Prof Andrew Newsam
Astrophysics Research Institute
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Email: A.Newsam@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 2909
I would describe myself as a numerical astronomer with observational tendencies. My first degree was in Computation Physics at Warwick University after which I decided to move into astronomy and did a PhD at Glasgow University. My research there was fairly theoretical (the thesis title was "Mapping the Large Scale Structure of the Universe"). After submitting the thesis I was immediately thrown into the heady world of observational astronomy with a Postdoctoral job at Southampton University studying the Cosmic X-ray Background. After discovering some of the delights of professional observation (jet-lag, freezing cold, sleep deprivation, altitude sickness etc.) I became hooked and have taken every opportunity since to go observing.
I have always had a big interest in the public reaction to and appreciation of science and when the opportunity came to move up to Liverpool John Moores University in 1998 to work on a big project to get the general public, and especially school children, actively involved in astronomy through the use of professional telescopes, I grabbed it with both hands and have been here ever since. The project, which has since evolved into the National Schools' Observatory, brings together astronomy, high-technology, education and enterprise in a way that is unique. The aim is to allow school children to make their own observations alongside professional astronomers on top-quality telescopes. Based around the Liverpool Telescope - the largest fully-robotic telescope in the world - the full power of the Internet has been brought to bear to open-up the science, excitement and beauty of the Universe to a whole generation of children (and their parents and teachers!)
Degrees
1994, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, PhD, Astrophysics
1991, University of Warwick, United Kingdom, BSc, Physics with Computing
Academic appointments
Professor of Astronomy Education and Engagement, Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, 2012 - present
Reader in Astronomy Education, Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, 2006 - 2012
Research and Education Fellow, Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, 1998 - 2006
Postdoctoral Researcher, Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, 1994 - 1998
Journal article
Healy-Kalesh MW, Darnley MJ, Harvey , Newsam AM. 2024. Discovery of a nova super-remnant cavity surrounding RS Ophiuchi Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 529 :L175-L180 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Steele IA, Wiersema K, McCall C, Newsam A, Shrestha M. 2022. Optical Polarimetry of the May 2022 Lunar Eclipse Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 518 :1214-1221 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Murphy-Glaysher FJ, Darnley MJ, Harvey EJ, Newsam AM, Page KL, Starrfield S, Wagner RM, Woodward CE, Terndrup DM, Kafka S, Arranz Heras T, Berardi P, Bertrand E, Biernikowicz R, Boussin C, Boyd D, Buchet Y, Bundas M, Coulter D, Dejean D, Diepvens A, Dvorak S, Edlin J, Eenmae T, Eggenstein H, Fournier R, Garde O, Gout J, Janzen D, Jordanov P, Kiiskinen H, Lane D, Larochelle R, Leadbeater R, Mankel D, Martineau G, Miller I, Modic R, Montier J, Morales Aimar M, Muyllaert E, Naves Nogues R, O'Keeffe D, Oksanen A, Pyatnytskyy M, Rast R, Rodgers B, Rodriguez Perez D, Schorr F, Schwendeman E, Shadick S, Sharpe S, Soldán Alfaro F, Sove T, Stone G, Tordai T, Venne R, Vollmann W, Vrastak M, Wenzel K. 2022. V392 Persei: a γ-ray bright nova eruption from a known dwarf nova Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 514 :6183-6202 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Darnley MJ, Newsam AM, Chinetti K, Hawkins IDW, Jannetta AL, Kasliwal MM, McGarry JC, Shara MM, Sitaram M, Williams SC. 2020. AT 2016dah and AT 2017fyp: the first classical novae discovered within a tidal stream Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 495 :1073-1092 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bode MF, Newsam A. 2015. Dark matter at Chelsea ASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS, 56 :4.18-4.19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Copperwheat CM, Steele IA, Barnsley RM, Bates SD, Bersier D, Bode MF, Carter D, Clay NR, Collins CA, Darnley MJ, Davis CJ, Gutierrez CM, Harman DJ, James PA, Knapen JH, Kobayashi S, Marchant JM, Mazzali PA, Mottram CJ, Mundell CG, Newsam A, Oscoz A, Palle E, Piascik AS, Rebolo R, Smith RJ. 2015. Liverpool telescope 2: a new robotic facility for rapid transient follow-up EXPERIMENTAL ASTRONOMY, 39 :119-165 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Kerins E, Darnley MJ, Duke JP, Gould A, Han C, Newsam A, Park B-G, Street R. 2010. Difference image photometry with bright variable backgrounds DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Ribeiro VARM, Bode MF, Darnley MJ, Harman DJ, Newsam AM, O'Brien TJ, Bohigas J, Echevarria JM, Bond HE, Chavushyan VH, Costero R, Coziol R, Evans A, Eyres SPS, Leon-Tavares J, Richer MG, Tovmassian G, Starrfield S, Zharikov SV. 2009. THE EXPANDING NEBULAR REMNANT OF THE RECURRENT NOVA RS OPHIUCHI (2006). II. MODELING OF COMBINED HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE IMAGING AND GROUND-BASED SPECTROSCOPY ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 703 :1955-1963 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Kim D, Chung S-J, Darnley MJ, Duke JP, Gould A, Han C, Ibrahimov MA, Im M, Jeon Y-B, Karimov RG, Kerins E, Lee C-U, Newsam A, Park B-G. 2007. Detection of M31 binaries via high-cadence pixel-lensing surveys ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 666 :236-241 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Newsam A. 2007. The National Schools Observatory ASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS, 48 :22-25 Author Url
Darnley MJ, Kerins E, Newsam A, Duke JP, Gould A, Han C, Ibrahimov MA, Im M, Jeon Y-B, Karimov RG, Lee C-U, Park B-G. 2007. The Angstrom Project Alert System: Real-time detection of extragalactic microlensing ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 661 :L45-L48 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McHardy I, Lawson A, Newsam A, Marscher AP, Sokolov AS, Urry CM, Wehrle AE. 2007. Simultaneous X-ray and infrared variability in the quasar 3C273 - II. Confirmation of the correlation and X-ray lag MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 375 :1521-1527 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Chung S-J, Kim D, Darnley MJ, Duke JP, Gould A, Han C, Jeon Y-B, Kerins E, Newsam A, Park B-G. 2006. The possibility of detecting planets in the Andromeda galaxy ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 650 :432-437 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Darnley MJ, Bode MF, Kerins E, Newsam AM, An J, Baillon P, Belokurov V, Novati SC, Carr BJ, Creze M, Evans NW, Giraud-Heraud Y, Gould A, Hewett P, Jetzer P, Kaplan J, Paulin-Henriksson S, Smartt SJ, Tsapras Y, Weston M. 2006. Classical novae from the POINT-AGAPE microlensing survey of M31 - II. Rate and statistical characteristics of the nova population MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 369 :257-271 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Kerins E, Darnley MJ, Duke JP, Gould A, Han C, Jeon YB, Newsam A, Park BG. 2006. The Angstrom Project: a microlensing survey of the structure and composition of the bulge of the Andromeda galaxy MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 365 :1099-1108 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Guidorzi C, Monfardini A, Gomboc A, Mottram CJ, Mundell CG, Steele IA, Carter D, Bode MF, Smith RJ, Fraser SN, Burgdorf MJ, Newsam AM. 2005. The Automatic Real-Time GRB Pipeline of the 2-m Liverpool Telescope DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Loaring NS, Dwelly T, Page MJ, Mason K, McHardy I, Gunn K, Moss D, Seymour N, Newsam AM, Takata T, Sekguchi K, Sasseen T, Cordova F. 2005. XMM-Newton 13(H) deep field - I. X-ray sources MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 362 :1371-1395 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Loaring NS, Dwelly T, Page MJ, Mason K, McHardy I, Gunn K, Moss D, Seymour N, Newsam AM, Takata T, Sekguchi K, Sasseen T, Cordova F. 2005. XMM-Newton 13H Deep field - I. X-ray sources Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc., 362 :1371-1395 Author Url Publisher Url
Darnley MJ, Bode MF, Kerins E, Newsam AM, An J, Baillon P, Novati SC, Carr BJ, Creze M, Evans NW, Giraud-Heraud Y, Gould A, Hewett P, Jetzer P, Kaplan J, Paulin-Henriksson S, Smartt SJ, Stalin CS, Tsapras Y. 2004. Classical novae from the POINT-AGAPE microlensing survey of M31 - I. The nova catalogue MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 353 :571-588 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gomboc A, Bode MF, Carter D, Mundell CG, Newsam AM, Smith RJ, Steele IA. 2003. GRB optical and IR rapid follow-up with the 2 m Liverpool Robotic Telescope Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
McHardy IM, Gunn KF, Newsam AM, Mason KO, Page MJ, Takata T, Sekiguchi K, Sasseen T, Cordova F, Jones LR, Loaring N. 2003. A medium deep Chandra and Subaru survey of the 13hr XMM/ROSAT deep survey area Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc., 342 :802 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gunn KF, McHardy IM, Seymour N, Newsam AM, Page MJ, Mason KO, Loaring N, Jones LR, Muxlow T, Takata T, Sekiguchi K, Sasseen T. 2002. Radio observations of the XMM-Newton/Chandra 13hr deep survey field DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Dewangan GC, Singh KP, Gunn KF, Newsam AM, McHardy IM, Jones LR. 2002. Soft X-ray properties of a high redshift sample of QSOs observed with ROSAT Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc., 337 :693 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Jones LR, McHardy I, Newsam A, Mason K. 2002. The detection and X-ray evolution of galaxy groups at high redshift MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 334 :219-229 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Dewangan GC, Singh KP, Jones LR, McHardy IM, Mason KO, Newsam AM. 2001. Optical and X-ray characteristics of a newly discovered narrow-line QSO : RX J1334.2+3759 Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc., 325 :1616 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gunn KF, McHardy IM, Almaini O, Shanks T, Sumner TJ, Muxlow TWB, Efstathiou A, Jones LR, Croom SM, Manners JC, Newsam AM, Mason KO, Serjeant SBG, Rowan-Robinson M. 2000. Starburst activity in a ROSAT Narrow Emission-Line Galaxy Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc., 324 :305 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McHardy I, Lawson A, Newsam A, Marscher A, Robson I, Stevens J. 1999. Simultaneous X-ray and IR variability in the quasar 3C 273 MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 310 :571-576 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lamer G, Newsam AM, McHardy IM. 1999. The unusual host galaxy of the BL Lac object PKS 1413+135 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Newsam AM, McHardy IM, Jones L, Mason K. 1999. Cross-correlation of the unresolved X-ray background with faint galaxies DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Newsam AM, Simmons JFL, Hendry MA, Coleman IJ. 1998. The Polarisation Signatures of Microlensing New Astron.Rev., 42 :121-124 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Hendry MA, Coleman IJ, Gray N, Newsam AM, Simmons JFL. 1998. Microlensing of Extended Stellar Sources New Astron.Rev., 42 :125-128 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Newsam AM, McHardy IM, Jones LR, Mason KO. 1997. The discovery of very red counterparts to faint X-ray sources DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McHardy IM, Jones LR, Merrifield MR, Mason KO, Abraham RG, Newsam AM, Dalton GB, Carrera F, Smith PJ, Rowan-Robinson M, Wegner GA, Ponman TJ, Lehto HJ, Branduardi-Raymont G, Luppino GA, Efstathiou G, Allan DJ, Quenby JJ. 1997. The Origin of the Cosmic Soft X-Ray Background: Optical Identification of an Extremely Deep ROSAT Survey DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Jones LR, McHardy IM, Merrifield MR, Mason KO, Smith PJ, Abraham RG, Branduardi-Raymont G, Newsam AM, Dalton G, Rowan-Robinson M, Luppino G. 1996. X-ray QSO evolution from a very deep ROSAT survey DOI Author Url Publisher Url
NEWSAM A, SIMMONS JFL, HENDRY MA. 1995. BIAS MINIMIZATION IN POTENT ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, 294 :627-638 Author Url
Simmons JFL, Newsam AM, Willis JP. 1995. Variable polarisation and luminosity for microlensing of extended stellar sources DOI Author Url Publisher Url
SIMMONS JFL, NEWSAM A, HENDRY MA. 1995. OPTIMAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE VELOCITY AND DENSITY FIELD - POTENT AND MAX-FLOW ALGORITHMS ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, 293 :13-19 Author Url
Simmons JFL, Willis JP, Newsam A. 1994. Polarisation as a Tool for Gravitational Microlensing Surveys Author Url
Hendry MA, Simmons JFL, Newsam AM. 1993. What Do We Mean by Malmquist Bias? Author Url
Simmons JFL, Newsam A, Hendry M. 1993. Potent and Max-Flow Algorithms Author Url
Newsam A, Simmons JFL, Hendry M. 1993. Bias in Velocity Field Recoveries Author Url
NEWSAM A, SIMMONS JFL, HENDRY MA. 1993. THE EFFECT OF BIASED DISTANCE ESTIMATORS ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VELOCITY-FIELDS ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 688 :539-541 DOI Author Url
Conference publication
Andreopoulos C, Brown H, Darnley MJ, Dhinsey S, Jones LAH, Lucas C, Gründer Y, Habergham SM, Hawkins CJ, Mayo F, Newsam AM, Torres R, Vaughan H, Veal TD, Voyce OK, Welsch A, Welsch CP. 2023. Liverpool women in physics: Initiatives and progress AIP Conference Proceedings, 3040 DOI Publisher Url
Darnley MJ, Black DTR, Bode MF, Newsam AM, Kerins E, O'Brien TJ, Misselt K, Shafter AW. 2008. Extragalactic Classical Nova Surveys Evans A, Bode MF, OBrien TJ, Darnley MJ. RS OPHIUCHI (2006) AND THE RECURRENT NOVA PHENOMENON, Workshop on RS Ophiuchi (2006) and the Recurrent Nova Phenomenon 401 :355-+ Author Url
Gomboc A, Monfardini A, Guidorzi C, Mundell CG, Mottram CJ, Fraser SN, Smith RJ, Steele IA, Carter D, Bode MF, Newsam AM. 2005. The Liverpool Telescope Automatic Pipeline for Real-time GRB Afterglow Detection Nuovo Cim.C, 28 :727-730 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Gomboc A, Mundell CG, Guidorzi C, Monfardini A, Mottram CJ, Priddey R, Smith RJ, Pak S, Steele IA, Tanvir N, Carter D, Fraser SN, Bode MF, Newsam AM, Hughes M. 2005. Early GRB Optical and Infrared Afterglow Observations with the 2-m Robotic Liverpool Telescope Nuovo Cim.C, 28 :723-726 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Gomboc A, Bode MF, Carter D, Guidorzi C, Monfardini A, Mundell CG, Newsam AM, Smith RJ, Steele IA, Meaburn J. 2004. Rapid GRB Follow-up with the 2-m Robotic Liverpool Telescope DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Gomboc A, Bode MF, Carter D, Mundell CG, Newsam A, Smith RJ, Steele IA. 2004. The Liverpool Telescope: rapid follow-up observation of targets of opportunity with a 2 m robotic telescope NUCLEAR PHYSICS B-PROCEEDINGS SUPPLEMENTS, 2nd BeppoSAX Conference on Restless High-Energy Universe 132 :312-315 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Page MJ, McHardy IM, Gunn KF, Loaring NS, Mason KO, Sasseen T, Newsam A, Ware A, Kennea J, Sekiguchi K, Takata T. 2003. X-ray and optical properties of X-ray sources in the 13hr XMM-Newton/Chandra deep survey ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Workshop on X-ray Surveys 324 :101-104 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Steele IA, Newsam AM, Mottram CJ, McNerney P. 2000. Enabling schools and public access to the Liverpool Robotic Telescope Kibrick RL, Wallander A. ADVANCED GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES FOR ASTRONOMY, Conference on Advanced Global Communications Technologies for Astronomy 4011 :133-144 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
NEWSAM A, SIMMONS JFL, HENDRY MA. 1993. THE EFFECT OF BIASED DISTANCE ESTIMATORS ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF VELOCITY-FIELDS Akerlof CW, Srednicki MA. TEXAS/PASCOS 92 : RELATIVISTIC ASTROPHYSICS AND PARTICLE COSMOLOGY, 16TH TEXAS SYMP ON RELATIVISTIC ASTROPHYSICS / 3RD INTERNATIONAL SYMP ON PARTICLES, STRINGS, AND COSMOLOGY 688 :539-541 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Chapters
Newsam A. 2020. Afterword Henty L, Brown D. Visualising Skyscapes Material Forms of Cultural Engagement with the Heavens :247-247 Routledge 9781138303614
External committees:
Education and Outreach Awards Panel, Royal Astronomical Society, Chair. 2022
Education and Outreach Committee, Royal Astronomical Society, Chair. 2022
Education and Outreach Grants Panel, Royal Astronomical Society, Chair. 2021
Awards Committee, Institute of Physics, Panel Member. 2020
Physics Communication Group, Institute of Physics, Member. 2019
GCSE Astronomy Syllabus Advisory Panel, Edexcel, Member. 2015
Merseyside Branch, Institute of Physics, Chair. 2014
Education and Outreach Committee, Royal Astronomical Society, Member. 2010
Merseyside Branch, Institute of Physics, Chair. 2010
Liverpool Branch, British Science Association, Chair. 2008
Merseyside Branch, Institute of Physics, Member. 2005
ROG Advisory Committee, Royal Observatory Greenwich, Member. 2005
Education and Outreach Advisory Panel, AstroNet/European Commission, Member. 2005
External PGR examinations performed:
Open University, PhD, Monitoring the Variable Stellar Universe. 2021
Glasgow University, PhD, Investigating the properties of Gamma Ray Bursts and Gravitational Wave Standard Sirens as High Redshift Distance Indicators. 2008
Research Grants Awarded:
STFC, Newton STFC-NARIT: Using astronomy education as a motivator for long-term capacity building in STEM, Grant value (£): 107226, Duration of research project: 25 months. 2020
STFC, Using astronomy to create STEM clubs in schools in low science capital areas, Grant value (£): 14870, Duration of research project: 24 months. 2020
BBSRC, Developing opportunities for in-depth citizen science using robotic telescopes, Grant value (£): 19936. 2019
STFC, Newton STFC-NARIT Long-term capacity building in STEM using astronomy with younger school pupils, Grant value (£): 19277, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2017
Other invited event:
1823 Podcast - Episode 4: Earthrise – the most important photograph ever taken?, LJMU, 1823 Podcast is a place where you can hear interesting conversations about a wide range of issues, debated by some of the interesting people at, or connected to, Liverpool John Moores University. The photograph of ‘Earthrise’, taken from Apollo 8, is one of the most iconic images of the last century. It has been credited with changing our perception of our own planet and our attitude towards the environment. Exactly 50 years since it was taken, we explore the significance of the photograph, its impact on the environmental movement and discuss other influential photographs.. 2018
Keynote speaker at "Sacred Places", Liverpool, Keynote speaker at inter-disciplinary conference. 2018
Herschel Society Annual Lecture, Herschel Society, Bath, Invitied speaker for annual lecture. 2011
Excitement of Science, Royal Institution, Leading a unique live national experiment by schools students.. 2009
Excitement of Science, Royal Institution, Leading a unique live national experiment by schools students.. 2004
Excitement of Science, Royal Institution, Leading a unique live national experiment by schools students.. 2003
Keynote speaker at Rotary International Conference, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Invited keynote keynote address at the annual conference. 2002
Other Professional Activity:
Lead designer for LJMU exhibit at London Design Biennale. 2018
Residency and Exhibition at Tate Liverpool. 2017
Gold medal winning garden and Chelsea Flower Show. 2015
Gold medal winning show garden at Tatton Flower Show. 2013
Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Lecturer. 2009
About 500 public and schools talks, lectures and workshops.
European Space Agency/UK Space Agency "Space Ambassador".
Conference organisation:
EWASS 2018, Public programme organiser, https://eas.unige.ch/EWASS2018/. 2018
UK Space Conference 2018, Public programme coordinator. 2015
National Astronomy Meeting, Public programme coordinator, https://nam2015.org/. 2015
Merseyside Astronomy Day, Oraiser of 15 annual Merseyside Astronomy Days. 2006
Fellowships:
Fellow, Higher Education Academy. 2013
Public Engagement Fellow, STFC. 2013
Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society. 2010
Award:
Teaching Fellowship Award for Individual Excellence, LJMU. 2009
Curriculum Innovation Award, LJMU. 2007
Queens Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. 2005
Membership of professional bodies:
Member, Institute of Physics. 2006