Biography

Did you know that tiny magnets, 1000 times thinner than a human hair, are used in cancer treatments, computers and even in self-repairing paints? Theoretical physicist Dr Karen Livesey is designing new nano-sized magnets to address technological challenges, such as reducing the energy that today’s computers use, and heating inoperable cancer tumours to improve health outcomes.

Karen was the first in her family to finish high school and went on to study Physics at the University of Western Australia, completing a PhD in 2010. For almost 10 years, she worked at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs reaching the rank of Associate Professor. While the covid-19 pandemic was raging, she moved to Newcastle NSW with her family in 2020. She is currently a Senior Lecturer of Physics at the University of Newcastle, and an Associate Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low Energy Electronic Technologies. She is a 2023-24 Superstar of STEM and the 2023 Women in Physics lecturer for the Australian Institute of Physics.

Along with a passion for physics and mathematics, Karen has a love for sharing this through her university teaching and through chats with community groups. She gives invited talks around the globe and has received research and teaching awards in the United States, Canada, UK and Australia.