News & Events

The next generation of seed-funded interdisciplinary research projects are here! We have eight new seed-funded projects driven by interdisciplinary teams. Come take a look at the range of research interests Networked Society Institute will be exploring next.

In June, the NSI team were invited to visit Telstra Labs in Melbourne where Ben Loveridge, Institute Fellow (Virtual Reality), delivered a detailed talk on our virtual reality research and development. Plus we met a robot!

Automation and artificial intelligence are making their mark in the legal industry. Lawyer-bots give rudimentary legal advice online while AI tools are performing document review tasks. Learn about Automated Legal Advice and the future of legal work in the latest Networked Society Stories podcast.

Light can be used as a high-speed form of wireless communication, writes NSI Director Thas Nirmalathas with Christina Lim and Elaine Wong.

A new episode of Networked Society Stories podcast explains the fundamental concept underlying our research. Tune in to find out - what is the Networked Society?

Are automated services that give legal advice doing their job? Latest research from Networked Society Institute maps the emergence of these technologies in Australia.

We are happy to announce a research and development agreement with NBN Co to further our research focus areas of future of work, internet of things, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics and more.

Got a good research idea? Applications for our 2018 Seed Funding round are now being accepted from the University's research community. We are looking for innovative interdisciplinary research projects aligned with the Networked Society Institute's interest in the connectivity between people, places and things to solve the problems facing the networked society.

We need to rein-in data harvesting with more user control and simply less data collection, argues Networked Society Institute Fellow (Cybersecurity and Data Privacy) Dr Vanessa Teague and co-author Dr Chris Culnane.

New software based on statistical probability principles is helping forecast our flu season, and could also identify the level of threat of a bioterrorist attack. Our Flu Forecasting project builds on this research by adding a mapping element to show were epidemics are occurring.

A surprising number of university students are turning to sources like Wikipedia for their studies. Understanding how these resources work and are used is vital to providing quality higher education to the networked society.

In 2018 one of our key research focus areas is the Future of Work, examining the impact of connectivity and new technology on how we work. In this article, Andrew Trounsen and Dr Josh Healy explain how the gig economy, or platform work, has emerged from nowhere courtesy of the mobile technology boom, but there are question marks over whether it heralds a new future of work.

Couldn't make it to the AutoHack18 Grand Final? No worries, we have captured all the excitement, stress and innovative ideas for you in our latest podcast.

Findings from Internet of Things and Consumer Privacy research project have been released in a paper titled Privacy in a world of the Internet of Things: A legal and regulatory perspective.

Our summer-long hackathon concluded with a grand finale event last night and team Openworks won first prize trip to Silicon Valley.

Exploring ethical questions about our digital lives with Professor Luciano Floridi from the University of Oxford and Dr Andi Horvath on Eavesdrop on Experts podcast.

Networked Society Institute Fellow of Digital Media, Dr Bjorn Nansen, asks how we as parents, consumers, and citizens, should respond to the rise of digital technology in our parks.

If you have seen the excellent near-future science fiction series Black Mirror, you will know the episode titled Be Back Soon. It tells the story of an avid social media user who dies tragically young, but who nonetheless is able to keep communicating with the love of his life, through social media.

Welcome to 2018! Our new generation of seed-funded interdisciplinary research projects are here and already firing up some fascinating insights and conversations around the Institute.

An end-of-year message from Prof Thas Nirmalathas, Director of Networked Society Institute.

AutoHack18 is an extended-form hackathon running from December to January that focuses on automation. It is a collaboration between Networked Society Institute, Ciena and nbn.

Institute Fellow Stephan Winter and co-author Marie Truelove shows how can we sort the truth from the lies in the world of social media.

Congratulations to Dr Jeanette Tamplin and the team of Music Therapy in Virtual Environments, well-deserving finalists in the 2017 National Disability Awards!

How are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) changing the way our world works? While we hear many ominous predictions around surveillance and drone warfare, the current applications of these elevated appliances are much more pragmatic and beneficial.

Networked Society Institute was honoured to have Professor Luciano Floridi of University of Oxford deliver the keynote speech at its annual symposium in 2017. Attendees gave enthusiastic, positive feedback about Floridi's talk which mixed philosophy, technology, and sustainability as its key themes.

A big thank you to all our speakers, presenters, and attendees at Networked Society Symposium 2017. It was a fun and fascinating day showcasing the breadth of interdisciplinary research from the Institute and exploring big ideas and issues surrounding the networked society.

Prof Luciano Floridi wants us to start talking about that place where the green of sustainability meets the blue of evolving technology.

With terms such as “fake news” and “alternative facts” recently entering the public lexicon there is little doubt that our online communication is changing the way we think about facts. What is the nature of facts in a digital world? Dr Heather Ford from the University of Leeds explains in the latest podcast from University of Melbourne's Networked Society Institute.

Will the NBN deliver the high-speed internet connection we were promised? Professor Thas Nirmalathas explains why Australians need to check their own internet speeds.

MNSI researchers Luke Heemsbergen and Robbie Fordyce were interviewed about their 3D printing research for the new University podcast Five Things About... The result is a brief but fascinating foray into this emerging technology and culture.

Airlines are working to deliver free inflight internet services, but what are the impacts of the increased demands on service? MNSI Director Thas Nirmalathas connects the dots on inflight connectivity.

The Internet of things (IoT) is connecting us like never before, but at what cost? Featuring MNSI researcher Dr. Rachelle Bosua.

Technology will help the blind and vision-impaired read the terrain around them, more accurately. Featuring the work of our Institute Fellow of Connected Devices, Professor Marimuthu Palaniswami.

A new economic ecosystem is emerging. It may sound strange, but chances are you are already a part of the Sharing Economy: whether it's renting out that lawnmower you never use, catching a lift via an app instead of a taxi, or shirking the hotel to stay at the home of a local on your next holiday. Where once we bought and sold, today we exchange, share, barter, lend and give. These new forms of exchanges have been made possible by our increasing connectivity through the internet and social networks.

Driving for Change is a MNSI research project developing ways to deliver mental health resources to Australian taxi drivers, a community group at high risk for poor mental health.

Dr Jeanette Tamplin of our Music Therapy in Virtual Environments research project appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live recently in what could be a world first for broadcasting.

Where do the boundaries lie between being a data collector and a data subject? The participatory health revolution is raising ethical questions about health and privacy.

As the National Broadband Network (NBN) roll out continues, those privileged to have access to the network will be hunting for bargains when it comes to choosing a broadband plan. Director of Melbourne Networked Society Institute at the University of Melbourne simplifies the decision for you.

Internet and broadband connectivity are the foundation of the networked economy. But to ensure the benefits of the networked economy are evenly distributed, the Australian government needs to ensure access to the internet to encourage and support innovation.

Professor William H Dutton, Director of the Quello Centre at Michigan State University, was the keynote speaker at the Networked Society Symposium 2016. The event showcased research conducted by the Melbourne Networked Society Institute at the University of Melbourne. This podcast episode is his keynote speech, titled 'Power shifts in a networked society: The rise of a Fifth Estate'.

In this podcast episode, we hear from Hamish Boland-Rudder, the online editor of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) as he reveals the processes behind the Panama Papers and more recent Bahama Leaks.Hamish was invited to speak as a guest of both the Melbourne Networked Society Institute and Neo4J. His talk is titled 'Secrecy for Sale: Unravelling the Panama Papers'.

We are proud to announce the successful launch of a new interdisciplinary data science hub at the University. The Data, Systems and Society Research Network (DSSRN) is a collaborative research network focused on building a community of research scholars and data infrastructure. It is a hub for all things data within the University.

Congratulations to our researcher Dr Benjamin Rubinstein who has been awarded the Victorian Young Tall Poppy Science Award for 2016!

We love our technology. It is convenient, entertaining, and in many instances it makes life easier. But how often do you stop to think about the security implications of your online sharing and connectivity? Cyber security expert Melissa Hathaway delivers the latest talk on MNSI Public Lectures podcast.

Our 'From Information Kiosks to Community Hubs' research project aimed to overcome the digital divide within Indigenous communities using a network of touch screen kiosks for public use. A research paper was launched in August 2016 to a packed room at the University of Melbourne.

Academics must demonstrate that their research has impact; they need to show that their publicly funded research is making a difference to society in some way. Whether through economic, policy or environmental means, the challenge can be generating traction outside the traditional research publication framework.

MNSI are looking for talented students wishing to undertake a PhD focused on the networked society. We are proud to have supported over thirty PhD students to date, and have seen many successful innovations come from these projects. We welcome all applicants to our 2016 PhD Scholarships round.

MNSI Director Thas Nirmalathas looks at the future of Australia's NBN under a Coalition government.

A new public lectures podcast series from the Melbourne Networked Society Institute at the University of Melbourne has been launched. The first episode features a controversial talk from former NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley.

Last night Mike Quigley delivered a lecture titled NBN: From 2009 to 2016 and Beyond in an event hosted by the Melbourne Networked Society Institute and the Telecommunications Society of Australia (TelSoc). Mr Quigley was the first ever employee of NBN Co and its CEO from its inception to his retirement in September 2013, giving him a unique expert perspective on Australia's broadband network options.

What does the first Turnbull Government budget hold for the future of connectivity in Australia? Despite our increasingly networked society, it seems there is little change and a re-commitment to connectivity goals is needed.

Does Google's plan for a high-speed wireless internet connection mean the current cable roll-out for the NBN will soon be obsolete? MNSI Director Thas Nirmalathas weighs up the options.

A network of drones and in-ground sensors are making Australian wine-makers more connected to the soil-plant-atmosphere status of their crops than ever before. This Digital Vineyard could be the future of precision agriculture.

Yesterday we hosted an event to launch the latest research paper from our 3D Domestic Printing Research Project. The team headed by Dr Bjorn Nansen presented a brief overview of their findings to a packed out room of students, enthusiasts, and fellow researchers.

New developments in 3D printing are announced almost daily. As the 3D printer becomes more versatile, affordable, and compact it could become a common household appliance.

Recently, our Digital Vineyard research project featured in the Australian Financial Review. The article below was penned by Emily Parkinson and published online March 9 2016.

As more of our everyday devices, services, and industries connect to the internet we are left with the question - what does this mean for individual privacy?

Applications for our 2016 Seed Funding round are now being accepted from the University's research community. We are looking for innovative interdisciplinary research projects that align with the MNSI's interest in the connectivity between people, places and things to solve the problems facing the networked society.

A new website is providing a secure forum for Australian women who have suffered domestic violence to share their stories anonymously. The Not The Only One website hopes to build a support network with solidarity found in shared experiences, while also informing the community about the context and dynamics of domestic violence.

Cities are complex systems. One visible artery of the city is traffic – the cluster of moving people and flowing goods – and mobility is critical for a city’s life. We should be concerned about voices pointing to disrupting forces on mobility, such as a Global Summit on Disrupting Mobility recently hosted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Turning cities into living labs will drive innovation throughout local government to manage growth, increase efficiency and enhance service delivery.

The nbn – formerly the National Broadband Network – was established with a mandate to provide broadband to all Australians.A key challenge in realising this goal is addressing the widening gap in the digital connectivity between the bush and urban areas. The initial estimates suggest approximately 1 million premises would be outside fixed line coverage by 2021. Satellite and fixed wireless technologies are bridging this gap.

The race is on to get billions of people connected to the internet via a global network of satellites. Europe’s Airbus announced this week that it is to design and build up to 900 satellites for the privately owned OneWeb Ltd, which includes Richard Branson as a board member.

The Melbourne Networked Society Institute (MNSI) is seeking applications for innovative interdisciplinary research projects from the University research community. The interconnectedness between people, places, things and systems is creating new challenges and opportunities for technology to create, control and monitor human activity across society.

Cities are complex systems, some may even say messy systems. Many independent and concurrent decisions shape the experience, form and opportunities in a city. And many stakeholders have their views, their data and their interests without necessarily sharing with others.

We are delighted to announce that the Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES) is now the Melbourne Networked Society Institute (MNSI).