$1.4 million from home sale supports astrophysics
Professor Dick Hunstead and his wife Penny have used $1.4 million from the sale of their home in Newport to support the next generation of young astrophysicists.聽
The Dick Hunstead Fund for Astrophysics will help the聽聽enable a broad range of discoveries across many disciplines.
The institute, based in the School of Physics, is one of the most diverse astrophysics groupings within Australia, spanning optical, radio, infrared, x-ray, theoretical and computational astrophysics.
The gift will support current students and encourage more to take up study in the area of astrophysics.
For more than 50 years , where he continues to hold a part-time position.
For his contribution and dedication, especially to his students, Penny Hunstead decided that their donation, using two-thirds of the funds from the sale of their family home, should be in Dick's name.
Professor Hunstead has made several important discoveries and published more than 200 articles, with quasars, black holes, galaxy formation and evolution just some of his areas of interest.
鈥淭his is a chance to give this crucial institute the support it deserves. The money will help current students and encourage more to take up study in this area," Professor Hunstead said. 聽聽
There has been a substantial growth in astrophysics internationally, driven largely by the developments of new observational facilities.
SIfA's most valuable instrument is the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope, a forerunner of the international Square Kilometre Array project.
"It is essential that the institute positions itself to make the most of opportunities. As part of lifting its profile I want prominent astronomers such as聽, Emeritus Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at Cambridge, to visit."
This is a chance to give this crucial institute the support it deserves. The money will help current students and encourage more to take up study in this area.
, Director of the Sydney Institute for Astronomy says that the gift will help strengthen the institute and support its students. 聽
鈥淪IfA has a strong record of mentoring students聽and now, thanks to Dick and Penny鈥檚 generosity, we will be able to put聽more programs in place to help our聽research students get the most out of their time here.鈥�
鈥淚n the longer term, the fund will help enhance the student experience and support more students and early career researchers as they pursue careers in astronomy and the wider industry.
鈥淭he support of both Dick and Penny means a great deal. Dick has inspired many students and this gift will enable us to share our research results more widely to help inspire future generations of scientists.鈥�
聽is Australia鈥檚 most successful philanthropic campaign, having raised more than聽$800 million聽from more than聽57,000聽donors聽across seven continents.
