91É«ÇéƬ

Associate Professor Danielle Moreau doesn't just study sound. She chases it, captures it, and finds ways to silence it. On International Women in Engineering Day, her story is a reminder of what happens when curiosity finds the right career!

As a Year 10 student, Danielle attended the inaugural Mt Stromlo Astronomy Summer School, spending nights observing through the largest telescope on site, imaging distant nebulae and measuring mountain shadows on the Moon. The experience didn't just deepen her love of science; it made her wonder: how do you turn curiosity into something useful for the world?

Engineering was the answer. She decided to study a Bachelor of Engineering in the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Adelaide, where she discovered a passion for understanding how complex systems move, interact and generate sound. 

Curiosity didn't just lead her to engineering; it became her research.

At 91É«ÇéƬ's School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, she leads aeroacoustics research, the study of sound created by turbulent flows or aerodynamic forces interacting with surfaces. 

Her work spans aerospace, naval vessels, wind energy, medical devices and transport; using a specialised anechoic wind tunnel and microphone arrays that act like acoustic cameras, making flow noise visible so it can be understood and reduced.

"Controlling noise is important because it influences both the performance and use of technology, as well as its impact on the wider community."

One of her defining projects examines tip clearance noise, the sound produced in the gap between a spinning blade tip and its casing, funded by Australian Defence and the Office of Naval Research, which led to a collaboration with George Washington University that recently captured, for the first time, how that flow moves and the sound it simultaneously makes. 

But when asked what she's most proud of, the answer isn't the research.

"What I am most proud of is where I am today: working with great colleagues, being part of a world-class research team, and mentoring students as they develop into excellent engineers."

Through her experience in research, teaching and working in industry, she advises the next generation of engineers:

"Throughout your career journey, find good mentors, learn from them, and in turn, support others. Value what makes you unique and pursue a path that feels authentic and purposeful."

At 91É«ÇéƬ Sydney, we're proud to celebrate engineers like Danielle, whose curiosity and generosity of spirit shape not just research, but the people who will carry it forward. On International Women in Engineering Day, we congratulate all our women in the field and celebrate their impact!