Sky high honour for telescope scientist

22 October 2004

The University of New South Wales has awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science to Peter Gillingham, one of the world's most eminent instrument scientists and telescope engineers.

Mr Gillingham retires this year from the Anglo-Australian Observatory, after a distinguished career in astronomy spanning more than three decades

The honorary doctorate - the University's highest honour - was conferred at a science graduation ceremony earlier today. In the citation, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Wainwright said: "Mr Gillingham's contributions to astronomical instrumentation have profoundly influenced the development of the field. With over forty publications, many of which have been extremely influential, he is a clear leader internationally in this area."

Mr Gillingham played a leading role in the development of the Anglo-Australian Telescope and in the success of Japan's largest telescope, Subaru. He was the first person to promote Antarctica as a site for high-resolution optical astronomy and was instrumental in establishing the UNSW Antarctic astronomy group. UNSW now leads the world in Antarctic testing.

For the full citation go to Faculty of Science website.

*Photo caption: Peter Gillingham and Professor John Storey, a leader of the UNSW Antarctic Astronomy group.