Abstract:
The research of the world-leading group in late stage stellar evolution will be described with a particular focus on planetary nebulae and the Hong-Kong AAO strasbourg H-alpha PN research platform: HASH. A brief description of the aims and mission on the new Laboratory for Space Research will also be presented.
Brief Bio:
Prof. Quentin Parker is currently Associate Dean (Global) of the Faculty of Science at HKU and acting director of the Laboratory for Space Research.
Quentin obtained a BSc(Hons) in 1982 and a PhD (1986) from the University of St. Andrews. He joined the department of Physics at Hong Kong University in March 2014. Prior to that he was the joint AAO/Macquarie lecturer in astronomy (2002-2015) and director of the research centre for Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics (2010-2014). Quentin also worked at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (1986-1992), Anglo-Australian observatory (1992-1999) and as a senior research fellow at the Institute for Astronomy in Edinburgh (1999-2002). Quentin was responsible for helping to develop the FLAIR-II and 6DF fibre-spectroscopy systems at the UKST and supported the 2dF and AAOmega multi-object fibre spectroscopy systems on the AAT.
Quentin was also P.I. for the UKST H-alpha survey of the Southern Galactic Plane. Research activities are mainly but not exclusively associated with Wide Field Astronomy, including large-scale redshift surveys, low-surface brightness galaxies, supernova remnants and especially Planetary Nebulae. He has supervised and co-supervised a significant number of PhD, MSc and honours students to successful completion and is always keen to attract students. Quentin is currently on the IAU working group on planetary nebulae. He also heads both the H-alpha international survey consortium and the associated 'MASH' Planetary nebulae team. He also has a life-long interest in antiquities and a strong interest in Chinese Bronze artefacts.