Centres, Institutes and Networks

UNSW Medicine & Health is the lead academic institute for the APO, providing guidance on: the role of digital health, including telemedicine and peer-supported clinical decision-making; policy responses and planning for an ageing Pacific population; and health system governance and financing reform in Fiji.

Established by UNSW in 2018 to create a world-class research institute focused on human rights, the Institute delivers multidisciplinary research that empowers communities and educates the next generation of human rights leaders.

The CES is a unique unit within UNSW, with excellent researchers in ecosystem science and a diverse range of scientific expertise in terrestrial ecology (arid zones, forests), wetlands, marine ecosystems, GIS (geographic information systems), remote sensing and the use of conservation tools.

The UNSW Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC) hosts the ARC Centre of Excellence in Climate Extremes (CLEX), and previously the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science (ARCCSS). The CCRC is Australia's largest centre focused on the physical and biophysical aspects of climate change, spanning atmospheric, oceanic, ice, and land-climate processes. Comprising over 80 staff/PhD, CCRC staff advise business, government, and community on climate change and climate risk for better decision making.

The Decarbonisation Hub hosted by UNSW Sydney is a key part of the NSW Government's Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program, bringing together government, industry, and researchers to fast-track technologies to decarbonise NSW and beyond.

The Diplomacy Training Program works in partnership with NGOs and movements investing together to provide practical advocacy training to human rights defenders. The DTP community is made up of DTP partners, alumni, trainers and supporters.

Established in July 2019, Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre partners leading Australian universities with industry and government bodies to deliver impactful research in the future food systems domain. Its mission is to develop smart, sustainable, resilient food systems that capitalise on Australia’s unique strengths, add value to our primary produce and shore up food security.

The GVRN is a joint initiative of UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture and UNSW Law & Justice. The GVRN unites UNSW’s significant domestic and international research expertise to respond, prevent and end gendered violence in Australia and beyond. GVRN is at the forefront of developing solutions to prevent gendered violence – one of the most prevalent human rights violations affecting our world today.

UNSW hosts the GOAP Secretariat. GOAP is a global partnership established to bring together governments, international organisations, and research institutions to build a global community of practice for ocean accounting.

Drawing together experts from law, engineering, science, the arts, and social sciences, the Global Water Institute works with communities to design and implement unique and sustainable solutions to improve water quality and access, improving people's health and limiting their exposure to debilitating disease.

The Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) is comprised of Pacific Island Countries pursuing an ambitious commitment of a 100% carbon-free maritime transport sector by 2050, including a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping by 2030. 

The UNSW Resilient Futures Collective was established in response to increasing cyclone, flood, drought, and bushfire hazards, to operate through a wide lens of disaster risk reduction and resilience, to address the emergent needs of communities, local, state and federal government, as well as the private sector.

The SIRF hosts a world-class manufacturing facility that enables the development of UNSW's solicon solar cell technologies. Globally over 90% of all solar modules produced today are based on UNSW technology. UNSW also funds educational programs to develop solar systems in Fiji in partnership with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the University of the South Pacific (USP).

Established in 2015 and led by UNSW Law & Justice Professor Melissa Crouch, the Southeast Asia Law and Policy Forum aims to foster and support outstanding research on law, society and politics in Southeast Asia. The Southeast Asia Law and Policy Forum organises and supports seminars and workshops, visiting fellows, research collaboration, and trainings in the region.

The George Institute is a leading independent global medical research institute with major centres in Australia, China, India and the UK, and an international network of experts and collaborators. Its mission is to improve the health of millions of people worldwide, particularly those living in disadvantaged circumstances, by challenging the status quo and using innovative approaches to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases and injury. 

The Kirby Institute is a world-leading health research institute at UNSW Sydney. It works to eliminate infectious diseases, globally. The Institute's specialisation is in developing health solutions for the most at-risk communities and working to build a safer, healthier world for everyone. 

Tyree IHealthE harnesses the considerable capabilities of UNSW Engineering and UNSW Medicine & Health. Powered by collaboration, Tyree IHealthE is an engine of discovery and research translation. It specialises in predictive analytics for managing disease, managing chronic disease and wellness and smart assessment of mental state, and hosts the Signal, Information and Machine Intelligence Lab.

The iCinema Research Centre is focused on the creative development of AI-based visualisation across the Faculties of Arts, Architecture & Design, Engineering, Science and UNSW Canberra, to address pressing and unpredictable scenarios such as wildfires and other disasters.

The Energy Institute unites energy activities across UNSW with industry, government, community stakeholders and other research institutions. It specialises in traditional and renewable energy, energy storage, energy systems and integration, power-to-gas and gas-to-power, digital grids, energy efficiency and productivity, and energy access and affordability.

UNSW is leading cutting-edge RNA science and medicine via the newly established UNSW RNA Institute. The Institute links and expands multidisciplinary teams in RNA biology, RNA chemistry and RNA medicine, with clinical experts and services, underpinned by a pilot-scale RNA accelerator facility.  

The WRC is an international leading university centre that provides multidisciplinary research in water resources, engineering, management and the development of tools for environmental management and sustainability for improving aquatic and atmospheric environments.

The UNSW WRL will lead the hydrologic aspects of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Regulator's 'Blue Carbon Method'. The federal government has approved the first blue carbon method under the Emissions Reduction Fund that generates Australian Carbon Credits when restoring tidal flows to blue carbon ecosystems.

The World Harbour Project, in which UNSW is a key partner, can restore water quality and marine life in urban harbours that are heavily developed and polluted, enhancing human interaction with the water and encouraging economic development surrounding it.

UNSW Medicine & Health worked with The George Institute in the establishment of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Injury Prevention and Trauma Care, generating and implementing evidence-based interventions for universal injury prevention. This includes road traffic injury prevention, rehab programs for burns, drowning prevention and communication and advocacy materials for injury prevention and emergency trauma care.