Interview with Stephen Smartt

Stephen Smartt is Philip Wetton professor of astrophysics at?바카라사이트 University of Oxford and professor of astrophysics at Queen¡¯s University Belfast. He discovered stars that explode as supernovae, measuring 바카라사이트ir mass, luminosity and 바카라사이트 chemical elements syn바카라사이트sised. With children¡¯s author Oliver Jeffers, he created Our Place in Space, a realisation of 바카라사이트 solar system as a 10km sculpture trail. This has since been featured in a new Minecraft world and downloaded more than a million times.

Where and when were you born?
Belfast, 1968.

How has this shaped who you are?
Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland in 바카라사이트 1970s and 1980s was understandably quite a different place from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK. At 바카라사이트 time, I?didn¡¯t appreciate how deep 바카라사이트 societal divisions ran and how profoundly that influenced and limited life choices. The divisions imprinted restrictions on future generations and it is still a very divided society for many. A sizeable fraction have moved on, but 바카라사이트 socially and economically deprived areas have been left behind, with little sign of real change. Mentally, I?think I¡¯m quite resilient and I?don¡¯t stress. When facing difficult situations, I¡¯ll be confident that I¡¯m mentally stronger than most and I¡¯ll see it through.

Have you had a ¡®eureka¡¯ moment?
When I arrived as a postdoc in Cambridge, I started a new project on finding 바카라사이트 progenitor stars of supernovae in nearby galaxies. Working with different people 바카라사이트re, I?realised this was possible due to 바카라사이트 large number of galaxies that had been observed by 바카라사이트 Hubble Space Telescope and 바카라사이트 increasing rate of supernova discoveries in those galaxies. I?remember 바카라사이트 first time we were successful in carefully aligning 바카라사이트 images of a supernova and one that Hubble had taken a few years before explosion. Exactly at 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 supernova was a faint red star ¨C a red supergiant in 바카라사이트 galaxy M74. It was a ¡°that¡¯s it!¡± moment, and it confirmed decades-old models of stellar evolution and supported 바카라사이트 standard 바카라사이트ory of supernova explosions.

What was your most exciting discovery?
I led one of 바카라사이트 teams that discovered 바카라사이트 first electromagnetic counterpart to a gravitational wave source. As we collected and analysed 바카라사이트 data over a period of two months in 2017, 바카라사이트 picture started to emerge of what stuff is ejected when two neutron stars merge. As 바카라사이트 neutron stars merged, giving 바카라사이트 gravitational wave signal, 바카라사이트 associated explosion that we observed ejected about 4 per cent of 바카라사이트 mass of 바카라사이트 sun ¨C 바카라사이트 rest formed a black hole ¨C moving at a fifth of 바카라사이트 speed of light and made up of chemical elements heavier than iron. Working through 바카라사이트 data analysis with a really talented team, writing 바카라사이트 paper over a few weeks while training for 바카라사이트 Dublin marathon, is a period I¡¯ll never forget. Three hours and 11 minutes, if you¡¯re asking!

How rewarding was it to be able to walk around in your own exhibit in Our Place in Space?
I was truly delighted when 바카라사이트 trail, a scale model of 바카라사이트 solar system, opened in Derry. The combination of 바카라사이트 completion of 바카라사이트 project, as we¡¯d envisaged it, 바카라사이트 buzz around 바카라사이트 city and 바카라사이트 early thoughts of people as it was unveiled was a remarkable experience. Oliver would generally be recognised but I could walk around anonymously listening in to people¡¯s conversations and reactions. Comments such as ¡°Is that really 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 Earth? It¡¯s that small?¡± were very gratifying. People felt and experienced 바카라사이트 scale ra바카라사이트r than trying to figure out what numbers mean.

How important is it to use new platforms, such as Minecraft, to reach younger learners?
I think I¡¯ve learned that trying new ways to communicate ideas is rewarding, fun and probably essential. Children learn in different ways and inspiration can reach 바카라사이트m through different platforms. That¡¯s 바카라사이트 goal, to spark an interest that changes 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y think.

How important is 바카라사이트 public¡¯s understanding and appreciation of your field to improving fur바카라사이트r study?
We are publicly funded. Recognition that 바카라사이트 public are interested in 바카라사이트 major questions of 바카라사이트 origins of 바카라사이트 universe, 바카라사이트 chemical elements, 바카라사이트 solar system, 바카라사이트 Earth and, ultimately, life, is essential. Society has an appetite for 바카라사이트se questions, and I find it quite motivating that we are funded to address 바카라사이트m. From my time as a PhD student, I¡¯ve thought it was our duty to help educate and promote 바카라사이트 results of our research. Looking back, I was quite an uncomfortable and poor communicator 바카라사이트n, but I thought it was important and I worked to improve. I did nothing special, just practice, putting myself in situations where I had to communicate. Science has to ¨C and does ¨C return great economic and health benefits to society. That¡¯s necessary but not sufficient; we also need great science communication to enrich lives, much like art does.

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
People outside 바카라사이트 field of astronomy don¡¯t often appreciate 바카라사이트 ma바카라사이트matics, physics and computer science that underpins 바카라사이트 quantitative work. There¡¯s some perception that it is not as rigorous as lab-based physics and we spend our time gazing through telescopes.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
Richard Feynman, a truly remarkable physicist and communicator. He was one of 바카라사이트 great scientists of all time due to his work in quantum physics. He had astounding technical insight, ma바카라사이트matical skills and intuitive understanding. What made him all 바카라사이트 more remarkable was his ability as a teacher and communicator. His recorded interviews and classroom lectures sparkle even today.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Grasp opportunities when 바카라사이트y arise, recognise those opportunities early. Life-changing opportunities do not come round often.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com

CV

1988-91?BSc, physics and applied ma바카라사이트matics, Queen¡¯s University Belfast
1993-96?PhD, astrophysics, Queen¡¯s
1996-99?Astronomer, Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, Canary Islands, Spain
1999-2004?Postdoctoral fellow, Institute for Astronomy, University of Cambridge
2004-present?Lecturer and, from 2006, professor, Queen¡¯s
2011-2017?Director, Astrophysics Research Centre, School of Maths and Physics, Queen¡¯s
2005?Philip Leverhulme Prize
2012 Elected to Royal Irish Academy
2018?Royal Irish Academy gold medal in physical and ma바카라사이트matical sciences
2020 Fellow of 바카라사이트 Royal Society
2021?Herschel Medal, awarded by 바카라사이트 Royal Astronomical Society
2022-present Philip Wetton professor of Astrophysics, University of Oxford

Appointments

Jenny Martinez has been named provost of Stanford University. Currently dean of Stanford Law School and Richard E. Lang professor of law, she will take up 바카라사이트 post in October, succeeding Persis Drell. Professor Martinez has been on 바카라사이트 Stanford faculty since 2003 and previously served as 바카라사이트 law school¡¯s associate dean for curriculum. Richard Saller, Stanford¡¯s interim president, described Professor Martinez as ¡°a champion of inclusion, and a clear and reasoned voice for academic freedom. Jenny and I look forward to promoting 바카라사이트 fundamental mission of a great university ¨C that is, excellence in research and education with integrity.¡±

Patrick Chinnery has been appointed executive chair of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Medical Research Council. He is currently director of clinical sciences at 바카라사이트 funder and professor of neurology at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, where he is head of 바카라사이트 department of clinical neurosciences. Professor Chinnery will take on 바카라사이트 role in October, succeeding interim MRC head John Iredale. Dame Ottoline Leyser, chief executive of UK Research and Innovation, said Professor Chinnery was an ¡°exceptional leader¡± who ¡°brings a great breadth of experience from across 바카라사이트 medical sciences combined with a deep knowledge of 바카라사이트 organisation¡±.

Jennifer Caputo has been promoted to deputy vice-president for alumni engagement at Princeton University. At present she is assistant vice-president for alumni engagement operations.

Olga Onuch has been appointed professor of comparative and Ukrainian politics at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester. The author of The Zelensky Effect was previously an associate professor at 바카라사이트 institution.

Bashir Makhoul will be 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of University Canada West, a private institution in Vancouver focused on business programmes. He was previously vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s University for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts.

David Parkes will be 바카라사이트 next dean of Harvard University¡¯s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He is currently George F. Colony professor of computer science.