From innovative projects to real-world impact, discover how RMIT Engineering students have achieved success over the past year.
Student awards and recognition
The Patricia Guthrie Memorial Award - a University-wide award presented to an outstanding female student who has demonstrated academic excellence and community work - was recently awarded to 2024 chemical engineering graduate Lucinda Gibson.
Lucinda said that she was honoured to receive the award and credits RMIT with furthering her interest in climate action and sustainability, which led her to travel to Indonesia while studying.
“RMIT provided me with an environment where learning wasn’t contained to the classroom; it was encouraged within communities, through collaboration, and in saying ‘yes’ to new experiences, such as overseas exchanges, internships, volunteering and more,” said Lucinda.
RMIT Patricia Guthrie Memorial Award winner Lucinda Gibson (Left) and Deputy Dean Learning and Teaching Professor Margaret Jollands (Right).
Student competitions: winning the World Bridgestone Solar Car Challenge
RMIT engineering students and staff helped design and race a solar-powered car over 3,000km through the Australian Outback to take the top prize.
In partnership with the Vocation Training Council (VTC) in Hong Kong RMIT engineering students and technical staff were part of the team that recently won the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2025, pushing the limits of technological innovation to travel across the Australian Outback in a vehicle powered only by the energy of the sun.
The Solar Car ‘Sophie’ stormed to the finish line on 31 August after a gruelling 3,000-kilometre, seven-day race from Darwin to Adelaide, winning by a margin of four minutes in the Cruiser Class category.
RMIT students and technical staff have been part of the VTC team from the start, the result of a 20-year partnership between RMIT and the VTC’s School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) in Hong Kong. RMIT offers several bachelor’s degree programs through SHAPE, which allows students in Hong Kong to obtain RMIT qualifications in engineering and aviation. Currently, there are around 700 students in RMIT-SHAPE programs.
Kin Kwan Cheuk is completing his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from RMIT through SHAPE and was part of the winning VTC Solar Car Team, along with four other RMIT students.
He described the moment the car crossed the finish line in first place as unforgettable.
“We were cheering, hugging, and some of us even tearing up,” said Kin Kwan. “It wasn’t just about winning; it was about proving that our innovation, teamwork, and resilience could achieve something incredible. That moment validated everything we had poured into the project.”
EnGenius capstone project showcase
Engineering students at RMIT University showcased their innovative capstone projects at EnGenius 2025, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event brought together around 1,500 attendees, including students, academics, alumni, industry representatives, and the public, to celebrate the next generation of engineering talent.
EnGenius provides graduating students with a platform to present solutions to real-world challenges while building industry connections. Projects spanned multiple disciplines, including civil, biomedical, environmental, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Catherine Itsiopoulos praised the high calibre of work, highlighting a promising future for the engineering field.
Many students collaborated closely with RMIT’s research centres and industry partners. For example, one team developed a model to address Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG) blockages in sewer systems, while another worked on advanced biosensing technologies for disease detection. Industry collaboration was also key, with projects such as biodegradable food stickers developed in partnership with compostable packaging company WeSea.
The event also recognised outstanding achievements through awards. The top honour, the RMIT STEM College Award, was awarded to students who developed a simulation model predicting neural implant behaviour for neurological disorders.
Overall, EnGenius 2025 highlighted the strong integration of academic learning, research, and industry engagement at RMIT, while celebrating the diverse pathways and aspirations of its engineering graduates as they prepare to enter the workforce.
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