UNLOCKING THE UNIVERSE.

INSPIRING THE FUTURE.

ASTRO 3D

The ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) has produced a comprehensive picture of the evolution of matter, the chemical elements, and energy in the Universe, from shortly after the Big Bang, to the present day.

We have used 3D surveys that give us spectra for each pixel of light on surveys using optical and radio telescopes, to understand the accumulation of matter in the Universe over time. SAMI has been a game changer for studying why the stars in some galaxies rotate together in a nice, ordered manner, whilst the stars in other galaxies seem to have been thrown together in a jumbled mess. AGEL spectroscopy allowed us to map a 3D picture of the gravitational lenses to show they are genuine, and not merely chance, superposition, revealing the underlying dark and atomic matter.

ASTRO 3D’s periodic table is a powerful tool that summarises the origin of the chemical elements, showing the processes by which each element is synthesised and its abundance over time (from the Big Bang to the present). We used theoretical models, observations of ancient gas clouds in the early Universe, and chemical tagging of present-day stars in the Milky Way to develop both the roadmap and the atlas of atomic elements. Among our discoveries is the most iron-poor star in the Milky Way, and the finding that the amount of warm Carbon rapidly increased a billion years after the Big Bang.

Neutral atoms in the universe became ionised (lost their electrons) due to the intense radiation from the first stars and galaxies. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is getting closer to detecting the elusive radio wave signal from the early Universe that will reveal when the fog of neutral hydrogen gas was lifted. The observations provide critical input to theoretical simulations that predict the nature of the early Universe. Utilising JWST, our researchers have compiled the largest survey of galaxy properties during the peak of the reionisation period to establish that these galaxies started ionising the Universe at very early times.

PROJECTS AND SURVEYS

GALAH SURVEY

ASKAP SURVEY

FIRST GALAXIES PROJECT

MWA EOR PROJECT

GENESIS THEORETICAL SIMULATIONS

SAMI/HECTOR SURVEY

GALAXY EVOLUTION

FIRST STARS PROJECT

DATA INTENSIVE ASTRONOMY

The Pleiades Awards

Recognising Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity and Equity in Astronomy

The Pleiades Awards, were originally launched by the ASA Chapter for Women in Astronomy (WiA) to recognise organisations in Australian astronomy that take active steps to advance the careers of women through focused programs and strive for sustained improvement in providing opportunities for women to achieve positions of seniority, influence and recognition. Starting in 2018 the criteria for the Pleiades Awards changed to reflect this expanded goal of equity and inclusion at all levels, and across all people in the astronomical community.

Levels of Award

There are three levels of Award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. In the event that the criteria for the level of award sought by the eligible organisation are not met, the awards committee will consider the application against the criteria for a lower award level.

Silver Pleiades Award

The Silver Pleiades recognises organisations with a sustained record of at least two years monitoring and improving the working environment. It also recognises leadership in promoting positive actions as examples of best practice to other organisations in the astronomy community. Prior attainment of a Bronze award is a prerequisite for this award.

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