International Women’s Day Assembly 7th March 2025

As part of the JMSS celebration of International Women’s Day, we were privileged to have Dr Alina Donea as the keynote speaker for our whole school assembly on Friday 7th March. Dr Donea is a Senior Lecturer in Astrophysics and Applied Mathematics at Monash University, and a PhD supervisor in Solar Physics. She specialises in helioseismology, wave mechanics, and solar activity, using Helioseismic Holography to detect solar quakes from satellite images. Her recent work applies AI and deep learning to solar imaging and space weather forecasting. With over 60 publications, she has collaborated with NASA and serves as an expert reviewer for their solar research programs.

She delivered an inspiring message about the power of curiosity, knowing yourself and your skillset, and being courageous in pursuing your passions. Her ending quote “Never stop doing things for the first time” encouraged students to step out of their comfort zones and be open to trying new things as a means of personal growth and to pursue those things that make them curious.

What a fantastic role model for all of our students, and particularly for our young female students looking to move into fields in which women are typically underrepresented.

Melanie Denney (Acting Assistant Principal)

Zimo Xie and Roger Nguyen (Blackburn House Captains)