UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture

Helping organisations make decisions today for the needs of tomorrow is the core KPI of a futurist. Three-time UNSW alumna Nikki Greenberg has made a career for herself in predicting how the built environment will be shaped by emerging technologies. Nikki holds a Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture and Master of Commerce in International Business from UNSW, and brings her expertise to bear on the world of property development and the built environment more broadly. Part of looking to the future, she explains, is keeping a close eye on what’s happening around you right now and then projecting that forward with a bold vision of how those trends can help you make the impact you seek to make. Does she have a prediction about whether she will take on another degree at UNSW? “Never say never,” says Nikki, but right now she’s enjoying travelling the world and having interesting discussions about what the built environment might look like years from now. You can find out more about Nikki here: https://lnkd.in/dGt3bsMx

Congratulations to Joseph Tawadros AM on his honorary doctorate awarded this week in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to music and culture 🎶 “It’s a great honour to be receiving something like this,” said Tawadros. “You don’t do music to receive an honorary doctorate so to be acknowledged like this … is very humbling.” Tawadros is a world-renowned virtuoso of the Oud, an Arabic lute and the degree is his second from UNSW - he graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in 2005. Tawadros was born in Egypt and immigrated to Australia in 1986; bringing with him a musical tradition inherited from his maternal Grandfather, Mansi Habib - a composer and Oud and Violin Virtuoso. He has gone on to become one of Australia’s most acclaimed musicians, with eight ARIA Awards and a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 for his services to music. His musical collaborations span Indigenous, ethnic, and Anglo artists. With 21 studio albums and performances at prestigious events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, he continues to push musical boundaries. His work has featured in film, television, and international stages, and ADA is proud to honour Joseph Tawadros for his exceptional artistry and enduring impact on society through music. Congratulations again to Joseph Tawadros AM for an outstanding contribution to music 👏 📷: Mark Newsham

Will NDIS support plans generated almost entirely by an algorithm be the beginning of the next Robodebt crisis? It’s a real risk, according to political sociologist, Dr Georgia van Toorn, whose research explores the growing impact of data analytics and algorithmic decision-making in the public sector. Alarm bells are ringing for Dr van Toorn as NDIS staff receive briefings that the process coming out of the NDIS Review will involve very little discretion or personalisation, and participants’ rights to appeal these decisions will be significantly curtailed. Calls for a simpler, fairer assessment of NDIS participants’ needs came out of the NDIS Review, and will now involve the I-CAN tool developed by researchers at the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies. I-CAN measures support needs across 12 areas of daily life, including mobility, self-care, communication, relationships, and physical and mental health. Each area is scored on two scales: how often support is needed, and the intensity of the support required. The assessment, based on self-reported information, is expected to take around three hours, and the data collected via the assessment will supposedly inform the final budget calculation. Whereas currently, an NDIA delegate has discretion to alter support plans recommended to them via computer-based tools, under the new system, the delegate’s role will be limited to that of accepting or rejecting the automatically generated budget. "This is absolutely terrifying and even worse than I anticipated. The NDIA has always insisted that humans have the last word on decisions about support. Now that's changing with the new assessment process to be introduced next year, with the NDIA having no obligation to consider evidence from participants and participants having no rights to ART review of the computer generated decision. "It looks like the Administrative Review Tribunal will no longer be able to make decisions afresh, it can only send plans back to be re-made by the agency using the original tool. A world of bureaucratic misery awaits," says Dr van Toorn. Dr van Toorn joins disability groups in calling for pause, rethinking, and reengagement with groups who will be most affected by these changes, and at the very least, a piloting of the proposed changes so that their impacts can be more seriously considered. Find our more about the impact of automated decision making on NDIS recipients in this doco directed by Jenni Lee in collaboration with Dr van Toorn: https://lnkd.in/gHSX_6ji

As bushfire risks escalate and increasingly impact urban areas, how can we make our communities safer and more resilient? Benjamin Driver, a Senior Lecturer in Urban Development and Design at the School of Built Environment at ADA, offers up urban design tactics that can make communities safer. “Our buildings and building codes typically get stronger bushfire requirements over time, but we’re neglecting our environment at large,” says Mr Driver says. According to Mr Driver, protective design for urban planning could mean: ✅ Smart density ✅ Retrofit for resilience ✅ Invest in green infrastructure ✅ Defensive design The challenge is clear: we need deeper engagement with urban design to manage bushfire risks before they occur. By prioritising resilience and sustainability, we can protect communities and preserve our environment. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gw2VKC3C What other strategies could help balance housing needs with climate realities?

We know our kids and young people are concerned about the future of our planet 🌏 But after a session with Rebecca Green (Dr Becky) and Sally Giblin, positive emotions about the future soared from 15% to 93% when design met science in a Western Sydney classroom. An innovative STEM experience called ‘The Future is Electric’ ⚡️turned UNSW research (like Sunswift Racing), community innovation and First Nations energy projects into interactive floor games, holograms, and cardboard prototyping sessions where students designed their own positive energy futures. Its first outing saw Year 5/6 students at Toongabbie Public School explore renewable-energy futures through hands-on imaginative play, and a little speculative design magic! The experience was created by UNSW ADA’s Rebecca Green (Dr Becky) and climate-educator Sally Giblin (Be The Future and ADA alumna), and they hope to bring ‘The Future is Electric’ into more classrooms in 2026. Watch this space!

What a great opening night of the BE GradEx 2025! Congratulations to the 380 students who shared their work across six disciplines - the future of homes and cities are in capable hands 👏

👋 Meet Dr Susanne Thurow. Susanne is a researcher at UNSW iCinema where she explores how immersive technologies can help people make sense of environmental crises. Her ever-evolving research journey has seen her move from literary studies, to theatre practice, then to Indigenous cultural production, and digital media. 🗨️ “One of the greatest rewards of being a researcher,” she says, “is the opportunity to constantly explore – to help build new knowledge and new ways of engaging with the world.” From collaborating with Sydney Theatre Company and Opera Australia to developing immersive fire visualisation systems for emergency training, Susanne’s research shows how creative practice and advanced technology can work together to engage audiences emotionally and intellectually. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g6khd5xR

🎓 Double degree – double opportunity🎓 Amy Wong is in her third year of her Bachelor of Advanced Science/Fine Arts. What inspired her to pursue a double degree? “I’ve always intended to celebrate the environment through my artistic practice and … I believe art is a powerful tool for communicating complex ideas – making them engaging, accessible and meaningful for wider audiences in fun, challenging and innovative ways.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/gG7xXk-3

“I’m delighted that for half a decade now, The Australian has recognised UNSW as Australia’s leading research institution in the field of architecture. This is a reflection of the impactful research my colleagues are undertaking on tackling the climate crisis, using big data and advanced digital tools to help us understand cities and make more evidence-based decisions, and creating healthy and equitable places that meet the diverse needs of our society,” said Philip Oldfield, Head of the School of Built Environment. Also a massive congratulations to UNSW Associate Professor Samad Sepasgozar "Research Leader" [World's Top 2 pct] for being named leading researcher in the field 👏 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gEEAfEB9

What does this new partnership mean for artists, rights and creativity? ADA’s Associate Professor Oliver Bown and Professor Kathy Bowrey from UNSW Law & Justice explore the implications of Universal Music’s partnership with AI company SoundLabs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gFUvvbri