Ylias Sabri - Sensing Success

Ylias Sabri –Final

Transcription by Alice Bell

VISUAL: Sensing Success. PhD candidate Ylias Sabri is using nano technology to develop chemical

sensors that help mining companies operate safer, cheaper and greener.

AUDIO: Xylophone-led contemporary electronic music quietly in the background through the

duration of the video.

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking at an angle just off

camera.

YLIAS: So my PhD was about using nanotechnology to develop some chemical sensors for industry

partners, so these are big mining companies like Alcoa and BHP.

VISUAL: Video low angle shot of Ylias wearing a disposable plastic hair cap and putting on disposal

plastic gloves, fades into shot of Ylias buttoning up white protective suit then fastening plastic

mouth cover and then adjusting shoes.

YLIAS: I did start as an undergrad then I went overseas and did some work in Germany for Bosch and

then I decided to come back and do my PhD and a project that’s aligned with industry basically

because I worked in industry I just liked solving industrial problems.

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking direct to camera.

YLIAS: Support for the project came from the industry partners and also RMIT University and the

Australian Government.

VISUAL: Ylias walking through the corridor of a white laboratory wearing the white protective

clothing.

YLIAS: But what happened afterwards as we built the trust with the industry…

VISUAL: Video of Ylias and another woman in white protective clothing in a lab standing in front of

technical equipment.

YLIAS: … and as the project was going well…

VISUAL: : Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking at an angle just off

camera.

YLIAS: …they managed to support us themselves so even when the Government funding finished…

VISUAL: Video of Ylias talking to the woman also white protective clothing, standing with her back to

the camera.

YLIAS: …they said ‘we’re not worried because your project is going so well and you’re solving our

problems...

VISUAL: Video close-up of two hands in white plastic gloves holding parts of a metal casing and gold

chip encased in fine, clear glass.

YLIAS: …we’ll continue to support you.’

VISUAL: : Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking at an angle just off

camera.

YLIAS: There’s a lot of benefit actually working with these companies. First of all you get exposed to

the real world problems and you get to go and see the process and you get to see where the

problem you’re working on is going to be applied to…

VISUAL: Video tight close up of a hand wearing a white plastic glove pulling up the handle of a

machine to reveal a disc, resembling a CD or DVD, which is then held up to the light showing a

reflection of Ylias’ face looking into the disc, wearing the protective head covering and glasses.

YLIAS: …and how it’s going to solve the problem. And basically the last trip I had I realised that we’re

actually helping our industry…

VISUAL: Ylias and the woman both in protective clothing standing in front of lab equipment, opening

a door of a piece of equipment.

YLIAS: …which helps our economy and the society...

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking at an angle just off

camera.

YLIAS: …And also because we’re doing chemical sensing it helps the environment as well.

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking direct to camera.

YLIAS: Now we’ve evolved into many different projects. The new projects have also come from

industry so the work we’ve done with BHP and Alcoa…

VISUAL: Video of Ylias in his white protective clothing opening the door of a large item of technical

equipment, removing a small gold chip and placing it inside of a metal casing.

YLIAS: …other companies they look at it and they’ve actually engaged us, they’ve approached us and

said ‘look we’ve got this problem in a similar area…’

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking at an angle just off

camera.

YLIAS: …And that’s one of the projects that we are currently writing as a Linkage project.

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking direct to camera.

YLIAS: RMIT’s in that process they’re supporting us really well, we asked for a dedicated laboratory

for us…

VISUAL: Close up of a metal object with two fine prongs sticking out of it.

YLIAS: …because we’re getting so much popularity and engagement.

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking at an angle just off

camera.

YLIAS: [It] definitely gives you confidence, you know you’re on the right path…

VISUAL: Video close up Ylias in protective clothing holding up a gold chip to his eyes.

YLIAS: …it gives you confidence when the industry partners come and visit you…

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking at an angle just off

camera.

YLIAS: …when you actually show them the laboratory and the support that RMIT gives and say ‘look

we’re completely supported, we love what we’re doing for you…’

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking direct to camera.

YLIAS: …and this is how we build the trust with industry basically so they see all this dedication from

RMIT…

VISUAL: Video close up of Ylias sitting in a modern lecture theatre, talking at an angle just off

camera.

YLIAS:… and they say ‘OK we want to give you more projects and you basically solving our issues for

us so we’d like to continue that path.’

VISUAL: RMIT University logo. www.rmit.edu.au

Copyright statement

Copyright © 2014 RMIT University. All rights reserved.

Conditions of use

This item is available to RMIT University staff for official RMIT educational or promotional purposes. All uses outside of official educational or promotional purposes must be used with permission. Please contact copyright@rmit.edu.au for permission.