Dr Alan Duffy, Astronomer Qualifications PhD (Astronomy), University of Manchester (2009) MPhys (1st) Physics with Study in Europe, University of Manchester (2005) As an experienced astronomer, Alan has numerous published articles on a range of Summary of topics within general astronomy and cosmology (several of his papers are amongst Experience the Top 1% most highly cited astronomy articles in the world of their year). His papers have won commendation in the Louise Webster award of the Astronomical » Professional Society of Australia, Best UWA Publication of 2012 by an early career researcher astronomer at both Australian and and State Winner in the Fresh Science Award 2013. International research positions He has observed local galaxies with one of the largest telescopes in Australia, the » 4th year of postdoctoral 64m Parkes dish (star of the film The Dish) and created baby universes on the research in Astronomy fastest supercomputers in Australia. » Speaker at National and International Alan is recognised for his enthusiasm, communication skills, insight, and is well- conferences respected for his contribution to astronomy research and outreach in Australia and » Co-lectured popular Astro 101 course for Europe. He retains strong international links in the form of his membership with the Arts students at Melbourne University world-wide OWLS collaboration as well as being a co-investigator in two top rated » Extensive radio, print surveys on the next-generation Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. and TV experience He regularly speaks on topics such as » Co-host of web based lecture series • Cosmology (Dark Matter & Dark Energy, the Expanding Universe) » Taught astronomy to over 500 pupils across Galaxy Formation (The Milky Way, Nature of the First Galaxies and Stars) all school years • » Invited speaker for • Solar System (Making Earth, the Phenomenon of Tides and Solar Eclipses) general public talks, inc SciTech Evening talks, He is also routinely invited to speak at science conferences and general public National Science Week at WA Museum, TEDx events, with dozens of school visits, evening lectures at Science at the Edge series talk, Adelaide Fringe in Melbourne, National Science Week evening lectures at the WA State Museum, » Star & co-creator of planetarium movie Rotary Clubs and non-profit organisations such as SciTech and State Museums. “Dark” Alan has extensive experience in media, with a live TV interview for an international audience on Al Jazeera news, nationally on ABC Breakfast, and numerous national radio broadcasts (ABC Breakfast News, ABC PM show, ABC World Today show, 2UE Sydney, Triple R, ABC Drivetime WA, ABC Mornings Southcoast, 3AW Drive, ABC 774 Talk). Additionally, he has been interviewed in national print across Australia (for The Age, Brisbane Times, Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times and Newcastle Herald). Most excitingly was a two-page interview in renowned science publication Nature and being one of Sunday Time Magazine’s “Best and Brightest” in Western Australia! Academic Portfolio 07/12 - now Postdoctoral Research Fellow (University of Melbourne) and Contributions to 07/12 - now Adjunct Postdoctoral Research Associate (ICRAR, UWA) Astronomy Research 09/09 – 06/12 Postdoctoral Research Associate (ICRAR, UWA) Alan has worked on understanding the formation of galaxies like our own Milky Way through creating universes within supercomputers. In particular he has used these to optimise designs for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, a next- generation radio telescope that is the prototype for an even large facility, the Square Kilometre Array. Key contributions since during his time at ICRAR include: • Discovering widely used Dark Matter halo concentration - mass relation • Winning single greatest allocation of supercomputing time in the University 09/05 – 08/09 PhD Astronomy University of Manchester Supervisor Dr Richard Battye. Participated in Marie Curie Early Training Scheme at University of Leiden. 10/01 – 06/05 MPhys (1st) Physics with Study in Europe University of Manchester. Participated in Erasmus exchange with University of Amsterdam. School Talks Alan has spoken to over 500 pupils at both primary and secondary schools on basic astronomy topics, including the Galaxy, observing planets in different wavelengths, how solar eclipses work, aboriginal astronomers and what makes a planet. To date he has spoken at Narrogin Senior High School, East Narrogin Primary School, Narrogin Primary School, St. Matthew’s School, O’Connor Primary School, Boulder Primary School, North Kalgoorlie Primary School, South Kalgoorlie Primary School, Goldfields Baptist College and School of the Air. He also spoke about cosmology to Melbourne schools during Science Day at the University of Melbourne, schools included Copperfield College (Kings Park and Sydenham campus), Galvin Park Secondary College, Kurunjang Secondary College, Montmorency Secondary College, Mount Alexander College, Roxburgh College, Santa Maria College, and Strathmore College. Finally, he was the keynote speaker at a Federal Inspiring Australia Initiative; the Science Career Carousel hosted at Karratha High School, and spoke at St Luke’s College and Roeburne Indigenous High School. Community Talks He has given evening astronomy lectures at the WA State Museum, SciTech planetarium, Mt Burnett Observatory, Astronomy Society of Victoria and the ‘Science at the Edge’ series sponsored by The Age. Keen to engage with the general public Alan has been an invited speaker at several Rotary Clubs, Science Days for schools and even an Adelaide Fringe Show. University Talks Co-lectured an Astro 101 course at the University of Melbourne for Arts Faculty students. Created an Introductory Cosmology course for first year undergraduate physics students at UWA, as well as a general user online version to expand the potential audience. Together with the general public outreach team at the University of Western Australia, known as SPICE, he created a course for Secondary Physics teachers to instruct them in cosmology and how best to teach year 10 - 11 students. .