Professor Melvin Hoare

Profile

My research focuses on the formation of massive stars - the ones that live fast, die young and control much of galaxy evolution. I carry out high resolution observations in the radio and millimetre regimes to investigate how material accretes via discs and how feedback via jets and winds halts the infall. I am on the Science Working Group for the next generation radio observatory the SKA which has the potential to probe planet formation and the origins of life. I chair the Consortium of Universities for Goonhilly Astronomy (CUGA) that is working with Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd to convert their 30 m class dishes in to radtio telescopes. I lead the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) and related projects that provide training and entrepreneurial skills to a first generation of radio astronomers in Africa.

Responsibilities

• Programme Manager for Physics with Astrophysics

Research interests

• The Square Kilometre Array next generation radio telescope
• e-MERLIN radio array and Legacy Surveys - one of which I lead
• The Red MSX Survey. Leeds led project to find all massive young stars in the Galaxy
• The CORNISH Survey. High resolution radio survey of the Galactic plane that I lead.

• A Programme of Astrophysical Research at Leeds
• DARA - Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy Phase 3

Qualifications

• PhD Astrophysics (Lond)
• BSc Physics and Astronomy (Lond)

Professional memberships

• Royal Astronomical Society

Student education

I am Programme Manager for the Physics with Astrophysics degree programme. I lecture introductory astrophysics in the first year and am in charge of the practical astronomy provision.