Embedding Country in carbon capture - ARC DPI success

Monash Engineering is delighted to announce Associate Professor Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch has been awarded a 2026 Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Indigenous (DPI) grant.

His project - Next Generation Ultra Low Carbon Concrete: A Dual Carbon Capture Technology - integrates biochar from organic waste with CO₂ storage technology.

In partnership with a Victorian Indigenous Land Council, this innovative approach aims to advance carbon sequestration, reduce waste, and strengthen Indigenous partnerships in sustainable construction.

Shannon explains "The aim of this project is simple: that Country guides how we engineer; relationally, with reciprocity and care. The DPI lets us embed those values while we lock away CO₂ in durable concrete, proving they work in places that need them the most."

Of this achievement, Professor Ha H. Bui, Head of Monash Civil and Environmental Engineering says "This project exemplifies how engineering can harmonise with Indigenous knowledge systems to address global challenges. It represents a significant step towards integrating cultural perspectives into practical, low-carbon solutions."

The first ARC DPI grant to be awarded within our Faculty, we warmly congratulate Shannon on this remarkable achievement.

Learn more about ARC Discovery Indigenous grants here.