Ian Short

Assistant Professor,
Department of Astronomy and Physics and Institute
for Computational Astrophysics, Saint Mary's University

Education Background:

• B.Sc. (Honours) - Math-Physics, 1987, University of New Brunswick
• M.Sc. - Astronomy, 1990, University of Toronto
• Ph.D. - Astronomy, 1995, University of Toronto

• Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Armagh Observatory (Northern Ireland),
  1996-1997
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Georgia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 1997-2000

Research Interests:

"My main research tools are:

• Computer modeling of the atmospheres and spectra of stars. I use high performance parallel computers made out of many PC's connected together (Beowulf type computers) to simulate the outer layers of a star (the layers that we can see), and to simulate the spectrum of the light the star emits.
• The spectroscopy of starlight - how the brightness of a star depends on the wavelength of the light it emits."

"The kinds of astronomical objects I study are:

• Relatively cool stars, like the Sun and red giant stars.
• The very hot outer layers of cool stars (chromospheres).
• Novae - White Dwarf stars on which a powerful surface explosion has just occurred"

"The kinds of big questions I am trying to answer are:

• What is the chemical composition of the oldest visible stars in the Milky Way galaxy, such as ancient red giants?
  • Related questions:
    Where did the all the chemical elements in the periodic table come from? How has the chemical composition of the Milky Way galaxy changed with time? How and when did the first stars in the galaxy form?
• What are all the particles and processes that absorb and emit radiation in the atmospheres of cool stars (ie. that provide opacity)?
• What is the explanation for poorly understood natural processes that take place in the atmospheres of cool stars (such as the heating of the hot chromosphere in stars like the Sun)?"

Professional Accomplishments:

"Numerous research publications in the two main international professional astrophysics journals, The Astrophysical Journal, and Astronomy and Astrophysics.

"Most of these describe:

• New contributions to the understanding of how the hot outer layers (the chromosphere) of relatively cool stars like the Sun cool themselves by emitting radiation.
• New contributions to the understanding of how blue and violet light is absorbed and emitted in the atmospheres of relatively cool stars.
• New contributions to the understanding of how the layers of gas ejected in a Nova explosion change with time"

Why study/work in Canada?

"I joined the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary's University in 2002 as part of the creation of the new Institute for Computational Astrophysics (ICA). The ICA was made possible by funding from the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). In Canada the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the CFI have been doing a very good job of providing funding for a broad community of science researchers. Recently the CFI has provided a lot of funding to create new research infrastructure, such as the high performance computers that I use in my work. Also, I am from Canada originally, so it is very satisfying for me to be able to do my research here."

Interested in becoming an Astronomer?

"Take advantage of opportunities to learn about what Astronomy and Astrophysics research is like, by, for example, visiting Universities where astronomical work is done, contacting astronomical researchers, attending public lectures by Astronomers, doing special school projects that involve astronomy, and viewing documentaries on Astronomical topics. Its important to have an interest in Physics and Math because modern Astronomy is really the physics of natural objects in space, such as stars and galaxies."

Ian Short is one of the many professors taking part in the CASCA-Westar Lectureship Series which brings Canadian astronomers to communities like yours!

Related Links:

• Astronomy as a career
• Other Canadian Astronomer Profiles
• Notable Canadian Astronomers

   

  compiled by the CASCA education Webteam, (2008)