The RASNZ Lecture Trust is pleased to announce that the 2023 BHT lecturer is Professor Ryan Ridden.
Ryan is an astrophysicist at the University of Canterbury. He studies some of the largest explosions in the Universe that are caused by exploding stars, colliding stars, and hungry black holes. To study these extreme objects, he uses space telescopes like TESS, and the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as some of the largest telescopes on Earth.
Ryan grew up in Christchurch and got his start in astronomy during secondary school, helping the Canterbury Astronomical Society with their public nights. After completing an Honours degree in Mathematical Physics at the University of Canterbury in 2015, he obtained a PhD in astronomy and astrophysics at the Australian National University. During his PhD, he discovered several new cataclysmic variable stars. In 2019, he began a postdoc at the Space Telescope Science Institute, where he built data analysis tools for space telescopes. In 2021 Ryan returned to the University Canterbury and is now leading a research group with the support of a Marsden Fast Start Grant, and a Rutherford Postdoctoral Fellowship. Alongside his research Ryan has given numerous public talks, helped build the Young Stars outreach programme, and produced educational videos on YouTube.
Ryan will be presenting his work in a lecture titled Cosmic cataclysms: A dynamic and changing Universe.
The RASNZ Lecture Trust are delighted and excited to have Ryan as this year's BHT lecturer, he will no doubt be entertaining and educational to all ages and backgrounds.
Affiliated Societies are invited to host Professor Ridden during the lecture series which will be occurring for 3 weeks after July 1st, expressions of interest should be sent to the lecture trust secretary at LectureTrust@rasnz.org.nz at the earliest opportunity before April 15th.
Societies who host the BHT lecturer will be required to provide suitable accommodation for 1 or 2 nights as needed, as well as suitable hospitality perhaps in the form of a formal dinner or wine and cheese evening as appropriate. The Lecture trust will be providing transport both international and domestic.
If you are interested in hosting Professor Ryan, please contact RASNZ Lecture Trust Secretary, Simon Lowther on SimonLowther@outlook.co.nz