Meet the Instructor
We continue our series of Meet the Instructors. This edition we meet
Dr Paddy McGee
from University of Adelaide will be instructing HET614 Introduction to Particle Physics and
High Energy Astrophysics in Semester 2 of 2008. Paddy says:
"My PhD was in optical astronomy, using a 14" telescope with a CCD camera at
Woomera to monitor objects which are also sources of high-energy radiation. This
ranged from the first optical photometry on three newly-discovered cataclysmic
variable stars, to collaborative monitoring with gamma-ray telescopes.
An interest in 3D graphics led to work in scientific visualisation. Apart from
just viewing data, this also involves such things as stereo video and developing
stereo animations for public outreach. More recently, this job has diverted
slightly to include website development and maintenance, as well as user support
for software-based videoconference tools.
I'm still involved with teaching astronomy at the University of Adelaide (and
online at Swinburne!), and manage to undertake research in optical astronomy on
campus in my spare time. More recently, this research has concentrated on
exoplanet host star photometry, but I'm revisiting my old Woomera targets as
well.
Playing keyboards in two bands, recording and producing concert CD's, a wife,
and two Siamese cats also conspire to keep me busy. For a wildly out-of-date
website, see
http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~pmcgee
and here are a few choice papers."
