Research_

Inaugural Grand Challenges

The Sydney Nano Grand Challenges are aimed at discovering ground-breaking solutions to the world’s greatest challenges that are of social, economic and scientific significance. Bringing together researchers from across the University, the multidisciplinary Grand Challenge initiative will be enabled by advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Our inaugural Grand Challenges are:

Advanced Capture of Water from the Atmosphere (ACWA)

Developing a low cost method to capture enough water from the atmosphere to alleviate the effect of drought by providing water for consumption by humans and animals, and for irrigating plants.

CO2 Zero

Reducing CO2 emissions in manufacturing processes and converting CO2 into commercial products through nanocatalysis.

Safe-by-Design Nanotechnology

Developing a regulation framework to assess safety, efficacy and toxicity, and guide the future development of nanomaterials – across drug formulations, food additives and biosensors.

Nanorobotics for Health

Building autonomous, programmable nanorobots to navigate through the body to detect and treat early disease.

Computational Materials Discovery

Simulating new materials from a single atom to fully functioning devices using quantum computers, multiscale simulation, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Unlocking the Neural Interface

Rethinking the means of intervention into the human nervous system to make untreatable neurological diseases treatable, and to transform treatments into comprehensive cures.