Kat Robison, PhD

YES YES YES to all of this.

Looking up from Down Under in 2025: Re-investigating Australian attitudes to national space activities A new national survey uncovers what Australians really think about space, from its everyday impact to the country’s direction in the sector.

Along with Tristan, we worked with Dr Aleks Deejay, our colleague at the @acsg.bsky.social, and had the support of @usstudiescentre.bsky.social at @sydney.edu.au, UNSW Canberra, and Space Industry Association Australia. www.ussc.edu.au/looking-up-f...

Australians want to spend more on space – but we don’t really know where we’re going Every single day, space technology impacts our lives. But a new report reveals gaps between what Australians think and what they know about space.

We published our newest report on Australian public opinion of space from @acsg.bsky.social on Friday, and somehow, in the middle of #IAC2025, @tristanmoss.bsky.social and I found some time to write about it for @theconversation.com. I’ll also link the full report below.

Political violence is never the answer.

Please share with any educator you know and tell them to bring a friend along!

Alongside my colleagues, Olivia Shen, Director of Strategic Technologies, and Associate Professor David Smith, we'll share insights on how AI, space exploration and US politics are shaping society — and how these themes can inspire critical thinking and engagement in the classroom.

It's taking place on 6 September on the @sydney.edu.au campus. The day includes a morning tea and networking lunch and we'll send you home with classroom materials and a gift from the Centre.

Teaching the future: AI, policy and the social sciences Secondary school teachers are invited to join us at the University of Sydney for a half-day NESA-accredited professional development workshop exploring the intersections of AI, technology, policy and ...

Secondary teachers and educators, @usstudiescentre.bsky.social is hosting a free, half-day, NESA-accredited workshop for professional development which explores the intersections of AI, technology, policy, and the social sciences. Learn more and register here: www.ussc.edu.au/teaching-the....

I just had the most unprofessional experience contacting @jeromelaxale.com’s office. The person who answered, when asked what his name was, literally answered “Jesus Christ.” This was before I even had a chance to say why I was calling. I have little faith my concern will be taken seriously.

How anyone can see these children starving and not have their souls break is beyond me. As James Baldwin said, all the children, everywhere, are ours. We are failing our children.

“The account of the command counters Musk’s narrative of how he has handled Starlink service in Ukraine amid the war. As recently as March, in a post on X, his social media site, Musk wrote: “We would never do such a thing.”
Musk and Nicolls didn’t respond to requests from Reuters for comment.”

Black and white picture of the stars from Jupiter, looking out over a ring. Photo from NASA Juno.

Sometimes, when watching politics, I like to remind myself that I live in a universe where we know what the stars look like from Jupiter:

Israel bombs Iran and Trump takes on LA Israel says it is defending its very existence with massive, pre-emptive strikes on Iran; Senior Israeli ministers are sanctioned by Australia; and Donald Trump calls in the national guard, setting up...

As Trump faces legal pushback over deploying the National Guard, what does US Code §12406 actually allow — and how far can presidential power stretch?

@sydney.edu.au/USSC’s @katrobison.bsky.social joins SBS World News Weekly to unpack it.

Listen:

Australia’s homegrown rocket needs more money and family wealth

Gilmour Space’s upcoming launch of an Australian-made rocket marks a major milestone.

But as USSC's @katrobison.bsky.social argues, real space capability requires more than ambition — it demands national strategy, investment, and sovereign focus.

Read:

Thank you!

Australia’s homegrown rocket needs more money and family wealth If we want more Australian-built rockets, space technology, and sovereign capability, we need more than funding rounds and family wealth.

Every Australian relies on space; the government can’t afford to ignore its impact on economic and national security. I write about why in my latest for the Financial Review:

This is worth a read.

Aside from all comments on the photo they chose, this election was not “close” at all. It was a decisive win for Labor (and the leader of the opposition even lost his own seat). ABC News’ David Speers called it a “Labor landslide.”

Canada and now Australia bucking the anti-incumbency trend. #auspol

Whitening toothpaste ad that says: Sydneysiders, make the WHITE choice today!

I’m just wondering who thought this was a good slogan:

(Also, let my brain be this sharp at his age!)

It’s worth your time to read the full opinion from Chief Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III (a conservative octogenarian appointed by Reagan) in the Abrego Garcia case: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us....

Notably, Crawford’s campaign focused more on Musk and his influence rather than Trump. Musk is deeply unpopular.

Booker breaking Thurmond’s record is perfect (and that he spoke coherently about actual issues the entire time is just as impressive).

The United States is a leader in scientific research and that research pays massive dividends to its economy and reaps incredible benefits to its people. What happens if the best and the brightest no longer want to stay in, come to, or trust the United States?

French scientist denied entry into the U.S., French government says A French scientist has been denied entry into the U.S., apparently because the scientist had expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration's research policy, the French Education Ministry said on Thursday.

The Trump administration has already caused massive upheaval among the scientific community, with DOGE making irresponsible and uninformed cuts to research funding, but this is concerning: www.reuters.com/world/french....

The @apsa.bsky.social Volcker Award was instrumental in getting my research off the ground when I started as an assistant professor! Tell everyone you know that is a post-doc or assistant professor! If you are starting one of those roles in the fall, you can apply! #juniorscholars #funding #PA

This is a sensationalist headline. They were never stranded. Never. Do better.

The most adorable thing in my life right now (aside from my 14 month old who is the epitome of adorable) is the texted #Crew10 updates I’m getting from my mother.

These certainly won’t be the last cuts the Trump admin tries to make at NASA, and Musk will certainly seek to benefit from any of them. It will be a test of my theory of congressional behavior from my dissertation (which should be published in an article this year).