Sara Webb (astrophysicist)

Sara A. Webb is an Australian astrophysicist, science communicator and author. She is a Superstar of STEM (Science and Technology Australia) 2023 at Swinburne University, Australia. She is the niece of Darren Hayes from Savage Garden.

Sara Webb
Webb in front of nebula background
EducationSwinburne University of Technology, Queensland University of Technology
Occupation(s)Astronomer and Decision Support Scientist
EmployerSwinburne University of Technology
Known forAstrophysics
Websitehttps://www.sarawebbscience.com/

Education and career

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Webb joined Swinburne University of Technology in Australia as a PhD candidate in 2018. She is an astrophysicist and science communicator based at Swinburne and helps to coordinate the high school space programs.[1] She is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Swinburne's Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing.[2] Her research focuses on using artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse large and complex astrophysical data sets, such as identifying sources of gravitational waves and fast radio bursts.[3]

Webb works in science communication, appearing in the media and on social platforms to discuss space and astronomy.[citation needed] She coordinates Swinburne's high school space programs, including the Swinburne Haileybury International Space Station Experiment (SHINE) and the Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge.[4]

Webb has made numerous media appearances in radio[5] and print media.[6][7]

Awards

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  • 2018, Swinburne, Venture Cup Winner, Swinburne University of Technology.[4]
  • 2022, Swinburne, Vice-Chancellor's Research Excellence Award (Early Career), Swinburne University of Technology.[8]
  • 2022, Swinburne, Vice-Chancellor's Empowered Award, Swinburne University of Technology.
  • 2022, National Superstar of STEM, Science and Technology Australia.[9]
  • 2023, International, Finalist Women in AI (Defence), Women In AI – Asia Pacific.[10]
  • 2023, Women in AI scholarship, DAIRNet.[11]
  • 2024, National, Winner Rising Star of the Year – Enterprise, Australian Space Awards[12]
  • 2024, David Allen prize from the Astronomical Society of Australia.[13]

References

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  1. ^ ""Cosmic detective" Dr Sara Webb becomes a Superstar of STEM". www.swinburne.edu.au. 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  2. ^ "It Takes a Spark STEM Conference". It Takes a Spark!. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  3. ^ Commissariat, Tushna (2023-08-11). "Ask me anything: Sara Webb – 'It's always beautiful and humbling to be one of the first to look at the pictures of the universe we're taking'". Physics World. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  4. ^ a b "Researcher Profile | Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne". www.swinburne.edu.au. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  5. ^ 2SerBreakfast (2022-10-05). "Celebrating World Space Week with Dr Sara Webb". 2SER. Retrieved 2024-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "The Solar System used to have nine planets. Maybe it still does? Here's your catch-up on space today". Inverse. 2024-02-20. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  7. ^ "Space is getting crowded with satellites and space junk. How do we avoid collisions?". www.swinburne.edu.au. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  8. ^ "Celebrating our values in action". www.swinburne.edu.au. 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  9. ^ "Dr Sara Webb". Science and Technology Australia. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  10. ^ "2023 Women in AI awards finalists revealed". Digital Nation. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  11. ^ Clough, Aleesa (2022-08-24). "inaugural women in AI scholarships". DAIRNet. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  12. ^ "2024 winners and finalists". SPACECONNECT. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  13. ^ "Achievements and awards". www.swinburne.edu.au. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
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