Sandra McLaren is an Australian

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, althou ...

. Interested in geology and

geothermal energy Geothermal energy is the thermal energy in the Earth's crust which originates from the formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of materials in currently uncertain but possibly roughly equal proportions. The high temperature and pres ...

from a young age, McLaren completed her PhD at

Adelaide University The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

in 2001 and is currently an Associate Professor at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

. She is a noted science communicator and educator, especially on the topic of

sustainable energy Energy is sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Most definitions of sustainable energy include considerations of environmental aspects such as greenh ...

through hot rocks in southern Australia. In 2008, McLaren received a Victorian Young Tall Poppy Award, and attended the inaugural InterAcademy Panel meeting for Young Scientists. In 2008 she received the

Australian Academy of Science The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The academy is modelled after the Royal Soci ...

Dorothy Hill award The Dorothy Hill Medal is awarded annually and honours the contributions of the late Professor Dorothy Hill to Australian Earth science and her work in opening up tertiary science education to women. The award supports research in the Earth scien ...

. The same year, she and Professor Mike Sandford received a grant from the

Australian Research Council The Australian Research Council (ARC) is the primary non-medical research funding agency of the Australian Government, distributing more than in grants each year. The Council was established by the ''Australian Research Council Act 2001'', ...

to research the mechanics of hot rocks and subsequently the potential for geothermal energy in Australia. She was a member of the

Global Young Academy The Global Young Academy is an international society of young scientists, aiming to give a voice to young scientists across the globe.... Membership strength is capped at 200, and the membership tenure is 5 years. Organization and membership Th ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McLaren, Sandra Australian geologists Australian women scientists Living people Year of birth missing (living people) University of Adelaide alumni Academic staff of the University of Melbourne