About Me
I studied Astronomy at St Andrews University, lecture on current astronomical concepts and research astronomical history. Based in Scotland, I specialise in presenting current astronomical thinking through its historical background. I'm a frequent lecturer on the Astronomical Society speaker circuit and have given presentations at the Royal Astronomical Society’s annual National Astronomy Meeting, and other International Conferences. I am a regular contributor to Astronomical Journals and the popular press. I am also a Fellow of The Royal Astronomical Society. In 2009 I was a Royal Astronomical Speaker on Cunard Voyages.
A recognised authority on the Magic Lantern, I give regular presentations with my original lantern and slides, speaking to Societies, Conferences and specialist groups. A leading expert in the lanterns slides of Scotland and Australia, my collection of the slides of the George Washington Wilson Company of Aberdeen is one of the largest in private hands.
I also carry out continuing research to understand how popular astronomy was presented to the general public in the 18th and 19th century, especially with the magic lantern, and use examples from my extensive collection of astronomical lantern slides to recreate 19th century popular astronomy lectures.
