Astronomy Professor Penny Sackett, former head of the Astronomy department of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, was appointed as Australia’s next Chief Scientist at the end of September. Although a theoretical physicist by education, Sackett is very well known in astronomy for her work in exoplanet detection and involvement in the US-led Giant Magellan Telescope project.
She was also in charge of rebuilding Mt Stromlo observatory, that was tragically destroyed in a bush fire in 2003.
An astronomer, and she’s a woman to boot. Score! Congratulations to her.
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