Rising star: excellence in ice-sheet research recognised
9 October 2025
Ice-sheet modeller Dr Chen Zhao at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies has been named the winner of the Rising Star award in the 2025 Women of Colour in STEM Awards.
The annual award “recognises a young academic woman of colour who has shown exceptional promise through her research and scholarly activities” in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Dr Zhao said she is honoured and grateful to be selected as one of ten finalists.
“I’m deeply thankful to Dr Ruwangi Fernando, founder of STEM Sisters, and the judging panel for this incredible recognition.”
“They have created a platform that celebrates women of colour in STEM — voices that are too often unheard but absolutely vital in shaping the future of science.”
“Congratulations to all the inspiring finalists — it was an honour to stand among so many brilliant women whose stories of courage, creativity, and persistence remind us what true leadership looks like,” she said.
Since receiving her PhD at the University of Tasmania in 2018, Chen has been a Research Associate with the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, and is currently a DECRA Senior Research Fellow. She has also recently taken up the position of Chief Investigator at the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS).
“As a woman, a mother of a young child, and a migrant scientist, this recognition means more than I can say. When I first came to Hobart ten years ago to begin my PhD, I never imagined that one day I would be leading research on the Antarctic Ice Sheet.”
“My work focuses on understanding how Antarctica’s melting ice affects global sea levels — but it’s also about the people behind the numbers: the coastal communities, Pacific Island nations, and future generations who will live with the consequences of what we do today.”
“This award reminds me that representation matters — not just in our data, but in our leadership. I’m proud to mentor the next generation of women in STEM and to show that passion, resilience, and inclusion can drive world-leading science,” Dr Zhao said.
