Astrophysicist and science communicator
Sara A. Webb is an Australian astrophysicist , science communicator and author . She is a Superstar of STEM (Science and Technology Australia) 2023 and a Lecturer and Course Director at Swinburne University , Australia .
Education and career
Webb joined Swinburne University of Technology in Australia as a PhD candidate in 2018, which she completed in 2021.[ 1]
She is an astrophysicist and science communicator and best known for her various media appearances around astronomy and space science topics. She leads Swinburne's high school space programs , including the Swinburne Haileybury International Space Station Experiment (SHINE) and the Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
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 .[ 5] M-dwarf stars within the Milky Way.[ 6] [ 7]
Webb is a prolific science communicator , appearing as an expert corespondent to discuss space and astronomy .[ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] The Conversation , COSMOS and BBC Science Focus , and been inlcuding in the Australian Anthology Best in Science Writting[ 16] [ 17]
Awards
2018, Swinburne, Venture Cup Winner, Swinburne University of Technology .[ 2]
2022, Swinburne, Vice-Chancellor's Research Excellence Award (Early Career), Swinburne University of Technology .[ 18]
2022, Swinburne, Vice-Chancellor's Empowered Award, Swinburne University of Technology .
2022, National Superstar of STEM, Science and Technology Australia.[ 19]
2023, International, Runner-Up Women in AI (Defence), Women In AI – Asia Pacific.[ 20]
2023, Women in AI scholarship, DAIRNet.[ 21]
2024, Rising Star of the Year – Enterprise, Australian Space Awards[ 22]
2024, David Allen prize from the Astronomical Society of Australia.[ 23]
2024, Swinburne Media Excellence, multiple awards. [ 24]
References
^ " . www.swinburne.edu.au . 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2024-05-25 .^ a b "Researcher Profile | Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne" . www.swinburne.edu.au . Retrieved 2024-05-25 .^ A Current Affair (2024-08-26). Aussie mushroom mission's chance encounter with stranded NASA astronauts | A Current Affair . Retrieved 2025-01-12 – via YouTube. ^ Webb, Sara; Allen, Rebecca (2022-11-25). "Out of this world with high school physics education (International Space Station experiments): The Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge" . Proceedings of the IUPAP International Conference on Physics Education 2022 . Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. ^ 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 . ^ Webb, Sara; Lochner, Michelle; Muthukrishna, Daniel; Cooke, Jeff; Flynn, Chris; Mahabal, Ashish; Goode, Simon; Andreoni, Igor; Pritchard, Tyler; Abbott, Timothy M C (2020-10-01). "Unsupervised machine learning for transient discovery in deeper, wider, faster light curves" . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . 498 (3): 3077– 3094. arXiv :2008.04666 doi :10.1093/mnras/staa2395 ISSN 0035-8711 . ^ Webb, S; Flynn, C; Cooke, J; Zhang, J; Mahabal, A; Abbott, T M C; Allen, R; Andreoni, I; Bird, S A; Goode, S; Lochner, M; Pritchard, T (2021-09-11). "The Deeper, Wider, Faster programme: exploring stellar flare activity with deep, fast cadenced DECam imaging via machine learning" . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . 506 (2): 2089– 2103. arXiv :2106.13026 doi :10.1093/mnras/stab1798 ISSN 0035-8711 . ^ Chutel, Lynsey (2025-01-02). "A Half-Ton Piece of Space Junk Falls Onto a Village in Kenya" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-01-12 . ^ 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 2025-01-12 . ^ 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 )^ "What actually caused the Tunguska event?" . ABC listen . 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2025-01-12 .^ TODAY (2023-06-20). Astronomers discover rare planet resembling Star Wars' Tatooine | Today Show Australia . Retrieved 2025-01-12 – via YouTube. ^ Sky News Australia (2023-08-08). New report estimates 'up to 100 trillion' pieces of space junk are in Earth's atmosphere . Retrieved 2025-01-12 – via YouTube. ^ "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 .^ "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 .^ "The Best Australian Science Writing 2023" . UNSW Press . Retrieved 2025-01-12 .^ "Summer read: Cosmic Catastrophes" . cosmosmagazine.com . 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2025-01-12 .^ "Celebrating our values in action" . www.swinburne.edu.au . 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2024-05-25 .^ "Dr Sara Webb" . Science and Technology Australia . Retrieved 2024-05-25 .^ "2023 Women in AI awards finalists revealed" . Digital Nation . Retrieved 2024-05-25 .^ Clough, Aleesa (2022-08-24). "inaugural women in AI scholarships" . DAIRNet . Retrieved 2024-05-25 . ^ "2024 winners and finalists" . SPACECONNECT . Retrieved 2024-06-04 .^ "Achievements and awards" . www.swinburne.edu.au . Retrieved 2024-06-28 .^ "Celebrating Swinburne's 2024 Media and External Communications Recognition Award winners" . www.swinburne.edu.au . 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-01-12 .
External links
