His small team in regional Australia is tackling some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Like how to make clean energy technologies more practical, how to diagnose disease earlier and how to protect environmental health. Big questions that rely on understanding interactions at the smallest atomic level.
“My research has a very human gaol: to improve our quality of life and create a more sustainable future. And all that starts with atoms,” Assoc. Prof. Hussain says.
The research relies on atomic-scale simulations using supercomputing to explore how atoms react and materials behave at the atomic level. This understanding enables Assoc. Prof. Hussain to test and identify the most promising materials to support technologies that may help address complex global challenges simultaneously.
Compared to traditional trial-and-error experiments, this approach saves time, money and resources, and accelerates discoveries of new materials and technologies.
“Modern computing allows us to explore thousands of new materials virtually. Then we can pass on the most promising candidates to our collaborators, to verify or synthesise, progressing us towards the best solutions.”
Among Assoc. Prof. Hussain’s current priorities is to find more reliable and safe ways to store renewable energy, especially hydrogen. “It’s one of the lightest elements in the universe, so this remains a major engineering challenge, but my group has developed numerous novel and efficient storage materials that help move hydrogen technologies closer to practical applications in a global hydrogen market that is expected to reach US$1.4 trillion by 2050.”
Assoc. Prof. Hussain is also exploring next-generation, rechargeable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, which face headwinds surrounding cost, resource availability and long-term sustainability. “Through international collaborations and industry partnerships, we are considering more abundant elements that can reduce our dependence on critical minerals and support renewable energy integration, electric mobility and large-scale energy storage. Clean energy is not simply about producing electricity, but also making it reliable, affordable and accessible.”
At the forefront of environmental monitoring, Assoc. Prof Hussain is helping to develop nano sensors capable of detecting extremely low concentrations of gases and biomolecules, including methane, glucose and disease-related biomarkers. “This has broad applications, including greenhouse gas monitoring, water quality assessment, food safety, agricultural monitoring, industrial safety and environmental protection.
“Detecting and repairing methane leaks quickly, for example, is one of the fastest ways to reduce global warming. Our highly sensitive nano sensors can detect these contaminants rapidly and accurately, and one of our longer-term goals is to develop real-time water and food monitoring to help protect public health. By detecting chemical compounds early at the molecular level we can build healthier food systems, safeguard the environment and strengthen Australia’s agricultural sector.”
But perhaps the most exciting investigation involves applying these same sensing technologies to human health, based on the fact that every breath we exhale contains hundreds of tiny chemical molecules.
“Some of these molecules have unique signatures that indicate diseases long before symptoms become obvious,” Assoc. Prof. Hussain says. “I am working with partners on a handheld device that might provide an early indication of cancer, diabetes, liver disorders or neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease without the need for blood tests, biopsies or expensive imaging. That’s my long-term vision: to transform preventative healthcare and save lives through a simple breath test. This is particularly important for rural and regional communities, where access to specialised medical care can be limited.”
In what can be a highly competitive research arena, Assoc. Prof. Hussain is a champion of collaboration. He has worked closely with industry, government agencies and research partners nationally and internationally, bringing together complementary expertise in physics, materials science, chemistry, engineering, biology and medicine that has attracted major grants and student interest, and inspired some 233 peer-reviewed journal publications.
“These big challenges of climate change and global health cannot be solved by one laboratory or one country. Science needs to be collaborative, and this helps to create lasting research capacity. I would like to see us establish a centre for advanced materials here at UNE.”
No less than world peace and prosperity may rest on realising these research ambitions.
“The current war in the Middle East emphasises the importance of clean energy security,” Assoc. Prof. Hussain says. “If it’s available to everyone, we can avoid some global conflict and that’s enough motivation for anyone.”
As well as two young daughters, who are the “most beautiful kids in the Milky Way galaxy”.
“When you become a parent, of course you love your kids, but you also want to do good for every child. I’m doing this work for the world that all children will inherit.
“Success, for me, is measured by the people we train, the partnerships we build and the long-term impact of those collaborations. The real measure of success is what benefits we can deliver to society. We start with understanding how atoms react but end with something much larger – a more sustainable and healthy future for generations to come.”
* UNE’s recent Staff Awards recognised Associate Professor Tanveer Hussain in two categories, for Research Collaboration Leadership and Research Excellence.
