UNSW research scientist and a former podcast guest of Talking Architecture & Design, Veena Sahajwalla, has been named NSW’s Australian of the Year for 2022.
A leader in researching how waste can be reused in Australia’s growing circular economy, Sahajwalla is credited with inventing Polymer Injection Technology, or ‘Green Steel’. The technology forms part of a broader shift to a more sustainable approach to materials production and recycling.
A Founding Director of the UNSW SMaRT Centre, Sahajwalla has found a way to repurpose the carbon found in tyres to replace coking coal in steel production. The researcher was also involved in the composition of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) report Towards a Waste Free Future: Technology Readiness in the Waste and Resource Recovery Sector. The report outlines the need for humans to reduce the consumption of finite resources through designing products, systems and infrastructure with the aim of creating less waste and by reusing, recycling and recovering valuable resources.
Technology and solutions similar to those Sahajwalla has created will enable production to continue to meet demand and support economic productivity, while reducing environmental impact.
ATSE President, Hugh Bradlow, says Veena has been rightly recognised for her work through being a finalist for Australian of the Year, and acknowledges her valuable work in promoting STEM and sustainability.
“Veena is helping to solve the complex problem of balancing economic growth and minimising waste. Technology solutions like hers support and guide the changes Australia needs to make to shift to a thriving sustainable economy,” he says.
“Professor Sahajwalla is also a committed and tireless advocate and role-model for women in STEM, and living proof that empowering people with diverse experiences and perspectives to succeed in science and technology brings solutions and benefits to everyone.”
Sahajwalla was a guest speaker at the Sustainability Summit in 2021, speaking at the Circular Economy Ideas for Adaptive Reuse Of Buildings session. Veena was also featured on Episode 65 of Talking Architecture & Design with Branko Miletic. Speaking alongside Mirvac's General Manager Design, Marketing & Sales, Diana Sarcasmo, the scientist outlined how building from waste is set to revolutionise Australia's apartment building industry.
