Physics Professor and CRC Jason Rowe is Awarded a Research Contract by the Canadian Space Agency

Dr. Jason Rowe, Canada Research Chair in Exoplanet Astrophysics, will be conducting a research study entitled “Photometric Observations of Extrasolar Planets” for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Dr. Rowe and his team will help identify the best possible samples of host stars for investigations into the atmospheres of previously known and new extrasolar planets. Their work will serve to inform the CSA on the design of a future small-sats, that is, a spacecraft weighing 180 kg or less, that will be dedicated to exoplanetary astrophysics.

According to Dr. Rowe, the benefits of this research contract are many: “Canada is an established leader in carrying out Space Astronomy small-sat missions. This research will not only benefit our country by foster collaborations between academia, industry and government in the space sector, it will also provide Bishop’s University with an excellent opportunity to train undergraduate and graduate students in this exciting field of study.” Indeed, Dr. Rowe will be working with Dr. Lorne Nelson of the Department of Physics, Dr. Kelsey Hoffman, research scientist with the SETI Institute and member of the Star Cluster at Bishop’s University, as well as with a team of co-investigators, collaborators and graduate students working in Canada and in the United States. A new research group dedicated to exoplanet research and made up of undergraduate and graduate students in Physics at Bishop’s University will also have the opportunity to collaborate on this exciting study.

This study is undertaken with the financial support of the Canadian Space Agency.