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Lilia Bradley
Women of STEM Scholarship Winner
Award Date:
2025
STEM Interests
Currently studying a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) majoring in Astronomy/Astrophysics and Science Communications
A Bit About Me
I have always been fascinated by astronomy and space and have been a volunteer at the Perth Observatory for the past 4 years. There, I was able to cultivate my love for astronomy and was introduced to the world of science communications, leading me to write and present a series of space-related workshops for regional kids and teenagers through Peel Bright Minds. My love for STEM also led to the birth of the series of Zoom Q&A sessions called spiBEred (Be Inspired), inspiring Mensa Teenagers to go into STEM careers as the Australian Mensa Teen President. Currently, I am combining my passions for astronomy and science communications by doing a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) majoring in Astronomy/Astrophysics and Science Communications at the Australian National University. Another passion of mine is Women in STEM, as coming from an all-girls school, my eyes were really opened to the amazing things Women in STEM can achieve. Being from a multicultural family, I am also very passionate about multiculturalism. Little fun fact about me to end with: I’m crazy about Eurovision (a real super fan).
Questions and Answers
Tell us about someone who inspires you and why
How did you become interested in STEM?
What are you most looking forward to about studying STEM at university?
How will the Women of STEM Scholarship assist you?
There are so many incredible women in STEM. A standout for me, however, is my incredible role model and mentor Dr Kathryn Ross. She is an astrophysicist, scientist, and science communicator, currently working at the Australian Square Kilometre Array Regional Centre. She has achieved so many incredible heights already in her career, including being the Joint ExxonMobil Student Scientist of the Year.
Apart from the awards, however, I look up to Kat because of her amazing science communications skills. She has such an engaging way of talking that makes her a really skilled communicator. She is also an advocate for Women in STEM – you should check out her #includeHer movement! Kat is also just really humble and friendly. She inspired me to go out of my comfort zone and present a 10-minute standup comedy routine about “Space Whoopsies” in front of an audience of 100 people too, which was a memorable experience. I hope to follow in her footsteps one day.
Being an only child with no family even remotely my age, my only friends growing up were the books my parents bought me. Sound like the start of a fairy tale? Well, instead of books about heroes and princesses, the books I grew up on were Encyclopedias. My family’s favourite outing was attending all kinds of public STEM lectures and events, with the most memorable one being the annual Astrofest. I loved Astrofest so much that I joined JAGWA (the Junior Astronomy Group of WA) at Gingin Observatory, furthering my interest in astronomy. When I was lucky enough to be one of the limited number of people who had the honour of visiting the Murchison Wide Field Array and the testing stages of the Square Kilometer array, I knew then and there that I wanted to do astrophysics.
I must say one of the things I was the most excited about studying astrophysics at ANU was the prospect of being taught by some of Australia’s best scientists and most groundbreaking researchers in astrophysics. I was especially excited to be taught by one of my current astrophysics professors, the incredible 2011 Nobel Prize winner, Brian Schmidt. It still feels surreal that one of my professors actually won the Nobel Prize. I was also very excited about having access to world class facilities such as Mt Stromlo Observatory, Siding Spring Observatory, and the XL Wombat. Something I was actually quite skeptical about when I started university, but turned out to be one of the things I am most excited about now, is AI. Since starting STEM at ANU, I have learnt just how incredible AI is and how beneficial it will be to the future of science.
This year has been full of huge changes for me, starting with the big move from WA all the way to Canberra, and living by myself in a residential college after never having moved house or even moved schools. The scholarship allows me to at least not worry about finding a new job in addition to all the other changes in my life. I can fully concentrate on settling into a new environment and finding a study routine without worrying about how to pay for my living expenses. I am also happy I can financially help my parents. Another benefit to the scholarship is the amazing people I have already met, as well as the opportunity to volunteer for the Big Day In Canberra. As a passionate advocate for Women in STEM, I am also very grateful for the platform this scholarship gives me in encouraging girls to go into STEM.
What job do you hope to pursue after graduating from university?
I definitely know I want to be a researching astrophysicist, but the specific field will really depend on areas of interest at the time and in the place I’m working. I have such a wide interest in astrophysics, from Active Galactic Nuclei, to Exoplanets, to Pulsars. In the future, however, I hope to end up in astrobiology and joining the search for life (whether it be intelligent life or even single celled organisms). I also hope to one day lead an all-female research team in astrophysics. Alongside my research, I would like to be a science communicator (think Neil deGrasse Tyson), hopefully encouraging more girls into STEM. As a side hustle, I would love to publish some books – whodunnits, heists with fantasy elements, and even a STEM book or two!