Swinburne students demonstrate how science can solve social issues
Swinburne students created posters to visually communicate their ideas to solve a Social Innovation Challenge posed by the City of Boroondara Council
In summary
- In a collaboration with City of Boroondara Council, students have been tasked with solving local issues using science
- Students created posters to visually communicate their solutions and were given the opportunity to pitch their ideas to Boroondara council members
- The annual Social Innovation Challenge - Science in Society event gives students a valuable and unique Work Integrated Learning experience
Swinburne University of Technology and City of Boroondara Council have collaborated to propose several challenges to Bachelor of Science students – asking how can science solve issues the council faces to make a positive impact on the community?
In 2024, over 120 students participated in the annual Social Innovation Challenge event, creating solutions for the council through a scientific lens and using their knowledge in biotech, chemistry, environmental science, maths, data analysis, engineering and software engineering.
Valuable work experience
The collaboration offers students a unique Work Integrated Learning experience, to not only pitch their solutions directly to Council members, but also to potentially see their ideas come to life.
Swinburne students had a pool of twelve challenges to tackle, including how the council could use generative AI to improve how their organisation works, how to reduce quality items from ending up in hard waste, and how the council might better support social connections between men in the community to improve their mental health.
Producing posters to visually communicate their proposed solutions, students had the opportunity to pitch directly to Council officers at a two-day presentation event hosted at the Hawthorn Arts Centre.
Though many students were nervous before the event, they quickly found confidence when Council staff started talking to them and asking questions about their project solution.
The students expressed how talking to Council members was invaluable for their projects, receiving constructive feedback and discussing how their ideas align with City of Boroondara Council’s roles and objectives for the community.
-
Social Innovation Challenge event -
Social Innovation Challenge event -
Social Innovation Challenge event -
Social Innovation Challenge event -
Social Innovation Challenge event -
Social Innovation Challenge event -
Social Innovation Challenge event -
Social Innovation Challenge event -
Social Innovation Challenge event
Swinburne biotechnology lecturer Dr Vito Butardo, says the event facilitates connections between science and local industry.
“It’s a fantastic chance to witness the intersection of scientific knowledge and industry problem-solving in action,” Dr Butardo says.
City of Boroondara Partnerships and Grant Specialist Adam Cummings said the students’ annual poster presentation underpins a valuable collaboration between Swinburne and City of Boroondara.
“The Social Innovation Challenge event provides a unique opportunity to engage directly with the younger members of our community while fostering collaboration across departments, breaking down silos, and accessing some of the brightest minds in the country,” Adam Cummings says.
“It’s always exciting to see the creative solutions that students come up with and how they apply their skills to tackle real-world problems.”
Now in its second year, the Social Innovation Challenge is one of several initiatives by Swinburne in partnership with the City of Boroondara Council that combines student innovation, knowledge sharing and local industry collaboration.
-
Media Enquiries
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
Celebrating Swinburne's WorldSkills competitors
- Trades
- Student News
Swinburne University of Technology learners have competed at WorldSkills regional competitions, with three competing at the International competition in Shanghai.
Friday 23 October 2026 -
Swinburne secures funding to strengthen Australia's future energy networks
Swinburne has secured $2.2 million in funding as a leading university partner for a project to develop next-generation quantum timing technology for Australia's energy networks.
Friday 23 October 2026 -
Four new projects announced at the 2026 FACET Symposium in Sydney
- Science
- University
- Sustainability
- Engineering
The 2026 Franco-Australian Indo-Pacific Centre for Energy Transition (FACET) Symposium held in Sydney brought together experts, researchers and industry leaders for an event that discussed building resilient infrastructure, next generation power systems and integrated energy solutions.
Tuesday 27 October 2026 -
Swinburne researchers contribute to nearly $20 million in ARC-funded projects
- Design
- Technology
- Science
- University
- Sustainability
- Engineering
Swinburne researchers are contributing to four successful projects in the latest Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Research Program, representing nearly $20 million in combined project funding.
Tuesday 20 October 2026 -
World-first psilocin binge eating disorder trial reveals improvement in all patients
- Science
Swinburne University of Technology and Entropy Neurodynamics’ world-first IV-infused psilocin binge eating disorder trial has led to improvement in all participants.
Tuesday 15 September 2026
