CSIRO’s Sarah Pearce named among new ATSE Fellows

Deputy Director of CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science Dr Sarah Pearce has been named among the newest cohort of Fellows to join the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) today.

CSIRO Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley, also a Fellow of ATSE, congratulated Dr Pearce on her successful nomination.

“Sarah is an outstanding addition to the Academy – she is a world-renown expert in her field, an internationally-recognised leader and champion for science, and an inspiration to the next generation of women thinking about careers in STEM,” Dr Foley said.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Sarah to the Academy and see her expertise and passion for making a difference in the world with science and technology continue to be recognised.”

Dr Pearce has a leading role in CSIRO’s involvement in the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project to build the world’s largest radio telescope, and was Australia’s science negotiator for the SKA international treaty.

Dr Pearce also leads CSIRO’s space research program, which includes the CSIRO Centre for Earth Observation and our share of the NovaSAR-1 satellite facility.

In April, Dr Pearce was named NSW Telstra Business Woman of the Year 2020, and winner of the NSW ‘Public Sector and Academia’ category, and in November was named ‘Executive of the Year’ in the Australian Space Awards 2020.

Dr Pearce congratulated the rest of the new ATSE Fellows.

“Many of CSIRO’s most innovative and impactful scientists are ATSE members, and it will be an honour to join them,” Dr Pearce said.

In welcoming Dr Pearce, ATSE noted:

Dr Sarah Pearce is an astronomer and space technologist who is helping deepen humanity’s understanding of the universe.

The cross-disciplinary trailblazer leads CSIRO’s new space program and has contributed her expertise to computing for the Large Hadron Collider.

Dr Pearce has a leading role in Australia in the creation of the Square Kilometre Array – the world’s largest radio telescope – and was our science representative on the four-part team who negotiated this historic international collaboration.

She has played a vital role in establishing the Australian Space Agency and is a passionate advocate for the Australian space industry.

Strongly committed to diversity, Dr Pearce is a committed campaigner for women in STEM.

Read more about Dr Pearce’s achievements:

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