Our future lies in the cosmos, if only we dare to reach out.
Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith is an award-winning astrophysicist and the Australian Government Women in STEM Ambassador. She is a member of the advisory board of the Australian Space Agency and previously played a pivotal role in Australia’s bid to host the global mega-telescope the Square Kilometre Array. As an astrophysicist, she has worked in top universities and research institutes around the world, publishing more than 50 refereed journal papers on the birth and death of stars. She has been awarded the prestigious Chairman’s Medal from CSIRO and the Eureka Prize for science communication.
Current Work:
Lisa is a regular on television, radio and in the media. She was a presenter on the popular ABC television show Stargazing Live and the author of six books, including the multi-award-winning Under the Stars: Astrophysics for Bedtime. She has hosted several national live-on-stage tours with Apollo astronauts including Buzz Aldrin. In 2018 she presented her first live tour When Galaxies Collide at theatres across Australia. In 2016 she won the Eureka Prize for Promotion of Australian Science Research.
As Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador, Lisa leads a team of researchers and gender equity professionals working with the Commonwealth Government to remove barriers to participation in science, technology, engineering and maths.
Talking Points
What’s new? The future of technology and data
Prof. Lisa Harvey-Smith is an international expert in astrophysics, big & smart data, supercomputing and new technologies to support the global space industry. She can speak with authority on a broad range of fascinating topics including drones in space, robotics, AI and ethics, backed up by her expertise in these rapidly changing industries. Engage your team in the cutting edge of science, technology and data.
What’s new? The future of technology and data
Workplace equity, diversity and inclusion: great for business
Equity, diversity and inclusion expert and astrophysicist Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith makes the case for inclusion in your workplace. Backed up by hard data and international research, she makes a compelling case for transformational change that will be great for all staff and boost the competitiveness of your business. This talk can be delivered for a general setting (e.g. for all staff, managers or senior leaders) or tailored for your audience on specific topics, e.g.gender, or LGBTQI+ inclusion).
Workplace equity, diversity and inclusion: great for business
Getting more women in STEM: It’s not rocket science
Hear from Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador about what works to break down barriers to participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This talk can be tailored to audiences from the education, business, NFP or government sectors. It can also be broadened to gender equality beyond STEM.
Getting more women in STEM: It’s not rocket science
Let’s build a time machine! What astronomers learn from the world’s most powerful telescopes
Astrophysicist Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith takes audiences on a fascinating journey through space and time, explaining how cutting-edge telescopes on Earth and in space are helping astronomers to uncover the 13.6 billion-year history of our universe.
Let’s build a time machine! What astronomers learn from the world’s most powerful telescopes
Inclusive STEM education: Preparing students for our technological future
Hear about the future of work and how inclusive STEM education can meet the needs of both students and society from a top astrophysicist, science communicator and Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador.
Inclusive STEM education: Preparing students for our technological future
Video
What happens when galaxies collide? | Lisa Harvey-Smith | TEDxMelbourne
When we look up at the night sky, we are linked to our ancestors. Away from city lights, we can see what generations of people before us have wondered at and weaved stories around. But all that will change. In this talk, astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith tells us what will happen when the Andromeda Galaxy, which is hurtling towards us at 400,000 kilometres per second, collides with planet Earth in about 4 billion years’ time. Will the collision will form new stars, a hundred times brighter than the Sun? Or will it tear us away from the Milky Way, firing our solar system into space and leaving us floating into complete blackness? When we look up at the night sky, we are linked to our ancestors. Away from city lights, we can see what generations of people before us have wondered at and weaved stories around. But all that will change. In this talk, astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith tells us what will happen when the Andromeda Galaxy, which is hurtling towards us at 400,000 kilometres per second, collides with planet Earth in about 4 billion years’ time. Will the collision will form new stars, a hundred times brighter than the Sun? Or will it tear us away from the Milky Way, firing our solar system into space and leaving us floating into complete blackness?Lisa presented an opening speech at "An evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson", which attracted over 4,000 attendees. The feedback was of utter delight, as Lisa engaged the audience, made them fe ... keep reading Think Inc
Dr. Lisa Harvey-Smith’s talk was extremely well attended and received. Survey respondents gave her a 90.5% excellent rating, which is the best rating for the year (the average is 78%).
Lisa is a force of nature. She’s an explorer, an optimist and a powerful advocate for the role of science and astronomy in society. She’s a role model for aspiring scientists and one of the great storytellers of Australian astronomy.
