Sara Webb (astrophysicist)

Sara A. Webb is an Australian astrophysicist, science communicator and author. In 2025 she was recognised by Forbes Asia 30 under 30 List, in the area of Healthcare and Science, as the only Australian Academic. Previously she was named a Superstar of STEM (Science and Technology Australia) 2023 and is currently a Lecturer and Course Director at Swinburne University, Australia.

Sara Webb
Webb in front of nebula background
Education	Swinburne University of Technology, Queensland University of Technology
Occupation(s)	Astrophysicist and Author
Employer	Swinburne University of Technology
Known for	Astrophysics, Science Communication, Author
Website	https://www.sarawebbscience.com/

Education and career

Webb joined Swinburne University of Technology in Australia as a PhD candidate in 2018, which she completed in 2021.^[1]

She is an astrophysicist and science communicator and best known for her various media appearances around astronomy and space science topics. She leads Swinburne's high school space programs, including the Swinburne Haileybury International Space Station Experiment (SHINE) and the Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge.^[2] Annually she responsible for Australian student designed payloads to the International Space Station.^[3][4]

Her research focuses on using artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse large and complex astrophysical data sets, such as identifying sources of gravitational waves and fast radio bursts.^[5] Her early work in machine learning for anomalous source detection allowed her to discover a sub-population of ulta fast flares on M-dwarf stars within the Milky Way.^[6][7]

Webb is a prolific science communicator, appearing as an expert correspondent to discuss space and astronomy.^[8][9] Webb is a go-to expert in radio,^[10][11] TV^[12][13]and print media.^[14][15] Her articles have appeared in The Conversation, COSMOS and BBC Science Focus, and been including in the Australian Anthology Best in Science Writing.^[16] Her doubt book "The Little Book of Cosmic Catastrophes" was released worldwide October 2024.^[17]

Awards

• 2018, Swinburne, Venture Cup Winner, Swinburne University of Technology.^[2]
• 2022, Swinburne, Vice-Chancellor's Research Excellence Award (Early Career), Swinburne University of Technology.^[18]
• 2022, Swinburne, Vice-Chancellor's Empowered Award, Swinburne University of Technology.
• 2022, National Superstar of STEM, Science and Technology Australia.^[19]
• 2023, International, Runner-Up Women in AI (Defence), Women In AI – Asia Pacific.^[20]
• 2023, Women in AI scholarship, DAIRNet.^[21]
• 2024, Rising Star of the Year – Enterprise, Australian Space Awards^[22]
• 2024, David Allen prize from the Astronomical Society of Australia.^[23]
• 2024, Swinburne Media Excellence, multiple awards. ^[24]
• 2025, Forbes Asia, 30 Under 30 in Science and Healthcare.^[25]