Penny D. Sackett

Professor Penny D Sackett is a physicist, astronomer and former Chief Scientist for Australia.

Her research career on three continents has centred on applying physics to questions in astronomy, including the unseen dark matter in galaxies and application of Einstein’s theory of gravitation to find first the known earth-sized planet orbiting a normal star other than the Sun.

Her professional experience includes teaching, research administration and science journalism. As Director of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the ANU (Australian National University), she led the effort to rebuild the world-renowned Mt Stromlo Observatory after it was destroyed by bush fires in 2003.

For her contributions and service to astronomy, she was awarded international fellowship in the Royal Astronomical Society. As Chief Scientist for Australia, Professor Sackett provided independent advice to the Australian government on matters of science and innovation, and was a vocal champion of evidenced-based decision making. She spearheaded the effort to introduce long-term, cross-portfolio and cross-disciplinary foresight into the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, and opened new channels of communication to the Australian public on matters of science, particularly climate change and other sustainability issues such as food security.

Her passion for evidence-based reasoning and effective communication to citizenry around the world will find a new home in a new web-based tool being developed by Office of the Chief Scientist for Australia and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.