Swinburne students demonstrate how science can solve social issues

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.