Building AI data infrastructure without breaking the planet
The growing demand for artificial intelligence is driving rapid investment in the data centres that power it, raising important questions about energy use, sustainability and responsible growth.
These issues were explored at The Data Dilemma: Building AI Infrastructure Without Breaking the Planet, a recent panel event co-hosted by the University of Melbourne's Women of Architecture, Building and Planning (ABP) and Women in Engineering and IT (WEIT) alumni networks.
Moderated by Dr Suelette Dreyfus from FEIT’s School of Computing and Information Systems, the panel featured Lucy Guerin, Director of Data Centres Australia at ESR Group; Professor Eduard Hovy, Executive Director of Melbourne Connect; and Dr Nourehan Wahba, Research and Development Engineer at Conserve It.
Panellists highlighted opportunities to improve efficiency through innovations in cooling, energy management and infrastructure design. Dr Wahba shared an example where thermal profiling achieved a six per cent energy saving without equipment upgrades, while both Dr Wahba and Ms Guerin pointed to emerging partnerships between data centres and water treatment facilities to better utilise waste heat and recycled water.
The discussion also emphasised the importance of human oversight, transparency and governance as AI capabilities continue to evolve. Despite the challenges, the panel remained optimistic about the sector's ability to innovate and adapt.
Bringing together perspectives from technology, engineering, research and the built environment, the event showcased the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing one of society's most pressing challenges: building the digital infrastructure of the future sustainably.
Watch this space for more upcoming alumni events from the Women of ABP and FEIT networks as they continue to connect, celebrate and support alumni shaping our future.