At the heart of almost every galaxy lies a supermassive black hole. As these black holes grow, they power the most energetic process in the Universe, capable of shaping the evolution of entire galaxies. Rebecca’s research seeks to understand how this process has influenced the history of the cosmos.
Rebecca’s research addresses a fundamental gap in our understanding of cosmic history: how supermassive black holes influence the evolution of the galaxies surrounding them.
While almost every galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole at its core, how these black holes switch on and off, and how their intense energy outputs shape their host galaxies over time, remains an active puzzle. As part of the Hector Galaxy Survey team at the Anglo-Australian Telescope, Rebecca traces the movement of gas and stars across thousands of galaxies. This mapping will reveal connection between central black hole activity and broader galactic environments across a vast, diverse sample.
Furthermore, as astronomy enters an era of unprecedented data collection, Rebecca helps lead international efforts for the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, a project that will monitor the night sky every day for 10 years. By co-chairing working groups focused on how central black holes change over time, she builds the tools needed to turn nightly observations into clear insights, unlocking the full potential of next-generation telescopes to map the history of our Universe.