Using Cosmic Beasts to Uncover the Nature of Dark Matter
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The nature of dark matter is the most elusive question in modern physics. Only 5% of the Universe by weight consists of standard model particles. The remaining 95% would be composed of 'Dark Matter' and 'Dark Energy'. These are invisible, and most particle physics theories predict dark matter to interact so weakly with standard model particles that it will remain fundamentally undetectable in terrestrial experiments. If these theories are correct, dark matter can only be studied where it gathers in sufficient quantities for its gravity to affect things around it we can see. I propose to track the behaviour of dark matter in galaxy clusters (the most massive structures in the universe, also called 'cosmic beasts'), to distinguish between the 3 leading models: cold, warm and self-interacting dark matter.
My proposal exploits a dramatic recent increase in observations of galaxy clusters by the world's biggest telescopes, reflecting the field's recognition as a top priority goal. I have been awarded observing time on the Hubble Space Telescope in the largest category of programme (>100 orbits) to obtain the deepest ever imaging of clusters' surroundings, plus follow-up spectroscopy from the largest telescope on Earth (VLT). I designed these observations to map clusters' dark matter, via the effect of 'gravitational lensing', which distorts and magnifies objects behind the cluster. I will use these data (i) by themselves, (ii) to calibrate the largest (but shallow) Hubble imaging awarded to the host institute (iii) to set the agenda for, and optimise facilities like Euclid, Athena and the James Webb Space Telescope through the 2020s.
Cosmological simulations indicate that galaxy clusters are the best laboratories to distinguish between models of dark matter, because they are still growing. Clusters grow by merging with each other; every merger acts like a gigantic particle collider. The properties of dark matter are revealed by its trajectory through a collision, which should be between that of stars and of (hydrogen) gas. The properties of stars and hydrogen are well understood, so they bookend measurements of dark matter like the calibration points on a thermometer at 0C and 100C.
Traditional research programmes usually separate measurements of dark matter, stars and gas, because they require observations from different (infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray) telescopes. I have developed a multiwavelength analysis, to enable previously impossible measurements such as the time-scale on which dark matter and gas is funneled into clusters, how quickly clusters reach equilibrium, and constraints on possible dark matter particle interactions.
I have also led the establishment of a new research area, which I will expand during the FLF. When transient events (such as supernova explosions) happen behind a galaxy cluster, light from the explosion can be gravitationally lensed and visible along more than one line of sight. Measuring the time delay between multiply-imaged versions of a supernova increases the resolution with which the cluster's dark matter can be mapped. Furthermore, predicting the time delay is one of those rare, precious occasions in astrophysics where a hypothesis can be subjected to a true Popperian test, within the timescale of a few years. I have intentionally scheduled my HST and VLT observations to enable the discovery and monitoring of transient events. They also offer the (high risk/high reward) possibility of discovering electromagnetic counterparts to lensed gravitational wave events.
My UKRI FLF research programme will thus exploit the latest multiwavelength data from world-class facilities. It uses my high-precision techniques to analyse big data, and will be interpreted within the world-leading theoretical framework of Durham's state-of-the-art cosmological simulations.
My proposal exploits a dramatic recent increase in observations of galaxy clusters by the world's biggest telescopes, reflecting the field's recognition as a top priority goal. I have been awarded observing time on the Hubble Space Telescope in the largest category of programme (>100 orbits) to obtain the deepest ever imaging of clusters' surroundings, plus follow-up spectroscopy from the largest telescope on Earth (VLT). I designed these observations to map clusters' dark matter, via the effect of 'gravitational lensing', which distorts and magnifies objects behind the cluster. I will use these data (i) by themselves, (ii) to calibrate the largest (but shallow) Hubble imaging awarded to the host institute (iii) to set the agenda for, and optimise facilities like Euclid, Athena and the James Webb Space Telescope through the 2020s.
Cosmological simulations indicate that galaxy clusters are the best laboratories to distinguish between models of dark matter, because they are still growing. Clusters grow by merging with each other; every merger acts like a gigantic particle collider. The properties of dark matter are revealed by its trajectory through a collision, which should be between that of stars and of (hydrogen) gas. The properties of stars and hydrogen are well understood, so they bookend measurements of dark matter like the calibration points on a thermometer at 0C and 100C.
Traditional research programmes usually separate measurements of dark matter, stars and gas, because they require observations from different (infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray) telescopes. I have developed a multiwavelength analysis, to enable previously impossible measurements such as the time-scale on which dark matter and gas is funneled into clusters, how quickly clusters reach equilibrium, and constraints on possible dark matter particle interactions.
I have also led the establishment of a new research area, which I will expand during the FLF. When transient events (such as supernova explosions) happen behind a galaxy cluster, light from the explosion can be gravitationally lensed and visible along more than one line of sight. Measuring the time delay between multiply-imaged versions of a supernova increases the resolution with which the cluster's dark matter can be mapped. Furthermore, predicting the time delay is one of those rare, precious occasions in astrophysics where a hypothesis can be subjected to a true Popperian test, within the timescale of a few years. I have intentionally scheduled my HST and VLT observations to enable the discovery and monitoring of transient events. They also offer the (high risk/high reward) possibility of discovering electromagnetic counterparts to lensed gravitational wave events.
My UKRI FLF research programme will thus exploit the latest multiwavelength data from world-class facilities. It uses my high-precision techniques to analyse big data, and will be interpreted within the world-leading theoretical framework of Durham's state-of-the-art cosmological simulations.
Planned Impact
My UKRI FLF research project does not directly have a significant impact on the private sector, but its impact on the public sector can be large. I propose to hold my fellowship at Durham University in the North-East of England. This region has the lowest participation rate in higher education in the UK, making public engagement here a priority!
The visual nature of astronomy makes it accessible to a large audience. Research into dark matter receives particularly broad coverage in international media (I have run 5 press releases through NASA/ESA/ESO in the past 5 years, and my FLF proposal has even stronger media potential). Nevertheless, astronomy provides direct exposure to the cut-and-thrust of the scientific method, in complex areas of fundamental physics. For example, my project will measure dark matter by the way it warps space and time - a consequence of General Relativity first predicted by Albert Einstein. Members of the public are often amazed and intrigued that light does not always travel in straight lines, when space itself is curved. Photographs that I have taken through telescopes demonstrate this effect, in a visceral introduction to the weird world of modern physics.
I will exploit the opportunity that the fellowship provides for job security in one place, to expand my network of contacts and volunteering commitments with schools and in public events. I have a particular interest in making science appealing to young people, especially girls, and have given public talks and recruited students with an emphasis on making science a female-friendly environment. For example, I animated planetarium shows at the 2016 Celebrate Science Festival in Durham, which attracted over 7000 visitors as part of a drive to increase participation with and applications to the university from locals.
My area of research is growing rapidly, and I also propose to mentor students in the field through undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Much of this growth is driven by the ESA Euclid satellite, scheduled for launch in 2022 and now involving a consortium of >1000 scientists across Europe. I am highly involved into two committees for the Euclid science consortium, aiding both Early Career Researchers, and championing Equality and Diversity Issues. In case the intrinsic excitement of discovering the nature of the most common materials in the universe were not obvious, I have also developed and delivered one short course of lectures to 3rd year physics undergraduates, and another course to first year PhD students. I have supervised 1 PhD and 4 MSc students to completion, all four of whom decided to continue in academia and successfully secured positions in the next stage of their academic career. I also recruited, raised funding for, and am now de facto lead supervisor for another PhD student, currently in her second year.
A great deal remains to be done to make scientific research and STEM more attractive and generally equitable. I intend to contribute as much as I can to that effort, using my dynamism and the opportunities offered by both the FLF and the outreach group at the host institute.
The visual nature of astronomy makes it accessible to a large audience. Research into dark matter receives particularly broad coverage in international media (I have run 5 press releases through NASA/ESA/ESO in the past 5 years, and my FLF proposal has even stronger media potential). Nevertheless, astronomy provides direct exposure to the cut-and-thrust of the scientific method, in complex areas of fundamental physics. For example, my project will measure dark matter by the way it warps space and time - a consequence of General Relativity first predicted by Albert Einstein. Members of the public are often amazed and intrigued that light does not always travel in straight lines, when space itself is curved. Photographs that I have taken through telescopes demonstrate this effect, in a visceral introduction to the weird world of modern physics.
I will exploit the opportunity that the fellowship provides for job security in one place, to expand my network of contacts and volunteering commitments with schools and in public events. I have a particular interest in making science appealing to young people, especially girls, and have given public talks and recruited students with an emphasis on making science a female-friendly environment. For example, I animated planetarium shows at the 2016 Celebrate Science Festival in Durham, which attracted over 7000 visitors as part of a drive to increase participation with and applications to the university from locals.
My area of research is growing rapidly, and I also propose to mentor students in the field through undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Much of this growth is driven by the ESA Euclid satellite, scheduled for launch in 2022 and now involving a consortium of >1000 scientists across Europe. I am highly involved into two committees for the Euclid science consortium, aiding both Early Career Researchers, and championing Equality and Diversity Issues. In case the intrinsic excitement of discovering the nature of the most common materials in the universe were not obvious, I have also developed and delivered one short course of lectures to 3rd year physics undergraduates, and another course to first year PhD students. I have supervised 1 PhD and 4 MSc students to completion, all four of whom decided to continue in academia and successfully secured positions in the next stage of their academic career. I also recruited, raised funding for, and am now de facto lead supervisor for another PhD student, currently in her second year.
A great deal remains to be done to make scientific research and STEM more attractive and generally equitable. I intend to contribute as much as I can to that effort, using my dynamism and the opportunities offered by both the FLF and the outreach group at the host institute.
People |
ORCID iD |
Mathilde Jauzac (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Allingham Joseph F. V.
(2022)
Joint HST, VLT/MUSE and XMM-Newton observations to constrain the mass distribution of the two strong lensing galaxy clusters: MACS J0242.5-2132 & MACS J0949.8+1708
in arXiv e-prints
Fujimoto Seiji
(2023)
ALMA Lensing Cluster Survey: Deep 1.2 mm Number Counts and Infrared Luminosity Functions at $z\simeq1-8$
in arXiv e-prints
Lagattuta David J.
(2022)
Pilot-WINGS: An extended MUSE view of the structure of Abell 370
in arXiv e-prints
Pagul Amanda
(2023)
Self-consistent Combined HST, K-band, and Spitzer Photometric Catalogs of the BUFFALO Survey Fields
in arXiv e-prints
Castignani G.
(2020)
Molecular gas and star formation activity in LIRGs in intermediate redshift clusters
in arXiv e-prints
Harvey David
(2019)
The shape of relaxed galaxy clusters and the public release of a HST shape measurement code, pyRRG
in arXiv e-prints
Gonzalez Elizabeth J.
(2019)
Setting the scene for BUFFALO: A study of the matter distribution in the HFF galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1-2403 and its parallel field
in arXiv e-prints
Smith Graham P.
(2019)
Discovery of Strongly-lensed Gravitational Waves - Implications for the LSST Observing Strategy
in arXiv e-prints
Beauchesne Benjamin
(2023)
A new step forward in realistic cluster lens mass modelling: Analysis of Hubble Frontier Field Cluster Abell S1063 from joint lensing, X-ray and galaxy kinematics data
in arXiv e-prints
Niemiec Anna
(2022)
Scatter in the satellite galaxy SHMR: fitting functions, scaling relations & physical processes from the IllustrisTNG simulation
in arXiv e-prints
Description | 2019 : Since my award I was contacted to become the Scientific Advisor for the IAU-NOC Mauritius Committee. We dealt with the Exoworld Campaign last year, offerign the possibility to Mauritians to name a star and its exoplanet. 2020 will be devoted to the Blue Dot Campaign. 2022 : As IAU-NOC Mauritius Scientific Advisor, I have been strongly involved into the spreading of outreach activities in Mauritius. I have now started the Younivers Video Challenge for Youth in Mauritius. I also have been taking part in the Festival d'Astronomie de Fleurance in August 2021 where I gave a public lecture and a course. I used my research wokr for these interventions. I was contacted by young girls over there and I am still in contcat with them as they are interested in the career of astrophysicist. The past year has been really difficult for all of us, and I decided to devote a non-negligible amount of my time to outreach and mentoring, to support and guide as many people as I could. |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | Postgraduate Course - Gravitational Lensing |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | This course did not exist before I developped it for the PG programme in astronomy at Durham Unviersity. It extends the portfolio of lectures offered and gives me a window to also promote the place of minorities in our field, and act as a mentor/role model for these students. |
Description | MARACHAS : MAss RAtio evolution in Clusters between HAlos and Sub-halos Picture |
Amount | € 212,933 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 896778 |
Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Global |
Start | 11/2020 |
End | 10/2021 |
Description | Chair of the Euclid Consortium Diversity Committee (ECDC) |
Organisation | Paris Institute of Astrophysics |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have been a member of the ECDC for almost 4 years now, was nominated co-Chair of the Committee early January 2020, and then nominated Chair of Committee in June 2020. We are in charge of ensuring Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are respected in the Consoritum. Euclid is the next ESA space telescope, scheduled to be launched in 2023, and includes >1500 members between Europe and the US. As Chair, I am directly in contact with the EC Board, and the EC Leads. I am in charge of solving issues (formal and informal complaints), and presenting new ideas to the Board (as an exampe, I presented the idea of a formal training for all leads of working groups). |
Collaborator Contribution | The IAP is hosting the PI of Euclid. |
Impact | Outcomes from the ECDC are confidentials. However a dedicated website is under cosntruction and should be released by Summer 2021. We worked on improvements of the Code of Conduct of the Collaboration, and implemented clear sets of actions when it comes to the organization of events under the banner of Euclid as well. We recommended new rules for the accoutning of the working efforts (FTE) in the tracking system to consider people who work part-time due to reasons independent of their will. We have started a Climate Survey to gauge the mind spirit of people as we were approaching the launch of the mission (2023). Eucldi was successfully launched on July 1 2023. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Member of the ARC D&I Committee |
Organisation | University of KwaZulu-Natal |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I became a member of the Astrophysics Research Center (ARC) Diversity & Inclusion Committee earlier this year. We are in charge of setting up the D&I rules and philosophy of the Center. I am a Honoarary Senior Lecturer at the Unviersity of KwaZulu-Natal and thus act as the external member of the Committee, trying to share the experience I have developepd over the years. |
Collaborator Contribution | It is 5 of us in the Committee, the other 4 members consist in students, postdocs and staffs. |
Impact | 2021 : So far, we are finalizing the Code of Conduct for the ARC, and oragnizing an Ice Breaker Event to present the Committee to the people workign at the ARC. We are meeting bi-weekly. 2022 : We have now set-up a Code of Conduct, a meeting Code of Conduct as well as a procedure for Conflict Resolution. We are orgnaizing monthly EDI activities within ARC opened to all staff and students. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Member of the EC Editorial Board |
Organisation | Paris Institute of Astrophysics |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The ECEB is in charge of the publications within the Consortium. As Chair fo the ECDC I was a de facto member of the Committee. We have to decide wether a publication should be considered as a Euclid publication or not. If so, then we proceed with an internal review by one of the members of the ECEB and send the paper for review to an EC member. Once the authors have addressed the comments sent by the two reviewers, it can be submitted to a peer-review journal. I have so far acted once as ECEB scientific editor. As my role as Chair of the ECDC came to an end in June 2023, I applied to remain a member of the ECEB, and became since July 2023 a member-at-large. My term is for 3 years. |
Collaborator Contribution | The IAP is the hsot institute of the lead/PI of the Euclid Consortium. |
Impact | As for the ECDC, most discussions within the eCEB are ocnfidential. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Member of the Euclid Consortium STAR Prize Committee |
Organisation | Paris Institute of Astrophysics |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The EC STAR Prize committee is in charge of selecting yealry awardees for the EC STAR Prizes, to recognize their contributions to the whole consortium, that includes junior and senior researchers and engineers, student, leadership, instrument and team categories. The Committee is in charge of the call for applications, the selection ofthe awardees, the organisation and the announcement of the event. We are basically active from November to April/May the following year. |
Collaborator Contribution | The IAP hosts the PI of the Euclid Consortium. |
Impact | We award 7 prizes yearly during our Annual Collaboration Meeting, and we added an eigth one regarding diversity, equality, inclusivity and accessibility in 2023. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Member of the VLT/BlueMUSE Collaboration |
Organisation | Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (UCBL) |
Department | Astrophysics Research Centre of Lyon (CRAL) |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | BlueMUSE is a next generation isntrument that will be installed at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. I joined the collaboration in 2022, started acting as one of the Chairs of the 'Distant Universe' Science Working Group. Durham Unviersity is also an official partner of the project, contributing to the construction of the instrument, via the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI). I lead the science involvement of Durham, and work very closely with CfAI. That incldues deifning the science prospects of the isntrument but also working closely with engineers on the design of the instrument itself. |
Collaborator Contribution | CfAI is in charge of the instrumentation part, ie build up of the instrument. |
Impact | It is a multi-disciplinary collaboration, from the fundamental science propects to the engineering parts for the instrument to deliver the science goals we are aiming at. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Member of the VLT/BlueMUSE Collaboration |
Organisation | European Southern Observatory (ESO) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | BlueMUSE is a next generation isntrument that will be installed at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. I joined the collaboration in 2022, started acting as one of the Chairs of the 'Distant Universe' Science Working Group. Durham Unviersity is also an official partner of the project, contributing to the construction of the instrument, via the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI). I lead the science involvement of Durham, and work very closely with CfAI. That incldues deifning the science prospects of the isntrument but also working closely with engineers on the design of the instrument itself. |
Collaborator Contribution | CfAI is in charge of the instrumentation part, ie build up of the instrument. |
Impact | It is a multi-disciplinary collaboration, from the fundamental science propects to the engineering parts for the instrument to deliver the science goals we are aiming at. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | co-Chair of the Euclid Consortium Diversity Committee (ECDC) |
Organisation | Paris Institute of Astrophysics |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have been a member of the ECDC for nearly 3 years, but was nominated co-Chair of the Committee early January 2020. We are in charge of ensuring Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are respected in the Consoritum .Euclid is the next ESA space telescope, scheduled to be launched in 2022, and includes >1500 members between Europe and the US. As co-Chair, I am directly in contact with the EC Board, and assist the Chair in solving issues (formal and informal complaints) and presenting new ideas to the Board (as an exampe, I presented the idea of a formal trainign for all leads of working groups). |
Collaborator Contribution | The IAP is hosting the PI of Euclid. Euclid includes so many institutes that I cannot list them all. |
Impact | Most of the outcomes from the ECDC are ocnfidential. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | co-Chair of the Euclid Consortium Early Career Committee (ECC) |
Organisation | Paris Institute of Astrophysics |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The ECC organizes yearly Workshops dedicated to mentoring, guiding and supporting early career researchers. |
Collaborator Contribution | The IAP hosts the PI of the Euclid Consortium. |
Impact | Yearly Workshops and activities, inlcuding improving the visibility of early career Euclideans to the overall consortium via Flash Talk sessions during Annual Euclid meetings but also online throughout the year. Direct link to the Euclid Consortium Board (ECB) via listening/answering question sessions (every 3 months) |
Start Year | 2018 |
Title | hybrid-Lenstool |
Description | hybrid-Lenstool is a new lensing mass modeling software, built on the intiial Lenstool software which have bene used by my collaborators and I since the end of the 90s. hbrid-Lenstool now implements the joint optimization of strong and weak lensing constraints, combining parametric and nonparametric modeling, in order to map the mass distribution in clusters. This ismandatory in order to get the most precise and accurate mass models. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | Mass models for all BUFFALO clusters under preparation, with the highest precision and accuracy reachable today. hybrid-Lensotol will be made publicly available within the enxt 6 months. |
URL | https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.04635.pdf |
Title | pyRRG |
Description | pyRRG is shape measurement software. It measures the shapes of galaxies, while correcting them from PSF. pyRRG is semi-automatic and is the main shape measurement software used in BUFFALO for our weak-lensing analyses. It includes the deteciton of sources, the star/galaxy classifciation, shape measurements, and identification of foreground contaminants. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | It allows the semi-automatic measurements of galaxy shapes, mendatory step in the ocnstruction of weak-lensing catalogues. As it is used now in BUFFALo, all future publications regarding weak-lensing analyes will use it. At the moment we have 4 publication in preparation which use pyRRG. |
URL | https://arxiv.org/pdf/1911.06333.pdf |
Description | 2021 Astronomy Girls' Day at Durham University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We have set-up an Astronomy Grils' Day in Durham. Due to the pandemic we postponed the in person event to the start of spring, but still held a virtual event using SLido and Twitter to answer any questions girls could have. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://durham-astro-girlsday.com/ |
Description | 2021 BUFFALO Collaboration Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | BUFFALO is a collabroation of >120 researcehrs from all around the globe. As one of the 2 PIs, I was in charge of the organisation of our yearly collaboration meeting. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://indico.nbi.ku.dk/event/1588/ |
Description | 2021 BUFFALO Collaboration Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | As Pi of the collaboration, I gave an overview of the past eyar activities, and engaged with my collaborators to plan the upcoming year, defining new projects and shaping and finalizing ongoing ones. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | 2021 Euclid Consortium Annual Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | As Chair of the ECDC, I was invited to present the annual report of the Committee. Euclid is a consortium which involves ~2500 researcehrs all around the globe. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | 2021 Festival de Fleurance - Public lecture & course |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Festival de Fleuranc eis the largest science outreach event in Europe. I was asked to give a public lecture and a course durign their 2021 edition. The festival welcomes more than 10000 people. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.festival-astronomie.com/ |
Description | 2021 International women day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Short video introducing me and why/how I became an astrophysicist in the context of my role in the IAU/NOC for Mauritius. It is available on the IAU website & youtube. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScYOo5Mh974 |
Description | 2021 Lenstool Days |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I gave 3 talsk durign the 2021 Lenstool Days. Lenstool is the software that we are developing with my team and my close collaberators to model mass distribution in galaxy clusters. The algorithm is nwo used internationally, and we meet yearly to discuss past, ongoing and future proejcts in parallel with ongoing or needed future developements of the code. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://sites.google.com/view/lenstooldays2021/home |
Description | 2021 Younivers Video Challenge for Youth - Mentor & Selection Committee member |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | For this challenge, youth have to prepare a 3' long video to present one astronomical concept. Youth are ebing mentored by a scientist all along the process, and then the best three videos are being selected by a jury. All videos are being posted on the Younivers Youtube channel. For the 2021 edition, I was botha mentor and a jury member. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0hBwhCzauxWlRzQ3iD99HQ |
Description | 2022 Women in Astronomy Event at the annual joint London Mathematical Society (LMS)/Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)/British Society for the History of Mathematics (BSHM) meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invivted to give a presentation at the annual joint London Mathematical Society (LMS)/Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)/British Society for the History of Mathematics (BSHM) meetign about the Dark Sector of our Universe. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | 2022 Younivers Video Challenge for Youth - Mauritius |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Following the success of Younivers in France, the challenge was extended to 7 countries, including Mauritius. I am thus in charge as IAU-NOC Scientific Advisor for Mauritius of the organization of the challenge on the Island. The winners from each country were then competing against each other, and the winer received a big prize (lunar meteorite) during the closing ceremony over Fall 2022. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://iau-noc-mur.netlify.app/activities/younivers-2022/ |
Description | 2023 Astronomy Girls' Day at Durham University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We have set-up an Astronomy Grils' Day in Durham. Due to the pandemic, we had our first in person event in February 2023. We received girls from local schools. We set-up talks from some of our researchers introducing them to astronomy and a career in Astronomy, then had some hands-on activities, and Q&A sessions as well. The girls were there for the full day, and we had a get together for 2 coffee breaks and the lunch. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://durham-astro-girlsday.com/ |
Description | Astronomy Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) Committee, Durham University, UK |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | We started the EDIA Committee in the Astronomy Section in order to ensure a diverse and respectful working environment. For now, we put together a survey in order to take the temperature from the people in the Section. We are also organizing a Pamoja Day, a day to reflect on EDIA issues and put together day-to-day actions to improve our workign environment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
Description | British Astronomical Association Publuc Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I wa sinvited to give a public lecture at the British Astronomical Society. Due to the Covid-19 situaiton, the event is postponed to 2021, with the date still to be announced. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
Description | Chalmers University Astronomy Seminar Series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a Colloquium at the Astronomy Department at Chalmers University in Sweeden to present my ongoign research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | DEX XVI - 2020 vision: progress and tensions in astronomy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I organized the DEX XVI meeting here in Durham. This year we historically reached more than 100 participants. It is a unique meeting which favours interactions between students, postdocs and staff holed over 2 days. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | http://astro.dur.ac.uk/DEX/XVI/ |
Description | DEX XVII - Traces of new Physics: insights into the unknow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Two days annual workshop organized to share our advancements in the field and foster new collaborations between Edinburgh, Durham, Lancaster, St Andrews and Newastle. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://indico.ph.ed.ac.uk/event/72/timetable/?layout=room#all.detailed |
Description | DEX XVIII - Synergies between theory and observations to exploit the next generation instruments and surveys |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Two days annual workshop organized to share our advancements in the field and foster new collaborations between Edinburgh, Durham, Lancaster, St Andrews and Newastle. This year I was Chair of the SOC and LOC. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://sites.google.com/view/dexxviiiworkshop/home |
Description | EAS 2020 Symposium : Panchromatic and hyper-spectral observations of cluster Lenses and lensed galaxies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was awarded a 2 days slot to organize a Symposium at the European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting, happening June 29-July 3 in Leiden (Netherlands). https://eas.unige.ch//EAS_meeting/session.jsp?id=S4 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | EAS 2021 - Special Session : Probing New Physics with Gravitational Cluster Lenses |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The EAS meeting is the largest astronomy related conference held in Eruope every year. I was in charge of the organization of one of the special session. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://eas.unige.ch/EAS_meeting/session.jsp?id=SS16 |
Description | EC Annual Meeting - Review talk of the ECDC activities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | In the context of my role as Chair of the Euclid Consortium Diversity Committee, I was giving review talks of the ECDC activities and presentations of the different surveys we run for the Consortium at each Annual Meetings. This went on from 2020 up tot my last one in 2023. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS) Weekly Seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to present my work for their weekly colloquium series. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Invitation to give a review tlak at the 2022 European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a review talk on Dark Matter at the 2022 EAS meeting. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invitation to the Paris-Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to the Paris Science Festival to discuss the documentary 'L'Odyssée d'Hubble, un oeil dans les étoiles' after its projection at the Festival. There was a Q&A with the in person public, involving the realisator and the producer. I was one of the scientists interviewed during the documentary. This was follwoed by a virtual projection of the documentary and a Q&A with the realisator online. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://pariscience.fr/ |
Description | Johns Hopkins University/Space Telescipe Science Institute Astronomy Colloquium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited for 2 days at STScI to give the joint JHU/STScI Weekly Astronomy Colloquium (one of the most popular event in our field) in November 2022. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.stsci.edu/contents/events/stsci/2022/november/uncovering-the-nature-of-dark-matter-using... |
Description | L'Astronomie Afrique - Article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was asked by the editor of the Astronomy Outreach journal, l'Astronomie Afrique, to write an article on the MIR-SAT1 satellite, the first Mauritian satellite. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://lastronomieafrique.com/lile-maurice-dans-lespace/ |
Description | LAM Café Club |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | I was invited to present my work at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM) in France, as part of their weekly Café Club event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | MSc thesis examiner - A. Headley, UKZN, RSA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was one of the MSc thesis examiner for A. Headley at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU)-Work Package Management of Diversity and Inclusion in Large International Collaborations |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The IAU Work PAckage, Management of Diversity and Inclusion in Large International Collaborations, was set in order to provide suupport and recommendations as Astronomy and astrophysics have entered the large surveys, and thus large international collaboration, era. In the WP, we are working to put together policies and clearly defined sets of rules in order to maximize inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility within the international astronomical community. We have just started the #ItHappensInSTEM Project, to collect stories of STEM members to illustrate the portfolio of EDI definitions we are puting together, such as bullying, harassment, microagressions, and other dismissive behaviors. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
Description | Mentor for The Supernova Foundation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I act as a mentor for the Supernova Foundation, a foundation dedicated to promote STEM for women and other minorities all around the globe. I ahve 2 mentees and meet with them (virtually), once to twice a month. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
URL | https://supernovafoundation.org/ |
Description | NAM 2021 - Parallel Session : Holding a Lens to Dark Matter Substructure |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was co-chairing the organization of a parallel session at the National Astronomy Meeting, largest astronomy conference in the UK. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://nam2021.org/science/parallel-sessions/details/2/73 |
Description | National Geographic interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by a journalist working for National Geographic and an article beign written about new tests of dark matter usign astrophysical laboratories. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | New Scientist Instant Expert Masterclass Public Lecture, UK |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a public lecture on the Dark Universe at a MAster Class organized by the journal New Scientist. Due to the covid-19 situaiton, the event is postponed to 2021, the date is still to be defined. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
Description | PhD Candidacy Exam Examiner - B. Beauchesne (EPFL, Switzerland) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was asked to act as the external examiner for B. Beauchesne PhD Candidacy exam. In Switzerland, this exam is mandatory in order to pursue the last 2 year sof the PhD. This is a strong recognition of my expertise and the fact that it is internationally recognized. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | PhD thesis examiner - A. Guinot, CEA, France |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Part of the examiner board for the PhD thesis viva of Axel Guinot at CEA in France. Axel passed wiht success and was awarded his PhD. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Physics Department Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee, Durham University, UK |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I have joined the Physics Department EDI committee in May 2020. This Committee intends to act on the overall Physics Department environment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
Description | Public Lecture at the Newcastle Alliance Française |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I gave a public lecture to the Alliance Française in Newcastle, after beign invivted by their Director. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://internationalnewcastle.org.uk/directory/alliance-francaise-de-newcastle |
Description | RAS Summer Science Schools Programme - Meet the Researcher Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Online event organized by the RAS to engage with shcools and promote science and research from the younger ages. I was part of a panel of several scientific expertize, and we were asked questions by school children about our job as researchers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Reviewer for the New York Times Climate Hub Challenge for the COP26 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I acted as reviewer for the New York Times Climate Hub Challenge in the context of the COP 26. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://climatehub.nytimes.com/ |
Description | School visits in Mauritius |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | i visited a school in Mauritius for 3 days back in 2019 to present Astornomy and Astrophysics to 9 classes (6-11 years old kids). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Scientific Advisor for the IAU-NOC Mauritius Committee |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | As a scientific advisor for the IAU-NOC Mauritius Committee, I am in charge of checking all announcements made. The IAU-NOC Mauritius Committee is in charge of implementing IAU Astronomy outreach initiatives in Mauritius. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021,2022 |
URL | https://iau-noc-mur.netlify.com/ |
Description | Stanford/KIPAC Tea |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | I wa sinvited to present my work at KIPAC in Stanford, as aprt of their weekly KIPAC Tea. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | University of Hatfield Astronomy Colloquium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to present my work and the one of my group to the Weekly Astornomy Colloquium. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | University of Hertfordshire weekly astronomy colloquium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give the weekly astronomy colloquium at the Unviersity of Hertfordshire. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | University of Nottingham Astronomy Colloquium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to present my work and the one lead by my group during the Weekly Astronomy colloquium. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | University of Sussex Astronomy Colloquium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to prsent at the weekly astronomy colloquium series. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Younivers 2023 - Video challenge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Following the success of Younivers in France, the challenge was initially extended to 7 countries, including Mauritius, and in 2023, to 9 countries (Albania, Syria). I am in charge as IAU-NOC Scientific Advisor for Mauritius of the organization of the challenge on the Island. The winners from each country are then competing against each other, and the winer receives a big prize (lunar meteorite) during the closing ceremony over Winter 2023. This year's big winner was the Mauritius candidate. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |