Brian Boyle completed his PhD at the University of Durham in the UK. He held positions at the University of Edinburgh, the Anglo-Australian Observatory, the University of Cambridge and was Director of the Anglo-Australian Observatory from 1996 to 2003, before his appointment as Director of the Australia Telescope National Facility in July 2003. Brian has published more than 250 papers in astronomy. His primary research interests are in the fields of quasars, active galaxies and cosmology. While at the Anglo- Australian Observatory he led the 2dF QSO redshift survey program, the largest survey of quasars ever conducted. He holds an Adjunct Chair at the University of New South Wales. Brian is currently Chair of the National Committee for Astronomy and Chair-elect of the International Square Kilometre Array Steering Committee.

Cosmic censuses
by Dr Brian Boyle

Over the past two decades, astronomy has experienced a golden age of discoveries. Many of these discoveries were made possible by developments in technology that have allowed increasingly larger scale surveys of astronomical objects to be undertaken. The results from over two decades of surveys for quasars – which has seen their known numbers increase by 100-fold – will be discussed. Some of the next generation of cosmic censuses that are being planned in which Australia is playing a leading role will be elaborated.

New Fellows Seminar

Professor Jenny Marshall Graves
Comparative genome analysis: Filling an evolutionary gap

Special election

Professor Robin Warren FRCPA Nobel Laureate
Helicobacter, active gastritis and duodenal ulcers

New Fellows

Dr Brian Boyle
Cosmic censuses

Professor Lorenzo Faraone
Infrared micro-spectrometer technologies for sensing applications in the chemical/biological, agriculture/food, biomedical and defence arenas

Professor David Hinde
Nuclear fusion forming the heaviest elements

Professor Andrew Holmes AM FRS
Seeing the light with polymers

Professor Roger Powell
A thermodynamic framework for modelling Earth processes

Professor Igor Shparlinski
Numbers at work and play

Professor Michelle Simmons
How to Observe Quantum Behaviour in Semiconductor Devices

Professor David Allen
Muscle damage caused by stretch: role in muscular dystrophy

Professor Mark Burgman
The role of science in conservation debates

Professor Barry Egan
Inside a bistable genetic switch

Professor Brian Kay
New approaches to control mosquito-borne disease

Professor Evan Simpson
Oestrogens – the good, the bad, and the unexpected

Professor Jonathan Sprent FRS
Boosting cytokine function with antibodies

Professor Susanne von Caemmerer
Relating chloroplast biochemistry to gas exchange of leaves: insights from transgenic plants