ANNUAL REPORT 2017 CAASTRO Acknowledges the Support of the Australian Research Council and of NSW Trade and Investment
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ANNUAL REPORT 2017 CAASTRO acknowledges the support of the Australian Research Council and of NSW Trade and Investment. We also acknowledge the financial and in-kind support provided by our participating organisations: The University of Sydney, The University of Western Australia, The University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology, The Australian National University, Curtin University and The University of Queensland. © CAASTRO 2017. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, reproduction of any part by any process without prior written permission from the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics is not permitted. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights can be made by contacting Ms Kate Gunn, Chief Operating Officer (University of Sydney). www.caastro.org Design by Go Media Design CAASTRO 1 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 CONTENTS Introduction from the Chair 2 Presentations 68 Vision & Mission Statement 4 Workshops 82 Director’s Report 6 CAASTRO Annual Retreat 86 Research Programs 8 Education & Outreach 88 Case Studies 26 Industry and Innovation 94 CAASTRO Celebrates at Parliament House Canberra 40 The CAASTRO Legacy 96 Life Beyond CAASTRO 42 CAASTRO Locations 98 2017 Publications 44 CAASTRO Linkages 130 Student Life 54 CAASTRO Collaborations 135 CAASTRO Students 56 Key Performance Indicators 138 CAASTRO Governance 60 Financial Statements 141 CAASTRO Membership 62 Grants won by CAASTRO Members in 2017 143 Awards & Honours 64 CAASTRO People 144 Gender Action Committee 66 Glossary 156 2 INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR PROFESSOR ROBERT WILLIAMSON AO FRS FAA CHAIR, CAASTRO ADVISORY BOARD CAASTRO 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Legacy, noun /ˈlɛgəsi/ (say ‘leguhsee) 1. a gift of property, especially personal property, as money, by will; a bequest. 2. anything handed down by an ancestor or predecessor. 3. a consequence … – Macquarie Dictionary When we talk of a legacy, it is often to refer to the completed at the time CAASTRO was formed – and the end of one phase of existence and the moving of SAMI (Sydney University–AAO Multi-object Integral- people and things to another. This is a good way to field spectrograph) instrument, which was also at a think of CAASTRO. very early stage at the time. Both instruments have CAASTRO is ending, but its legacy is important in proved to be world-class and very productive. at least three ways. First, it has produced a great A highlight this year was an Advisory Board-sponsored deal of science its seven years, with a total of some celebration of CAASTRO in Parliament House, 680 refereed publications. Second, CAASTRO’s way Canberra, in August. Hosted by the Hon Craig Laundy of operating has influenced the people – students, MP, Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and postdocs, senior scientists – who have been its Science, it allowed us to bring together CAASTRO members. They, in turn, have contributed to the researchers and students with parliamentarians and organisation’s great programs. CAASTRO’s gender- their advisers. Many who came for the formalities equity program is one of the best, perhaps the best, in stayed on to chat about CAASTRO and astronomy in Australia; the links between CAASTRO and Aboriginal general. The event also gave every researcher a chance initiatives at Uluru are a model for other academic to thank Chief Operating Officer Kate Gunn and her centres; and international links always figured high on colleagues, the fine team who oiled the wheels and the list of achievements. At CAASTRO’s final Annual kept CAASTRO moving forward. Retreat in November, person after person talked about As an ‘outsider’ (a geneticist, not an astrophysicist), how the Centre had changed the culture of astronomy I have been impressed not only by CAASTRO’s in Australia. Finally, CAASTRO’s success helped give science and its community initiatives, but also by birth to two further ARC Centres of Excellence, those the extent to which astronomers and astrophysicists for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) collaborate across Australia (and, indeed, the and for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav). world). Perhaps it is because their equipment is so When CAASTRO was put together by Bryan Gaensler, expensive! However, it is a good example to other Elaine Sadler and their colleagues in 2011, it was scientists: because we are funded by the community the first such centre to be proposed for the field of through government, we should work together to astronomy. There was no model to follow, so its achieve results that will benefit the community, and policies and procedures had to be created from scratch. as effectively as possible. CAASTRO has met this The start-up process was challenging; however, an obligation in every way, and it has been a pleasure to excellent administrative team set CAASTRO up with help achieve this worthy outcome. very good foundations. During its seven years of life, CAASTRO has participated in some very exciting science, such as this year’s detection of light and radio waves from a gravitational-wave event – the merger of two neutron stars. The two standout instruments CAASTRO has been associated with have been the Murchison Widefield Array – which had not yet been 4 VISION &MISSION STATEMENT Uluru at night Credit: Josh Calcino CAASTRO 5 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 The CAASTRO Vision The CAASTRO Mission CAASTRO aims to be an CAASTRO is carrying out key science with 21st century telescopes. international leader in widefield Our goals are: astronomy, positioning Australia DISCOVER To make groundbreaking advances in our understanding of to address fundamental the Universe, thereby cementing Australia’s reputation as a world leader in unsolved questions about the astrophysical research; Universe with the dramatic capabilities of next-generation INNOVATE To develop innovative new ways of surveying the entire sky, telescopes and advanced processing enormous volumes of astronomical measurements, and visualising instrumentation. complex datasets, so as to build unique expertise in widefield radio and optical astronomy; PERFORM To make high-impact discoveries using Square Kilometre Array pathfinder telescopes, thus positioning Australia to lead the science programs planned for the SKA; EDUCATE To provide compelling new opportunities for students and early- career researchers and exciting stories to inform the public; and UNITE To bring the top astronomers from Australia and around the world together into a focused collaborative environment. About CAASTRO Astronomy has entered a golden age, in which we seek underpinned by a strong focus on training and enabling to understand the complete evolution of the Universe the next generation of scientists, thus providing a and its constituents. But the key unsolved questions in legacy extending well beyond the Centre’s lifetime. astronomy demand entirely new approaches, requiring The students we mentor and inspire will lead the enormous datasets covering the entire sky. scientific discoveries made on future widefield facilities, In recent years, Australia has invested more than culminating in the ultimate all-sky telescope, the Square $420 million both in innovative widefield telescopes Kilometre Array. CAASTRO is further motivated by the and in the powerful computers needed to process belief that science is a passionate undertaking and this the resulting torrents of data. Using these new tools, passion should be contagious. We aim to leverage the Australia now has established itself at the vanguard of high impact of our discoveries and the strong public the upcoming information revolution centred on all-sky interest they generate to highlight Australian innovation astrophysics. to the general public, and to inspire students to The ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics consider careers in science and engineering. (CAASTRO) has assembled the world-class team who now lead the flagship scientific experiments CAASTRO has received more than $30 million in funding on these new widefield facilities. CAASTRO has over the period 2011–2018. CAASTRO is led by The delivered transformational new science by bringing University of Sydney, in conjunction with The University together unique expertise in radio astronomy, optical of Western Australia, The University of Melbourne, astronomy, theoretical astrophysics and computation, Swinburne University of Technology, The Australian and by coupling all these capabilities to the powerful National University, Curtin University and The University technology in which Australia has recently invested. of Queensland, complemented by a group of world-class CAASTRO has pursued three interlinked scientific Australian and international partners. MISSION programs, each of which can be addressed only with the all-sky perspective provided by widefield telescopes: The Evolving Universe: When did the first galaxies A Universal Perspective form, and how have they evolved since? A universal perspective of the cosmos, exploring the The Dynamic Universe: What is the high-energy sky in its entirety not just section by section. physics that drives change in the Universe? A universal perspective of science, engaging The Dark Universe: What are the dark energy and teams, scientists and the public in an inclusive and dark matter that dominate the cosmos? egalitarian way. All CAASTRO activities are based on the principle that international leadership comes from commensurate A universal perspective of insight and discovery, investment in cutting-edge facilities and