Join Queensland University of Technology as they showcase groundbreaking research discoveries enabled by strategic cloud partnerships with AWS and NVIDIA.
Dr. Michael Milford will present on cutting-edge science – from revolutionary robot capabilities powered by the new AI revolution, to autonomous robots exploring and monitoring Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef, revealing how these research breakthroughs become possible when scientists have access to the right computational tools.
Dr. Andrew Janke will explore the research enablement strategy behind these discoveries, including quantum cybersecurity investigations, indoor air quality studies, and the practical challenges of empowering academics to pursue ambitious science. Learn how QUT bridges the gap between research ambition and computational reality, creating pathways for scientists to focus on discovery rather than infrastructure limitations.
Speakers
Dr Michael Milford, Director of the Centre for Robotics, Queensland University of Technology
Michael Milford, FTSE, conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of robotics, neuroscience, and computer vision. He currently holds appointments as Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow, Director of the QUT Centre for Robotics, QUT Professor, Microsoft Research Faculty Fellow, and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering. He has led or co-led projects totalling more than 56 million dollars in research and industry funding, receiving over 17,000 citations, and his work has culminated in numerous accolades, including six best paper awards (and ten finalists), the ATSE Batterham Medal, a joint outright Queensland Young Tall Poppy award, and was made a Microsoft Research Faculty Fellow, one of only three Australians ever to receive this recognition. From 2022 – 2027 he is leading a large research team combining bio-inspired and computer science-based approaches to provide a ubiquitous alternative to GPS that does not rely on satellites. His team has worked on commercial autonomous vehicle technology with companies like Ford and Caterpillar, and been funded by and/or collaborated with organizations like Amazon, Intel and Google Deepmind. Michael is also an educational entrepreneur: as founder of Math Thrills, he has produced engaging STEM education materials distributed to over 35 countries for more than 20 years. As a keen mentor, Michael works with individuals and groups, both locally at the individual, institute or university level across Australia, but also globally through his Hacking Academia initiative, and won the 2025 Outstanding Mentor of Researchers Eureka Prize.
Dr Andrew Janke, Associate Director of Enterprise Technology and Digital Research Infrastructure, Queensland University of Technology
Andrew J is the Associate Director of Enterprise Technology and Digital Research Infrastructure at QUT. Andrew has an academic background in the development of imaging techniques for Magnetic Resonance, PET, Ultrasound and Microscopy. He has worked with great colleagues from ICT at the Uni of Sydney, the National Imaging Facility at the Centre for Advanced Imaging – UQ, the department of Geriatric Medicine, ANU and the Montreal Neurological Institute working on acquisition, statistical analysis and quantification of Biomedical Imaging data.