Celebrating winners of urban transformation poster competition

Monash University has taken a significant step towards addressing the environmental risks posed by climate change in rapidly urbanising cities across Asia. Through the Urban Transformation Network, a collaborative initiative spanning Monash’s campuses in Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the university is spearheading research and action in sustainable urban transformation.

In July, the network organised the Urban Transformation Poster Competition, inviting PhD and postgraduate students to showcase their research on sustainability topics such as energy transitions, urban heat, and the circular economy. The competition culminated in a poster exhibition at the Urban Transformation Seminar in Indonesia on 30 July 2024, where distinguished scholars, experts, and leaders from academia, industry, and government reviewed the submissions.

The competition highlighted the importance of active collaboration among stakeholders, critical thinking, and diverse perspectives in tackling global climate challenges at a local level.

Santiago Cortinez Albarracin from Monash Art, Design and Architecture and Risty Khoirunisa from Monash Indonesia were announced as the joint winners, recognized for their outstanding contributions to sustainable urban development.

Santiago Cortinez Albarracin

Santiago Cortinez Albarracin from Monash Art, Design and Architecture (MADA), Monash University Australia, was commended for originality, clear communication, design, and relevance to the urban transformation mission.

The poster depicted the changes to the Citarum River corridor due to urbanisation pressures from the city of Bandung, identifying degradation hotspots in the upper catchment and embedding them within a broader degradation system.

Santiago’s research aims to enhance decision-making for large-scale restoration programs in peri-urban landscapes, addressing the persistent pollution of the Citarum River despite ongoing restoration efforts.

Reflecting on the competition, Santiago noted, “It helped me reframe my research in a very concise way and to think about the results so far, which is something I was not aware I had.”

Santiago also said participation in the competition allowed for networking within the Urban Transformation Network, promoting the work across Southeast Asia.

Risty Khoirunisa

Risty Khoirunisa from Monash Indonesia was commended for the rigor, accuracy, and relevance of the poster to the urban transformation mission. The research highlighted the critical importance of connectivity for species movement in Tangerang Selatan, Indonesia.

The poster showcased how urban development factors such as roads and buildings impact habitat patches and emphasized the need for green spaces to maintain urban biodiversity. Risty’s research models urban connectivity to promote the conservation of these green spaces, addressing challenges like habitat fragmentation and species loss due to urbanisation.

Risty shared, “The poster competition provided an opportunity to showcase and disseminate research findings to a broader audience. Not only that, it offered an opportunity to engage with experts, peers, and the public, receiving feedback and gaining visibility within the academic and research community.”