Keynote: Dr Meganne Christian – Australian Astronaut

Join astronaut reservist and engineer Dr Meganne Christian in conversation with science journalist Rae Johnston.

In 2022 Dr Christian was selected to join the European Space Agency’s astronaut reserve, putting her on course to become one of the first Australian females in orbit. The possibility of going to space fulfills a lifelong dream for Dr Christian and culminates a career in engineering, renewable energy and atmospheric research.

Driven by a sense of adventure, Dr Christian decided to apply for the astronaut reserve after surviving a challenging year of atmospheric research in Antarctica’s Concordia station, dubbed ‘White Mars’ for its isolation and harsh conditions.

Dr Meganne Christian is a materials scientist at the Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems at the National Research Council of Italy. In 2022 she was selected as a member of the European Space Agency astronaut reserve, one of 17 candidates selected from a pool of more than 22,500 applicants across Europe. Dr Christian holds a Bachelor of Engineering and a PhD in Industrial Chemistry from the University of New South Wales. Since 2014, she has been involved in the European Graphene Flagship, and has participated in two parabolic flight campaigns to test thermal management of graphene in satellites. She has also undertaken two missions, including a winter at Concordia Station in Antarctica where she was a research scientist in charge of atmospheric physics and meteorology.

Rae Johnston is a multi-award-winning journalist with a focus on the geekier side of life. The first science and technology editor for NITV at SBS, her work appears across television, radio, podcasts and online. Johnston is also the producer and host of top-rated podcasts Queens of the Drone Age, Hear+Beyond and Take It Blak.