Key Points
- The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) has inaugurated a scholarship in honour of Dr Renu Sharma.
- The scholarship is open to women, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander students pursuing studies in astronomy and astrophysics.
- Expressing her delight, Dr Sharma said, 'My Indian values of resilience, hard work, and honesty have been instrumental in shaping my journey.'
ICRAR recently announced The Renu Sharma Scholarship in Astronomy and Astrophysics, which is for women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders at The University of Western Australia (UWA).
The scholarship will be open to domestic students who have applied for a place to commence a Master of Physics degree course with a specialisation in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
"They (applicants) will also need to have a staff member from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) as the primary supervisor of their research project component. Applicants will receive a total of $10,000," the ICRAR said in its official statement.
, said the scholarship was an important step towards enhancing the diversity of ICRAR’s student cohort.
"We are delighted to see this named after Dr Sharma, who has been a driving force behind DEI initiatives at ICRAR since its inception — it is an immensely well-deserved recognition of her work,” Da Cunha said.
Sharma said she was, "deeply humbled, pleased and very surprised" by the scholarship established in her name.
Dr Renu Sharma speaking at the ICRAR. Credit: Credit: ICRAR
Important work
Sharma migrated from India in 2000 with her husband and twins after quitting a prestigious government position.
Dr Renu Sharma with her family. Credit: Dr Renu Sharma
"At first, adapting to this new country was challenging for me. However, I soon realised the value of being an observer and immersing myself in Australian culture to carve out my place here," she said.
"This approach proved beneficial, and I firmly believe that my fundamental Indian values — resilience, hard work, and honesty — have served me well," she said.
Dr Renu Sharma (L) with Indian External Affairs minister S Jaishankar (R). Credit: Dr Renu Sharma
She successfully launched the 'ICRAR visiting fellowship for senior women in astronomy' that has attracted national and international female role model astronomers to ICRAR since 2015.
Her commitment has contributed to ICRAR’s recognition for its excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, winning the Bronze in 2015, Silver in 2017, and Gold in 2019, 2021 and 2023 at the Astronomical Society for Astronomy's Pleiades awards.
Dr Renu Sharma (R) with the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Australia Gopal Baglay (L). Credit: Dr Renu Sharma
"Coming from a generation where girls were often timid and hesitant to ask questions, I ensured in my management roles within this organisation that every team member feels empowered to ask questions, no matter their size or complexity," she added.
"In my management roles I’ve really enjoyed contributing to equitable, inclusive and innovative environments to support and enable research."
Gender gap in the STEM field
Sharma said she was pleased to witness the establishment of a scholarship in her name, which would provide support for women pursuing their studies in the field.
"The unanimous decision to name the scholarship after me at ICRAR means a lot. It's significant to me because I aspire to see more women and First Nations people step forward to seize this opportunity," Sharma said.
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She said she believed that there was still a long way to go in terms of representation for women and First Nations people within the STEM field.
"There is generally lower confidence among girls in STEM subjects compared to boys, and the gender pay gap in STEM industries is evident," she noted.
women hold a mere 15 per cent of positions in STEM-qualified jobs. The gender pay gap in STEM industries stood at $27,012, or 17 per cent in 2022, slightly larger than the previous year.
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Moreover, women constitute only 23 per cent of senior management and a mere eight per cent of CEOs in STEM-qualified industries.
"Women possess significant capabilities, which they can leverage to contribute to science. I believe (all) parents should encourage their daughters to participate in the STEM field," she said.
"Engaging in discussions about under-representation could lead female students to reevaluate their own biases. It's about engaging in more meaningful conversations with them regarding these issues," she said.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Sharma channels her passion into writing poetry in Hindi.
Her personal excellence has been acknowledged by the Indian Society of WA in 2017 and by the Hindu Council of Australia in 2023 with the Gargi Award for her contributions.
