DoctorJean-Philippe Beaulieu

Project Total: $563,000; The project aims to explore a unique aspect of exoplanet detection: searches for cold planets of Earth mass and larger in the densest stellar fields of the inner Milky Way. Infrared cameras will be used to detect small planets in this extreme galactic environment. The proposed project will open a new era of infrared microlensing observations from the ground and supply critical data in preparation for the next generation of microlensing from space. This work directly links to the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope (2026 launch) Galactic Exoplanet Survey. Expected outcomes are a greatly improved understanding of planet formation down to terrestrial-mass planets, and improved techniques for cold planet detection with gravitational microlensing. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Discovery Projects ($563,000); University of Tasmania ($53,000).

Project Total: $465,000; This project benefits the national interest through its potential to contribute to answering some of the biggest questions possible: the formation of Earth-like planets, and the origin and prevalence of life itself. These questions lie at the heart of scientific curiosity and are of broad interest to the public. The results of astronomical research have dramatic impact on the public view of the nature of life and our place in the Universe. Fundamental basic research is essential to educate workers for a technically-based, information-driven economy, and to build the knowledge base of scientists across applied and commercial sectors. Exoplanet research is an area of strength for Australian astronomy; this project has tremendous synergy with recent major investments by the government in astronomy infrastructure. The discovery of exoplanets in diverse environments across the Milky Way is a unique opportunity to engage public interest in science, and will encourage students to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects by raising the profile of Australian fundamental scientific research. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Discovery Projects ($465,000); University of Tasmania ($81,282).

Project Total: $285,000; Modern astrophysics is reliant on technology to monitor time-variable phenomena on scales from minutes to years for millions of stars. We are building a state of the art 1.3m optical telescope in central Tasmania, to be fully remotely-operable and furnished with a high-resolution wide-field camera and a powerful spectrograph. This will be a powerful and versatile tool for astrophysics. It will significantly advance studies of the frequency of Earth-like planets around other stars, and a wide range of planetary and stellar astrophysics questions including the variability of stars like the Sun. The new telescope will support dozens of astronomers who will use it for the equivalent of over 100 nights per year. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Linkage Infrastructure ($275,000); University of New South Wales ($10,000); University of Tasmania.