Pete Wheeler

Alumni

University of Western Australia

Biography

I am the head of the Communications, Outreach and Education Team for the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). I began this role 12 years ago, several weeks before ICRAR came into existence, with my first task to help launch the Centre. I believe that science and technology have the power to shape the world we live in. At ICRAR, I lead a small but excellent team of science communicators and educators who are passionate about creating content that captures the imagination, inspiring people to think big and to better understand the Universe we live in. As far back as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for space and astronomy, perhaps thanks to glimpses of the Moon through a ridiculously wobbly and near-useless backyard telescope my parents gave me one Christmas, and helped along by Captains Kirk and Picard and more Star Trek than it’s sensible to admit. I studied Physics for my undergraduate degree at the University of Leeds in the UK and my first “science job” was in London as a test engineer for a company specialising in light amplification devices called photomultipliers. Then, after migrating to Australia, I began working as a professional science communicator. From 2005 to 2009, I managed the largest planetarium in the Southern Hemisphere at WA’s Science Discovery Centre, Scitech. During this time, the WA State Government recognised the need for a cohesive and collaborative astronomy outreach community to support Australia’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array, and I was tasked with bringing Perth’s outreach providers together through an initiative called Astronomy WA. For the International Year of Astronomy in 2009, I designed and coordinated a year-long series of events, culminating in what has become Australia’s largest annual public astronomy event, the Perth Astrofest. Attended by 5,000+ people every year and coordinated by the ICRAR outreach team, I’m very proud to say that the event is still going strong. Recently, it was recognised in the 2019 Premier’s Science Awards as the Chevron Science Engagement Initiative of the Year. From 2014 until recently, I was Australia’s National Outreach Coordinator for the International Astronomical Union (IAU), providing a point of contact for the IAU in the education and public outreach domain, passing on communications to the Australian astronomical community, and coordinating Australia’s participation in IAU activities such as the IAU100 Centenary celebrations and the NameExoWorlds competitions. In recent years, I’ve earned a Master’s in Strategic Communication from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma in Primary Education from Edith Cowan University. In addition to formal qualifications, I’ve undertaken extensive professional development focusing on leadership and management. I consider myself extremely fortunate to do the job I do, working with exceptional people attracted to discovering the unknown through astronomy. It’s not the Star Ship Enterprise, but it’s definitely a close second.