Defence, Cyber & Space
There’s no greater reassurance for our community than knowing we’re well prepared to prevent or avert threats to our security. Our researchers support this in every domain: on land and online; in space, the air and at sea.
We work extensively with the Department of Defence and defence-related organisations in a variety of ways—as an advisor, research partner and producer of high-quality, career-ready graduates equipped to make our world a better, and more secure, place.
Impact stories
Growing plants for space: securing Earth’s sustainable future
University of Adelaide researchers are helping humanity explore among the stars by developing off-Earth agriculture and––in the process––finding interstellar solutions that could transform plant cultivation here at home.
Read more about securing Earth’s sustainable future
Bots Manipulate Public Opinion Russia - Ukraine in Conflict
New research from the University of Adelaide has shown that social media bot accounts have been used in malicious campaigns to influence online discussion during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Read more about Bots Manipulate Public Opinion Russia - Ukraine in Conflict
Autonomous rovers for moon exploration
When it comes to studying the surface of moons and planets, robot explorers called “rovers” are the gold standard. They can travel into space far more easily than a human astronaut, traverse new terrains quickly, and collect mountains of useful data.
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Giving REDSPICE bite: Why strengthening Australia’s cyber capability demands unprecedented ASD-university collaboration
The Australian Government’s REDSPICE blueprint, released with last week’s 2022-23 budget, will significantly increase the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) cyber and intelligence capabilities.
Read more about Why strengthening Australia’s cyber capability demands unprecedented ASD-university collaboration
Standing firm
The Discovery Pod | Season 2, Episode 9
Our societies are more connected than ever, with countless governmental processes now taking place online, making it worryingly easy for foreign actors to sow the seeds of domestic division and unrest.
Moon boot
The Discovery Pod | Season 2, Episode 8
Powering up human settlement on the Moon is widely considered the ideal first step towards long-term crewed planetary exploration—and it could feasibly happen as soon as this decade.
Cyber security
The Discovery Pod | Season 1, Episode 9
Cybercrime and Digital Warfare – how do we get tech savvy to secure our lives online?
Youth online safety and cybercrime prevention
Knowing how young people operate in the digital world is the key to keeping them safe.
Read more about Youth online safety and cybercrime prevention
Defence and Security Institute
The Defence and Security Institute plays a key role in the Australian capabilities essential to our nation’s defence, security, and prosperity.
Who to contact
Professor Michael Webb is Director, Defence, Space and Cybersecurity at the University of Adelaide, providing a single point of contact within the University for Defence, Space and Cybersecurity related research and education.
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