Jessica Melbourne-Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas
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| Born | 17 May 1981 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | Jess Melbourne-Thomas |
| Alma mater | University of Tasmania University of Oxford |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Marine ecology, Ecosystem modelling |
| Institutions | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas (born 17 May 1981) is an Australian scientist. She studies the ocean, especially the Antarctic, and how climate change affects it. She works for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), which is a big science agency in Australia. Her work helps us understand how to deal with changes in our environment.
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Becoming a Scientist
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas was born on May 17, 1981. She loved learning and went to the University of Tasmania for her first degree, finishing in 2002.
After that, she moved to the United Kingdom. She studied at the famous University of Oxford from 2003 to 2005. There, she was a Rhodes Scholar, which is a special award for bright students. She focused on how coral communities grow and change.
In 2010, she earned her PhD from the University of Tasmania. For her PhD, she created special computer tools to help people manage and protect coral reefs better.
Her Work as a Scientist
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas is a marine ecologist. This means she studies how living things in the ocean interact with their environment. She also helps connect complicated science research with people who make important decisions. This is sometimes called being a "knowledge broker."
Her main goal is to help people make good choices for a sustainable future, especially when it comes to climate change adaptation. She used to work with the Australian Antarctic Division. There, she helped create computer models of ecosystems and explained science to others.
In 2019, she was a lead author for a big report. This was the IPCC's Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. This report helped explain how oceans and ice are changing.
Sharing Science with Everyone
Jessica is very good at sharing science with people. She helps turn complex scientific information into useful advice for leaders and policymakers. She also helps teach a free online course called "Marine and Antarctic Science."
In 2015, she was named Tasmania's Young Tall Poppy of the Year. She was also one of the first "Superstars of STEM" chosen by Science and Technology Australia. These awards recognize her important work and her ability to inspire others.
Leading Women in Science
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas also helped start something amazing called Homeward Bound. She co-founded it with a business person named Fabian Dattner. This is an Australian-led project that helps women in science become leaders.
It can be hard for women in science to get money for their research. It's also tough to balance family life with a science career. Homeward Bound helps by getting private funding for these women.
Jessica's job was to plan the science program for the first Homeward Bound trip in 2016. Seventy-six women scientists from all over the world were supposed to sail from Australia. But there were problems, so Jessica worked hard to change the starting point to Ushuaia, Argentina.
After that successful trip, more women applied for a second voyage. The team for the second trip was ready in 2017. They sailed on their second expedition in 2018.
Recognition and Awards
Jessica was one of 12 famous female scientists featured on the ceiling of Grand Central Station in New York City. This was part of an initiative by GE to highlight women in science.
In 2020, she was named the Tasmanian Australian of the Year. This is a very high honor in Australia.
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas has published her research in many important science journals. These include ICES Journal of Marine Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Global Change Biology.
Awards and Honors
- 2003-2005: Rhodes Scholarship
- 2015: Tasmania's Young Tall Poppy of the Year
- 2017: Women's Agenda Leadership Awards (finalist)
- 2017: Science and Technology Australia, 30 Superstars of STEM
- 2020: Tasmanian Australian of the Year
See also
In Spanish: Jessica Melbourne-Thomas para niños
