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Students enrolled in the Special Industry Project (SIP) for Semester 1, 2023, will be the first cohort to work with the National Museum of Australia (NMA).
ANU College of Business and Economics’ (CBE) SIP course allows participating ANU undergraduate students to assume a consulting role and, working in teams, devise the best solution to a business case.
Since 2017, SIP has contributed to solving businesses cases presented by organisations across Australia. This semester, the NMA has become the latest organisation to partner with SIP.
As the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) moves towards becoming gas-free by 2045, the NMA has a unique opportunity to create sustainable solutions to its power usage – a complex endeavour that students can help to advance using their knowledge and skills.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for students from across disciplines at the ANU,” says CBE Career Consultant Caitlin Wood.
“They will work together to solve a pressing issue for a national institution who play a vital part in the fabric of Australian society. This is a clear pathway to making a difference.”
The NMA recently shared what students can look forward to in the project, as well as the challenges to consider in this business case.
Q. What do you hope to achieve from working with ANU students through the Special Industry Project?
The ACT Government have advised that in 2045 the natural-gas supply to the ACT will be turned off. We, and all of Canberra, will require an alternative to the use of natural gas. One solution for us would be to install an electrical appliance, which could take the place of the gas-fired boilers run by the Museum. In addition to the extreme cost, this would use twice the value in electricity, as gas is higher in energy per unit delivered. Electric-powered heaters can have issues operating in the sub-zero temperatures we see every winter, so they lose much of their efficiency.
Q. What can students expect from their engagement with the NMA?
They will work with an experienced facilities management team and gain access to the organisation’s long-term data, and a first-hand understanding of large-scale heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which are used in a majority of large buildings across Canberra. The students will solve real-world problems geared towards understanding why solar cannot alone solve all of the ACT future energy requirements.
Q. Can you tell us about NMA’s environmental goals and how these goals have informed the SIP project?
In 2023, the NMA will launch a new Sustainability Action Plan with ambitious goals. The reduction of the Museum’s carbon footprint and its moving to a certified carbon-neutral status is central to achieving these goals. This project allows a rare opportunity for the Museum to redesign its environmental controls systems to allow it to become truly sustainable into the future.
Applications for CBE’s Special Industry Project close Wednesday 15 February. Click here to find out more and apply.
The ANU College of Business and Economics offers an extensive range of specialised programs. Click here for more details.