Symposium 2022

Students and audience members heard from University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Mark Scott AO, Minister Alister Henskens, and Professor Hala Zreiqat before finalists presented their ideas and prototypes to judging panels from the engineering and healthcare sectors.

One of the competition's most recognised projects explored restoring touch and sensation for amputees through optogenics and bioluminescence technologies. Developed by Pymble Ladies College student Evelyn Zhu, the project focused on improving accessibility and sensory feedback for prosthetic users.

Additional projects explored innovative healthcare solutions including pressure sore prevention systems, moisture gloves designed to reduce psoriasis symptoms, and automated hospital hygiene technologies developed by students from Baradene College in Auckland, New Zealand.

The event reinforced the importance of STEM education, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and student-led innovation in addressing future healthcare and environmental challenges.

Students from across New South Wales, including regional schools such as PLC Armidale and Uralla Central School, participated in the event to explore opportunities within STEM education and scientific research.

The symposium was hosted by students from Merewether High School, winners of the 2019 BIO Challenge, who shared their experiences developing the Universal Transdermal Patch project. Opening remarks were delivered by Professor Duncan Ivison from The University of Sydney, while closing remarks were presented by Minister Bronnie Taylor.

Attendees also heard from distinguished researchers including Professor Maria Kavallaris, Professor Omad El-Omar, and Professor Kathy Belov, who shared insights into cancer research, gut bacteria studies, and Tasmanian Devil tumour research.

The event encouraged students to recognise their own leadership potential while promoting diversity, inclusion, and long-term engagement in STEM education and innovation.

During the seminar, Professor Hala Zreiqat discussed innovative strategies combining nanomedicine, materials science, and 3D printing technologies to create transformational therapies for bone regeneration and tissue engineering.

The presentation explored how synthetic bioengineered bioceramics can mimic the structure and behaviour of native bone tissue, opening new possibilities for skeletal and soft tissue regeneration across a range of clinical applications.

The seminar also highlighted advances in regenerative medicine, biomaterials research, and biotechnology innovation while demonstrating the growing role of bioengineering technologies in future healthcare systems. The event formed part of the prestigious NSW Science & Research Breakfast Seminar Series hosted by the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer.

The Experience It! program was designed as an online engineering immersion experience encouraging young women to embrace mathematics, science, technology, and engineering while building confidence in teamwork and creative problem-solving.

Students participated in engineering workshops using the Engineering Design Process through hands-on activities facilitated by university outreach teams, graduate engineers, and industry professionals across multiple engineering disciplines.

Workshop experiences included renewable energy wind turbine projects, Arduino-powered coding challenges, water filtration system design, engineering sustainability activities, and propulsion experiments exploring aerospace and mechanical engineering principles.

The event concluded with collaborative inter-school presentations where students showcased their engineering solutions, innovation strategies, and design-thinking approaches to judges from universities and industry organisations.

The Connecting Minds Project was developed by the One Giant Leap Australia Foundation, an organisation dedicated to creating life-changing educational opportunities for students and educators across STEM disciplines.

The initiative delivered engaging programs focused on space science, technology, engineering, and exploration while encouraging curiosity, creativity, and long-term engagement with STEM education pathways.

The Foundation also promoted equitable and diverse learning opportunities by connecting government, industry, innovation sectors, and local communities through collaborative educational experiences.

QUT's Gender Equity and Diversity in STEMM Action Plan was developed to support the recruitment, development, and visibility of female researchers while celebrating the achievements of culturally diverse research communities.

The launch event was facilitated by QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Research) Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik, who highlighted the importance of inclusive leadership within scientific research and higher education.

Professor Hala Zreiqat from The University of Sydney delivered keynote reflections on her personal and professional experiences as a culturally diverse woman in STEMM, discussing the importance of representation, mentorship, and institutional support in scientific innovation.

The event reinforced the importance of long-term equity initiatives in strengthening diversity, leadership, and inclusion across STEMM disciplines and research communities.

Researchers at the University of Sydney explored how fluorescent carbon dots created from rotten oranges could be used to detect disease-related pH changes in cells and assist with identifying early-stage diseases.

Lead PhD student Mr Pooria Lesani developed a nanobiosensor capable of identifying cells at risk or in the early stages of cancer and other diseases. The research aimed to create low-cost, highly accurate, and rapid diagnostic technologies for future healthcare applications.

The technology used fluorescent nanoparticles produced from rancid orange juice rich in ascorbic acid. Through high-temperature and high-pressure processes, the material was transformed into carbon dots used within the nanobiosensor system.

The research was conducted under the supervision of Professor Hala Zreiqat, Director of the ARC Centre for Innovative BioEngineering and Head of the Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Unit. The project later received national media attention through ABC and 7NEWS coverage, highlighting the growing impact of interdisciplinary biomedical engineering and nanotechnology research.