Dr. Jon Willis

Biography

Jon Willis is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Victoria. He is an astronomer studying the physical contents of the Universe and his research encompasses various aspects of cosmology and astrophysics. Willis is particularly focused on giant clusters of galaxies, which reveal large-scale properties of the Universe, including the evolution of galaxies within those clusters. He has published works such as 'All Worlds Scientific Search Alien Life,' a popular science book released by Yale University Press. His research investigates how galaxy clusters form and how their environment impacts galaxy evolution. As a senior member of significant research initiatives like the Galaxy Evolution X-ray Clusters, he employs multi-wavelength surveys, primarily utilizing X-ray detection methods to explore distant galaxy clusters. With the XXL survey, which is the largest single project undertaken by the XMM satellite, he has discovered numerous new galaxy clusters and continues to contribute to the field through new searches and studies involving graduate students. His work on observational projects and gravitational lenses provides essential insights into dark matter and the formation of galaxies, highlighting his significant contributions to the field of astrophysics and cosmology.

Research Interests

Experience