AIR Blog

Veronika is an astronomy Phd candidate at McMaster University studying globular star cluster populations around distant, massive galaxies using the Hubble Space Telescope. She is also a presenter at the W.J. McCallion planetarium and a coordinator for McMaster’s sidewalk astronomy program. She is a life-long hiking, camping, and canoeing enthusiast and is over the moon (pun intended) that she gets to combine her passions for astronomy and the outdoors under the dark skies of Killarney!

Veronika’s Second 2024 Blog

Robin Metcalfe is a professor in the Division of Natural Science at York University, where she has been teaching astronomy for over 20 years. Robin’s PhD research pertained to extragalactic astronomy but her current interests are in the search for life beyond Earth and the implications of such a discovery on humanity. Through her teaching, Robin shares her passion for the night sky and the outdoors. She teaches students to appreciate what the night sky has to teach us, to gain perspective from our place in the Universe, and to value our precious planet Earth.

Robin’s Blog

Ryan Marciniak is an astronomer, educator, and science communicator. For over 15 years he has performed live science shows, reaching hundreds of thousands of people with a passion for space and science education. While working at the Ontario Science Centre, he developed and performed a variety of live programs and exhibits. He also worked as Lead Researcher with a creative team to develop the exhibit “Canada 150: Discovery Way,” celebrating Canadian innovation. In 2011, he started Astronomy in Action, with the goal of connecting people to the universe with an inflatable planetarium. Today, Astronomy in Action operates several domes, running programs for schools, Scouts and Guides of Canada, communities, camps, festivals, and a variety of corporate clients. Ryan has also appeared as an expert astronomer for media appearances with CBC, CTV, and more.

Ryan’s Blog

Sunna and Anna will be performing the FIRST dual Astronomer in Residency Tenure! Sunna is a 2nd year PhD student at York University, studying low-mass galaxies in the early Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope. In addition to research, Sunna is a volunteer at the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University, participating in public outreach and observing with the 1m, 60cm, and 40cm telescopes.
Anna is a soon-to-graduate Masters Student who specialises in dwarf galaxies, nebulae, observing ultra-low surface brightness objects, and developing instrumentation and software pertinent to observing ultra-low surface brightness objects. Anna was a part of the team that developed software for several observational apparatuses in the York University Allan I Carswell Observatory, and currently continues development of the Quad Array of Isolating Lenses (capable of observing dim objects in bright skies).

Sunna and Anna’s Blog

Jo is a self taught amateur astronomer with over a decade of experience under his belt. Jo is a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and has been involved in astronomy related outreach programs in the Mississauga area for many years. He enjoys the challenge of finding astronomical targets without the aid of computer driven telescopes (aka. star hopping) and has built a deep knowledge of the night sky as a result. Joining Jo this week is his wife Sonya and their daughter Alcyone.

Jo’s Blog

For over 25 years Julie Tomé has inspired wonder and curiosity about the night sky through her work at various observatories, science centres, and museums, as well as through numerous outreach activities and the York Universe radio program. As a Museum Educator, Julie shares her passion for all things science and history with folks of all ages through school programs, camps, exhibitions, and special programs.

Julie’s Blog

Majid is an active and enthusiastic amateur astronomer. Majid Naji has a PhD in electrical engineering (Photonics) and is a senior Scientist at OZ Optics Ltd company. He has been studying astronomy and involved in many amateur astronomical activities since his teenage years. His main interests/activities in astronomy are: sun and solar activities, astronomical interferometry, building simple astronomical apparatus, night sky observation, the history of astronomy and astronomical photography.

Majid’s Blog

Prof. Mary-Helen Armour is faculty at York University. She teaches a number of science courses in the Natural Science Division. Her background is both Astronomy (Masters in Physics and Astronomy) and Earth Sciences (PhD in near surface geophysics and modelling). She has a interest in a range of astronomy topics – From historical astronomy and how the sky was a resource as a calendar and navigation, to planetary sciences, the possibility of finding life somewhere other than earth and asteroid impact structures.

Mary-Hellen’s Blog

Veronika is an astronomy Phd candidate at McMaster University studying globular star cluster populations around distant, massive galaxies using the Hubble Space Telescope. She is also a presenter at the W.J. McCallion planetarium and a coordinator for McMaster’s sidewalk astronomy program. She is a life-long hiking, camping, and canoeing enthusiast and is over the moon (pun intended) that she gets to combine her passions for astronomy and the outdoors under the dark skies of Killarney!

Veronika’s Blog

Bruce has been teaching astronomy to the public since 1981 and in the provincial park system every year since 1985. He was at the McLaughlin Planetarium as star theatre operator, producer and educator and ran the last public star show with the hope that, one day, the stars would shine down upon Toronto again. He also authored “A camper’s guide to the universe” in 2012″ and is the author of the Ontario Parks monthly astronomy blog. Finally, he is the co-founder of Stars over Killarney – an annual astronomy program featuring topics that connect to the Park (2018).

Bruce’s Blog