The Story of Light: Deciphering the Data Encoded in the Cosmic Light

Dr Alan R. Duffy is an astronomer at Swinburne University creating model universes on supercomputers to understand how galaxies like our own Milky Way form and explore the nature of the hidden universe; dark matter and dark energy.

He is a team member of two main surveys with the next generation Australian SKA Pathfinder and is Co-Investigator in the world's first dark matter detector in the Southern Hemisphere in Stawell, Victoria.

He is a regular on ABC Breakfast News and Ten’s The Project and is an experienced public speaker, ranging from amateur astronomy nights, school talks to TEDx at the Sydney Opera House. You can find him on Twitter as @astroduff.

He will participate in 'The Story of Light: Deciphering the Data Encoded in the Cosmic Light'.

Dr. Vanessa Moss is an astronomer based at the University of Sydney, working as part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO). Rather than the light we see with our eyes, she uses radio waves to study hydrogen fuel in galaxies billions of light years away as well as in our home galaxy, the Milky Way. She considers herself as a modern-day explorer of the universe, loves visualising data of all kinds, schedules her work trips around basketball games, and works as a guide at Sydney Observatory with the hope of sharing her enthusiasm for astronomy and science with as many people as possible. You can find her on Twitter as @cosmicpudding. She will participate in the event, 'The Story of Light: Deciphering the Data Encoded in the Cosmic Light.'
 

Dr. Ángel R. López-Sánchez is an astronomer and science communicator at the Australian Astronomical Observatory and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Macquarie University. He studies how the gas is converted into stars in nearby galaxies and how this affects galaxy evolution. He also provides support for visiting astronomers to the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT, Siding Spring Observatory, NSW). Dr. López-Sánchez is passionate science communicator who continuously gives talks and public lectures, writes popular science writings and organizes stargazing activities. He is very active in social media, his Twitter feed is @El_Lobo_Rayado. He will participate in 'The Story of Light: Deciphering the Data Encoded in the Cosmic Light'.
 

Dr. Luke A. Barnes is a postdoctoral researcher at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy. His university medal from the University of Sydney helped Dr. Barnes earn a scholarship to complete a PhD at the University of Cambridge. He has published papers in the field of galaxy formation and on the fine-tuning of the Universe for life. His book with Prof. Geraint Lewis, titled "A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely-Tuned Cosmos”, will be published by Cambridge University Press in mid-2016. You can find him on Twitter as @lukebarnes83. He will participate in the event, 'The Story of Light: Deciphering the Data Encoded in the Cosmic Light'.
 

Dr. Elizabeth Mannering studied the X-ray properties of the black holes, jets and environments of radio galaxies during her PhD. She is now a front-end web developer at the Australian Astronomical Observatory in Sydney, working on AAO node of the All-Sky Virtual Observatory (ASVO) project, which connects researchers to a wealth of theoretical and observational data from telescopes across the globe. Dr Mannering also works at the International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research in Perth, designing and building outreach tools to allow members of the public to interact with scientific data or explain difficult astronomical concepts in an intuitive way, engaging new generations of would-be astronomers. She will speak in the event, 'The Story of Light: Deciphering the Data Encoded in the Cosmic Light'.