Achievements and awards

Swinburne PhD student, Tiara Triana and Swinburne supervisors Professor Geoffrey Brooks, Professor Akbar Rhamdhani and Professor Mark Pownceby from CSIRO, have received the 2026 AIST Environmental Technology Best Paper Award.

The team was recognised at the AISTech Conference in Pittsburgh, USA, for their paper, ‘Ammonia Direct Reduction of Iron Oxides – Kinetics Aspects and Process Development’.

Tiara’s research investigates the use of ammonia as a chemical that helps convert iron ore into iron, presenting an innovative approach to low emission pathways for ironmaking. The paper was selected by the world’s largest steel conference, highlighting the growing global interest in decarbonisation technologies within the steel industry.

“I’m truly honoured to receive this award. It recognises the collective effort behind advancing green steelmaking research at Swinburne and the invaluable support of my supervisors,” says Tiara.

At Swinburne, Tiara is completing her PhD in advanced ironmaking processes with a focus on sustainable industrial decarbonisation. She has also been recognised for her contribution to an industry research collaboration project investigating green steel technologies, underscoring the real-world impact of her work.

This achievement further strengthens her research trajectory as she continues to explore innovative pathways for cleaner, more sustainable steelmaking.

Jessica Cetinich has won the Outstanding Student of the Year Prize by Design Matters National, presented to outstanding building design students from across Australia. (image supplied)

Swinburne graduate Jessica Cetinich has been awarded the Outstanding Student of the Year Prize by Design Matters National.

She studied an Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) in 2025 and has been commended for combining creativity with dedication in her studies and professional practice.

“Receiving this award has made me feel incredibly proud of how far I’ve come and has given me the confidence to keep pushing myself professionally,” she said.

The prize recognises exceptional graduating building design students who demonstrate strong design thinking and creativity, advanced digital skills, commitment to sustainability and human-centred design, and evident growth throughout their studies.

Design Matters National is Australia’s peak body for building designers, energy assessors, and built environment professionals in Australia. The award recognises students from across the country and bridges education and professional practice. 

“My time at Swinburne has allowed me to explore and refine my creative process, while also challenging my critical thinking and time management skills under guided, industry-focused projects,” Jessica said.  

(from left) Professor Richard Manasseh and Elissa Goodrich and their ensemble at a production of their Bubbles and Waves work

Sound artist and Swinburne Visiting Fellow, Elissa Goodrich has been announced as the recipient of the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) Synapse 2026 Residency Program. As part of her residency, Elissa will be working with Swinburne’s Professor Richard Manasseh on communicating Swinburne’s research in fluid mechanics.

The ANAT Synapse Residency program brings artists and researchers together to create new knowledge and ideas that drive impact beyond their fields.

“This residency is a wonderful recognition of the benefits when researchers work with artists. Elissa has a track record of transforming science and engineering research into music, making complex research accessible by one of our most basic senses – hearing,” says Professor Manasseh. 

Elissa is a globally recognised expert in the translation of science into music. She has produced 12 international sound-art productions from her work with Professor Manasseh and his team. 

“Our project explores the paths of bubbles under ocean waves and how they make and deflect underwater sounds. When bubbles are formed, they emit sounds we hear, creating the natural ‘music’ of running water and of breaking ocean waves,” says Elissa.

“Measuring bubble sounds provides context on some hard-to-control processes. For example, breaking waves generate vast clouds of bubbles that dissolve a quarter to a third of our carbon emissions. Therefore, measuring bubble sounds may enable measurement of this control on our climate,” Professor Manasseh adds.    

“Further, understanding how bubbles make music also allows us to design bubbles to block noise. For instance, engineers create curtains of bubbles to protect marine mammals from pile-driving shocks during the construction of offshore wind turbines.”

The 2026 ANAT Synapse Residency Program is supported by the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) and Swinburne University of Technology.