Dr. Michael Burton

Biography

Professor Michael Burton is a Visiting Professorial Fellow at the Science School of Physics, University of New South Wales. His research focuses on the formation of stars and the excitation of the interstellar medium during this process. He utilizes infrared and millimetre-wave astronomy to measure spectral signatures produced by gas and dust encompassing interstellar molecular clouds. Key instruments in his research include the Mopra millimetre telescope located in Coonabarabran, New South Wales, and the Nanten2 sub-millimetre telescope in Chile. Professor Burton has been actively involved in large survey programs, which include the study of organic molecules in the Central Molecular Zone of the Galaxy and the distribution of molecular gas in the fourth quadrant of the Milky Way. His work with the Stratospheric Terahertz Observatory— a unique balloon-borne telescope operating in Antarctica— aims to enhance the understanding of molecular clouds, which are crucial for star formation in the Galaxy. He has played a significant role in the advancement of Antarctic astronomy and organized the first-ever International Astronomical Union Symposium in this field in Beijing in August 2012. In addition, he serves as an editor for the Journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, the oldest refereed publication in the Southern Hemisphere.

Research Interests