Prof. Isabel Pérez Martín (Univ of Granada)
Thursday 14th August, 3:00pm @ ARRC Auditorium, 26 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington WA 6151
Title:
Tracing galaxy evolution in cosmic voids
Abstract:
I will explore the large-scale structure of the Universe, with a particular focus on the role of vast cosmic voids, the most under-dense regions in the cosmic web, and their growing importance in modern astrophysics. I will introduce the CAVITY project, a collaboration dedicated to understanding galaxy evolution in these extreme environments, and present some of its most recent and significant
results. Among these findings, I will highlight the mounting evidence that galaxies in cosmic voids evolve more slowly than those in denser regions of the cosmic web, offering a new and powerful window into the environmental drivers of galaxy formation and transformation. This journey through the emptiest parts of the Universe will challenge some of our long-standing assumptions about how galaxies grow, and reveal why voids are becoming key to unlocking new cosmological insights.
Bio:
Isabel Pérez is a Full Professor at the University of Granada in southern Spain, specialising in the structure, dynamics, and stellar populations of disc galaxies to understand their formation and evolution from both observational and theoretical perspectives. She leads the Calar Alto Void Integral-field Treasury survey (CAVITY) project, which investigates the role of large-scale environments in galaxy evolution by studying galaxies residing in cosmic voids.
After completing her undergraduate and master’s studies at the University of Manchester in the UK, she earned her Ph.D. in Astronomy
and Astrophysics in 2003 from the Australian National University under the supervision of Prof. K.F. Freeman, developing a method to determine the dark matter content of barred galaxies. She then joined the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute in Groningen, the Netherlands, as a Kapteyn Fellow. During that time, she was awarded a prestigious VENI Fellowship by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) to study the secular evolution of bars and bulges from the early Universe to the present. In 2009, Isabel joined the Department of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology (Física Teórica y del Cosmos) at the University of Granada, where she was promoted to Full Professor in 2017. She is also the Project Scientist for the WEAVE-Apertif survey and has actively contributed to several major international projects, including CALIFA, TIMER, and SIGNALS.
Beyond her scientific work, Isabel is deeply committed to fostering a more inclusive and equitable scientific community. She actively promotes gender balance, mentors early-career researchers, and advocates for flexible work environments that support diverse needs, and encourages a healthy work-life balance within her research Institute. She also has led, and leads, a wide range of outreach initiatives, at regional, national and international level, aimed at advancing social and gender inclusion through astrophysics and science outreach.
The de Laeter Colloquium series features distinguished national and international scientists as speakers, aimed at enhancing interaction between CSIRO, SKAO, the two ICRAR nodes, and high-profile centres of astronomical research around the world. It is an excellent opportunity for us to meet and discuss astronomy with prominent individuals.