Exhibition Opening - Materials Revolution

Join us for the opening of Materials Revolution, an exhibition showcasing UNSW SMaRT Centre's transformative materials science research that moves us towards a circular economy where discarded materials become valuable resources for new products.

The exhibition will be opened by James Lancaster, Founder and CEO of Renew IT, and Professor Sven Rogge, Dean of UNSW Science.

Drinks and light refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome. Registration is essential.

About the exhibition

Materials Revolution is an exhibition showcasing the transformative research by UNSW Sustainable Materials Technology and Research (SMaRT) Centre, to express a paradigm shift in how we need to view and utilise materials. Just as the Industrial Revolution reshaped 18th-century manufacturing with machines and the Technological Revolution of the 20th century brought us computers, Materials Revolution focuses on the transformation of materials themselves. This involves a significant rethinking of how we extract, produce, consume, and dispose of materials to reduce environmental impacts and excessive waste generation. Materials scientists and engineers are developing technologies that move away from a linear manufacturing model of ‘take, make, dispose’ towards a circular economy system where materials from the end-of life products are recognised as a valuable feedstock for future manufacturing needs.

The UNSW SMaRT Centre is a dynamic fulcrum for interdisciplinary collaboration pioneering technologies that reforms hard to recycle waste into valuable industrial inputs. Founded in 2008 by ARC Laureate (2014) and ARC Industry Laureate (2023) Fellow, Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla AO, the UNSW SMaRT Centre tackles the critical issue of developing innovative solutions for problematic wastes not subject to conventional recycling. Through the pioneering concept of ‘microrecycling science’, SMaRT has developed cutting-edge technologies and MICROfactories™ that transform complex waste into valuable materials and products, fostering resource circularity. By leveraging microrecycling science, diverse waste streams, such as glass, textiles, e-waste, batteries, and plastics are transformed into new products, such as Green metals, Green Ceramics™ and 3D printing filament. These groundbreaking recycling practices embody the principles of a circular economy, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future.

Materials Revolution was developed by UNSW Library in collaboration with the UNSW SMaRT Centre. 

For more information about event accessibility at UNSW Library, visit Access to the Library. Please let us know of any accessibility requirements before the event by contacting lib.exhibitions@unsw.edu.au.

If you would like to be notified about upcoming UNSW Library exhibitions and programs, join our mailing list.

UNSW is located on the unceded territory of the Bedegal (Kensington campus), Gadigal (City and Paddington Campuses) and Ngunnawal peoples (UNSW Canberra) who are the Traditional Owners of the lands where each campus of UNSW is situated.