Grants and Contributions

This project will use JWST/NIRCam to image Epsilon Eridani b; a Jupiter mass object in orbit around one of the closest neighbouring sun-like stars. These images will be further used to determine the planet’s mass and orbit using a newly developed radial velocity and astrometric orbit modelling technique.

This project will use JWST/NIRSpec to reveal how gas flows in and out of an early low-mass galaxy as well as mapping its chemical abundances to search for signs of proto-globular clusters or metal-free gas. By combining JWST’s unparalleled sensitivity with gravitational lensing and an advanced “MSA stepping” technique, this project will achieve ultra-efficient, spatially resolved spectroscopy down to star-cluster scales, at a depth that would otherwise be unfeasible.

This project will use JWST/NIRCam and NIRSpec to discover and study the faintest and most distant galaxies, black holes, stars, and stellar explosions in the early universe. By using the powerful effect of gravitational lensing, this project will reveal over 10-100 times more strongly magnified, early-universe objects than previous surveys.

This project will use JWST/MIRI to study six nebulae that are transiforming into perfect crystals and analyze organic molecules called PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) that reveal the environmental conditions in these stellar nebulae. By comparing the location of the crystals with the PAH-measured conditions, we can finally determine how cosmic crystals form, improving our understanding of planetary formation building blocks.

The objective of this AO is to support Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events that will offer them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, present their research results at the national and international level.

The Second Generation Balloon-borne Very Long Baseline Interferometry Experiment (BVEX2) aims to help astronomers map incredibly small and distant objects in space, like the regions surrounding supermassive black holes. By suspending a radio telescope from a stratospheric balloon above 99% of the Earth’s atmosphere, BVEX2 will demonstrate a new way to observe high-frequency light that is normally blocked by the atmosphere. This project will make the first demonstration that a telescope suspended from a stratospheric balloon can be used as part of an Earth-sized network of radio telescopes. The project will also serve as a pathfinder experiment that will develop technology that could be used for more sensitive high-frequency balloon telescopes to increase the number of mapped black hole shadows and eventually for a space interferometer that can map the regions around dozens of black holes.

The advanced growth chambers at the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) at the University of Guelph can simulate conditions equivalent to those found on the Moon and Mars and will be used in this project to address four critical knowledge gaps in extraterrestrial plant production: Water and nutrient delivery, Crop performance, Multi-crop interactions, and Environment monitoring and control. The project will train HQP through hands-on experience with cutting-edge systems for extraterrestrial plant production and the research insights will inform the design of food production modules for Lunar and Martian habitats. Beyond space applications, the knowledge and technologies developed have potential spinoffs for CEA on Earth, particularly in extreme or resource-limited settings.

This project will use JWST/NIRSpec to confirm the first robust candidate for a Population III galaxy (ID16043) at redshift z = 6.5, enable detections of rest-frame optical lines in extremely faint galaxies and probe the existence of low mass black holes at high redshift. This will be the deepest medium-grating spectroscopy ever conducted by JWST in a gravitational lensing cluster field.

This project aims to study star formation in extreme environments by assembling a sample of 10 starbursting nuclear rings with comprehensive multiwavelength data. Using high-resolution VLA 33 GHz maps and JWST/NIRCam imaging, the team will resolve individual GMCs, H II regions, and star clusters to measure extinction-free star formation rates and investigate how factors like feedback, gas inflow, and turbulence regulate star formation efficiency in conditions similar to the Milky Way’s central molecular zone.

This project addresses the gaps in satellite-based high-spatial-resolution hyperspectral imaging, with a focus on the shortwave infrared range (SWIR), and its application to carbon monitoring. It advances research in this field in collaboration with Wyvern, a Canadian satellite company, as well as other academic and industry collaborators. As part of the project, multi-scale datasets will be analyzed to identify band configurations, especially in SWIR, that are most effective for detecting soil carbon. This research will generate transferable datasets and methods, as well as maps of carbon storage and dynamics in the study area, thereby enhancing Canada’s capabilities in both space technology development and carbon monitoring, and providing guidance for the design of next-generation hyperspectral satellites.