Meet PhD Researcher Lyrian Daniel

Some students from the University of Adelaide say the real Adelaide Uni begins in first year and ends when you receive your parchment at a fancy graduation ceremony three years later. Others will tell you it begins in high school when you enrol at the University of Adelaides transition school, the University Senior College, and ends a decade later when you graduate with a PhD in your chosen discipline. The latter of the two is definitely the case with Lyrian Daniel, a current PhD candidate at the School of Architecture and Built Environment. Graduating in 2005 from University Senior College on campus at the University of Adelaide, Lyrian says there was no other university in Adelaide that could possibly attract her attention to detail and thirst for learning. A combination of leading industry supervisors and teachers, plus familiar surrounds, has made The University of Adelaide Lyrian's choice to pursue further studies into thermal comfort and preference in residential homes around Australia. Lyrian points out that students travel from around the world to study under the supervisors at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, which was her choice despite other opportunities presenting themselves from competing institutions. Completing a Bachelor of Design Studies in 2009 and a Master of Architecture in 2011, Lyrian is currently in the midst of her PhD; this involves research into policy and regulation regarding thermal comfort and preference in mud brick and naturally ventilated homes around Australia. Prior to commencing her PhD, Lyrian took part in a range of conferences and seminars via the University of Adelaides School of Architecture and Built Environment that introduced her to ideas surrounding thermal preference and comfort, and motivated her to investigate and research policy regulations. Lyrian is now combining her strong fundamental skills in architecture and construction policy with elements of social research and inquiry to understand how individual users adapt to climates and thermal preference based on their own ideologies. Garnering interest from the CSIRO, who are directly interested in innovative ways to make buildings more energy efficient, Lyrians study has presented her with a host of unique learning opportunities. Examples include delving into open source robotic frameworks such as Arduino, and immersing herself in the sociological element of architecture studies, an element that can sometimes be overlooked. On a personal note, Lyrian points out that studying her PhD at The University of Adelaide allows her to enjoy an active social life, a liberty that seems to escape most professional architects who live and breathe architecture every day as a profession.

Studying at the School of Architecture and Build Environment has given Lyrian the opportunity to pursue a career unlike most other trained architects. Making an impact on energy efficiency policy, within an Australian context shows that students from the University of Adelaide are having a real world influence upon their chosen field of study. Lyrians research has all the potential to live up to this.

This article provides an overview of Lyrian Daniel, PhD candidate and her research into energy efficiency, sustainability, thermal comfort and energy efficiency regulation in relation to residential energy use. For further information on Lyrian Daniels PhD and the School of Architecture and Built Environment, please visit The University of Adelaide.