Introducing Dr Kat Ross, Support Scientist
Kat Ross is an expert in imaging at low frequencies, particularly with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) and active galactic nuclei (AGN). She is involved with processing the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA eXtended (GLEAM-X) survey, a Southern sky continuum survey in “radio colour”.
GLEAM-X is expected to find over 1 million galaxies and be able to classify these galaxies according to their evolutionary stages using their radio colours. Kat is particularly interested in identifying and classifying peaked spectrum radio sources, believed to be the young stages of AGN.
Previously, Kat science was focused on long-term variability of peaked spectrum sources and AGN, using their variability to determine physical properties of the host galaxies. Using the MWA, she identified several peaked spectrum sources that were previously assumed to be young but were in fact “frustrated” AGN that were prevented from growing by a dense cloud of surrounding gas. Kat has also worked passionately as an activist and advocate to support and encourage women, LGBTQIA+, and neurodiverse folks into STEM.
Kat has worked in advocating for a cultural change in science to address the pervasive and harmful assumptions and perceptions of scientists, including founding IncludeHer, an international not-for-profit organisation that seeks to change the lone-white-male-genius narrative in STEM working with teachers, governments, curriculum developers and students to help create a modern, engaging and relatable perception of science