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Dr Pippa Soccio

https://people.csiro.au/S/P/pippa-soccio

Biography

Pippa is a CSIRO Senior Research Scientist in Building Monitoring leading the Apartment Energy & Behaviour Study for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. This three-year project will involve a series of long-term monitoring studies in 400 apartments across Australia, at the building and single occupancy unit scale, to evaluate how closely the assumptions made by the Nationwide Housing Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) about occupant behaviour match, with real outcomes.

Pippa brings to the role expert knowledge of monitoring protocols and indoor environment quality (IEQ) evaluation, along with creative problem solving and project management skills curtesy of two bachelor's degrees, and a PhD in architecture (building science). The inclusion of IEQ data in this project will help the team understand the relationship between occupant comfort, behaviour and energy usage. The project commenced in July 2023 and is currently in the design stage.

Prior to joining CSIRO Pippa was an academic in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. Her career highlights include working with students to support their engagement with issues of sustainability; and research with the Learning Environments Applied Research Network (LEaRN): a group of international experts brought together from diverse disciplines and sectors to investigate, imagine and improve physical learning environments.

Other Interests

Through her PhD on indoor environment quality (IEQ) Pippa learnt to view IEQ as a multi-sensory design problem. She advocates for designers to seek holistic solutions that leverage the synergies between IEQ, energy efficiency and biophilia. Pippa applied knowledge of these topics is showcased in her home renovation 'Pavone House' which won the National Biophilic Design Awards (interiors and renovation category) with the Australian Living Futures Institute in 2023.

Academic Qualifications

  • 2015

    PhD Architecture
    The University of Melbourne

  • 2007

    Bachelor of Architecture (Hons)
    The University of Melbourne

  • 2004

    Bachelor of Planning and Design
    The University of Melbourne

  • 2019

    Graduate Certificate University Teaching
    The University of Melbourne

Achievements and Awards

  • 2023-2023

    Biophilic Design National Awards (Renovation and Interiors)
    Living Futures Institue of Australia

  • 2010-2013

    Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) - PhD scholarship
    University of Melbourne

  • 2011-2012

    Pam Todd Research Scholarship
    St Hildas College

  • 2009-2009

    Future Markers Fellowship
    Centre for Sustainable Leadership (CSL)

Current Roles

  • Project Leader, Apartment Energy & Behaviour Study
    This three-year project will involve a series of long-term monitoring studies in 400 apartments across Australia, at the building and single occupancy unit scale, to evaluate how closely the assumptions made by the Nationwide Housing Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) about occupant behaviour match, with real outcomes.

Fields of Research

Current

Former

Other highlights

  • 2015-2018

    In her role with LEaRN, Pippa led post occupancy evaluation (POE) work in more than 50 schools across Australia, investigating how spatial attributes (including indoor environment quality) and teaching practices enable and/or constrain twenty-first century learners. The project entitled 'Towards Effective Learning Environments' was a collaboration between LEaRN, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools and Paramatta Catholic Schools. The data collected about the day-to-day experiences of 4000 students and 300 teachers informed the "Learning Environment Design and Use Guidelines". This practical guide educates school architects and administrators about 'best practice' for learning environment renovations and/or new build.

Professional Experiences

  • 2019-2023

    Lecturer
    Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning (University of Melbourne)

  • 2015-2019

    Research Fellow
    Learning Environments Applied Research Network

Professional Areas

Publications