Rate My Professor Andy Newsam

Professor Andy Newsam, Professor of Astronomy Education and Engagement at Liverpool John Moores University’s Astrophysics Research Institute, has a distinguished career bridging astronomical research and public education. He obtained his BSc in Physics with Computing from the University of Warwick in 1991 and his PhD from the University of Glasgow in 1994, with a thesis titled 'Mapping the Large Scale Structure of the Universe.' Following his doctorate, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the University of Southampton from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, he joined the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University as an Education and Research Fellow. He advanced through several positions: Lecturer from 2002 to 2005, Senior Lecturer and Director of the National Schools’ Observatory from 2005 to 2006, Reader in Astronomy Education and Director of the National Schools’ Observatory from 2006 to 2012, and Professor of Astronomy Education since 2012. As longstanding Director of the National Schools’ Observatory, he oversees programs allowing school children to conduct observations using the world’s largest robotic telescope, the Liverpool Telescope, to inspire interest in science and technology. Newsam also serves as Programme Leader for Distance Learning courses in astronomy, STFC Science in Society Fellow linked to the AstroTour project, and ESERO-UK Space Ambassador.

Newsam’s research specializations encompass astronomical observations utilizing telescopes worldwide to detect faint objects and monitor tiny brightness variations, complemented by educational research evaluating innovative initiatives at the Astrophysics Research Institute. He is the author of the book *Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Universe (And our place within it)*. His contributions to public engagement are extensive, including delivering the first Roscoe Lecture of Liverpool John Moores University’s bicentenary year in 2023 at St George’s Hall, organizing the annual Merseyside Astronomy Day, and supporting activities for the Institute of Physics Merseyside branch and the British Science Association on Merseyside. Through these efforts, he has significantly influenced astronomy education and outreach, providing stimuli for innovative teaching and broadening access to professional astronomical tools for students and the public.