I had the privilege of being part of the Early Career Researcher (ECR) delegation for the Defence Science Institute (DSI) to attend the 2024 Australia Defence Science, Technology and Research (ADSTAR) Summit in Canberra. This event was insightful, and I learnt a tremendous amount about current research interests across many fields.
As an aerospace engineer, I related to several of the conference themes and attended many sessions on various topics. Each session was filled with high-quality presentations from industry leaders across various scientific backgrounds. The multi-disciplinary presentations that included partners from industry, academia and defence were particularly interesting to understand the real-world applications and impact of their research.
My PhD research, which investigates the design and analysis of advanced additive structures for spacecraft applications, was also well-aligned with the conference themes. I had the opportunity to network with several industry leaders and professionals in relevant fields, including additive manufacturing, spacecraft design, and structural analysis techniques. I gained significant insight into what they do, and potential opportunities for further research and innovation development.
The greatest highlight of my ADSTAR experience was connecting with the other researchers selected to represent the DSI ECR delegation. I must thank the DSI for hosting us all and providing the opportunity to interact in such a supportive environment. It was refreshing to share our common experiences despite being from a variety of fields. Scientific research stems from the forefront of human innovation and endeavour, which includes several trials and tribulations. It was inspiring to meet such driven and ambitious people who face similar challenges and still excel in their fields. I learnt a lot from all of them.
Within the ADSTAR exhibition hall, I also gained a more thorough understanding of the DSI, and what they represent. The friendly DSI team informed me of how they operate to develop such profound connections between the industry, academia and defence sectors. They also introduced me to their partner networks from each state, and the national innovation ecosystem; the Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN). These interactions made me consider future opportunities in the academia-industry research engagement sector.
Attending the ADSTAR Summit was an enriching experience that expanded my knowledge and provided invaluable connections with the broader scientific community. I look forward to continuing this journey and developing many more connections like these through future DSI opportunities!
by Joshua Rodrigues, RMIT University
