To Whom It May Concern
I was delighted to learn of the developing plans to include an astronomy deck for the renovated Victoria High School. This will be an inspirational addition not only for generations of students, but also for the community at large.
I was an early, enthusiastic supporter of Vic High’s development of an astronomy course, and was pleased to have had the opportunity before I retired to speak with those students. Astronomy is a subject in which many are fascinated; as such, it encourages students to delve into a STEM subject that people find accessible and inspirational. Most will not continue on to become astronomers, but the students taking Vic High’s course, with the new associated observing opportunities, will have learned many things of great value to their pursuit of other STEM subjects and/or to being informed citizens. To have a facility enabling and encouraging the students to make their own observations, and to participate in research, will add an amazing educational opportunity to the school.
In the wider community I have witnessed numerous times how Vic High astronomy students have shared their knowledge and passion with the public through the annual Astronomy Day activities coordinated at the Royal BC Museum by the Victoria Centre, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Having an observing deck associated with Vic High will also enable the school to reach out to the immediate community it serves, thereby increasing Vic High’s impact in unexpected ways. Victoria is truly an international centre of excellence in astronomical research, development of state-of-the-art instrumentation for international observatories on the ground and in space, and development of pioneering data analysis tools. As a result, Vic High students (and staff) will find much support in outreach and educational programming from the numerous astronomy organizations calling Victoria home. These include the members of the:
Career Overview:
Jim was on the staff of the National Research Council (1977-2013), where he was Director of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO, 1986-2013) with overall responsibility inter alia for the Plaskett Fellowship program, the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, the Canadian Gemini Office, the DAO Telescopes and the scientific staff associated with these and other activities. In retirement he’s served on various local, national and international committees, including review panels for the U.S. National Science Foundation’s national astronomy and gravitational-wave facilities. He’s also served on the Board of the Victory Symphony Society (2012- 2018), the Saanich Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee (2019- ), and the Board of the Victoria Summer Music Festival (2021- ).
Prior to joining NRC he completed his Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University (1966) and was on the staff of the NSF’s Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, La Serena, Chile for nine years, including two as Assistant Director. His research on stars, star clusters, galaxies and laboratory astrophysics has been reported in nearly 200 refereed research papers.
Jim served on the Board of Directors of the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (11), Gemini (1) and ALMA (11 years) international observatories. He has been President of the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) and of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and served on the Council and as Vice President of the American Astronomical Society. External honours include the Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion (1997); Asteroid 39179 named after him (International Astronomical Union 2002); Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2003); Honorary Member of the Eskasoni Mi'kmaw Nation, bestowed name Apata'sk,wesintew (2008); Honorary President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (2009-2013); inaugural CASCA Executive Award for Outstanding Service (2010); Sociedad Chilena de Astronomía award for distinguished contributions to Chilean Astronomy (2011); Qilak Award for Astronomy Communications, Public Education and Outreach (CASCA 2013), and the W.G. Schneider Medal for outstanding contributions “above and beyond expectations” (NRC, 2015).
I’m really excited to learn of the observation deck at Vic-High. I run an ’student scientist’ program where we observe occultations of stars by my solar system objects. These high-value science observations enable the measurement of the most distant objects in our solar system, providing the only possible avenue to making direct physical measurement of these bodies. We have had great success with students at Penticton High conducting such observations as they have a permanent observatory and are able to routinely and easily conduct observations. Being able to make such observations relies on having an easy and reproducible environment to setup your telescope. Although Vic-High students have wanted to participate in this science project, which leads to students having co-authorship of science papers (an sign of excellence on any application for post-secondary studies), the lack of a stable observing environment has hindered their efforts. With their own permanent observing deck accessible, Vic-High students should be able to fully engage in this program, aiding in the advancement of knowledge about our solar system and aiding those students in fulfilling their post-secondary ambitions. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Vic-High community.
Dr. JJ Kavelaars (Adj)
Dept of Physics and Astronomy
University of Victoria
NRC Herzberg
Career Overview:
J-John Kavelaars, better known as JJ Kavelaars (born 1966), is a Canadian astronomer who was part of a team that discovered several moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.[2] He is also a discoverer of minor planets and an investigator on the extended New Horizons mission, having aided in the discovery of 486958 Arrokoth.
Kavelaars is a graduate of the Glencoe District High School in Glencoe, Ontario, the University of Guelph, and Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. He is currently an astronomer at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, B.C.
In the course of his work, he has been responsible for the discovery of eleven satellites (moons) of Saturn, eight of Uranus, and four of Neptune, and a hundred or so minor planets. Kavelaars is the Coordinator of the Canada–France Ecliptic Plane Survey which is part of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey "CFHTLS": a project dedicated to the discovery and tracking of objects in the outer Solar System.
The asteroid 154660 Kavelaars was named in his honor on 1 June 2007 by his colleague David D. Balam.[2]
In 2022 Kavelaars was awarded the Canadian Astronomical Society Dunlap Award for Innovation in Astronomical Instrumentation and Software. This award recognized Kavelaars' contributions to the development and leadership of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, in particular the development of cloud-based astronomical data analysis using the CANFAR Science Platform.
In 2022 Kavelaars was awarded the National Research Council Dan Wayner award for outstanding achievement in Science and Technology. This award was presented in recognition of Kavelaars' co-discovery of 486958 Arrokoth and contributions to the NASA's New Horizons encounter with that objet.
“It is wonderful news that Victoria High School is building an astronomy deck. Such a facility will have a big impact on the students as they will be able to discover the universe themselves through the eyepieces of telescopes. Victoria High School clearly understands how such first-hand experiences can be pivotal for student education. I especially appreciate that the astronomy deck will be named after Victoria High School alumnus Barry Turner, a pioneering scientist whose contributions to radio astronomy are still being recognized today.”
James Di Francesco, Director, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Saanich, BC.
Career Overview: James Di Francesco received his PhD in Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin in 1997, and had subsequent postdoctoral fellowship appointments at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the University of California, Berkeley.
James joined the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre in 2002 and is presently its Director of Optical Astronomy and the Director of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Victoria.
With 20+ years of experience working with a High School astronomy activity I can fully attest to the added value that will be achieved by funding the building an astronomy observation deck for the astronomy program. The ability to add to theory with actual hands on experience has value that is almost immeasurable. I applaud you for supporting this area of science that not only looks to the future but also has strong links stretching far back into antiquity. This space will be a great addition to Vic High and I believe is a first for a public High school in the Greater Victoria Area. Well done.
Bill Weir, National Representative for the Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
Volunteer with the astronomy activity at Pearson College UWC.
Five decades ago, I was part of the "Apollo Generation". We were the kids in the 1960s and '70s whose eyes were opened by the excitement of the Apollo missions to the moon. Astronomy was my gateway into the world of science, and it has forever since been my passion and my profession. Right now, we can anticipate the "Artemis Generation", with the new Artemis missions to the moon in progress. We are also seeing an unprecedented public interest in the wonders of the universe with the exciting new images coming from the James Webb Space Telescope.
High school students are at the perfect age to be introduced to astronomy. They are mature enough to ask the big questions, and competent enough to understand the methods and reasoning that allow us to study the cosmos. The Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada rejoices in the work and dedication of the Victoria High School teachers who set up the Astronomy Program to encourage students to learn about the field.
And now we understand there is an opportunity to improve the Program with an astronomy observing platform on the roof of the new building. I am pleased to see that the platform will be named after a graduate of Vic High who went on to be a notable Canadian astronomer. This name will emphasize to your students the possibilities that can follow from an interest in astronomy and science in general.
Don't be dissuaded by nay-sayers who claim the light polluted centre of Victoria makes the platform unuseable. Getting above the street lights and trees provides an enviable location to observe the heavenly dome and the motions of its objects. Daytime observations of the sun and even the moon will be perfect. After dark, the moon, the planets, the principal stars of the constellations, meteors, and comets will all be easy to observe. With good filters, it is certainly possible to photograph deep space objects. In the amateur astronomy community, we always say the best telescope is the one you actually use. Sure, there are places with darker skies, and observatories with larger telescopes. But the gift you offer to your students with your own school observing platform is simple availability and familiarity. It will get used, and it will certainly motivate many of your students to continue in the world of science.
Members of our amateur astronomy club will certainly volunteer to work with the Vic High students. We look forward to sharing clear skies on the Barry Turner Astronomy Observation Deck.
Randy Enkin
President
Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Kudos to Clayton Ueda and Jon Geehan for their tireless efforts to get the Astronomy program at Vic High off the ground and flying high over the past few years. Now, the kudos should equally include Aaron and the Vic High administration for their vision and foresight in supporting the construction of the observation deck for the astronomy program. Having an accessible, easy to use location for their telescopes will open up several new avenues of exploration for the students. The primary one is for their course and hands-on lab work, which will involve taking observations of the night sky and analyzing the data. Such hands-on observational experience is invaluable and can never be replaced with images taken off the internet. The second avenue would be to pursue amateur astronomical activities such as astrophotography. The Vic High students, even with the very limited resources they have had so far, have already shown excellent talent in this area with exhibitions of their work during the Annual Astronomy Day activities at the Royal BC Museum. With the addition of this observing deck, the sky will, literally and figuratively be their limit! Finally, having this deck and telescopes will permit the students to begin organizing outreach activities. Amongst these one could perhaps be a weekly open house to invite their Fernwood community to join them for an evening of star gazing during which the students will have an opportunity to develop their public speaking and science presentation skills by explaining the celestial observations to the public. Even though I have listed only three avenues here, I am sure the students, with their fertile imagination and ingenuity will develop many more such paths. I wish the program continued success, and look forward to working closely with them whenever opportunities arise.
With best wishes,
Karun Thanjavur
Senior Astronomy Lab Instructor, and Observatory Manager
UVic, Victoria, Canada.
Career Overview:
As an observational cosmologist, discovering new gravitational lenses and developing innovative techniques to harness them as observational tools are amongst my diverse research interests. As part of my doctoral thesis at UVic in 2009, I developed an automated technique to search for lenses in wide field, pan-chromatic imaging. These explorations of the distant universe come after a full career as a mechanical engineer, specializing in control systems and robotics. Born and raised in a small town in South India, I completed my education up to a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering there, before moving to Canada to pursue graduate studies first in Robotics, and later in Astrophysics. After my PhD from UVic, I worked as a Resident Astronomer at CFHT in Hawaii for three years, before returning to UVic to accept a position as a senior lab instructor in astronomy. Even though undergraduate teaching is the focus of my current position, I continue to pursue various research projects. I also enjoy sharing the excitement of science and my research efforts with the public through several outreach initiatives through the UVic observatory.
To Whom It May Concern
I was delighted to learn of the developing plans to include an astronomy deck for the renovated Victoria High School. This will be an inspirational addition not only for generations of students, but also for the community at large.
I was an early, enthusiastic supporter of Vic High’s development of an astronomy course, and was pleased to have had the opportunity before I retired to speak with those students. Astronomy is a subject in which many are fascinated; as such, it encourages students to delve into a STEM subject that people find accessible and inspirational. Most will not continue on to become astronomers, but the students taking Vic High’s course, with the new associated observing opportunities, will have learned many things of great value to their pursuit of other STEM subjects and/or to being informed citizens. To have a facility enabling and encouraging the students to make their own observations, and to participate in research, will add an amazing educational opportunity to the school.
In the wider community I have witnessed numerous times how Vic High astronomy students have shared their knowledge and passion with the public through the annual Astronomy Day activities coordinated at the Royal BC Museum by the Victoria Centre, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Having an observing deck associated with Vic High will also enable the school to reach out to the immediate community it serves, thereby increasing Vic High’s impact in unexpected ways. Victoria is truly an international centre of excellence in astronomical research, development of state-of-the-art instrumentation for international observatories on the ground and in space, and development of pioneering data analysis tools. As a result, Vic High students (and staff) will find much support in outreach and educational programming from the numerous astronomy organizations calling Victoria home. These include the members of the:
- Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada;
- Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO);
- research astronomers, engineers and software experts at the DAO; and the
- renown astronomical, engineering and computer science faculty and students at the University of
Victoria and Camosun College.
Having for decades been active in public outreach and education, I find Vic High’s vision for the new astronomy deck to be exciting for the school and for Victoria. I wish everyone involved great success with its implementation and the development of the many new connections the students and staff will foster through it within the community.
Sincerely yours,
James E. Hesser, Ph.D., FRAS, FRASC, FAAS
Director (1986-2013) Emeritus
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre National Research Council of Canada
5071 W. Saanich Road Victoria, B.C. V9E 2E7 Canada [email protected]
Career Overview:
Jim was on the staff of the National Research Council (1977-2013), where he was Director of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO, 1986-2013) with overall responsibility inter alia for the Plaskett Fellowship program, the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, the Canadian Gemini Office, the DAO Telescopes and the scientific staff associated with these and other activities. In retirement he’s served on various local, national and international committees, including review panels for the U.S. National Science Foundation’s national astronomy and gravitational-wave facilities. He’s also served on the Board of the Victory Symphony Society (2012- 2018), the Saanich Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee (2019- ), and the Board of the Victoria Summer Music Festival (2021- ).
Prior to joining NRC he completed his Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University (1966) and was on the staff of the NSF’s Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, La Serena, Chile for nine years, including two as Assistant Director. His research on stars, star clusters, galaxies and laboratory astrophysics has been reported in nearly 200 refereed research papers.
Jim served on the Board of Directors of the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (11), Gemini (1) and ALMA (11 years) international observatories. He has been President of the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) and of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and served on the Council and as Vice President of the American Astronomical Society. External honours include the Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion (1997); Asteroid 39179 named after him (International Astronomical Union 2002); Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2003); Honorary Member of the Eskasoni Mi'kmaw Nation, bestowed name Apata'sk,wesintew (2008); Honorary President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (2009-2013); inaugural CASCA Executive Award for Outstanding Service (2010); Sociedad Chilena de Astronomía award for distinguished contributions to Chilean Astronomy (2011); Qilak Award for Astronomy Communications, Public Education and Outreach (CASCA 2013), and the W.G. Schneider Medal for outstanding contributions “above and beyond expectations” (NRC, 2015).
I’m really excited to learn of the observation deck at Vic-High. I run an ’student scientist’ program where we observe occultations of stars by my solar system objects. These high-value science observations enable the measurement of the most distant objects in our solar system, providing the only possible avenue to making direct physical measurement of these bodies. We have had great success with students at Penticton High conducting such observations as they have a permanent observatory and are able to routinely and easily conduct observations. Being able to make such observations relies on having an easy and reproducible environment to setup your telescope. Although Vic-High students have wanted to participate in this science project, which leads to students having co-authorship of science papers (an sign of excellence on any application for post-secondary studies), the lack of a stable observing environment has hindered their efforts. With their own permanent observing deck accessible, Vic-High students should be able to fully engage in this program, aiding in the advancement of knowledge about our solar system and aiding those students in fulfilling their post-secondary ambitions. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Vic-High community.
Dr. JJ Kavelaars (Adj)
Dept of Physics and Astronomy
University of Victoria
NRC Herzberg
Career Overview:
J-John Kavelaars, better known as JJ Kavelaars (born 1966), is a Canadian astronomer who was part of a team that discovered several moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.[2] He is also a discoverer of minor planets and an investigator on the extended New Horizons mission, having aided in the discovery of 486958 Arrokoth.
Kavelaars is a graduate of the Glencoe District High School in Glencoe, Ontario, the University of Guelph, and Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. He is currently an astronomer at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, B.C.
In the course of his work, he has been responsible for the discovery of eleven satellites (moons) of Saturn, eight of Uranus, and four of Neptune, and a hundred or so minor planets. Kavelaars is the Coordinator of the Canada–France Ecliptic Plane Survey which is part of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey "CFHTLS": a project dedicated to the discovery and tracking of objects in the outer Solar System.
The asteroid 154660 Kavelaars was named in his honor on 1 June 2007 by his colleague David D. Balam.[2]
In 2022 Kavelaars was awarded the Canadian Astronomical Society Dunlap Award for Innovation in Astronomical Instrumentation and Software. This award recognized Kavelaars' contributions to the development and leadership of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, in particular the development of cloud-based astronomical data analysis using the CANFAR Science Platform.
In 2022 Kavelaars was awarded the National Research Council Dan Wayner award for outstanding achievement in Science and Technology. This award was presented in recognition of Kavelaars' co-discovery of 486958 Arrokoth and contributions to the NASA's New Horizons encounter with that objet.
“It is wonderful news that Victoria High School is building an astronomy deck. Such a facility will have a big impact on the students as they will be able to discover the universe themselves through the eyepieces of telescopes. Victoria High School clearly understands how such first-hand experiences can be pivotal for student education. I especially appreciate that the astronomy deck will be named after Victoria High School alumnus Barry Turner, a pioneering scientist whose contributions to radio astronomy are still being recognized today.”
James Di Francesco, Director, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Saanich, BC.
Career Overview: James Di Francesco received his PhD in Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin in 1997, and had subsequent postdoctoral fellowship appointments at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the University of California, Berkeley.
James joined the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre in 2002 and is presently its Director of Optical Astronomy and the Director of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Victoria.
With 20+ years of experience working with a High School astronomy activity I can fully attest to the added value that will be achieved by funding the building an astronomy observation deck for the astronomy program. The ability to add to theory with actual hands on experience has value that is almost immeasurable. I applaud you for supporting this area of science that not only looks to the future but also has strong links stretching far back into antiquity. This space will be a great addition to Vic High and I believe is a first for a public High school in the Greater Victoria Area. Well done.
Bill Weir, National Representative for the Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
Volunteer with the astronomy activity at Pearson College UWC.
Five decades ago, I was part of the "Apollo Generation". We were the kids in the 1960s and '70s whose eyes were opened by the excitement of the Apollo missions to the moon. Astronomy was my gateway into the world of science, and it has forever since been my passion and my profession. Right now, we can anticipate the "Artemis Generation", with the new Artemis missions to the moon in progress. We are also seeing an unprecedented public interest in the wonders of the universe with the exciting new images coming from the James Webb Space Telescope.
High school students are at the perfect age to be introduced to astronomy. They are mature enough to ask the big questions, and competent enough to understand the methods and reasoning that allow us to study the cosmos. The Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada rejoices in the work and dedication of the Victoria High School teachers who set up the Astronomy Program to encourage students to learn about the field.
And now we understand there is an opportunity to improve the Program with an astronomy observing platform on the roof of the new building. I am pleased to see that the platform will be named after a graduate of Vic High who went on to be a notable Canadian astronomer. This name will emphasize to your students the possibilities that can follow from an interest in astronomy and science in general.
Don't be dissuaded by nay-sayers who claim the light polluted centre of Victoria makes the platform unuseable. Getting above the street lights and trees provides an enviable location to observe the heavenly dome and the motions of its objects. Daytime observations of the sun and even the moon will be perfect. After dark, the moon, the planets, the principal stars of the constellations, meteors, and comets will all be easy to observe. With good filters, it is certainly possible to photograph deep space objects. In the amateur astronomy community, we always say the best telescope is the one you actually use. Sure, there are places with darker skies, and observatories with larger telescopes. But the gift you offer to your students with your own school observing platform is simple availability and familiarity. It will get used, and it will certainly motivate many of your students to continue in the world of science.
Members of our amateur astronomy club will certainly volunteer to work with the Vic High students. We look forward to sharing clear skies on the Barry Turner Astronomy Observation Deck.
Randy Enkin
President
Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Kudos to Clayton Ueda and Jon Geehan for their tireless efforts to get the Astronomy program at Vic High off the ground and flying high over the past few years. Now, the kudos should equally include Aaron and the Vic High administration for their vision and foresight in supporting the construction of the observation deck for the astronomy program. Having an accessible, easy to use location for their telescopes will open up several new avenues of exploration for the students. The primary one is for their course and hands-on lab work, which will involve taking observations of the night sky and analyzing the data. Such hands-on observational experience is invaluable and can never be replaced with images taken off the internet. The second avenue would be to pursue amateur astronomical activities such as astrophotography. The Vic High students, even with the very limited resources they have had so far, have already shown excellent talent in this area with exhibitions of their work during the Annual Astronomy Day activities at the Royal BC Museum. With the addition of this observing deck, the sky will, literally and figuratively be their limit! Finally, having this deck and telescopes will permit the students to begin organizing outreach activities. Amongst these one could perhaps be a weekly open house to invite their Fernwood community to join them for an evening of star gazing during which the students will have an opportunity to develop their public speaking and science presentation skills by explaining the celestial observations to the public. Even though I have listed only three avenues here, I am sure the students, with their fertile imagination and ingenuity will develop many more such paths. I wish the program continued success, and look forward to working closely with them whenever opportunities arise.
With best wishes,
Karun Thanjavur
Senior Astronomy Lab Instructor, and Observatory Manager
UVic, Victoria, Canada.
Career Overview:
As an observational cosmologist, discovering new gravitational lenses and developing innovative techniques to harness them as observational tools are amongst my diverse research interests. As part of my doctoral thesis at UVic in 2009, I developed an automated technique to search for lenses in wide field, pan-chromatic imaging. These explorations of the distant universe come after a full career as a mechanical engineer, specializing in control systems and robotics. Born and raised in a small town in South India, I completed my education up to a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering there, before moving to Canada to pursue graduate studies first in Robotics, and later in Astrophysics. After my PhD from UVic, I worked as a Resident Astronomer at CFHT in Hawaii for three years, before returning to UVic to accept a position as a senior lab instructor in astronomy. Even though undergraduate teaching is the focus of my current position, I continue to pursue various research projects. I also enjoy sharing the excitement of science and my research efforts with the public through several outreach initiatives through the UVic observatory.