This tour will engage local secondary science, geography and design and technology students to understand the occupation and profession of landscape architecture as a STEM profession, view the incorporation of STEM in a familiar and fun environment, where such connections may not have previously been made, and to encourage students to consider a STEM career, including Landscape Architecture.

This project being toured is an exemplar of the innovation possibilities within the landscape architecture profession and has embedded STEM to undertake leading research and deliver practical responses to tackle climate change impacts. Participants will be impressed by the SIMP@CT project in its use of STEM in its consideration and delivery of reduced operational costs, water consumption, and carbon footprint. Meanwhile, the project provides tangible benefits to park visitors and local residents actively seeking human thermal comfort– the infrastructure is effective, even in cases of extremes to keep the complex 42 ha parkland green and cool.

Participants will see how the innovative SIMP@CT technology transforms public parks into urban air conditioning systems that effectively reduce air and surface temperatures and thereby maximise Park Cool Island effects. The positive thermal impacts during increasingly warm summers benefit park visitors and nearby downwind residential and commercial precincts. The use of park irrigation to downregulate air and surface temperatures is a unique solution to increase the resilience of urban populations and mitigate the impacts of climate change on green infrastructure and ecosystems. The project is delivered on Wann-Gal land at Sydney Olympic Park, the state’s premier event destination.

The event is gratefully supported by The Australian Government