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New Director for NRC Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics(January 6, 2002 - Seattle, Washington) - The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) today announced that Dr. Gregory G. Fahlman, currently Executive Director of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), has been appointed to the position of Director General of the NRC Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (NRC-HIA). This is the most senior position in astronomy management at NRC, the federal agency with a legislated mandate to operate national astronomical observatories in Canada. Headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia (BC), NRC-HIA was established in 1975 to honour the late Dr. Gerhard Herzberg, NRC scientist and Nobel laureate known worldwide as the "Father of Modern Molecular Spectroscopy" and as a researcher with a special impact on astrophysics. "Dr. Fahlman has a well-established international track record as a scientific leader. He began his professional career as a Post Doctorate Fellow at NRC in 1970 and joined the faculty of the University of British Columbia (UBC) a year later. Since 1999, he has held the position of Executive Director at the CFHT, a collaboration of NRC, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France (CNRS), and the University of Hawaii." The CFHT is a world-class optical/infrared telescope that has helped establish the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii as the world's premier observatory site. Under Dr. Fahlman's leadership, the CFHT has expanded its international collaborations and pioneered new technologies. "Dr. Fahlman not only brings a wealth of research and scientific management experience to NRC-HIA, but also a strong appreciation for the international nature of astronomy and the benefits of collaboration," said the President of NRC, Dr. Arthur Carty. "His experience in Canada and abroad will be invaluable as we work with our partners to pursue Canada's astronomy priorities in the future." Dr. Fahlman has authored or co-authored approximately 150 scientific articles in many areas of stellar and extragalactic astronomy. His research has been characterized by deep physical and analytical insight, as well as originality. In recent years, he has been recognized for highly cited research on the properties of the oldest star clusters and individual stars in the halo of the Milky Way galaxy, as well as on the richest of the younger star clusters in the disk of the Milky Way. During his tenure at the CFHT, Dr. Fahlman played a leading role in defining the complex operational interfaces, processes and policies necessary to implement the most ambitious research project ever undertaken with CFHT, the CFHT Legacy Survey. This five-year program with the new 1-squared degree digital camera now being commissioned will provide fundamental new insights into the search for small bodies in our solar system, and the determination of the acceleration of the expansion of the Universe. Dr. Fahlman also demonstrated great awareness and sensitivity to the diverse multicultural environment in which CFHT has operated so successfully. He negotiated, for example, arrangements to bring Korea and Taiwan into a partnership with CFHT that enabled the development of the Wide Field Infrared Camera, WIRCAM. The National Research Council (NRC) is mandated to operate and manage Canada's national astronomical research facilities. Canadian astronomy ranks among the top three nations in the world in terms of the quality, output and impact of the publications and other contributions of its scientists. NRC has played an important role in creating and managing key astronomy facilities and programs around the world. Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National Research Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology. NRC operates world-class research facilities as well as information, technology and innovation support networks from coast to coast. 
Dr. Gregory Fahlman
For more information, please visit the NRC's Website at www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, or contact:
Shannon Cassidy
Dr. Jacques P. Vallée, HIA Media Officer/Senior Astronomer, |
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