Kat Robison, PhD
@katrobison.bsky.social
Poet, Political Scientist, Lecturer USSC/USYD, #FirstGen, Research Aficionado, Occasional Podcaster, Human (she/her). I study space, women in STEM, politics, and #scicomm. Views my own.
Fields: Space Policy, Political Communication/Behaviour, US Politics
Fields: Space Policy, Political Communication/Behaviour, US Politics
Pinned
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:
Some things never change!
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Some things never change!
When we recently surveyed Australians about their concerns around space - 41.9% cited the accumulation of space debris around Earth.
October 19, 2025 at 9:17 PM
When we recently surveyed Australians about their concerns around space - 41.9% cited the accumulation of space debris around Earth.
I spend too much time thinking about how Free Willy was basically orca propaganda.
a whale is jumping out of the water next to a boat that says bunny castro
Alt: an orca is jumping out of the water over a jetty to escape captivity - which he may have deserved if he’s off to go hunt a poor whale calf or a great white just to eat its liver
media.tenor.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I spend too much time thinking about how Free Willy was basically orca propaganda.
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.
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.
theconversation.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
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.
September 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Political violence is never the answer.
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....
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 ...
www.ussc.edu.au
August 29, 2025 at 6:17 AM
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.
August 26, 2025 at 6:30 AM
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.
Hunger and disease continue to stalk Palestinians in Gaza, and aid organizations are warning that children are at greatest risk of starvation. A U.N. worker has described people as "walking corpses."
Gaza's children are starving, the U.N. and relief organizations warn
Hunger and disease continue to stalk Palestinians in Gaza, and aid organizations are warning that children are at greatest risk of starvation. A U.N. worker has described people as "walking corpses."
n.pr
July 25, 2025 at 10:19 PM
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.
Reposted by Kat Robison, PhD
“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.”
Musk and Nicolls didn’t respond to requests from Reuters for comment.”
Musk ordered shutdown of Starlink satellite service as Ukraine retook territory from Russia
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Musk ordered shutdown of Starlink satellite service as Ukraine retook territory from Russia
A previously unreported order by Elon Musk to cut satellite communications over a portion of Ukraine disrupted a counteroffensive by Kyiv in the autumn of 2022. Reuters investigated the billionaire's order and its implications for countries increasingly reliant on his Starlink internet service.
www.reuters.com
July 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
“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.”
Musk and Nicolls didn’t respond to requests from Reuters for comment.”
Reposted by Kat Robison, PhD
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:
November 6, 2024 at 4:04 PM
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:
Reposted by Kat Robison, PhD
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:
@sydney.edu.au/USSC’s @katrobison.bsky.social joins SBS World News Weekly to unpack it.
Listen:
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...
www.sbs.com.au
June 16, 2025 at 4:51 AM
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:
@sydney.edu.au/USSC’s @katrobison.bsky.social joins SBS World News Weekly to unpack it.
Listen:
Reposted by Kat Robison, PhD
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:
But as USSC's @katrobison.bsky.social argues, real space capability requires more than ambition — it demands national strategy, investment, and sovereign focus.
Read:
Australia’s homegrown rocket needs more money and family wealth
www.ussc.edu.au
May 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
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:
But as USSC's @katrobison.bsky.social argues, real space capability requires more than ambition — it demands national strategy, investment, and sovereign focus.
Read:
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:
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.
www.afr.com
May 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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.
May 10, 2025 at 6:05 AM
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.”
Australia’s incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has won a second term in a close general election, local broadcasters project.
The result is an upset for the conservative opposition, undermined at the ballot box by its association with Donald Trump.
The result is an upset for the conservative opposition, undermined at the ballot box by its association with Donald Trump.
Australia's prime minister wins second term, local broadcasters project
It was an upset for the conservative party, whose campaign promises, including on immigration and government efficiency, were widely seen as emulating Donald Trump.
nbcnews.to
May 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
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.”
I’m just wondering who thought this was a good slogan:
May 3, 2025 at 12:31 AM
I’m just wondering who thought this was a good slogan:
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....
storage.courtlistener.com
April 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
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.
April 2, 2025 at 9:21 AM
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 New Jersey Democrat spent more than 25 hours criticizing the Trump administration's policies on immigration, education, the economy and more since 7 p.m. ET Monday. He ended his marathon speech shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Cory Booker breaks a 68-year-old Senate record with a 25-hour speech
The New Jersey Democrat spent more than 25 hours criticizing the Trump administration's policies on immigration, education, the economy and more since 7 p.m. ET Monday. He ended his marathon speech sh...
www.npr.org
April 2, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Booker breaking Thurmond’s record is perfect (and that he spoke coherently about actual issues the entire time is just as impressive).
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....
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.
www.reuters.com
March 21, 2025 at 1:50 AM
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....
Reposted by Kat Robison, PhD
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
Deadline April 1st! Apply for the Paul Volcker Junior Scholar Research Grant! Section 6, Public Administration, invites applications from junior scholars researching public administration issues affecting governance. Learn more buff.ly/oFAuKIq @apsapublicadmin
buff.ly
March 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
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.
US astronauts stranded on ISS for nine months to return to Earth on Tuesday, Nasa says
US astronauts stranded on ISS for nine months to return to Earth on Tuesday, Nasa says
Journey of Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft will be broadcast live
A pair of US astronauts stuck for more than nine months on the International Space Station will be returned to Earth on Tuesday evening, Nasa has said.
Barry…
www.theguardian.com
March 17, 2025 at 11:25 AM
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.
March 12, 2025 at 11:38 PM
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).
NASA is eliminating its chief scientist and other roles as part of efforts by the Trump administration to pare back staff at the agency’s Washington headquarters.
NASA Eliminates Chief Scientist and Other Jobs at Its Headquarters
About 19 positions will be cut, including those in offices focused on technology policy and diversity, equity and inclusion.
www.nytimes.com
March 12, 2025 at 11:12 PM
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).