The University of Western Australia node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research is funding a scholarship to assist and encourage a high-achieving female and/or indigenous student to undertake the Astronomy and Astrophysics specialisation of the Master of Physics. Dr. Renu Sharma has been the Chief Operating Officer of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research since its establishment in 2009. She has been the driving force behind ICRAR?s activities in the diversity, equity and inclusion space, with particular emphasis on supporting and empowering women and other underrepresented groups in STEM.
- Status Open
- Applications open 16/12/2024
- Applications close 03/03/2025
- Value $10,000.00
- Number offered 1
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a scholarship, an applicant must—
(a) be a domestic student
(b) be a female or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
(c) have applied for a place to commence a Master of Physics degree course with a specialisation in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
(d) have an ICRAR staff member as the primary supervisor of their research project component.
Benefits
Dr. Renu Sharma is the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Translation and Impact at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), a joint venture between Curtin University and the University of Western Australia (UWA).
Dr. Sharma joined ICRAR in 2009 as a founding Executive team member and since then has been responsible for leading ICRAR’s management, reporting, and compliance requirements and building a supportive organisational culture. She has been committed to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion at ICRAR and has enabled creation of an inclusive environment that enables growth and supports the dignity of all. She successfully launched the 'ICRAR visiting fellowship for senior women in astronomy' that has attracted national and international female role model astronomers to ICRAR since 2015. Dr. Sharma's commitment has contributed to ICRAR’s recognition for its excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, winning the Bronze in 2015, Silver in 2017, and Gold in 2019, 2021 and 2023 at the Astronomical Society for Astronomy's Pleiades awards.
Dr. Sharma has worked with academic and administrative leadership across universities, State and Federal Government and with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. She has held several senior management roles, including serving as a member of the Vice Chancellor's Equity and Diversity Committee, Equity and Diversity Advisor, and Chair of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Working Group.
Outside of her work, Dr. Sharma is passionate about writing poetry in Hindi, she is a Trustee of Hindi Samaj of WA (2023-25), a radio presenter at the 95.3 EBA and has been recognised by Indian Society of WA for her personal excellence in 2017, by Hindu Council of Australia in 2023 by Gargi Award for her contributions. In 2024, she featured in a coffee table book featuring 50 inspiring Indo-Australian women who made a difference.