AA1051: Introductory Astronomy (distance learning) – a year-long broad overview of modern astrophysics for beginners to the subject. Covers the essential physics background, measurements and coordinate systems used in astronomy, telescopes and observing conditions, stellar structure, the HR diagram and stellar evolution, the distance ladder, galaxies, and simple cosmology. Updated course notes this year to include recent advances and a new version of the core textbook. Module leader. More information.
AP2860: Physics Laboratory – running a series of astronomy experiments in the second year laboratory, on topics such as binary stars, analysing CCDs, six-week open-ended group research projects, and including evening observing sessions at UCLan’s Observatory at Alston. Rewrote all the experiments this year to align with the new (post-periodic course review) module and for updated backup data in case of bad weather. Added a new experiment to introduce some multi-wavelength astronomy. Module leader for the astrophysics half of the module.
AA3050: DL astronomy dissertation – supervising two distance learning students working their final dissertations at the end of their path through the UCLan distance learning degree in astronomy. Module leader.
AP3950: Third year physics/astronomy project – supervising students working on their BSc major research project. My student this year worked on a literature review on the topic of intermediate mass black holes.
AP4852: Advanced lab – supervising a student on a radio astronomy project, investigating star formation and accretion processes in nearby galaxies.
AP4553: MPhys project – supervising a student working on observations of a binary supermassive black hole candidate. This student was involved in an observing proposal to acquire follow-up observations, and later went on to study for a PhD.
PhD students – I am co-supervising a PhD student working on the Pebbles survey, 2017-2020.