Sydney Nano’s reimagined Catalyst program supports non-STEM researchers to make an impact in their own research area and to contribute to Sydney Nano’s multidisciplinary research in critical and emerging technologies (C&ET).
The program creates a direct pathway for non-STEM researchers to contribute essential knowledge and expertise to tackle real-world challenges spanning critical and emerging technologies, and to facilitate non-STEM researchers in engaging with the significant external opportunities currently available in C&ET. It also offers the opportunity to build stronger multidisciplinary connections between researchers from varied disciplines, potentially non-STEM and STEM researchers.
Transforming Disability Care with Inclusive Nanotech for Health Monitoring
Chief Investigator: Associate Professor Krithika Randhawa
This project combines advance machine learning with nanoscale cortisol sensors, co-developed with Sydney Nano researchers, offers real-time stress monitoring and addresses a critical gap in non-verbal pain and stress assessment for people with disabilities.
Reconsidering the ‘Regulatory Soup’: Leveraging Australia’s Biologicals Framework for Transformative Nanomedicine Translation
Chief Investigator: Dr Christopher Rudge
Professor Wojciech Chrzanowski, Professor Cameron Stewart, Reeve McClelland
This project will investigate how Australia can use existing flexibilities in therapeutic goods rules to safely speed up the development of nanomedicines and naturally occurring ‘cell packages’ (extracellular vesicles). It will also explore whether the rules should change to allow information from everyday patient care (real-world data) or from controlled yet agile testing environments (called ‘regulatory sandboxes’) to help these treatments reach people faster and more effectively.
Stories and Patents: Fueling Critical Technologies Commercialisation
Chief Investigator: Dr Carlos Vazquez-Hernandez
Dr Praveena Chandra
This project investigates how behavioural insights, patent analysis, and conviction narratives—emotionally engaging, future-oriented stories—can accelerate the adoption and commercialisation of critical and emerging technologies (CETs) such as quantum and nano innovations. Using a novel mix of patent landscaping, behavioural experiments, and natural language processing, the project identifies the enabling conditions that allow early-stage discoveries to transition into impactful applications. It maps patenting patterns, decision-maker archetypes, and innovation trajectories to benchmark success in uncertain environments. By bridging business and science, the project strengthens commercialisation pathways, supports interdisciplinary collaboration, and contributes to Sydney Nano’s mission of driving transformative outcomes in CETs.
Nanodidax: A design principles database for nanoscience and nanoengineering education
Chief Investigator: Professor Peter Reimann
Dr Andrew Eaton, Professor Siegbert Schmid
The project aims to develop a database containing design principles and resources for nano education. This database will assist teachers in secondary and tertiary education to innovate their teaching.
Nano Stories: positioning critical technologies in the public imagination
Chief Investigator: Dr Daniela Helbig
Nano Stories is an experiment with digital-visual storytelling as a novel and imaginative form of academic writing. Accessible without a paywall and constructed around research at the Sydney Nano Institute, Nano Stories invite public discussion of critical nano technologies at the intersection of science and industry.
Governing the future of nano-cybersecurity: Digital infrastructure, organizational practice, and threat foresight
Chief Investigator: Dr Nina-Birte Schirrmacher
Associate Professor Llewellyn Thomas
This Catalyst project explores how emerging nanotechnologies - like wearables, sensors, and smart implants - are creating new cybersecurity risks. The key objectives of the project are: 1) to understand how organizations manage security threats when nano-enabled devices are integrated into digital platforms; 2) to use scenario-building workshops to imagine future risks, such as hacking of medical nanotech or AI-enabled surveillance; and 3) to support better governance and public awareness by engaging with experts across technology, policy, and cybersecurity.
Co-designing societal readiness and scenario building for quantum in healthcare
Chief Investigator: Associate Professor Olga Kokshagina
Quantum and Me is a participatory initiative designed to explore how quantum technologies can shape responsible and inclusive futures in health and medicine. Drawing on co-design and scenario-building methods, the project will convene scientists, citizens, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to co-develop future use cases, value chains, and research directions. Through interdisciplinary workshops, Quantum and Me aims to prototype a citizen platform that makes quantum futures tangible and ethical. We actively welcome participation from Sydney Nano members and are open to collaborations with other researchers, faculties, and external partners. The project will lay the groundwork for future international and national funding proposals aligned with Australia’s National Quantum Strategy.
Quantum Sounds: An Interactive Installation
Chief Investigator: Dr Kathryn Roberts Parker
Dr John Bartholomew
Quantum and Me is a participatory initiative designed to explore how quantum technologies can shape responsible and inclusive futures in health and medicine. Drawing on co-design and scenario-building methods, the project will convene scientists, citizens, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to co-develop future use cases, value chains, and research directions. Through interdisciplinary workshops, Quantum and Me aims to prototype a citizen platform that makes quantum futures tangible and ethical. We actively welcome participation from Sydney Nano members and are open to collaborations with other researchers, faculties, and external partners. The project will lay the groundwork for future international and national funding proposals aligned with Australia’s National Quantum Strategy.
