News & Events at the Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire

News & Events

UCLan and NASA to share an avalanche of secrets from the Sun

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) today announced its role in a major international team that will shine new light on the Sun's mysteries like never before. On 10th February 2010, NASA will launch a new solar observing satellite named the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) which will study the Sun's magnetic field and corona, to find out what governs changes in the Sun's activity and thus how that activity affects Planet Earth.

UCLan awarded £0.3M grant to unravel the origin of infrared emission in the early Universe

Dr. Cristina C. Popescu of the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute (JHI) for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at UCLan has been awarded a £0.3M grant from the Science and Technology Facility Council (STFC) to investigate the origin of infrared emission from galaxies in the early universe. The funding will be used to help unravel the fundamental questions of how and when the initial smoothly distributed matter in the universe condensed to form galaxies and stars over the period ranging from a hundred million years since the big bang, to the current time 14 billion years later.

Third annual Undergraduate Research School

Sponsored
by the Royal Astronomical Society The Centre for Astrophysics is pleased to announce the third annual Undergraduate Research School from the 14th to the 18th December 2009. We are funding up to 20 delegates (third and fourth year undergraduates in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, mathematics or computer science) to spend a week with the researchers of the Centre engaging in a range of research activities applying modern techniques, including high-performance computing and 3D visualisation, to contemporary problems in science.

New students 2008

The Centre for Astrophysics is delighted to welcome four new research students starting 2008 October. They come from a variety of backgrounds and institutions, studying towards doctorates or masters by research.

Lancashire astrophysics students win National Astronomy prizes

Jaz Pearson, a mathematics graduate of the Univeristy of Central Lancashire and now a research student within the Centre for Astrophysics, has won one of the top prizes at the 2008 National Astronomy Meeting taking place in Belfast this week. Against competition from hundreds of other research students from across the United Kingdom and beyond, Jaz's poster presentation of his research into solar astrophysics was overwhelmingly recognised for the quality of the science as well as its presentation. He walks away with a top of the range Dell laptop pc for his efforts.

In a separate competition another of our research students Sotiris Adamakis has also won a prize for his presentation of the application of statistical techniques to the modelling of solar plasmas.

Invisible sunspots uncovered

A team of scientists led by Silvia Dalla, of the Centre for Astrophysics, have discovered that 44 percent of new sunspots forming in the West of the Sun are invisible to our best telescopes. The work made use of software developed by the UK's Virtual Observatory project: AstroGrid.

New research students

The Centre is pleased to welcome four new research students to the University. Coming from a range of backgrounds, they will be working on a variety of projects within our extra-galactic research programme. They join six existing research students within the Centre.

UCLan's co-proposed SPICA space observatory wins "Cosmic Vision" competition

In one of the most eagerly awaited decisions on the future of European Space Astronomy, the green light has been given for the development of a major space astronomy mission involving UCLan. The next generation infrared space observatory SPICA, co-proposed by a team of European and Japanese scientists including Dr. Cristina C. Popescu of the Centre for Astrophysics (CfA), has been accepted by the European Space Agency (ESA) for inclusion within the agency's "Cosmic Visions" program of space science missions to be flown in the 2015-2025 period. Of over 100 candidate missions, SPICA (standing for Space Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics) was one of just 5 to be selected for funding. The acceptance of SPICA consequently represents a major breakthrough for the participating institutes, including UCLan's CfA.

Dr Silvia Dalla joins UCLan

The Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to welcome Dr Silvia Dalla to our solar astrophysics group. She will also continue as Astrogrid Deputy Project Scientist and contribute to our distance learning and Masters programmes.

Centre for Astrophysics Research Discussions 2007/8 season

The 2007/8 season of Centre for Astrophysics Research Discussions (CARDs) begins on the 12 September with Rok Roskar, who is visiting us from University of Washington, Department of Astronomy. The programme extends through the academic year and provides an opportunity for the group to discuss particular research subjects in depth.

Soliciting for Externally-Funded Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Centre for Astrophysics is pleased to report that in response to its rapid growth, the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) have allocated a significantly increased quota of five (5) STFC Fellowship Applications that may be supported and submitted by the Centre. The deadline for receipt of applications is 11 October 2007, and in light of the competitive nature of these most prestigious Fellowships, we would encourage interested potential Fellows to contact Prof Brad Gibson, by mid-August, in order to coordinate a strong submission to the STFC. More...

National Astronomy Meeting great success

The Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy meeting was a great success. Hosted in Preston by the Centre for Astrophysics, University of Central Lancashire, the Meeting was attended by over 500 delegates discussing cutting-edge science, from solar-terrestrial physics to the formation of the Universe.

RAS-NAM, UKSP and MIST registration closed

RAS-NAM, UKSP and MIST registration open

RAS-NAM UK Solar Physics Spring MIST 2007 Centre
for Astrophysics UCLan Registration for the Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting, along with the UK Solar Physics and MIST 2007 meetings, is now open. Bringing together the UK astronomy, solar physics and solar-terrestrial communities for the first time, this meeting in Preston on the 16th to the 20th April promises to be the biggest yet. See www.nam2007.uclan.ac.uk for details.

Dr Andrea Marcolini joins UCLan

The Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to announce the arrival of its newest staff member, Dr Andrea Marcolini. Andrea completed his PhD last year in Bologna, and after a 6-month appointment in Vienna, is now commencing his position at UCLan. Andrea is a world-leader in computational galaxy formation, with particular expertise in the modeling of dark galaxies, galactic superwinds, and the emission propeties of high-velocity clouds.

Professor Colin Pillinger gives Royal Institution Lecture at UCLan

Beagle 2 was due to land on Mars on 25th December 2003. The spacecraft was ejected successfully from Mars Express on 19th December 2003 but nothing has been heard from the lander on the Martian surface and the mission is presumed lost. In spite of this, Mars Express has been very successful in its mission. Several hundred members of the public joined Professor Colin Pillinger, lead scientist for Beagle 2, on the third anniversary of the mission as he talked about this inspiring space venture and his future plans for reaching Mars.

New research students

The Centre welcomes three new students onto the PhD programme this year.

United Kingdom Solar Physics and MIST 2007 meetings

The UK Solar Physics and MIST communities will be descending on UCLan in 2007 as they attend joint meetings with the RAS National Astronomy Meeting.

Dr Stephanie Courty joins UCLan

The Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to announce the arrival of its newest staff member, Dr Stephanie Courty.

Dr Patricia Sanchez Blazquez joins UCLan

Dr Patricia Sánchez-Blázquez, who is leaving her position at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, joined the Centre for Astrophysics on 7th August 2006. She holds a Marie Curie Fellowship, awarded to enable her to develop as a theorist and computational astrophysicist

Centre wins Academic Fellowship in Galaxy Formation

The Centre for Astrophysics is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an Academic
Fellowship in High Performance Computational Galaxy Formation from the Research Councils of the United Kingdom (RCUK).

National Astronomy Meeting 2007

The Centre for Astrophysics at UCLan is to host the RAS/PPARC National Astronomy Meeting in 2007 April. This will being together hundreds of astronomers from across the UK and beyond to discuss the latest advances in astronomy and astrophysics.

PhD studentships

The Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to announce the availability of up to two PhD studentships (including fees and tax-free maintenance grants) commencing October 2006.

NASA job for UCLan graduate

[TRACE image of solar magnetic loops showing and arcade of emission] Dr Mike Marsh, who recently graduated with a PhD in Solar Physics from UCLan, is taking up a research fellowship at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Maryland. This facility operates many of NASA's satellites, including solar observatories SOHO and TRACE. Mike will be working with Drs Jack Ireland and Therese Kucera, working on MHD wave
seismology of the solar atmosphere.

Professor Brad Gibson joins UCLan

[Brad Gibson and a galaxy formation simulation] Coming from Swinburne University, Professor Brad Gibson joined the University's Centre for Astrophysics on the 1st February 2006. He has been appointed the new Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics, and is charged with overseeing the development of a new, vibrant, program of computational and theoretical astrophysics.

Centre for Astrophysics Research Discussions

Regular discussions of research by staff and students of the Centre.

Donuts

Weekly get together to dicuss astrophysics, life, the Universe and everything

2005

Header Image : V838 Mon and Tadpole Galaxy : credit NASA, H. Ford (JHU), G. Illingworth (UCSC/LO), M.Clampin (STScI), G. Hartig (STScI), the ACS Science Team, and ESA ; and solar plume courtesy of SOHO /EIT consortium

Author: SPSEyres. Last Updated: 12 February, 2009 13:10


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Also in this section News & Events Seminar series Meetings & Workshops External Talks CARDs Donuts PhD studentships Address Centre for Astrophysics, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE United Kingdom Tel 01772 893540 Fax 01772 892996 News & Events UCLan and NASA to share an avalanche of secrets from the Sun The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) today announced its role in a major international team that will shine new light on the Sun's mysteries like never before. On 10th February 2010, NASA will launch a new solar observing satellite named the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) which will study the Sun's magnetic field and corona, to find out what governs changes in the Sun's activity and thus how that activity affects Planet Earth. UCLan awarded £0.3M grant to unravel the origin of infrared emission in the early Universe Dr. Cristina C. Popescu of the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute (JHI) for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at UCLan has been awarded a £0.3M grant from the Science and Technology Facility Council (STFC) to investigate the origin of infrared emission from galaxies in the early universe. The funding will be used to help unravel the fundamental questions of how and when the initial smoothly distributed matter in the universe condensed to form galaxies and stars over the period ranging from a hundred million years since the big bang, to the current time 14 billion years later. Third annual Undergraduate Research School The Centre for Astrophysics is pleased to announce the third annual Undergraduate Research School from the 14th to the 18th December 2009. We are funding up to 20 delegates (third and fourth year undergraduates in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, mathematics or computer science) to spend a week with the researchers of the Centre engaging in a range of research activities applying modern techniques, including high-performance computing and 3D visualisation, to contemporary problems in science. New students 2008 The Centre for Astrophysics is delighted to welcome four new research students starting 2008 October. They come from a variety of backgrounds and institutions, studying towards doctorates or masters by research. Lancashire astrophysics students win National Astronomy prizes Jaz Pearson, a mathematics graduate of the Univeristy of Central Lancashire and now a research student within the Centre for Astrophysics, has won one of the top prizes at the 2008 National Astronomy Meeting taking place in Belfast this week. Against competition from hundreds of other research students from across the United Kingdom and beyond, Jaz's poster presentation of his research into solar astrophysics was overwhelmingly recognised for the quality of the science as well as its presentation. He walks away with a top of the range Dell laptop pc for his efforts. In a separate competition another of our research students Sotiris Adamakis has also won a prize for his presentation of the application of statistical techniques to the modelling of solar plasmas. Invisible sunspots uncovered A team of scientists led by Silvia Dalla, of the Centre for Astrophysics, have discovered that 44 percent of new sunspots forming in the West of the Sun are invisible to our best telescopes. The work made use of software developed by the UK's Virtual Observatory project: AstroGrid. New research students The Centre is pleased to welcome four new research students to the University. Coming from a range of backgrounds, they will be working on a variety of projects within our extra-galactic research programme. They join six existing research students within the Centre. UCLan's co-proposed SPICA space observatory wins "Cosmic Vision" competition In one of the most eagerly awaited decisions on the future of European Space Astronomy, the green light has been given for the development of a major space astronomy mission involving UCLan. The next generation infrared space observatory SPICA, co-proposed by a team of European and Japanese scientists including Dr. Cristina C. Popescu of the Centre for Astrophysics (CfA), has been accepted by the European Space Agency (ESA) for inclusion within the agency's "Cosmic Visions" program of space science missions to be flown in the 2015-2025 period. Of over 100 candidate missions, SPICA (standing for Space Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics) was one of just 5 to be selected for funding. The acceptance of SPICA consequently represents a major breakthrough for the participating institutes, including UCLan's CfA. Dr Silvia Dalla joins UCLan The Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to welcome Dr Silvia Dalla to our solar astrophysics group. She will also continue as Astrogrid Deputy Project Scientist and contribute to our distance learning and Masters programmes. Centre for Astrophysics Research Discussions 2007/8 season The 2007/8 season of Centre for Astrophysics Research Discussions (CARDs) begins on the 12 September with Rok Roskar, who is visiting us from University of Washington, Department of Astronomy. The programme extends through the academic year and provides an opportunity for the group to discuss particular research subjects in depth. Soliciting for Externally-Funded Postdoctoral Fellowships The Centre for Astrophysics is pleased to report that in response to its rapid growth, the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) have allocated a significantly increased quota of five (5) STFC Fellowship Applications that may be supported and submitted by the Centre. The deadline for receipt of applications is 11 October 2007, and in light of the competitive nature of these most prestigious Fellowships, we would encourage interested potential Fellows to contact Prof Brad Gibson, by mid-August, in order to coordinate a strong submission to the STFC. More... National Astronomy Meeting great success The Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy meeting was a great success. Hosted in Preston by the Centre for Astrophysics, University of Central Lancashire, the Meeting was attended by over 500 delegates discussing cutting-edge science, from solar-terrestrial physics to the formation of the Universe. RAS-NAM, UKSP and MIST registration closed Registration for the Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting, along with the UK Solar Physics and MIST 2007 meetings, has now closed. Over 500 delegates have registered. See you in Preston! RAS-NAM, UKSP and MIST registration open Registration for the Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting, along with the UK Solar Physics and MIST 2007 meetings, is now open. Bringing together the UK astronomy, solar physics and solar-terrestrial communities for the first time, this meeting in Preston on the 16th to the 20th April promises to be the biggest yet. See www.nam2007.uclan.ac.uk for details. Dr Andrea Marcolini joins UCLan The Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to announce the arrival of its newest staff member, Dr Andrea Marcolini. Andrea completed his PhD last year in Bologna, and after a 6-month appointment in Vienna, is now commencing his position at UCLan. Andrea is a world-leader in computational galaxy formation, with particular expertise in the modeling of dark galaxies, galactic superwinds, and the emission propeties of high-velocity clouds. Professor Colin Pillinger gives Royal Institution Lecture at UCLan Beagle 2 was due to land on Mars on 25th December 2003. The spacecraft was ejected successfully from Mars Express on 19th December 2003 but nothing has been heard from the lander on the Martian surface and the mission is presumed lost. In spite of this, Mars Express has been very successful in its mission. Several hundred members of the public joined Professor Colin Pillinger, lead scientist for Beagle 2, on the third anniversary of the mission as he talked about this inspiring space venture and his future plans for reaching Mars. New research students The Centre welcomes three new students onto the PhD programme this year. United Kingdom Solar Physics and MIST 2007 meetings The UK Solar Physics and MIST communities will be descending on UCLan in 2007 as they attend joint meetings with the RAS National Astronomy Meeting. Dr Stephanie Courty joins UCLan The Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to announce the arrival of its newest staff member, Dr Stephanie Courty. Dr Patricia Sanchez Blazquez joins UCLan Dr Patricia Sánchez-Blázquez, who is leaving her position at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, joined the Centre for Astrophysics on 7th August 2006. She holds a Marie Curie Fellowship, awarded to enable her to develop as a theorist and computational astrophysicist Centre wins Academic Fellowship in Galaxy Formation The Centre for Astrophysics is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an Academic Fellowship in High Performance Computational Galaxy Formation from the Research Councils of the United Kingdom (RCUK). National Astronomy Meeting 2007 The Centre for Astrophysics at UCLan is to host the RAS/PPARC National Astronomy Meeting in 2007 April. This will being together hundreds of astronomers from across the UK and beyond to discuss the latest advances in astronomy and astrophysics. PhD studentships The Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to announce the availability of up to two PhD studentships (including fees and tax-free maintenance grants) commencing October 2006. NASA job for UCLan graduate Dr Mike Marsh, who recently graduated with a PhD in Solar Physics from UCLan, is taking up a research fellowship at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Maryland. This facility operates many of NASA's satellites, including solar observatories SOHO and TRACE. Mike will be working with Drs Jack Ireland and Therese Kucera, working on MHD wave seismology of the solar atmosphere. Professor Brad Gibson joins UCLan Coming from Swinburne University, Professor Brad Gibson joined the University's Centre for Astrophysics on the 1st February 2006. He has been appointed the new Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics, and is charged with overseeing the development of a new, vibrant, program of computational and theoretical astrophysics. Centre for Astrophysics Research Discussions Regular discussions of research by staff and students of the Centre. Donuts Weekly get together to dicuss astrophysics, life, the Universe and everything 2005 Astronomy at Astrofest Two new PhD students New research students Thabo Mbeki at SALT inauguration Four new post-doctoral staff join the CFA Header Image : V838 Mon and Tadpole Galaxy : credit NASA, H. Ford (JHU), G. Illingworth (UCSC/LO), M.Clampin (STScI), G. Hartig (STScI), the ACS Science Team, and ESA ; and solar plume courtesy of SOHO /EIT consortium Author: SPSEyres. Last Updated: 12 February, 2009 13:10
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