2025 CASCA Peter G. Martin Award Presented to Dr. Alan McConnachie
Dr. Alan McConnachie of ARC & NRC-Herzberg was named as the recipient of the 2025 Peter G. Martin award for mid-career achievement.
Dr. McConnachie obtained his PhD from Cambridge University in 2005 and is now a Principal Research Officer at the National Research Council—Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Centre, Victoria, BC. Dr. McConnachie is a leader in near-field cosmology, especially renowned for his studies of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group, crucial laboratories for understanding structure formation and chemical enrichment. His leadership of the PAndAS wide-field survey of M31’s halo has dramatically increased our understanding of galaxy halos, especially the streams left by shattered galaxies in these halos. He also led Canadian involvement in the CFHT-Unions survey, which has now enabled Canadian participation in Euclid. Dr. McConnachie is equally known for his leadership in designing, advocating for, and building instruments and telescopes. He has been a key leader (including Project Scientist) assembling the science case and partnership for turning CFHT into a wide-field spectroscopic facility, the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer. He led the commissioning of the GHOST spectroscope on Gemini, led an upgrade of filters for the CFHT, and is now leading scientific development of an imager for the GIRMOS spectroscope on Gemini. Finally, he has assumed an increasing role in scientific leadership within the NRC, where he was Science Advisor to the NRC-Herzberg Instrumentation Group, and is now Acting Director of Astronomy Technology. CASCA is delighted to recognize Dr. McConnachie for his contributions to astronomical research.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. McConnachie on this incredible achievement!
Dr. McConnachie obtained his PhD from Cambridge University in 2005 and is now a Principal Research Officer at the National Research Council—Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Centre, Victoria, BC. Dr. McConnachie is a leader in near-field cosmology, especially renowned for his studies of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group, crucial laboratories for understanding structure formation and chemical enrichment. His leadership of the PAndAS wide-field survey of M31’s halo has dramatically increased our understanding of galaxy halos, especially the streams left by shattered galaxies in these halos. He also led Canadian involvement in the CFHT-Unions survey, which has now enabled Canadian participation in Euclid. Dr. McConnachie is equally known for his leadership in designing, advocating for, and building instruments and telescopes. He has been a key leader (including Project Scientist) assembling the science case and partnership for turning CFHT into a wide-field spectroscopic facility, the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer. He led the commissioning of the GHOST spectroscope on Gemini, led an upgrade of filters for the CFHT, and is now leading scientific development of an imager for the GIRMOS spectroscope on Gemini. Finally, he has assumed an increasing role in scientific leadership within the NRC, where he was Science Advisor to the NRC-Herzberg Instrumentation Group, and is now Acting Director of Astronomy Technology. CASCA is delighted to recognize Dr. McConnachie for his contributions to astronomical research.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. McConnachie on this incredible achievement!