Girls in Physics Lecture

On Friday 24th July we had the great privilege to welcome Dr Karelle Siellez from the University of Tasmania. 

Dr Siellez is the inaugural Marie Curie lecturer for 2026 and has particpated in the Girls in Physics breakfasts. Her research on transient events in Astrophysics include gamma ray bursts and supernovae and include observational astronomy with theoretical astrophysics.  She also uses a range of media including graphic novels, art and music to communicate the complexities of space science. 

She spoke about some of her research and the challenges and opportunities facing students engaging in STEM education. We are incredibly grateful to Vicphysics for facilitating this event and allowing so many of our students the opportunity to hear from Dr Siellez.

In 2017, the Universe spoke in waves and light—ushering in a new era of astronomy. In this lecture, Dr Karelle Siellez weaves together sound, art, and astrophysics to explore the story of gravitational waves and the collisions that create the elements we are made of. Through “multi-messenger” signals like kilonovae and gamma-ray bursts, we’ll uncover how the cosmos communicates its most violent events. Blending scientific insights with creative expression, this journey reveals how listening to the Universe—and protecting its silence—can connect science, nature, and humanity.

Dr Karelle Siellez is an astrophysicist and lecturer at the University of Tasmania. A specialist in multi-messenger astronomy, she contributed to the first detection of a gamma-ray burst and gravitational waves from the same cosmic event, recognised with the 2017 Breakthrough Prize. She is also an award-winning science communicator who integrates art, sound, and storytelling into her work, making complex astrophysics accessible and inspiring. Karelle has lived and worked in France, the USA, and now Tasmania—where she divides her time between telescopes, classrooms, and the wilderness of sea and forest.

~ Penelope Hale