Researcher Connect: Dr Adelle Goodwin

Meet Dr Adelle Goodwin from the Curtin node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). She’s an astrophysicist and Superstar of STEM who is helping to solve cosmic mysteries through the study of black holes and neutron stars. She’s also an identical twin!

Describe your research in 3 words:

Star-destroying black holes

Tell me briefly about your field of research?

I research black holes and neutron stars: dense objects left over when massive stars die. I use the world’s biggest radio telescopes to look for emission from material ejected by supermassive black holes that have destroyed a star. These observations allow us to learn about how black holes eject material, how they swallow material, and how the gas they spit out influences the environment surrounding the black hole.

Research highlight:

During my PhD, I coordinated a global network of telescopes and collaborators to watch an X-ray pulsar powering up.

If you could sit-in with any Faculty for a day, which would you pick?

The Centre for Aboriginal Studies. Aboriginal Australians were the first astronomers, with oral traditions of the night sky dating back many thousands of years. I am awed by the knowledge that has been passed down through generations and generations of people observing the night sky, how it changes, and how it can be used to relate to human activities on Earth (like navigation).

What are your passions/hobbies outside of work?

I like to play netball, crochet, and garden. I also volunteer as a night sky tour guide at Perth Observatory.

What’s a fun fact about you that your colleagues would probably not know?

I’m an identical twin!

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in your career so far?

Science is a human endeavour: none of us are perfect and nor is science! Collaborating and supporting others is more rewarding than the glory of getting that next big discovery on your own.                                                               

What’s a piece of advice you would give to your fellow colleagues, and students alike?

For students: being good at exams is not a skill that everyone has, and it is not critical to success.

Connect with Adelle!

—

This piece was featured in Impact Focus – a quarterly newsletter bringing you the latest in Curtin research. Sign up here to get it delivered straight to your inbox!