Francesca Cary secures prestigious Fulbright Future Scholarship
Congratulations to Francesca Cary who has just secured the prestigious Fulbright Future Scholarship to study Planetary Geology and Astrobiology in the U.S.A. for two years (including a collaboration with NASA!).
What are you currently studying?
I have been studying a double major in geology and genetics at The University of Western Australia (UWA), and have been at St Catherine’s for three and a half years.
What is the Fulbright Future Scholarship and how this will help you?
The Australian-American Fulbright Commission offers a variety of scholarships, including the Fulbright Future Scholarship. This is their most generous scholarship program which provides a unique opportunity to have a 100% funded study and living experience in the U.S.A., for projects seeking to create a lasting impact on the livelihoods and prosperity of Australians.
It is an honour to be supported by this award, however, participating in this program will yield benefits far beyond the immediate achievement of a postgraduate degree. The exposure to an extraordinary network of people and a culturally immersive experience will allow me to develop a deeply global perspective for the future, as well as an appreciation of the importance of international collaboration for my field of research.
What will your research involve and what do you hope to achieve?
I will be undertaking a master’s degree in Planetary Geology and Astrobiology (or similar title), which essentially means I’ll be studying space rocks and life, and life on space rocks. I am interested in the role that minerals played in the origin of life, and how this relates to locating potential environments in our solar system which could harbour life as we (don’t) know it, such as the methane lakes of Saturn’s moon Titan or the icy worlds of Mars and Europa. I will be conducting research in collaboration with NASA that contributes towards the pool of knowledge future space exploration missions will need when creating technologies designed to detect signs of life on other planets. Through this, I hope to increase Australia’s contribution to space exploration missions by applying I learn in my master’s degree to leverage Australia’s unique strengths in planetary science.
What is your favourite part of your studies and what are your future goals?
I love visualising the planetary surfaces in space (either on other planets or the early Earth) where the rocks I have in front of me may have originated. I also love integrating what I have learned about genetics and geology to understand how life has shaped Earth, and how in return life has also been shaped by the rocky Earth itself.
My future goals involve increasing the prosperity of the emerging space sector in Australia through diversifying the research capabilities that we have, as well as participating in future space exploration missions with an astrobiological focus.
What’s been your most memorable experience at St Cat’s?
After so many years at St Cat’s it is hard to pinpoint a single favourite moment, but the endlessly interesting conversations I have had with fellow collegians at the dining hall or sitting on corridor floors has led to some lasting friendships, which will continue my St Cat’s experience into my future endeavours.
The most valuable part of staying at St Cat’s for me was the opportunities presented for networking and engaging with the academic community. The origin of many of my successes actually began just by having simple conversations with the right people, for example talking to Marc and Estie through the Scientists in Residence program every Thursday at St Cat’s.
What advice do you have for those applying for a scholarship?
Take all the opportunities available to you, and if the ones you want are not there, make your own opportunities. Think about applying a year or two before you actually do, so that you have time to consolidate your goals and build yourself to be the best and most active version you can be. Draft your application well ahead of time, prepare well for the interviews, be organised, and be yourself. And lastly, remember to apply and to hit submit.
The application process itself is worth your while no matter what the outcome is, I found it to be an incredibly focusing experience that opened my eyes to the impact my studies could have on the wider Australian community.
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