Message from the Associate Dean, Sustainability
Forward thinking is the nature of engineers, and when we think towards the future, sustainability is at the forefront. The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) with its world-leading capabilities and resources is uniquely positioned to take meaningful action towards sustainability challenges. As leaders of technological innovation in Engineering and IT, we are ideally placed to make tangible impact towards the University’s sustainability commitments.
Aligned with the University’s Sustainability Plan 2030, the FEIT Sustainability Development Guide details the approach we are proposing to facilitate this shift towards greater sustainability that can be adopted across the Faulty. To support this, the FEIT Sustainability Community of Practice has been established with representation across FEIT Departments and Schools to focus on driving our sustainability agenda in areas of education, research and operations.
Each person in FEIT – researchers, academics, students and professional teams – has a contribution to make towards sustainability. Through sector-facing platforms, research teams collaborate with sector partners to develop solutions to sustainability challenges and ‘drive the agenda’ in sustainability. Our students and teaching staff make a difference in widening the understanding of sustainability knowledge and values. Lastly, professional staff play a critical role in embracing and supporting sustainability within the faculty’s operations governance, helping us nurture and grow relationships with industry and partners who share our principles and values around sustainability.
Our interdisciplinary team is well equipped with the knowledge and technical capacity required to address the current global challenges, and to design and implement processes for realising sustainable development and resilience.
Professor Abbas Rajabifard
Associate Dean, Sustainability
Fostering a sustainable and innovative community
As a world-renowned research institution, the University of Melbourne is committed to lead and act on the critical challenges of global sustainability and is reflected in the University’s Sustainability Plan 2030. The FEIT Sustainability Development Guide identifies where the most practical and valuable contributions towards the University’s sustainability priorities can be achieved.
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FEIT Sustainability Development Guide
The FEIT Sustainability Guide clearly sets out goals and targets across the Faculty, with the goal of building sustainability into our core business of delivering education and conducting research, our engagement, as well as our operations and governance.
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University of Melbourne’s Sustainability Framework
As a world-renowned research institution, the University of Melbourne is committed to lead and act on the critical challenges of worldwide sustainability. By harnessing the transformative impact of teaching and research, we engage with local and global communities to grow sustainability knowledge.
FEIT Operations "Walk the Talk"
As we turn our attention towards taking active measures to make our societies more sustainable, FEIT acknowledges that all of our staff has a vital role to play. Learn more about our commitment to making sustainability a reality across the Faculty.
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FEIT Sustainability Community of Practice
A network of academic and professional staff from across the FEIT who are committed to supporting the Faculty’s sustainability agenda.
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Green Caffeen
Available at Melbourne Connect and across the University campus, Green Caffeen is a free reusable coffee cup system that supports our commitment to reducing waste to landfill and ensuring ethical and social consumption.
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Melbourne Connect
With multiple 6 Star Green Star ratings, purposely designed with a focus on sustainability from design and construction to operations, Melbourne Connect sets the standard for sustainability building practices.
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Fishermans Bend Campus
The University of Melbourne has purchased a 7.2-hectare site in the heart of the Fishermans Bend Employment Precinct to build a world-class engineering and design campus.
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Sustainable events
The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology are committed to hosting events that minimise negative impacts on the environment by following the Universities Sustainable Events Guide.
Sustainable education
FEIT is committed to fostering the next generation of global citizens and future leaders. As part of this, we are empowering our students with sustainability knowledge through their curriculum and the Wattle Fellowship.
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Teaching and Learning Laboratory
The Teaching and Learning Laboratory (TLL) in FEIT leads research-based enhancements to teaching and learning and fosters innovative pedagogical support related to sustainability.
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Wattle Fellowship
The Wattle Fellowship is the University’s co-curricular program for students to foster leadership on global sustainability through practical skills and development.
Discover sustainable research
The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) is committed to collaborating with industry partners to develop sustainable methods that support the talent and workforce needs of industry.
FEIT currently has nine key industry sector research programs, the following of which focus on sustainability.
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Transport
Creating sustainable transport systems and more liveable cities
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Water
Strengthening water security, food production and healthy ecosystems
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Infrastructure
Transforming the planning, delivery and management of sustainable infrastructure for future generations.
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Energy
Delivering influential, interdisciplinary research for the energy transition.
Learn more about our other key industry sector research programs
Melbourne Climate Futures
A network of cross-disciplinary climate change researchers across UoM that connects climate change practitioners and researchers with the broader public across thirteen key research themes.
Graduate research in sustainability
Meet our graduate students who are committed to advancing sustainability knowledge across FEIT.
Tay Son Le
Son is a PhD candidate at UoM with a research focus on hydrogen/battery energy storage systems integrated with solar PV. He is also actively involved in the renewable energy sector as an engineer at a commercial renewable energy EPC. His research focuses on conducting feasibility assessments of battery and hydrogen energy storage systems, integrated with solar PV for grid-connected applications.
Naomi Bury
Naomi began teaching chemical engineering in 2019, inspiring a PhD in engineering education which began in 2020. Her research focuses on the role of sustainable development in chemical engineering education. Her research explores the role of discipline-specific knowledge to allow chemical engineers to solve complex sustainable development challenges.
Jing Zhu
Jing Zhu is a third-year PhD candidate. Her research aims to understand and address the challenges posed by EVs, while also leveraging the opportunities presented by vehicle-to-grid technology. The findings will help distribution companies to discover the optimal solutions that make EVs and the grid work together, thus towards a brighter net-zero future.
Interested in pursuing a PhD?
Engage with our institutes and research centres
FEIT is home to a number of major institutes and research centres of international standing that represent joint ventures between universities, industry and government bodies in Australia. Find out more about our Institutes and Centres furthering research in sustainability.
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Melbourne Energy Institute
Influential, interdisciplinary research on the transition to a clean energy system. MEI works with community, industry and government to address the world’s most pressing energy challenges.
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Peter Cook Centre (for Carbon Capture and Storage Research)
The Peter Cook Centre for CCS Research aims to develop environmentally and socially acceptable, cost effective carbon capture and storage solutions for a carbon constrained world.
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Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration
Undertaking research in a variety of areas relating to spatial data infrastructures, special enablement and land administration in order to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Explore more about our institutes and research centres
Events
Keep up to date on public lectures, workshops, and other events in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, focusing on sustainability.
News and media
Staff resources
To discover current sustainability activities and research at FEIT, or pick up some handy hints and tips, please visit our dedicated FEIT Sustainability resources page (staff access required).
Contact
For more information about sustainability at FEIT, please contact the Engagement & Partnerships team.
FEIT Engagement and Partnerships
engit-engagement@unimelb.edu.au