About DSARC

DSARC is a UNSW Research Centre on the UNSW@ADFA campus. The centre focuses on defence and security applications, seeking to support the ADF, Australian government, Australian defence and security industry, and more generally enhance the safety of the Australian public.

The Centre brings together over half the academics from the UNSW@ADFA campus, each at the forefront of their chosen fields, and each with skills and knowledge of benefit to the security and defence spheres. The academic disciplines involved range from the sciences and engineering, through to the arts - all with a technology focus. Examples include quantum computing, UAVs, hypersonic flow, geographic information systems, multi-agent systems, modelling and simulation, history (of conflict), business models, and visualisation.

The centre operates under a management structure that includes fixed staff, and two committees. The staff members in question are the centre director, centre deputy-director, centre manager, and centre administrator. A management committee comprises Rector or nominee, Director DSARC, Deputy Director DSARC, and 2 heads of school. An advisory committee steers the direction of the centre. Membership of the advisory committee is drawn from major government organisations in the defence and security sectors, as well as from organisations that sponsor the centre.

DSARC provides services for the defence and security needs of Australia in four forms. Firstly, members of the centre continue to conduct fundamental research of application to defence and security needs. Secondly, DSARC is responsive to the needs to members of the defence and security community - undertaking research consultancies (ranging from small to large scale) on their behalf. Thirdly, DSARC offers short courses in a number of areas. Fourthly, the centre trains a number of PhD students in the areas of defence and security. Through the sponsorship arrangement, sponsoring organisations can nominate a cosupervisor for these students.