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Biography

Current Activities

Dr Douglas Bock is Director, Space and Astronomy, and Director of the Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF). Douglas represents Australia on the Council of the SKA Observatory.

CSIRO's Space and Astronomy business unit leads CSIRO’s activities in the space sector. It draws together NASA’s Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (operated by CSIRO), our Space Research Program and the CSIRO Centre for Earth Observation as well as CSIRO’s radio astronomy activities (instrumentation, astrophysics research, SKA Observatory planning and pre-construction work, and the Australia Telescope National Facility)

From 2010 to 2016 Douglas was Theme Leader and then Program Director for ATNF Operations, leading the operation of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), Parkes Telescope, Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and Mopra Telescope - which are used by more than 400 Australian and overseas scientists each year.

He oversaw the transition of ASKAP and the Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory from construction to ASKAP early science. Douglas has also been active in planning for the international Square Kilometre Array project and looks forward to the opportunities ahead for Australia in radio astronomy, and working collaboratively with Australian Universities in evolving the role of the ATNF for the SKA era.

Background

Douglas enjoys working at the interface of astronomy and technology, and this has led to a career focussed on the design, construction, and operation of radio telescopes.

From 2004 to 2009, before coming to CSIRO, Dr Bock was at the University of California, Berkeley, first as the construction Project Manager and then as Assistant Director – Operations for the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA). CARMA is an array of 23 radio dishes operating at millimetre wavelengths, jointly operated by five US universities.

During this period, Dr Bock was also a Visiting Associate at the California Institute of Technology. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Director for the Radio Astronomy Laboratory at UC Berkeley and the System Scientist for the Allen Telescope Array. His current scientific interests include all-sky radio-astronomy surveys, and studies of transient and variable phenomena at radio and millimetre wavelengths.

As Project Manager and Assistant Director - Operations for CARMA, Dr Bock led construction and operations from three months after groundbreaking through the early years of routine astronomical observations. As System Scientist for the Allen Telescope Array, he was responsible for constructing a prototype array, contributing to the science requirements, designing the spatial distribution of the antennas, and leading the process of obtaining environmental planning permission. Although only 42 over the planned 350 antennas were constructed, the ATA formed a key precursor to the international Square Kilometre Array telescope, an A$2.5 billion project.

Achievements

Dr Bock has published over 70 articles in refereed journals, books and conference proceedings.

He has held the following roles in professional societies and committees:
- Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (2019)
- Fellow, Astronomical Society of Australia (2019; student member since 1994)
- Chair/Vice-Chair, International Union of Radio Science, Commission J Radio Astronomy (2018-2023)
- Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD, 2019)
- Member, National Committee for Astronomy (2015-present)
- Member, Editorial Board for Decadal Plan for Australian Astronomy 2016-2025
- Chair, SKA Operations Working Group (2012-2015)
- Vice-Chair, US National Academy of Science Standing Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF (2008–2009; member since 2007)
- Member, Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Management Advisory Committee/Annual External Review (2007-2009)
- Member, International Astronomical Union (2003–present)
- Member, International Union of Radio Science, US National Committee (2001–present)
- Member, American Astronomical Society (1999–present)
- Member, US Square Kilometer Array Consortium Executive Committee (2003–2007)
- Member, MWA External Review Panel (2009)
- Member, Expanded VLA Advisory Committee (2007–2009)
- Member, SETI Science and Technology Working Group (1997–1999)

Current Roles

  • Director
    Space and Astronomy

  • Director
    Australia Telescope National Facility

Academic Qualifications

  • 1998

    PhD
    University of Sydney

  • 1994

    BE (Elec, Hons)
    University of Sydney

  • 1992

    BSc
    University of Sydney