Meet Anusha Ravikumar
This picture was shot at the London Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory, Black Room dedicated to Astrophysics demonstrations. I am glad, Fredrika, the Alien at our Observatory was able to join me in this photo.
Anusha is currently working towards a Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy from the University of Western Ontario, 2025.
Outside of her academic pursuits, Anusha finds joy in dance, coloring books, blogging, research and indulging in a good read. Her fascination with STEM traces back to her childhood, spent gazing at the stars with her mother, igniting a curiosity about the vast expanse of the universe.
A fun fact about Anusha’s job is: “A part of my job is to bring science to the public. I spend a lot of time distilling complicated ideas into manageable chunks for public outreach. In an effort to achieve that, I doodle and create little, unobtrusive animations. Nobody ever informed me that a scientist would simultaneously be an artist and a storyteller. These pieces of writing and research, along with public discourse, help me to keep alive my enthusiasm for space.”
When did your love of STEM begin?
When I was a child, I spent a lot of evenings on our home terrace next to my mother staring at the stars, pointing at them, and persistently asking questions. I was maybe 8 or 9 years old at the time. It's remarkable that we don't understand a lot about the sky directly above our heads. I became increasingly fascinated about whatever is in that place as a result of this realization. The fact that my thesis research focuses on understanding those huge stars strikes me as amazing.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
STEM areas offer challenges as well as a terrific environment for innovation. I believe there is room to develop one's own concepts, speculate about them, put them to the test, and discuss their wider ramifications. Since I was young, I have enjoyed the spirit of creativity. I can use that as an astronomer by coming up with innovative techniques that capture the impossibly high limits of our universe.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
In order to start, I would like to acknowledge the necessity to challenge stereotypes and biases that persist in various STEM professions. In order to overcome these obstacles, we all must work together to strengthen our resilience. The necessary space must be provided for young females to embrace their interests. In order to succeed in that endeavor, we must encourage the development of effective community networks, solid problem-solving, and critical-thinking abilities, proactive engagement, a solid foundation, and a dedication to lifelong learning.
A Fun Fact about Anusha’s current role…
A part of my job is to bring science to the public. I spend a lot of time distilling complicated ideas into manageable chunks for public outreach. In an effort to achieve that, I doodle and create little, unobtrusive animations. Nobody ever informed me that a scientist would simultaneously be an artist and a storyteller. These pieces of writing and research, along with public discourse, help me to keep alive my enthusiasm for space.