A life in physics
It's a miracle and a mystery that the material world can be described mathematically to the extent that it can. I've been extraordinarily priviledged to spend 40 years exploring and teaching this correlation in Oxford. Learning physics changes and enriches your outlook on everything. I like to do what I can to help others to enjoy the benefits that knowledge of physics brings.
My focus remains on the structure, dynamics and formation of galaxies. Lately I've divided my time between developing tools needed to exploit the amazing data that's flowing from the Gaia satellite and integral field units on large telescopes, and to understanding the role of fluctuations in stellar systems, especially globular clusters.
Research interests
Structure, dynamics & formation of galaxies