News

Australia’s rooftop solar boom has helped many homeowners cut their electricity bills, but renters and apartment dwellers are still being left behind. An RMIT expert says plug-in solar panels and batteries could help more households access cheaper, cleaner energy, provided Australia gets the right rules, safety standards and consumer protections in place.

RMIT University researchers have developed a more effective way to capture microplastics from wastewater, using a combination of microbubbles and nanobubbles to achieve removal rates of more than 90% before pollution reaches waterways.

New analysis of 5.5 million buildings shows 84% fall short of tree canopy levels required for meaningful cooling.

RMIT University was honoured to recently host the World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2026 (WSBE26) in Melbourne, one of the longest‑running global scientific and technical conference series dedicated to sustainability in the built environment.

RMIT has ranked in the top 10 worldwide for three of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings.

An RMIT innovation uses ultrasound to extract leaf protein from discarded cauliflower leaves, identifying a potential new use for vegetable scraps.

Melbourne Design Week has drawn to a close for 2026, with record numbers of visitors attending 350+ events across Greater Melbourne.

Startups finding practical ways to reduce waste, reuse materials and keep products in use for longer are taking their next steps after three months of learning, coaching and startup development.

A review into food waste in Australia’s quick service restaurants has found order mistakes are the biggest driver of food waste, with better staff training a key part of the solution.

The Victorian Government has announced safety upgrades for local roads and streets, including funding to support 30km/h speed limit trials across Victoria.

RMIT has launched the Regenerative Futures Institute (RFI), a new initiative dedicated to working across disciplines, sectors and communities to help social, environmental and economic systems flourish.

RMIT University researchers have developed a new way to coat fragile surfaces, including living plant leaves, using high‑frequency sound waves to create a fine mist that can act like a plant sunscreen.

Eucalyptus bark, usually stripped from logs and treated as waste, could be repurposed to help clean polluted water, filter dirty air and capture carbon dioxide, according to new research from RMIT University.

RMIT regenerative futures expert Chris Speed led a panel at the CEDA Climate and Energy Summit ahead of the launch of the RMIT Regenerative Futures Institute in May. He was joined by industry leaders Renée Wootton Tomlin, Kate Dundas and Philippa Abbott.

RMIT joins the call for universities globally to adopt a regenerative approach and play a key role in addressing the polycrisis

RMIT returns to Melbourne Design Week 2026 as NGV’s ‘Futures Partner’, reaffirming the University’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of design practitioners, thinkers and leaders.

Beneath shallow coastal waters from Western Australia’s southern coastline to the tropical lagoons of the Great Barrier Reef vast underwater meadows stretch quietly across the seafloor.

A major new international study warns that critical scientific and practical gaps are slowing the use of blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) in global efforts to tackle climate change.

Five years of collaboration with remote First Nations communities has helped locals secure better digital services and greater control over how they connect.

RMIT University engineers in Australia have built a remote-controlled minibot that hoovers up oil spills using an innovative filtering system inspired by sea urchins.