Ray Norris (astrophysicist)
Encyclopedia
Ray Norris is an astrophysicist and science communicator at the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility
, and is well known for his work on Aboriginal Astronomy.
, Hertfordshire
, England
in 1953. He attended high school at St. Albans School
and then went to Cambridge University, where he received an Honours degree in Theoretical Physics.
He then went to the Jodrell Bank Observatory of the University of Manchester
where he received his PhD in radio-astronomy in 1978, working on astrophysical masers. At the same time, he started to develop an interest in the archaeoastronomy
of Stonehenge and other megalithic observatories, and joined a group of students led by Clive Ruggles
, and spent several years surveying the stone circles of the British Isles.
in 1983 to work for the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility
. He was appointed as Head of Astrophysics in 1994, and Deputy Director in 2000. In 2001 he led the successful bid for Australian astronomy under the Australian Federal Government’s “Major National Research Facilities” program, and then became Director of the Australian Astronomy MNRF. In 2005 he resigned from management positions to return to research.
His work has featured in many radio and TV programs, including ABC TV's "Message Stick" and ABC Radio National's "The First Astronomers" In August 2009 he featured in a two-man The First Astronomers show with Wardaman elder Bill Yidumduma Harney
at the Darwin Festival.
Australia Telescope National Facility
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 's radio astronomy observatories are collectively known as the Australia Telescope National Facility , with the facility supporting Australia's research in radio astronomy....
, and is well known for his work on Aboriginal Astronomy.
Early life
Ray Norris was born in Brookmans ParkBrookmans Park
Brookmans Park is a village, located in the civil parish of North Mymms, in Hertfordshire, southeast England. It is well known for its varied and interesting local history, including an ancient historic estate that used to exist within its boundaries, its BBC transmitter station, and excellent...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1953. He attended high school at St. Albans School
St Albans School (Hertfordshire)
St Albans School is an independent school in the city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, in the East of England. Entry before Sixth Form is for boys only, and co-educational thereafter. Founded in 948 by Wulsin , St Albans School is not only the oldest school in Hertfordshire but also one of the oldest...
and then went to Cambridge University, where he received an Honours degree in Theoretical Physics.
He then went to the Jodrell Bank Observatory of the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
where he received his PhD in radio-astronomy in 1978, working on astrophysical masers. At the same time, he started to develop an interest in the archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy is the study of how people in the past "have understood the phenomena in the sky how they used phenomena in the sky and what role the sky played in their cultures." Clive Ruggles argues it is misleading to consider archaeoastronomy to be the study of ancient astronomy, as modern...
of Stonehenge and other megalithic observatories, and joined a group of students led by Clive Ruggles
Clive Ruggles
Clive L. N. Ruggles is a British astronomer, archaeologist and academic, regarded as one of the leading figures in the field of archaeoastronomy and the author of numerous academic and popular works on the subject. Ruggles is Emeritus Professor of Archaeoastronomy at the School of Archaeology and...
, and spent several years surveying the stone circles of the British Isles.
Career
He moved to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1983 to work for the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility
Australia Telescope National Facility
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 's radio astronomy observatories are collectively known as the Australia Telescope National Facility , with the facility supporting Australia's research in radio astronomy....
. He was appointed as Head of Astrophysics in 1994, and Deputy Director in 2000. In 2001 he led the successful bid for Australian astronomy under the Australian Federal Government’s “Major National Research Facilities” program, and then became Director of the Australian Astronomy MNRF. In 2005 he resigned from management positions to return to research.
Writing
In 2011, Norris published his first novel, Graven ImagesAboriginal Astronomy
Norris is well known for his work on Aboriginal Astronomy, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie UniversityMacquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
His work has featured in many radio and TV programs, including ABC TV's "Message Stick" and ABC Radio National's "The First Astronomers" In August 2009 he featured in a two-man The First Astronomers show with Wardaman elder Bill Yidumduma Harney
Bill Yidumduma Harney
Bill Yidumduma Harney is a senior elder of the Wardaman people whose homeland is near Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is also known as an artist, storyteller, and musician.-Early life:...
at the Darwin Festival.
Astrophysics
Norris leads the ATLAS project to image the faintest radio galaxies and star-forming galaxies in the Universe, to understand how they form and evolve. He also leads the EMU project., which is a project on the new ASKAP telescope to survey of the sky at radio wavelengths. He also researches cosmology and dark energySources
- http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/rnorris/
- http://science.uniserve.edu.au/faces/norris/norris.html
- http://www.emudreaming.com/about.htm
- Norris, R.P. & Hamacher, D.W., 2009,"The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture", Proceedings IAU Symposium No. 260
- "Emu Dreaming" by Ray Norris & CIlla Norris, ISBN 978-0-9806570-0-5
- ABC TV Message Stick transcript on web
- http://www.abc.net.au/rn/artworks/stories/2009/2689180.htm ABC Radio National "The First Astronomers" transcript on web
- Ri Aus - people in Science
External links
- Ockhams Razor ABC Radio National "Ockhams Razor" podcast and transcript on Ray Norris's work, presented by Robyn Williams