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 May 17, 1981) is an Australian scientist who studies the ocean, Antarctica, and climate change. She works for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia. Her work helps us understand how climate change affects the ocean and what we can do to protect it.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas was born on May 17, 1981.
She studied at the University of Tasmania and finished her first degree in 2002. After that, she moved to the United Kingdom. There, she attended the University of Oxford from 2003 to 2005. She was a Rhodes Scholar, which is a special scholarship for talented students. At Oxford, she studied how coral communities work.
In 2010, she earned her PhD from the University of Tasmania. For her PhD, she created special computer tools. These tools help people manage and protect coral reefs.
Career and Research
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas is a marine ecologist. This means she studies how living things in the ocean interact with their environment. She also works as a "knowledge broker." This means she helps connect complicated science with people who make important decisions. Her goal is to use science to help us live in a way that protects our planet for the future. This is especially true for how we deal with climate change.
Antarctic and Climate Work
Jess used to work as an ecosystem modeller and science communicator. She did this for the Australian Antarctic Division. She helped explain science to others. She was also a main author for a big report in 2019. This report was from the IPCC. It focused on how oceans and ice are changing because of climate change.
Sharing Science with Others
Jess is very good at sharing science with people. She helps turn scientific findings into useful information for decision-makers. She also talks to many different groups of people. She is a co-presenter for an online course called "Marine and Antarctic Science."
In 2015, she was named Tasmania's Young Tall Poppy of the Year. This award recognizes young scientists who are great at their work and at sharing it. She was also one of the first 30 "Superstars of STEM." This program highlights amazing women in science and technology.
Homeward Bound Initiative
Jessica Melbourne-Thomas helped start a special program called Homeward Bound. She co-founded it with a business person named Fabian Dattner. This program is an Australian-led, worldwide effort. It aims to help women in science become leaders.
It can be hard for women in science to get funding and balance family life with their careers. Because of this, the Homeward Bound program is funded by private donations. Jess helped organize the science part of the first trip in 2016. When problems stopped the group of 76 women scientists from sailing from Australia, Jess worked hard. She helped arrange for them to start their journey from Ushuaia, Argentina, instead.
After the first research trip, more women applied for a second voyage. The team for the second trip was chosen in 2017. They sailed on their second expedition in 2018.
Recognition and Awards
Jess was one of 12 famous female scientists featured at Grand Central Station in New York City. Their images were shown as a constellation on the ceiling. This was part of an initiative to promote women in science.
In 2020, Jessica Melbourne-Thomas was named the Tasmanian Australian of the Year. This is a very important award in Australia.
Her work has been published in many science journals. These include ICES Journal of Marine Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature ecology & evolution, Frontiers in Marine Science, Global Change Biology, Ecology and Society, Ecological Applications, Journal of Marine Systems, and PLoS One.
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
