Abraham, Roberto

From Senior College Encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search

1965-

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Roberto G. (Bob) Abraham is a Professor in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. He was born in Manila, The Philippines, and educated at the University of British Columbia (BSc 1987) and at Oxford University (DPhil 1992). After postdoctoral work at the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (Victoria BC) and Cambridge University, he joined the University of Toronto in 2000, being promoted to Associate Professor in 2003, and to Full Professor (and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies) in 2009. His research is in observational cosmology, especially the study of the nature and evolution of galaxies from their origin after the Big Bang, to the present. This can be done by observing galaxies at different distances since, because of the finite speed of light, distant galaxies are seen as they were billions of years ago. He is also involved in developing innovative instrumentation and techniques for observing, designed to study the faintest objects, from distant galaxies, shortly after their birth, to planets around other stars. He serves in many leadership and advisory positions within the astronomical community, including the Planning Committee for the James Webb Space Telescope (the successor to Hubble). His many awards include a Steacie Memorial Fellowship in 2005 and the P.G. Martin Award of the Canadian Astronomical Society in 2011, the latter awarded to an outstanding mid-career astronomer in Canada.

Bob is also an enthusiastic, effective teacher and supervisor, having received the Faculty of Arts and Science Outstanding Teaching Award in 2005. He has taught courses at all levels, including 1300-student courses in Introductory Astronomy for Non-Science Students. He is also deeply committed to science outreach, and was appointed Honorary President of the Toronto Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in recognition of this. Unlike most professional astronomers, he enjoys observing the sky from his backyard, with a small telescope, and introducing his children to the wonders of astronomy.

References

http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/~abraham/Web/Welcome.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Abraham