KZ: Hi Dr Vanessa! What influenced your decision to become a radio astronomer?

V: A big influence on me choosing radio astronomy was working with leading astronomers early in my university career, who were both enthusiastic about their research and very supportive – Anne Green and Tara Murphy. There are so many interesting and important things you can do in your life, so for me it’s been most important to be doing something I felt was having a positive impact on the world, working with great people whilst having fun (and getting paid!). 

KZ: What are you currently working on?

V: Probably too many things! That’s part of the fun of the job. I am working to improve how well ASKAP can observe without human involvement, and looking to apply this to other telescopes worldwide. We’re also exploring how humans can collaborative effectively with AI! I’ve been contributing to plans for the next decade of Australian astronomy, plus leading a community called 'The Future of Meetings' (TFOM) to show how technology can improve the way we meet and work together.

KZ: What experience did you have before this role at CSIRO?

V: I did a Bachelor of Liberal Studies at the University of Sydney, which was a bit of a 'choose your own adventure' degree. I majored in Physics and Japanese, focusing on radio astronomy. As a postdoc, I worked for two years at ASTRON in the Netherlands, which was super educational and a lot of fun! My skills as a generalist and ability to see the bigger picture have become a key strength in my current job, helping me track where my work fits into the world around us.

KZ: Did you take part in any activities as a child that gave you skills you use at work?

V: My parents supported me trying lots of different things as a kid, everything from chemistry courses to children’s book writing to early computer gaming! Looking back, I think this was a key factor in how I work now – I’m pretty open-minded about new tools, approaches and ideas, and I’m also very comfortable with technology having grown up with it!

KZ: Can you share an interesting fact about your job from behind the scenes?

V: I lead a group called 'The Future of Meetings' (TFOM) which focuses on using technology to improve the way we meet in astronomy and society. We’re keen on virtual reality, especially the ways it allows you to do things you couldn’t do physically. One of my collaborators works for JAXA, and I was recently able to visit asteroid Ryugu in VR and jump around in low gravity on its surface!

To read the main interview with Dr Vanessa Moss, grab the 'Super Speed Activated' issue of K-Zone, on sale now!