Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto is an astronomical research centre with three focuses: developing and applying innovative astronomical instrumentation and technology, preparing the leaders of the future in astronomical instrumentation and data science, and bringing the excitement of the Universe to young people, the public, and underrepresented groups.[1][2][3]

This article is about the research centre at the University of Toronto. For the observatory in Richmond Hill, Ontario, see David Dunlap Observatory.

Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics

Type	Research institute
Established	2008 (2008)
Affiliation	University of Toronto
Director	Bryan Gaensler
Location	Toronto , Ontario , Canada 43°39′38″N 79°23′50″W
Website	www.dunlap.utoronto.ca

The Institute was founded in 2008 with the help of endowed gifts to the University of Toronto from David M. Dunlap and J. Moffat Dunlap,[4] using the proceeds from the sale of the David Dunlap Observatory.[5][6][7] The Dunlap Institute is allied with and co-located with the University of Toronto's Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and with the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics,[1][8] and no longer has any association or connection to the David Dunlap Observatory.

Research

Astronomers at the Dunlap Institute investigate a variety of topics including:

• the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy[9]
• cosmic magnetic fields[10]
• cosmic explosions[11][12][13][14]
• the large scale structure in the universe[15]
• Dark Energy[15]
• the Cosmic Microwave Background[15]

Technology & Instrumentation

Telescope, instrumentation and software projects with leadership from Dunlap scientists include:

• The Dragonfly Telephoto Array, which comprises many telephoto lens and is designed to detect dim astronomical objects. Dragonfly was co-designed by the U of T’s Roberto Abraham and Yale’s Pieter van Dokkum.[16]
• The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME)[15]
• The South Pole Telescope, designed to study the Cosmic Microwave Background from its location at the South Pole[15]
• The Gemini InfraRed Multi-Object Spectrograph (GIRMOS),[17][18] to be deployed on the Gemini South telescope in Chile in 2024
• The Canadian Initiative for Radio Astronomy Data Analysis (CIRADA),[2][18] which is producing advanced data products for the CHIME, ASKAP and VLA radio telescopes, and which is a pilot project for a Canadian Square Kilometre Array data centre.

Training

At the Dunlap’s annual Introduction to Astronomical Instrumentation Summer School, undergraduate and graduate students from around the world attend lectures and labs.[19] Undergraduate students also pursue summer research projects at the Dunlap Institute's Summer Undergraduate Research Program.[20][21]

Public outreach

The Dunlap Institute runs many public outreach events including:

• Astronomy on Tap TO[22]
• SpaceTime[23]
• Cool Cosmos (part of the International Year of Astronomy in 2009)[24][25]
• Transit of Venus viewing (2012)[26]
• Toronto Science Festival (in partnership with U of T Science Engagement) (2013)[27][28]
• Dunlap Prize Lecture featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson (2014)[29]
• Supermoon Lunar Eclipse viewing (2015)[30][31]
• Partial Solar Eclipse viewing (2017)[32]
• Planet gazing parties,[33][34] in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

Directors

• 2010 - 2012: James R. Graham[35]
• 2012 – 2015: Peter Martin (Acting/Interim)[36]
• 2015 – present: Bryan Gaensler[37]

References

1. "Looking Skyward". University of Toronto Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
2. "The U of T astrophysicist toolbox". The Varsity. 2019-01-14. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
3. "First Discovery for a New Planet Finder". The ArtSci Effect. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
4. "U OF T WILL BESTOW 15 HONORARY DEGREES" (PDF). UofT Bulletin. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
5. "Lights out for historic Dunlap Observatory". YorkRegion.com. 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
6. "Canadian observatory sold to property developer". Nature. 454 (7205): 679. 2008-08-01. doi:10.1038/454679c. ISSN 1476-4687.
7. "David Dunlap's 150th Birthday | RASC". rasc.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
8. Friedland, Martin L. (2013). The University of Toronto : a history (2nd ed.). Toronto [Ont.]: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9781442669154. OCLC 852803621.
9. "X MARKS THE SPOT AT THE CENTRE OF THE MILKY WAY GALAXY". The ArtSci Effect. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
10. "Mapping the magnetic bridge between our nearest galactic neighbours". phys.org. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
11. "Astronomers see source of gravitational waves for 1st time". CBC News. 16 Oct 2017. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
12. "When these neutron stars crashed, the celestial explosion was a gold mine for astronomers". Retrieved 2019-10-24.
13. "The behind the scenes hunt for the neutron star collision". CBC Quirks & Quarks. 30 Nov 2018. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
14. "Source of gravitational waves seen by astronomers for the first time". CBC The National. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
15. "Shedding Light on Dark Energy". Research2Reality. 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
16. "A New Kind of Telescope". University of Toronto Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
17. "Major CFI funding announced to build Gemini a new spectrograph - University of Victoria". www.uvic.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
18. "$23 million in new funding for Dunlap Institute astronomers". Eureka Alert. 12 Oct 2017. Retrieved 25 Oct 2019.
19. "Bringing the Universe Down to Earth". University of Toronto Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
20. Callahan, Melanie (2016-05-10). "Uncharted territory". Gazette - Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
21. "AAVSO -- An Undergraduate Research Experience on Studying Variable Stars". www.aavso.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
22. "Celebrate the first weekend of spring in Toronto". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
23. "Dunlap Institute celebrates 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon landing". The Varsity. 2019-08-11. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
24. "About CoolCosmos". www.dunlap.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
25. Plait, Phil (2009-01-06). "Busing in astronomy". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
26. "Transit of Venus: 5,000 astronomy buffs watch solar event at U of T | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
27. "U of T launches Toronto Science Festival". University of Toronto News. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
28. "U of T plays host to first-ever Toronto Science Festival". The Varsity. 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
29. "Neil deGrasse Tyson and the cosmic perspective at U of T". The Varsity. 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
30. "Eyes on the skies: GTA awaits supermoon, total lunar eclipse combo". CBC. 26 Sep 2015. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
31. Davidson, Terry (2015-09-26). "GTA buffs preparing for blood moon eclipse | Toronto Sun". Retrieved 2019-11-03.
32. "Toronto still buzzing after long-awaited solar eclipse". CBC News. 21 Aug 2017. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
33. "You Can See Jupiter And Saturn At Toronto's Out-Of-This-World Planet Party Next Month". www.narcity.com. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
34. "A moonwalk through the Dunlap Institute's second annual Planet Gazing Party". The Varsity. 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
35. "U of T Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics | Past Faculty Appointments". Retrieved 2019-10-24.
36. "A New Cosmos Picks Up Where Carl Sagan Left Off". Toronto Star. 14 Mar 2014. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
37. "Statement from CAASTRO Director Bryan Gaensler | CAASTRO | Legacy". Retrieved 2019-10-24.