and retail interiors. Before coming to Swinburne, he worked locally and overseas in architecture firms, on projects ranging from small residential spaces to multi-story buildings. He also taught architecture and design at the University of Melbourne and RMIT University. As a Centre for Design Innovation early career researcher, he investigates how designers think, act, and learn, and how using Generative AI changes the way designers and design teams think, act, and learn.
Dr Sara Webb
Five Ways the Universe is Trying to Kill Us - and How We Might Survive
The universe has no obligation to be a place habitable for life, and our existence is not guaranteed; it would be naive to think it was. One way or another, our world will come to an end. Whether it will be a shockingly spectacular display, or a demure departure is still to be determined, but that doesn’t stop us from speculating. I’ll break down 5 ways the universe is trying to kill us, and how we as humans will need to work together to prevent it from doing so.
Sara will cover:
Armageddon sized asteroids - thankfully for us we can defend ourselves, unlike the dinosaurs
Rogue black holes - we estimate there are over 100 million in our galaxy… where are they hiding?
Bad neighbours of the Alien variety - if they are out there, will be ever know?
The off switch - if we are a computer simulation could it all be terminated?
Here comes the Sun - It’s really the end of the World, but (likely) not for humans.
Dr. Sara Webb is an astrophysicist who uses AI to explore the universe and its mysteries. With a focus on anomaly detection and big data exploration, her work merges vast datasets with advanced machine learning techniques. Specializing in optical telescope data, Sara studies cosmic explosions and the flares of red dwarf stars, contributing significantly to our understanding of these phenomena. In addition to her research, Dr. Webb leads Swinburne’s student space challenge programs, enabling students to send experiments to the International Space Station and inspiring the next generation of space scientists. She actively shares her insights on astronomy, AI, and space science on social media, preparing the public for the future of space exploration.
Carla Zampaglione
How Empathy and Usability Save Lives
David thought he had deciphered the cryptic error message on the Therac-25, a computer-controlled radiation therapy machine. Instead of a chance at recovery, Emily died from a lethal radiation overdose. This was not David’s fault.
How can we avoid this happening again?
Too often, products are designed without considering the humans who will use them. The power of usability is huge, and it plays a critical role in creating life affecting medical devices. By empathising with the doctors, nurses, caregivers and ultimately the patients, we can drastically improve the safety and success of a device.
By focusing on user needs first, we create devices that directly address real problems faced by our healthcare professionals. Optimising usability boosts device performance, and greatly improves patient outcomes.
We can connect problems with highly effective solutions to minimise the number of cases like Emily’s and deliver a safer world of healthcare. An approach rooted in radical empathy can drive us towards a better, more connected world, where tech and innovation truly serve the human.
Carla, a former mechanical engineer with international product development experience, founded Sento Solutions, a consultancy specialising in Usability Engineering (UE) and Human Factors (HF) for medical devices and digital healthcare products.
As the only company in Australia exclusively offering these services, Sento has become an industry leader, contributing to over twenty successful medical device developments. Carla oversees client relationships, industry partnerships, accelerator collaborations, and mentoring programs. She excels in user research, usability study facilitation, and deep regulatory knowledge.
She also sits on Swinburne's Centre for Design & Innovation advisory committee and enjoys mentoring STEM students, teaching spin classes, and leveraging her qualifications as a French Pastry Chef.
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In the spirit of discovering and spreading ideas, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.
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TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, but today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. In addition to the TED Talks curated from our annual conferences and published on TED.com, we produce original podcasts, short video series, animated educational lessons (TED-Ed) and TV programs that are translated into more than 100 languages and distributed via partnerships around the world. Each year, thousands of independently run TEDx events bring people together to share ideas and bridge divides in communities on every continent. Through the Audacious Project, TED has helped catalyze more than $3 billion in funding for projects that seek to make the world more beautiful, sustainable and just. In 2020, TED launched Countdown, an initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis and mobilize a movement for a net-zero future, and in 2023 TED launched TED Democracy to spark a new kind of conversation focused on realistic pathways towards a more vibrant and equitable future. View a full list of TED’s many programs and initiatives.