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Ralph Horne

Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, RMIT University, RMIT University
Ralph Horne is the Deputy PVC, Research and Innovation for the College of Design and Social Context at RMIT University. He supports research performance through the development of new and existing research Groups and Centres, mentoring future research leaders, and providing strategic leadership in support of research activity across the College.
Ralph enjoys a wide network of industry partnerships. He has acted as Chief Investigator in over 100 industry-linked research projects across the built environment, urban sustainability and social change since 2005. He has also held the following current and recent relevant non-academic roles:

2014–present: Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, RMIT University
2010–2013: Director, Green Building Council of Australia.
2008–2012: Council member, Built Environment Industry Innovation Council, Commonwealth Government, Australia.
2005–2012: Director, Centre for Design, RMIT University, Australia.

Soft plastics, glass bins and bans on compostable liners: will Victoria’s new recycling proposal be a step forward?

Aug 06, 2024 22:51 pm UTC| Business

In recent years, the question of what to do with our household waste has become more pressing. In 2018, China stopped accepting many types of recyclable plastic waste from Australia. Four years later, Australias main soft...

Why knock down all public housing towers when retrofit can sometimes be better?

May 24, 2024 10:26 am UTC| Insights & Views Real Estate

The Victorian government is planning Australias largest urban renewal project. The plan is to knock down and rebuild 44 large public housing towers in Melbourne. The government says these towers, built in the 1960s and...

1 in 4 households struggle to pay power bills. Here are 5 ways to tackle hidden energy poverty

May 02, 2023 15:29 pm UTC| Economy

One in four Australian households are finding it hard to pay their gas and electricity bills. As winter looms, energy price rises will make it even harder. Cold homes and disconnections resulting from energy poverty...

We need a 'lemon law' to make all the homes we buy and rent more energy-efficient

Apr 27, 2023 08:17 am UTC| Insights & Views Real Estate

A long-awaited increase in energy-efficiency requirements for new homes is part of revised Australian construction standards taking effect on May 1. All new homes must achieve a minimum 7-star whole-of-home energy rating...

We can't keep putting apartment residents' waste in the too hard basket

Mar 04, 2023 12:16 pm UTC| Insights & Views

The harsh realities of managing the waste we produce are in the news: councils shunning new glass bins, more plastic being produced per person in the world and Sydney bins overflowing. And the growth in apartment living in...

Stimulus that retrofits housing can reduce energy bills and inequity too

Jun 04, 2020 12:19 pm UTC| Economy

Stay-at-home orders and the economic crisis have increased the burden of energy costs on lower-income Australians. Poor housing quality and unequal access to home energy efficiency are hurting our most vulnerable...

Economy

Gold Prices Slide as Iran Conflict Fuels Fed Rate Hike Bets

Gold prices fell on Tuesday as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran drove oil prices higher, fueled a global bond selloff and strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates...

RBNZ Raises Interest Rate to 2.75%, Kiwi Dollar Slides

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) raised its official cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% on Wednesday, matching market expectations while signaling a more cautious approach to future interest rate hikes. The New...

Australia GDP Beats Forecast, Boosting RBA Rate Hike Bets

Australias economy expanded faster than expected in the second quarter, adding to expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia could raise interest rates again as persistent inflation and resilient economic activity...

Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Conflict Threatens Middle East Supply

Oil prices climbed for a third consecutive session on Wednesday as escalating military clashes between the United States and Iran fueled concerns over prolonged disruptions to Middle East crude supplies and tanker traffic...

Asian Stocks Tumble as Oil Surge Fuels Rate Hike Fears

Asian stocks fell sharply on Wednesday as surging oil prices drove global bond yields higher and intensified concerns that central banks could keep interest rates elevated. Japan and South Korea led the regional selloff,...

Politics

US-Iran Exchange Strikes as Hormuz Tensions Escalate

The United States and Iran exchanged fresh military strikes on Tuesday, marking their most serious confrontation since late July as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continued to escalate. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)...

US Approves $800 Million Helicopter Sale to Iraq

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $800 million military helicopter sale to Iraq, strengthening defense cooperation between Washington and Baghdad as Iraq continues efforts to modernize its armed forces....

China Warns Over Taiwan’s Pacific Islands Forum Presence

China has raised strong objections to Taiwans participation in the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, warning of unspecified consequences as tensions over Beijings influence in the Pacific take center stage at the regional...

U.S., New Zealand Fund $60M Cook Islands Port Upgrade

The United States and New Zealand will jointly fund a major upgrade of a World War Two-era port in the Cook Islands, strengthening Western infrastructure investment in the Pacific as China expands its regional influence....

Bessent Urges Japan on Fiscal Discipline, BOJ Rate Hikes

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged Japanese policymakers to outline a credible path toward fiscal sustainability and higher interest rates as pressure on the yen and government bond markets intensifies,...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Lenovo Shares Fall After Dropbox Security Breach Exposes ID Vulnerability

Lenovo Group shares came under pressure on Wednesday after a security breach at Dropbox revealed a vulnerability connected to the Chinese technology companys Lenovo ID authentication service. Dropbox said approximately...

OpenAI Nears Astra AI Model Launch With Safety Focus

OpenAI is preparing to launch its next-generation artificial intelligence model, Astra, with CEO Sam Altman signaling that the release could arrive soon as the company increases its focus on AI safety and cybersecurity....

OpenAI Rejects Apple Trade Secret Theft Claims

OpenAI has denied Apples allegations that it obtained confidential trade secrets through former Apple employees, arguing that the iPhone maker has failed to provide evidence showing proprietary information was stolen. In a...

MediaTek Shares Jump 10% on Nvidia’s $3.5 Billion Investment

MediaTek shares surged nearly 10% on Tuesday after Nvidia announced a $3.5 billion investment in the Taiwanese semiconductor designer, strengthening a strategic partnership focused on artificial intelligence...

South Korea Unveils Record $597 Billion 2027 Budget to Boost AI and Chips

South Korea has proposed a record 821 trillion won ($596.92 billion) government budget for 2027, sharply increasing fiscal spending as the country seeks to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence, semiconductors...