The Astronomy Research Centre (ARC)

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Transition Disks with ALMA

2021 Science Exposed Competition Finalist

This beautiful assembly of dusty disks complied by Logan Francis and Nienke van der Marel from ALMA observations is a 2021 finalist in NSERC's Science Exposed image competition. Please give it a vote!

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Slice of a vorticity in a massive star

Elements in the First Stars

This simulation shows a slice of the vorticity through a massive star that would be among the first to have formed right after the Big Bang, as it burns hydrogen and helium. Prof. Falk Herwig and recently graduated Dr. Ondrea Clarkson, as part of a large collaboration, study the perplexing elemental abundance signatures left behind from the first stars.  Image: Falk Herwig/Paul Woodard, NSF, TACC

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Monolithic Supermassive Stars

NRC Herzberg Plaskett Fellow Tyrone Woods studies Monolithic Supermassive Stars - the possible seeds of supermassive black holes in the early Universe. 

Image: Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

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The galaxy cluster XLSSC 122

Observing the galaxy cluster XLSSC 122 in the early Universe

 Jon Willis and his team observed the galaxy cluster XLSSC 122, finding this surprisingly well developed cluster in the early Universe, akin to clusters observed in present day. 

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Ultra diffuse galaxies with NGVS

Studying "extreme" galaxies with NGVS

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The ARC

The Astronomy Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Victoria brings together world-renowned researchers in astrophysics, engineering, computation, and instrumentation working in or near Victoria, BC.

UVic scientists and engineers work closely with colleagues at the nearby NRC Herzberg Institute in Saanich, the NRC DRAO in Penticton, and at TRIUMF in Vancouver, to form one of the largest concentrations of astronomy-related talent in Canada.

Our mission is to communicate the exciting astronomical research being done at/with UVic, to facilitate new collaborations and synergy, to support high quality undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral training, and to foster public engagement in science.

UVic's territory acknowledgement on a background of cedar trees and star trails: "We acknowledge with respect the Lekwungen peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day."

We encourage you to explore and learn from UVic's Office of Indigenous Academic & Community Engagement pages and ARC's Indigenous Acumen page.

ARC Director's Corner

Kim VennWelcome to the UVic Astronomy Research Centre! We were established in 2015 as a communication platform to increase awareness and opportunities in astronomical research at UVic. Our members from UVic’s faculties of Science and Engineering work with researchers at the nearby NRC’s Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Centre in Saanich, BC, the NRC’s Dominion Radio Astronomy Observatory in Penticton, BC, the TRIUMF lab in Vancouver, BC, and with industrial partners across Canada.

Members of the ARC include students, postdocs, staff, faculty, adjuncts, and associates involved in a wide range of astronomical research, including ground and space-based instrumentation.  All of our work requires research support, through local and national computer servers, rapid access to cloud computing, and high performance computing for intensive simulations.  These are top priorities for the ARC, both to serve our members, and to share the research outcomes from this cluster of excellence across Canada and with the broader community.

ARC hosts or supports local astronomy-related workshops, and helps to coordinate major funding requests and other research initiatives.  Currently, ARC hosts an NSERC-CREATE training program on New Technologies for Canadian Observatories, and is involved in the CFI-funded GIRMOS instrument being built at NRC-Herzberg for the Gemini-South Observatory.   In addition, several members of ARC are involved in a large CFI proposal for the final design phase of a new 11-meter spectroscopic survey telescope, the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer.   

Finally, ARC supports UVic activities, such as the observatory open houses and group tours, and student-led initiatives, such the astrophotography group.   More recently, ARC has initiated efforts to be more inclusive of Indigenous students, Indigenous knowledge, and diverse perspectives in astronomy.   This is a pillar in the UVic Strategic Plan, and we hope to provide a more welcoming space for all those who are curious about the sky.

We encourage you to browse these webpages, and explore the exciting research outcomes, research opportunities, and other activities supported by the ARC.

Prof. Kim Venn

ARC Director

June 2020


 

Program Management Team

The Program Management Team helps to identify and prioritize the goals of the ARC, and oversees the strategic planning to reach those goals.   This team is comprised of members from all significant partners in the ARC.  

ARC Program Management Team members:   

Prof. Colin Bradley (Mechanical Engineering)
Dr. James Di Francesco (NRC Herzberg)
Dr. Iris Dillmann (TRIUMF)
Prof. Sara Ellison (Physics & Astronomy)
Prof. Falk Herwig (Physics & Astronomy)
Prof. Robin Hicks (Faculty of Science, Associate Dean Academic)
Dr. JJ Kavelaars (NRC Herzberg)
Prof. Adam Ritz  (Physics & Astronomy, Chair)

Newsletters

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ARC is hiring!

We are looking for a communications officer!

Please see here for more details.