Research in the news

Dr Christian Tietz from the School of Built Environment argues Sydney’s public toilets are often overlooked in urban design, leaving them feeling “old and institutional”. His proposal for the 2026 Sydney Summit calls for rethinking toilets as essential public spaces, with simple design changes to improve comfort and wellbeing.

Associate Professor Pan Wang from the School of Humanities & Languages discusses the viral Chinese safety app Demumu, formerly known as Are You Dead?. She notes its popularity reflects the growth of China’s “loneliness economy” as more people live alone and turn to services designed to address isolation. [Timestamp 0:41:13]

A Victorian Supreme Court trial that uncovered more than 200 interpretation errors has raised questions about accuracy in court interpreting. Professor Sandra Hale from the School of Humanities & Languages notes "best practice" safeguards –  including using two interpreters – were not followed, increasing the risk of error.

Following music platform Bandcamp’s announcement that it will ban music largely generated by AI, Associate Professor Oliver Bown from the School of Art & Design discusses the challenges of defining and policing AI use in music. [Timestamp 0:44:19]

A viral Chinese mobile app that alerts emergency contacts if users fail to check in has been rebranded from Are You Dead to Demumu. Associate Professor Pan Wang from the School of Humanities & Languages says its popularity “reflects the rapid rise of people living alone in China” and captures a growing sense of insecurity among solo dwellers.

Ahead of the 2026 Sydney Summit, Dr Fatemeh Aminpour from the City Futures Research Centre proposes a crowd-sourced sensory map of Sydney’s CBD to help neurodivergent people better enjoy the city. She says Sydney can lead globally not just by trialling the idea, but by embedding sensory mapping into future town planning and upgrades.

Dr Eduardo B. Sandoval from the School of Art & Design explores why politeness toward artificial intelligence matters, noting that "the way that we treat machines reflects how we treat other humans". [Timestamp 23:27]

Dr Georgia van Toorn from the School of Social Sciences discusses the NDIA's plans to introduce the I-CAN needs assessment tool for NDIS participants from mid-2026. She cautions that while it may suit simple cases, rigid standardisation risks overlooking the needs of “more complex cases”. [Timestamp 08:22]

NSW mid-rise housing reforms are driving a surge in dense developments across Sydney. Professor Chris Pettit from the City Futures Research Centre notes the scale marks a “step up from current densities” but warns time-limited affordable housing may worsen affordability pressures in the long term.

Associate Professor Negin Nazarian from the School of Built Environment outlines ways to keep homes cool without relying on air-conditioning, from selecting cooler materials during renovations to adjusting daily routines. During heatwaves, she emphasises the importance of “focusing on the person, not just the room.”

Extreme heat is forecast for Western Sydney, with suburbs including Penrith, Parramatta and Blacktown set to reach around 44°C. Associate Professor Riccardo Paolini from the School of Built Environment notes that a combination of geography, topography and urbanisation are directly contributing to the region's intense temperatures.

China’s birth rate continues to decline as couples cite high costs, career pressures and economic uncertainty. Associate Professor Pan Wang from the School of Humanities & Languages says the one-child policy “fundamentally reshaped family norms,” limiting the impact of recent pronatalist measures.

As obesity rates climb in China, many overweight adults are enrolling in month-long weightloss bootcamps. Associate Professor Pan Wang from the School of Humanities & Languages urges greater government regulation, noting that “thinness has become a form of social capital” that such camps exploit.

A new report by the NSW ADC and UNSW reveals widespread neglect of older people and adults with disability, calling for better early intervention and service coordination. Dr Megan Blaxland from the Social Policy Research Centre says the findings can help organisations “be more attuned to signs of neglect” so support can be offered earlier.

Property expert Professor Chyi Chin Lee from the School of Built Environment notes that in China’s cooling real estate market, only buyers with urgent housing needs are purchasing, reflecting broader shifts in housing demand that spotlight the deepening affordability challenges across Asia and Australia.

Professor Chris Pettit from the City Futures Research Centre says Tallawong’s severe commuter-parking overflow shows that expanding car parks is not a long-term fix, urging a shift toward the integrated public transport and active-travel networks seen in leading global cities.

Associate Professor Jan Lanicek from the School of Humanities & Languages discusses antisemitism in the wake of the attack at Bondi Beach and what we can do to prevent it. [Timestamp 09:37]

Benjamin Driver from the School of Built Environment warns that unchecked urban sprawl into bushland is increasing deadly bushfire risks on city outskirts, arguing for better metropolitan planning and protection of natural buffers to reduce vulnerability.

As Australia's under-16 social media ban takes effect, some teens have welcomed the change. Professor Michael Salter from the School of Social Sciences describes the ban as a "necessary circuit breaker" to reduce the risk of young users encountering harmful online content.

As end-of-year celebrations ramp up, Dr Katinka Van De Ven from the Social Policy Research Centre shares five strategies to help people cut back on alcohol over the holiday season. She emphasises: "the key is to put protective strategies in place before alcohol starts affecting your judgment."

As the NDIS moves to algorithm-generated plans with reduced human oversight, Dr Georgia van Toorn from the School of Social Sciences warns errors in assessments could be “baked in” to budgets with potentially "dire consequences" for participants. She adds that poor transparency and limited appeal rights make implementing safeguards essential.