Astrophysics Research at Liverpool John Moores University: Consolidated Grant Renewal
Lead Research Organisation:
Liverpool John Moores University
Department Name: Astrophysics Research Institute
Abstract
We will continue to pursue ground-breaking astrophysical research at the forefront of knowledge through both observational and theoretical work.
Under the heading of star formation, we will test the predictions of an evolutionary scenario for producing stars in the Galactic Centre which has the potential to open a new frontier in such research. We will find the pristine birth sites of the most massive stars, directly testing predictions of models seeking to explain the observed stellar mass distribution. In addition, we will measure how efficiently gas clouds are converted into stars across much of the Galaxy, producing the first constraints on the dominant mechanisms or environmental factors regulating star formation, thereby laying the foundations for a predictive empirical model of star formation. We will exploit our access to the UK's investment in the world's best mm observatory, ALMA and we will convert significant UK investments in SCUBA-2 and Herschel into an international lead in science outcomes.
In time-domain astrophysics, we will perform an in-depth study of the circumstances of core-collapse supernova explosions (SNe Ib/c) and identification of the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae (SNe Ia). This project capitalises on expertise in the ARI supernova and nova groups and exploits our privileged access to data from the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory and other facilities. We will continue and expand our study of the physics of Gamma Ray Bursts, exploiting our world-leading capabilities in rapid follow-up, polarimety and MHD modelling. A combination of new robotic telescopes, instruments and data analysis will enable us to investigate new types of transients, laying the foundation for a UK lead in time-domain astrophysics beyond Gaia, into the LSST, SKA and gravitational-wave era.
Under the heading of the structure and evolution of galaxies, we will exploit our novel technique to measure chemical compositions of individual stars at Mpc distances. We will thus measure abundance patterns in nearby galaxies, and provide the best measurement yet of the Mass-Metallicity Relation in the local universe, a crucial diagnostic of the theory of galaxy formation and evolution. The project is supported by significant awards of time at major international observatories and is part of the E-ELT MOS instrument science case. We will also investigate mass assembly of galaxies using measures of mass distributions in groups and clusters. By comparing to the latest numerical models this will answer key questions regarding the star-formation efficiency of galaxies, the baryonic mass distribution, and the size-mass relationship of galaxies.
We will gain new insights into the formation of our Galaxy, by integrating state of the art models of galaxy formation, stellar evolution, and orbital analysis techniques with data from a cutting-edge new survey of Milky Way stars (a part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey), in which LJMU will play a leading role. We will also use hydrodynamical simulations of galaxies and clusters, to make predictions for surveys such as Planck, REFLEX-II. This will address the number counts discrepancy of Planck clusters and the exciting possibility of free-streaming by neutrinos. We will use a new prescription for AGN feedback for the most luminous powerful radio jets, which has been missing in simulations to-date.
All of our research uses the most advanced ground-based telescopes, satellites and data analysis techniques. In turn, ARI staff lead many of the new generation surveys with these telescopes. The projects we propose are technically demanding and require computer software support to aid the delivery of the science.
The structure and organisation of the ARI is designed to deliver internationally excellent research. The ARI is known worldwide for developing and exploiting outreach activities to engage the wider population in STFC science, and we aim to enhance these.
Under the heading of star formation, we will test the predictions of an evolutionary scenario for producing stars in the Galactic Centre which has the potential to open a new frontier in such research. We will find the pristine birth sites of the most massive stars, directly testing predictions of models seeking to explain the observed stellar mass distribution. In addition, we will measure how efficiently gas clouds are converted into stars across much of the Galaxy, producing the first constraints on the dominant mechanisms or environmental factors regulating star formation, thereby laying the foundations for a predictive empirical model of star formation. We will exploit our access to the UK's investment in the world's best mm observatory, ALMA and we will convert significant UK investments in SCUBA-2 and Herschel into an international lead in science outcomes.
In time-domain astrophysics, we will perform an in-depth study of the circumstances of core-collapse supernova explosions (SNe Ib/c) and identification of the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae (SNe Ia). This project capitalises on expertise in the ARI supernova and nova groups and exploits our privileged access to data from the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory and other facilities. We will continue and expand our study of the physics of Gamma Ray Bursts, exploiting our world-leading capabilities in rapid follow-up, polarimety and MHD modelling. A combination of new robotic telescopes, instruments and data analysis will enable us to investigate new types of transients, laying the foundation for a UK lead in time-domain astrophysics beyond Gaia, into the LSST, SKA and gravitational-wave era.
Under the heading of the structure and evolution of galaxies, we will exploit our novel technique to measure chemical compositions of individual stars at Mpc distances. We will thus measure abundance patterns in nearby galaxies, and provide the best measurement yet of the Mass-Metallicity Relation in the local universe, a crucial diagnostic of the theory of galaxy formation and evolution. The project is supported by significant awards of time at major international observatories and is part of the E-ELT MOS instrument science case. We will also investigate mass assembly of galaxies using measures of mass distributions in groups and clusters. By comparing to the latest numerical models this will answer key questions regarding the star-formation efficiency of galaxies, the baryonic mass distribution, and the size-mass relationship of galaxies.
We will gain new insights into the formation of our Galaxy, by integrating state of the art models of galaxy formation, stellar evolution, and orbital analysis techniques with data from a cutting-edge new survey of Milky Way stars (a part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey), in which LJMU will play a leading role. We will also use hydrodynamical simulations of galaxies and clusters, to make predictions for surveys such as Planck, REFLEX-II. This will address the number counts discrepancy of Planck clusters and the exciting possibility of free-streaming by neutrinos. We will use a new prescription for AGN feedback for the most luminous powerful radio jets, which has been missing in simulations to-date.
All of our research uses the most advanced ground-based telescopes, satellites and data analysis techniques. In turn, ARI staff lead many of the new generation surveys with these telescopes. The projects we propose are technically demanding and require computer software support to aid the delivery of the science.
The structure and organisation of the ARI is designed to deliver internationally excellent research. The ARI is known worldwide for developing and exploiting outreach activities to engage the wider population in STFC science, and we aim to enhance these.
Planned Impact
The primary impact of the research in this grant will be through an extensive programme of engagement with schools, families and the general public. This will build on our considerable experience through such projects as the National Schools' Observatory and a suite of Distance Learning courses, and will not just involve passive outreach, but active engagement in the process of research, and the sharing in its rewards.
This will be achieved partly through an ambitious programme of talks, workshops, presentations and articles to a wide range of audiences, but mainly through a set of online resources that will explore the ongoing research and allow anyone to work alongside the researchers and make their own unique contribution.
The major form of impact arising from the renewal of our Consolidated Grant, will come from activities centred around Projects 1-5 and Project 7, described in the Pathways to Impact document. These will benefit schools, amateur astronomers and the general public.
The astronomy visitor centre Spaceport, developed in a partnership between Merseytravel and the ARI, attracts in excess of 70,000 visitors p.a. and acts as a showcase for ARI science. Along with the permanent educational and interactive displays, Spaceport provides the ideal forum for the public to engage informally with researchers to discuss science and learn about research facilities such as the Liverpool Telescope. Special events are held on a regular basis including the Merseyside Astronomy Days which consist of dedicated talks, discussions and displays attended by members of the public.
In addition, through activities initiated within the ARI, there will be other more traditional forms of public engagement growing from our research. In particular we would anticipate a number of talks, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions relating to our research. These will vary with respect to audience: schools (from primary upwards), amateur astronomy societies, lecture societies, WI, etc. We will also showcase the new research at events organised by the ARI (such as the annual Merseyside Astronomy Day) and, where appropriate, at the Spaceport visitor centre.
In all cases the benefits will be twofold. Obviously, an exposure to current research can stimulate inquiry and interest in any audience. However, a less obvious, but perhaps more important benefit is to use that stimulation to promote an appreciation of science as a whole. This is particularly important for engagement with schools where astronomy has a vital role to play in promoting science and other STEM subjects as potential careers. We also engage research students and PDRAs in Impact through `Stargazing Live' events each year, and one of our STEP PDRAs also holds an Ogden Fellowship from the Ogden Trust's Schools Partnership Programme.
In order to facilitate outreach, younger and less experienced researchers (especially PDRAs and PhD students) are encouraged to present their research to a variety of audiences, with training and support provided by the experienced Outreach team within the ARI.
We also work with non-science organisations to find ways in which the research can be used to enhance their own work. This sort of impact is difficult to predict in advance, as it is usually opportunistic, but past examples in the ARI have involved work with arts organisations and artists (including musicians, theatre companies, street theatre performers, sculptors, photographers and writers) and organisations that promote access to education (such as Aim Higher). One example of this agile approach was our development of a show garden for the 2013 Tatton Park Royal Horticultural Society Show, under the theme of "The Galaxy". Our garden not only won a Gold Medal and "Most Creative Garden" award, plus national TV coverage (including BBC TV's Gardener's World, reaching 2.5 million viewers), but also allowed us to discuss aspects of galactic structure and black holes.
This will be achieved partly through an ambitious programme of talks, workshops, presentations and articles to a wide range of audiences, but mainly through a set of online resources that will explore the ongoing research and allow anyone to work alongside the researchers and make their own unique contribution.
The major form of impact arising from the renewal of our Consolidated Grant, will come from activities centred around Projects 1-5 and Project 7, described in the Pathways to Impact document. These will benefit schools, amateur astronomers and the general public.
The astronomy visitor centre Spaceport, developed in a partnership between Merseytravel and the ARI, attracts in excess of 70,000 visitors p.a. and acts as a showcase for ARI science. Along with the permanent educational and interactive displays, Spaceport provides the ideal forum for the public to engage informally with researchers to discuss science and learn about research facilities such as the Liverpool Telescope. Special events are held on a regular basis including the Merseyside Astronomy Days which consist of dedicated talks, discussions and displays attended by members of the public.
In addition, through activities initiated within the ARI, there will be other more traditional forms of public engagement growing from our research. In particular we would anticipate a number of talks, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions relating to our research. These will vary with respect to audience: schools (from primary upwards), amateur astronomy societies, lecture societies, WI, etc. We will also showcase the new research at events organised by the ARI (such as the annual Merseyside Astronomy Day) and, where appropriate, at the Spaceport visitor centre.
In all cases the benefits will be twofold. Obviously, an exposure to current research can stimulate inquiry and interest in any audience. However, a less obvious, but perhaps more important benefit is to use that stimulation to promote an appreciation of science as a whole. This is particularly important for engagement with schools where astronomy has a vital role to play in promoting science and other STEM subjects as potential careers. We also engage research students and PDRAs in Impact through `Stargazing Live' events each year, and one of our STEP PDRAs also holds an Ogden Fellowship from the Ogden Trust's Schools Partnership Programme.
In order to facilitate outreach, younger and less experienced researchers (especially PDRAs and PhD students) are encouraged to present their research to a variety of audiences, with training and support provided by the experienced Outreach team within the ARI.
We also work with non-science organisations to find ways in which the research can be used to enhance their own work. This sort of impact is difficult to predict in advance, as it is usually opportunistic, but past examples in the ARI have involved work with arts organisations and artists (including musicians, theatre companies, street theatre performers, sculptors, photographers and writers) and organisations that promote access to education (such as Aim Higher). One example of this agile approach was our development of a show garden for the 2013 Tatton Park Royal Horticultural Society Show, under the theme of "The Galaxy". Our garden not only won a Gold Medal and "Most Creative Garden" award, plus national TV coverage (including BBC TV's Gardener's World, reaching 2.5 million viewers), but also allowed us to discuss aspects of galactic structure and black holes.
Publications
Copperwheat C. M.
(2017)
LIGO/Virgo G296853: Liverpool Telescope classification of MASTER OT J013646.48-140323.5
in GRB Coordinates Network
Ryu Y
(2017)
OGLE-2016-BLG-1190Lb: The First Spitzer Bulge Planet Lies Near the Planet/Brown-dwarf Boundary
in The Astronomical Journal
Harvey D
(2017)
A detection of wobbling brightest cluster galaxies within massive galaxy clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Blanton M
(2017)
Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV: Mapping the Milky Way, Nearby Galaxies, and the Distant Universe
in The Astronomical Journal
Csengeri T.
(2017)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: Massive cluster progenitors from ATLASGAL (Csengeri+, 2017)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Whitaker J
(2017)
MALT90 Kinematic Distances to Dense Molecular Clumps
in The Astronomical Journal
Longmore S
(2017)
H2O Southern Galactic Plane Survey (HOPS): Paper III - properties of dense molecular gas across the inner Milky Way
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Majewski S
(2017)
The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE)
in The Astronomical Journal
Lu X
(2017)
Deeply Embedded Protostellar Population in the Central Molecular Zone Suggested by H 2 O Masers and Dense Cores
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Steele I. A.
(2017)
Medium Resolution Spectroscopy of Boyajian's Star (KIC 8462852)
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Souto D
(2017)
Chemical Abundances of M-Dwarfs from the Apogee Survey. I. The Exoplanet Hosting Stars Kepler-138 and Kepler-186
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kasliwal MM
(2017)
Illuminating gravitational waves: A concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Anderson L
(2017)
Galactic supernova remnant candidates discovered by THOR
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Peters S
(2017)
Stellar disc truncations and extended haloes in face-on spiral galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cartier R
(2017)
Early observations of the nearby Type Ia supernova SN 2015F
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shivvers I
(2017)
The nearby Type Ibn supernova 2015G: signatures of asymmetry and progenitor constraints
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bahé Y
(2017)
The origin of the enhanced metallicity of satellite galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pranger F
(2017)
The effect of environment on the structure of disc galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lin Y
(2017)
Erratum: "Cloud Structure of Three Galactic Infrared Dark Star-forming Regions from Combining Ground and Space-based Bolometric Observations" (2017, ApJ, 840, 22)
in The Astrophysical Journal
Elia D
(2017)
The Hi-GAL compact source catalogue - I. The physical properties of the clumps in the inner Galaxy (-71$_{.}^{\circ}$0 < l < 67$_{.}^{\circ}$0)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lu X
(2017)
The Molecular Gas Environment in the 20 km s -1 Cloud in the Central Molecular Zone
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cunha K
(2017)
Adding the s-Process Element Cerium to the APOGEE Survey: Identification and Characterization of Ce ii Lines in the H-band Spectral Window
in The Astrophysical Journal
Albareti F
(2017)
The 13th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the SDSS-IV Survey Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Palmeirim P
(2017)
Spatial distribution of star formation related to ionized regions throughout the inner Galactic plane
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Arthur J
(2017)
nIFTy galaxy cluster simulations - V. Investigation of the cluster infall region
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Davies B
(2017)
Red Supergiants as Cosmic Abundance Probes: Massive Star Clusters in M83 and the Mass-Metallicity Relation of Nearby Galaxies
in The Astrophysical Journal
Morrison C
(2017)
the-wizz: clustering redshift estimation for everyone
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
LIGO Scientific Collaboration And The Virgo Collaboration
(2017)
A gravitational-wave standard siren measurement of the Hubble constant.
in Nature
Font A
(2017)
The Diversity of Assembly Histories Leading to Disc Galaxy Formation in a ?CDM Model
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Darnley M
(2017)
No Neon, but Jets in the Remarkable Recurrent Nova M31N 2008-12a?-Hubble Space Telescope Spectroscopy of the 2015 Eruption
in The Astrophysical Journal
Prentice S
(2017)
A physically motivated classification of stripped-envelope supernovae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Raiteri CM
(2017)
Blazar spectral variability as explained by a twisted inhomogeneous jet.
in Nature
Urquhart J
(2018)
ATLASGAL - properties of a complete sample of Galactic clumps?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Eales S
(2018)
The causes of the red sequence, the blue cloud, the green valley, and the green mountain
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Darnley M
(2018)
On the Progenitor System of V392 Persei
in Research Notes of the AAS
Hidalgo S
(2018)
The Updated BaSTI Stellar Evolution Models and Isochrones. I. Solar-scaled Calculations
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chomiuk L
(2018)
Multiwavelength observations of nova SMCN 2016-10a - one of the brightest novae ever observed
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Martone R.
(2018)
GRB 181022A: LCO Sutherland observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Zhang C. -P.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: CO and 850um obs. of Planck Galactic cold clumps (Zhang+, 2018)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Moffett A. J.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: GAMA. Stellar mass budget (Moffett+, 2016)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Bachelet E
(2018)
First Assessment of the Binary Lens OGLE-2015-BLG-0232
in The Astrophysical Journal
Green M
(2018)
High-speed photometry of Gaia14aae: an eclipsing AM CVn that challenges formation models
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180821A: LCO Siding Springs observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Henze M.
(2018)
Recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a: The 2018 X-ray turn-off seen by Swift/XRT
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Inight K. P.
(2018)
Spectroscopic Observations of Nine Candidate Cataclysmic Variables with the Liverpool Telescope
in Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society
Furnell K
(2018)
Exploring relations between BCG and cluster properties in the SPectroscopic IDentification of eROSITA Sources survey from 0.05 <z < 0.3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wagner R. M.
(2018)
Additional Optical Spectroscopy of PNV J18040967-1803581 Indicates a Slow Fe II-type Classical Nova
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Rundle R. P.
(2018)
Visualization of correlations in hybrid quantum systems
in arXiv e-prints
Hogge T
(2018)
The Radio Ammonia Mid-plane Survey (RAMPS) Pilot Survey
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Title | Film |
Description | Galaxy simulations used by Hollywood film Director Terrence Malick in his film Voyage of Time (2016) |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Impact | None Yet |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk |
Description | General Astrophysics Investigation. Projects into: time domain astrophysics, galaxy evolution, stellar evolution and star formation, computational galaxy evolution and instrumentation. |
Exploitation Route | New projects or facilities may follow - e.g. development of £20m New Robotic Telescope; development of ecology project in game park reserves, flying astro 10 micron cameras on drones to preserve protected animal species. New for 2020: The ARI's project combining infrared astronomical instrumentation expertise with drone technology is impacting the way conservation agencies around the world (e.g. WWF) conduct animal surveys. The thermal-drone enables safe, routine, efficient and cost-effective monitoring and management of animal populations over large and inhospitable areas, with a factor of up to 200x increase in survey efficiency over existing methods. This provides conservation agencies greatly improved data needed to quantify and mitigate biodiversity loss. The thermal drone system is being used routinely to help local fire-fighting teams to find/extinguish annual peat fires in Indonesia which are a major contributor to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The orders of magnitude improvement in fire extinction efficiency the system offers over existing methods will hopefully lead to substantial reduction in CO2 emissions -- a leading cause of climate change. |
Sectors | Education,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/Main_Page |
Description | Substantial engagement activities across all levels - schools, public, parliamentary displays, Chelsea Flower Show Eagle simulations were highest cited papers in 2015 over all astronomy. Two of our Outreach staff have fEC awards to carry out impact for two funded projects on our renewed Consolidated Grant 2018-21. Under the directorship of Professor Steve Longmore, ARI has developed a major new research area connected to environmental impact, "Astro-ecology". Longmore and team are working with conservation agencies worldwide (e.g. WWF; Endangered Wildlife Trust; Wetland Wildlife trust; National Geographic; Borneo Nature Foundation; Indonesia National Parks; Chester Zoo; Knowsley Safari Park; Morecambe Bay Search and Rescue; several universities), flying infrared instrumentation developed for astronomical purposes on drones. Applications include: animal conservation in rain forests; peat fire detection in Indonesia and human rescue at sea. Starting with an internal LJMU startup award of £25k in 2016, this work has attracted more than £1m of external funding principally through two STFC/GCRF grant awards. New Entry 2020: The ARI's project combining infrared astronomical instrumentation expertise with drone technology is impacting the way conservation agencies around the world (e.g. WWF) conduct animal surveys. The thermal-drone enables safe, routine, efficient and cost-effective monitoring and management of animal populations over large and inhospitable areas, with a factor of up to 200x increase in survey efficiency over existing methods. This provides conservation agencies greatly improved data needed to quantify and mitigate biodiversity loss. The thermal drone system is being used routinely to help local fire-fighting teams to find/extinguish annual peat fires in Indonesia which are a major contributor to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The orders of magnitude improvement in fire extinction efficiency the system offers over existing methods will hopefully lead to substantial reduction in CO2 emissions -- a leading cause of climate change. Overall income from this work has now surpassed £1.5m. |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Environment |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | Astro-ecology with drones (2015-2020) |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | The ARI's project combining infrared astronomical instrumentation expertise with drone technology is impacting the way conservation agencies around the world (e.g. WWF) conduct animal surveys. The thermal-drone enables safe, routine, efficient and cost-effective monitoring and management of animal populations over large and inhospitable areas, with a factor of up to 200x increase in survey efficiency over existing methods. This provides conservation agencies greatly improved data needed to quantify and mitigate biodiversity loss. The thermal drone system is being used routinely to help local fire-fighting teams to find/extinguish annual peat fires in Indonesia which are a major contributor to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The orders of magnitude improvement in fire extinction efficiency the system offers over existing methods will hopefully lead to substantial reduction in CO2 emissions -- a leading cause of climate change. |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk |
Description | Chelsea Flower Show |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in systematic reviews |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/Main_Page |
Description | NSO Presentation in House of Commons |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Astro-ecology: the solution from the skies to save Earth's biodiversity |
Amount | £411,988 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R002673/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | Astronomy for Remote and Island Schools |
Amount | £93,201 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R000344/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2017 |
End | 02/2020 |
Description | CO2 emission from peat fires in Indonesia |
Amount | £450,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/S00288X/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | Consolidated Renewal |
Amount | £1,200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R000484/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | Dissecting galaxies at the cosmic dawn |
Amount | £495,863 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/S004831/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | ERC Consolidator Award |
Amount | £1,500,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | EU-T0 |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 05/2018 |
End | 05/2023 |
Description | Liverpool Telescope Operations 2020-2023 |
Amount | £854,175 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/T00147X/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2020 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Making Connections: Rapid follow-up of transients |
Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Weizmann Institute of Science |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Israel |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Novel extensions to state-of-the-art simulations of galaxy formation |
Amount | £434,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | URF/R/191024 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2019 |
End | 10/2022 |
Description | Using drones to protect biodiversity and spur economic growth in Madagascar |
Amount | £574,038 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T015403/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 03/2021 |
Title | Computational Cosmology |
Description | Techniques in hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy evolution on HPC machines. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Galaxy simulation made into a film by Hollywood Director Terrence Malick Voyage of Time (2016) |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |
Description | Astro-ecology |
Organisation | World Wide Fund for Nature |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Various conservation agencies, e.g. WWF worldwide. |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of drone technology and IR data reduction techniques for various applications: rare animal species (rhino, lemur, orangutang etc..), peat fires in Indonesia; RNLI search and rescue |
Impact | Listed in publications |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | International Research Collaboration 2015-2021 |
Organisation | California Institute of Technology |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The New Applicants Award and subsequent consolidated grants in 2015 and 2018 led to many international collaborations, for example: Harvard - Star Formation and PhD Exchange Programme. Caltech - supernovae and (iPTF/ZTF) transient surveys Virgo consortium membership in Cosmological Simulations - High Performance Computing SLOAN Digitised Survey - IV: UK Participation membership. Virgo-Ligo GW electromagnetic followup MPE, MPA Munch, Penn State, University of Tokyo, IAC Tenerife, and partners in the UK. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners contribute through refereed papers (ARI publishes 200 p.a.) |
Impact | More than 200 refereed papers p.a. and £12m of external grant income. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | ARI Engagement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The ARI Outreach team delivers 50 events per year in addition to School based activities. These include, astronomy and science societies and associations, public open events, theatre, street theatre etc..art exhibitions, church societies, cubs, scouts, brownies etc.. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
Description | Exhibitions at national venues |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Special exhibitions and events at national venues including: Tate Liverpool, Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT), the Science Museum, the London Design Biennale at Somerset House. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |
Description | NSO-Garden Chelsea |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In 2015 the NSO exhibited a garden called Dark Matter; at the Chelsea Flower Show winning a Gold medal and Best in Class" (Fresh Gardens). The aggregate audience was estimated at 211 million. The garden has an extensive legacy value at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory and is highlighted on the front cover of the 2015 STFC Impact Report. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.stfc.ac.uk/files/impact-report-2015/ |
Description | National Schools Observatory |
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 | Enhanced interest and uptake of STEM subjects Each year the NSO delivers just over 40 different events or visits to or involving schools. This reaches a total of about 4,500 pupils per year in about 80 different schools. Increasing schools registration on NSO - more than 4000 currently |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
URL | http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/ |
Description | National Schools' Observatory |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The NSO has 3,000 registered schools. More than 100,000 discrete observations with the LT have been returned to schools for projects within the classroom. Full evaluation of the impact of the NSO is currently underway. Two of the NSO staff team now have FeC on our renewed Consolidated Grant (2018-2021) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |
Description | National Schools' Observatory |
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 | NSO continues as a major educational resource that supports access to the Liverpool Telescope by schools. The NSO has worked with over 5000 registered teachers (primary, secondary and FE), the website attracts around 1 million visits per year, and we have dealt with well over 10,000 observing requests in the last year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |
Description | National Schools' Observatory |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Local Schools, Exhibitions (Tate Liverpool, Chelsea Flower Show (audience 200 million) ; FACT; London Design Biennale |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |
Description | Public and Schools Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We regularly give stalks to public, societies, church groups and schools. Audience p.a. is around 20,000. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/Main_Page |
Description | Remote Island Schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The STFC-funded Astronomy for Remote and Island Schools project has funded two ARI academics to tour schools in remote areas of the UK; they have visited 81 schools in total (5236 pupils and 1053 community members), and a final report on the project is being written to evaluate the project, with a February 2020 completion date. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |