The Mobile Observatory

A great example of how to foster and nurture excellence from a wider and more diverse base.

Congrats!

How do we move the needle on underrepresented groups in STEM? By providing targeted support that creates clear pathways to the next step in their careers.

ICRAR is seeing the impact firsthand, through our Renu Sharma Scholarship. Laura Serrano Rodriguez, the inaugural recipient of the scholarship, has completed her Masters with distinction and has now been awarded the prestigious Jean Rogerson PhD scholarship to continue her research at The University of Western Australia.

We were thrilled to invite the scholarship's namesake, ICRAR’s founding Chief Operating Officer and Director of Translation and Impact Dr Renu Sharma, to celebrate Laura's success. Over an informal dinner attended by Dr Sharma (left), Professor Claudia Lagos (back) and the three scholarship recipients to date (Laura Serrano Rodriguez, Emma Van Dongen, and Jasmine White, back right to front right), Dr Sharma offered mentorship and guidance about leadership, drawing on parts of her own journey in STEM.

By removing barriers and providing mentorship, ICRAR is not only supporting individual excellence but building a highly skilled, diverse workforce essential to Australia's technology and innovation sectors.

Read more about the Renu Sharma Scholarship and inaugural recipient Laura here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01hV5w0

We have been quiet, we know... but we have been working hard to source a suitable piece of land to set up permenently. 🌄

Yes, we can and are still mobile, but wouldn't you like to have more regulard stargazing evenings and events? 👌🔭🌠

That's what we are excitedly working towards! 😊

We'll keep you updated.

‘Project Hail Mary’ shows how intellectual humility can be a guiding force During the movie, Project Hail Mary's Ryland Grace develops traits essential to success in high-stakes, uncertain situations.

Did you get to see the eclipse?

Certainly a lovely area for stargazing!

Did you know Northam is a total star when it comes to astrophotography? ⭐📸

Just outside the Perth metro glow, our night skies are free from city light pollution, which means the real celebrities come out to shine! The Milky Way puts on a show that’s truly out of this world.

So grab your camera, adjust your focus, and get ready to shoot for the stars! 🌌✨



📷 Photo credit: Ben Brown
📍 Glenfield Homestead Ruins are on private property - please admire and capture the magic from outside the fence line. Let’s keep it stellar and respectful!

🔭🛠️ Have you ever wanted to see what it looks like to build one of the world’s most sensitive low-frequency radio telescopes?

Wonder no more and take a virtual trip to Wajarri Yamaji Country in outback Western Australia to tour our SKA-Low telescope!

⭐ Launch the tour: https://virtualtours-external.csiro.au/MRO/

During your virtual visit you'll learn about the history and culture of the Wajarri Yamaji, Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders of Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.

📡 You can also explore two SKA precursor instruments – CSIRO's ASKAP radio telescope and the Murchison Widefield Array radio telescope – as well as the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre where SKA-Low data is currently being processed!

Thanks to the collaborative effort of our friends at CSIRO, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, DEED, The Wajarri Community Office, Murchison Widefield Array and Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre.

📸 Antennas from our SKA-Low radio telescope under the Milky Way in a night-sky 360-degree panorama. Credit CSIRO/DISR/Alex Cherney and Tom Fowler.