Born: 1956 (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Biography:
Penny Diane Sackett (born 28 February 1956) is an American-born Australian astronomer and former director of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) at the Australian National University (ANU). Professor Sackett was the Chief Scientist of Australia from November 2008 until March 2011.
Early life and studies
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska—the daughter of an accountant and a business machine technician—Sackett spent her childhood in Omaha. She was interested in science from a very young age, and her original inclination was towards biology and medicine. While initially unenthusiastic about physics, Sackett developed a passion for the discipline through being mentored by her high school physics teacher. Her undergraduate study was at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, graduating summa cum laude in 1978. In 1984, she completed her PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Pittsburgh. Her thesis title is Scale Parameters for Finite Temperature Actions of Lattice Gauge Theories Coupled to Fermions.
Scientific career
Sackett worked for a time as a reporter for Science News and in program administration for the National Science Foundation. She has previously held positions at Kapteyn Astronomical Institute and the Institute for Advanced Study. From 2002, Sackett was the director of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (a part of ANU) for five years until standing down to concentrate on mentoring and research. In her role as director, Sackett was responsible for the management of Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra and Siding Spring Observatory in Coonabarabran, New South Wales. As director of the Mount Stromlo observatory, she was responsible for its reconstruction after the 2003 Canberra bushfires. The reconstruction work proved difficult due to disagreements with the insurers and was further complicated by the heritage status of the observatory requiring the Australian Heritage Commission to approve all works.
In September 2008, Sackett was appointed the Chief Scientist of Australia; taking over duties in November 2008. Announcing her appointment, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr said Sackett is an accomplished cross-disciplinary scientist with a record of academic excellence on three continents… highly respected in the national and international communities of science and technology, both for her research and her proven experience in research management. After commencing her work at the Office of the Chief Scientist, she remained an adjunct professor at the ANU and continued to supervise research students. Sackett was the first full-time Chief Scientist since the role was downgraded to a part-time position in 1996. On 18 February 2011, in a letter to fellow scientists, Sackett announced her intended departure from the post of Chief Scientist, citing professional and personal reasons.
Research and affiliations
While a physicist by training and an astronomer by profession, Sackett’s research has encompassed multiple disciplines and made significant contributions to the field of astrophysics. She has been involved in various research projects, focusing on the study of planetary systems, gravitational lensing, and dark matter. Her work has been published in numerous scientific journals.
Sackett has been affiliated with several prestigious institutions throughout her career. In addition to her directorship at the RSAA, Sackett has held positions at Kapteyn Astronomical Institute and the Institute for Advanced Study. She has also served on various advisory boards and committees, contributing to the advancement of scientific research and policy.