Jeremiah Horrocks Institute (JHI)

Our research and knowledge exchange institute carries out teaching and research in areas of Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy.

Our institute is based in Preston as part of the University of Central Lancashire. The Institute contains about 30 teaching and research staff.

The institute established in 1927 as the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory (JHO) on Moor Park. In 1993 it became the Centre for Astrophysics. Renamed in 2004 as the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute (JHI) for Astrophysics and Super-Computing.

Our institute grew in 2012 to become the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute for Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy. We carry out teaching in all of these areas. We pursue research into:

  • Analytical acoustics
  • Non-associative algebras
  • Model theory and its applications
  • Theoretical and laboratory-based physics
  • The astrophysics of planets, stars, galaxies and the Universe.
  • Research

    100+ peer-reviewed research papers published by JHI members every year.
  • Knowledge exchange

    Longstanding connection with NASA and selected as the British Centre for the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
  • Public Engagement

    3000+ attendees of JHI outreach events (public talks, exhibitions, etc) per year.

Alston Observatory

The Alston Observatory is the teaching and public outreach facility of the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute.

Slides 1 to 2 of 26

Our academics

dward-thompson
Professor Derek Ward-Thompson
Head of School
School of Engineering and Computing

Derek teaches across a rage of subjects in Physics and Astrophysics. His particular expertise lies in the fields of star and planet formation, as well as interstellar magnetic fields, from the most diffuse regions of space to the dense environments around the event horizons of bl…

Megan Argo in a black starry dress and grey cardigan smiling
Dr Megan Argo
Senior Lecturer
School of Engineering and Computing

Megan is an astrophysicist studying galaxies, supernovae and black holes at high resolution using large networks of radio telescopes. She teaches across both the on-campus and distance learning degrees in Physics and Astronomy including introductory courses, laboratory classes, …

Solar Dynamics Observatory project

UCLan SDO is dedicated to the study of the solar atmosphere.

Find out more about this project

To find out more about the Institute, its seminars, meetings, workshops and public events, please see the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute website.