This document discusses how researchers can take a more open and collaborative "hacker" approach to conducting research in the face of declining government funding. It promotes sharing resources through cloud-based research apps and data services, as well as adopting open-source tools and techniques. The document highlights examples of research communities that have formed around 3D printing and software skills who have helped researchers improve designs, save costs and time through collaboration and open knowledge sharing. It envisions growing these communities to support more researchers and establish best practices for areas like CAD, imaging and simulation.

1. HACK AND SEEK!
THE CHANGING APPROACH TO
RESEARCH
Paul .J Mignone ( @paulmignone)
PhD Candidate & Research Community Coordinator
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering & ITS Research
The University of Melbourne
The Research Bazaar (www.3dprinting.edu.au)

2. RESEARCH BAZAAR?
Empowering
Researchers through:
1. Research apps in the
cloud
2. Data sharing
services
3. Parallel computing
4. Experimentation in
emerging
technologies (e.g. 3D
Printing)

3. RESEARCH FUNDING
The 2014 budget produced a ‘mixed bag’ of results:
• Proposed $20bn medical research future fund
• Proposed cuts to CSIRO, ANSTO, CRC’s etc.
Gradual reduction of government funding for universities
over the long term.
Researchers will need to:
• Consistently lobby the government and the public.
• Find more efficiencies in how we do our research.

4. LOOK TO THE HACKERSPACE
A community that works
together to do more with less.

5. HACKER SUCCESS STORY:
OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE
• Open-source software models
have resulted in savings of
$60 billion per year to
consumers worldwide1
• Significant learning curve, with
many researchers being self
taught.
• Specific communities for
researchers (e.g. software
carpentry) teach basic software
skills to researchers through
boot camps and repositories.
[1] http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/creating_wealth_free_software
Damien Irving, University of
Melbourne

6. HACKERS IN 3D
PRINTING

7. HACKERS IN 3D
PRINTING

8. HACKERS IN 3D
PRINTING
Engineering Workshop
Building 169
University of Melbourne

9. DIGITAL BLACKSMITH
COMMUNITY #DIGISMITH

10. DIGITAL BLACKSMITH
COMMUNITY #DIGISMITH

11. DIGITAL BLACKSMITH
COMMUNITY #DIGISMITH
CAD

12. DIGITAL BLACKSMITH
COMMUNITY #DIGISMITH
CAD
Scanning

13. DIGITAL BLACKSMITH
COMMUNITY #DIGISMITH
CAD
Scanning
Printing
Techniques

14. DIGITAL BLACKSMITH
COMMUNITY #DIGISMITH
CAD
Scanning
Printing
Techniques
Materials &
Design

15. LAB EQUIPMENT
Paul Mignone, Bernard Meade and Ben Robotham, University of Melbourne
Saved $587
& 6 Weeks
Saved $3200 & 6 Weeks

16. MEDICAL
Mitch Finlayson
and Ben Kreunen,
University of
Melbourne

17. HISTORY & CULTURE
Simon Young and Fiona Tweedie, University of Melbourne

18. ENGINEERING Formula SAE, University of Melbourne

19. ENGINEERING Formula SAE, University of Melbourne
•60% cost saving
•1kg weight saving
•100 man hrs saved
•Improved overall design

20. NEW RESEARCH FRONTIERS
Paul Mignone, University of Melbourne

21. WHAT NEXT?
Extension of the Digital Blacksmith Community
• Upcoming training at UWS (November 2014)
• National repository for 3D printing training materials
Development of related communities in:
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• 3D Image processing
• Numerical simulation techniques
Establishment of the 3D Printing Research Working Group
• Provide funds and expertise for research publications

22. THANK YOU 
QUESTIONS?
STAY IN TOUCH!
#DIGISMITH, @ITS_RES