Centres, Institutes and Networks

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes reduces Australia’s economic, social and environmental vulnerability to climate extremes.

Led by Professor Melissa Crouch, the Asia Law and Policy Forum at UNSW Law & Justice is a network of researchers who foster and support research on law and politics in Asia. 

UNSW Medicine & Health is the lead academic institute for the APO, providing guidance on: the role of digital health, including telemedicine and peer-supported clinical decision-making; policy responses and planning for an ageing Pacific population; and health system governance and financing reform in Fiji.

Established by UNSW in 2018 to create a world-class research institute focused on human rights, the Institute delivers multidisciplinary research that empowers communities and educates the next generation of human rights leaders.

The CES is a unique unit within UNSW, with excellent researchers in ecosystem science and a diverse range of scientific expertise in terrestrial ecology (arid zones, forests), wetlands, marine ecosystems, GIS (geographic information systems), remote sensing and the use of conservation tools.

UNSW also hosts the SMaRT Centre, the ARC Microrecycling Research Hub and the Australian government's new National Environmental Science Program's Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub.

The City Futures Research Centre has developed into a national leader in scholarly applied public interest research on our cities since 2005.

The UNSW Climate Change Research Centre hosts the ARC Centre of Excellence in Climate Extremes (CLEX), and previously the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science (ARCCSS). It is Australia's largest centre focused on the physical and biophysical aspects of climate change, spanning atmospheric, oceanic, ice, and land-climate processes.

The Decarbonisation Hub hosted by UNSW Sydney is a key part of the NSW Government's Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program, bringing together government, industry, and researchers to fast-track technologies to decarbonise NSW and beyond.

The Diplomacy Training Program works in partnership with NGOs and movements investing together to provide practical advocacy training to human rights defenders. The DTP community is made up of DTP partners, alumni, trainers and supporters.

The Energy Institute unites energy activities across UNSW with industry, government, community stakeholders and other research institutions.

Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre partners leading Australian universities with industry and government bodies to deliver impactful research in the future food systems domain.

The GVRN is a joint initiative of UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture and UNSW Law & Justice. The GVRN unites UNSW’s significant domestic and international research expertise to respond, prevent and end gendered violence in Australia and beyond. 

The George Institute is a leading independent global medical research institute with major centres in Australia, China, India and the UK, and an international network of experts and collaborators.

UNSW hosts the GOAP Secretariat. GOAP is a global partnership established to bring together governments, international organisations, and research institutions to build a global community of practice for ocean accounting.

Drawing together experts from law, engineering, science, the arts, and social sciences, the Global Water Institute works with communities to design and implement unique and sustainable solutions to improve water quality and access, improving people's health and limiting their exposure to debilitating disease.

The iCinema Research Centre is focused on the creative development of AI-based visualisation across the Faculties of Arts, Architecture & Design, Engineering, Science and UNSW Canberra, to address pressing and unpredictable scenarios such as wildfires and other disasters.

Each year, many more people are displaced by the impacts of disasters and climate change than by conflict and persecution. The UNSW Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law was commissioned to draft the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility – a world-first protocol that is currently being deliberated by Pacific Leaders.

The Kirby Institute is a world-leading health research institute at UNSW Sydney. It works to eliminate infectious diseases, globally. The Institute's specialisation is in developing health solutions for the most at-risk communities and working to build a safer, healthier world for everyone. 

UNSW is leading cutting-edge RNA science and medicine via the newly established UNSW RNA Institute. The Institute links and expands multidisciplinary teams in RNA biology, RNA chemistry and RNA medicine, with clinical experts and services, underpinned by a pilot-scale RNA accelerator facility.  

The SIRF hosts a world-class manufacturing facility that enables the development of UNSW's solicon solar cell technologies. Globally over 90% of all solar modules produced today are based on UNSW technology. 

Tyree IHealthE harnesses the considerable capabilities of UNSW Engineering and UNSW Medicine & Health. Powered by collaboration, Tyree IHealthE is an engine of discovery and research translation. 

The WRC is an international leading university centre that provides multidisciplinary research in water resources, engineering, management and the development of tools for environmental management and sustainability for improving aquatic and atmospheric environments.

The UNSW WRL will lead the hydrologic aspects of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Regulator's 'Blue Carbon Method'. The federal government has approved the first blue carbon method under the Emissions Reduction Fund that generates Australian Carbon Credits when restoring tidal flows to blue carbon ecosystems.

UNSW Medicine & Health worked with The George Institute in the establishment of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Injury Prevention and Trauma Care, generating and implementing evidence-based interventions for universal injury prevention.