Insight is a boutique company that specializes in data science and mathematical modelling for scientific research and communication. We would like to also offer these services and training for the entertainment industries. Science communication and entertainment focuses on sharing amazing stories in a way that is most meaningful for the public community.

Insight CEO, Dr Mark Griffin, has over 30 years of experience working as a data scientist to support scientific research projects in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the USA. Insight works on a range of consulting projects for our clients. We also have our own long-term scientific research projects exploring a number of areas including:

• Biomedical Engineering using Medical Imaging,

• Biomedical Engineering for Surgery Planning and Robotics,

• Data Science and Photography for Monitoring Marine Environments,

• Visual Effects for Science Communication,

• Photogrammetry for Visual Effects, and

• Community Consultation within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

Biomedical Engineering using Medical Imaging - Medical imaging is essential in modern healthcare for non-invasively diagnosing diseases, guiding treatment procedures, and monitoring patient health, often enabling early detection of conditions like cancer. Insight is actively involved in research into how MRI and EEG can be best used to understand the impact of head injury and epilepsy. We mainly use Python for this work.

Biomedical Engineering for Surgery Planning and Robotics - The most complex surgical procedures, such as separating conjoined twins or extensive tumor removals, can last for over 100 hours with dozens of specialists working in shifts to ensure patient safety. Careful planning and skill development is vital for complex surgeries. Technologies such as robotics and augmented reality can play an important role as surgeons practice techniques prior to surgery and assisting surgeons during the actual operation. Robots can also be trained to perform operations on a surgeon’s behalf. Questions about the role, importance and safety of such technologies remain an open research question. Insight is actively involved in research into the potential for these technologies. We often use Gazebo, Unity and Unreal Engine software for this work.

Data Science and Photography for Monitoring Marine Environments - Monitoring marine environments is crucial for assessing ocean health, protecting biodiversity, and managing resources like fisheries. It enables the detection of pollution, climate change impacts, and invasive species, providing data to guide conservation, policy, and sustainable development. Continuous monitoring is essential for identifying ecosystem shifts, ensuring food security for billions, and protecting coastal communities from disasters. Insight provides data science and photography to support Ocean Connect in their work monitoring marine environments.

Visual Effects for Science Communication - There is an interesting inter-play between visual effects and science. Many visual effects for the movies are created using the mathematical models developed in science (exploring aspects such as how physical objects move and change shape as a result of an external physical force). At the same time visualization plays a vital role as people seek to understand and interact with the physical world around them. Insight is actively involved in research taking advantage of the mathematical models that we have been working with in our scientific research for the last 30 years, and using them to create visual effects for science communication, business, and entertainment. We mainly use Houdini, Blender, Unity and Unreal Engine software for this work.

Photogrammetry for Visual Effects - Photogrammetry is the science of creating accurate 3D models, maps, and measurements from 2D photographs and/or videos. By analyzing overlapping images taken from multiple angles, software calculates spatial relationships (triangulation) to reconstruct physical objects, scenes, or terrain. Common applications include drone mapping, construction, surveying, and 3D modeling. Insight uses photogrammetry for our visualization projects where we mainly use RealityCapture for this work.

Community Consultation within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct - The Precinct is an exciting home for scientific research and includes Griffith University, the Gold Coast University and Gold Coast Private Hospitals, and the 9.5-hectare Lumina industry park. While Lumina is still in the early stages of growth, it is anticipated that in 10 years’ time there will be 12,000 people working in the industry park in addition to the university and hospitals, where there is also a government requirement that at least 60% of people working in the industry park have to be working in health and/or technology. Because Lumina is still in it’s early stages then there is a vital need for community consultation to ask a broad range of stakeholders the best way of promoting what is happening within the Precinct to the scientific community and the general public. Insight is engaged in this community consultatation (through surveys and interviews) in partnership with the Marketing Director for the Precinct.

Some photos and videos from our research projects can be found in our Instagram gallery.

There are a number of consultancy and research projects that Insight is involved with. While scientific research is very much at our core, Insight CEO, Dr Mark Griffin, also has a life-long interest in the performing arts (having sung in choirs since 1987) and providing audiovisual services (such as sound, lighting, and cameras) for organizations such as Newlife Church. He has also been a member of the Toastmaster International program for public speaking and leadership since 2007. Mark volunteers with a wide range of community events each year across the wide range of entertainment industries. Insight Entertainment brings together Insight’s foundation in scientific research and data science, and Mark’s love of all things entertainment.

Insight is based within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. Insight CEO, Dr Mark Griffin, is a committee member with Engineers Australia and Australian Science Communicators. Our staff are members of the Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts (AACTA). Insight is a member of Experience Gold Coast.