Professor JJ Eldridge MInstP FRAS

Biography

I obtained my MA and MSci degrees from the University of Cambridge in 2001. I stayed at the University to study for my PhD in astrophysics at the Institute of Astronomy, graduating in 2005. After this I undertook postdoctoral research at the Institut d’Astrophysics de Paris, Queen’s University Belfast and the Institute of Astronomy. In 2011 I was appointed as a Lecturer of Astrophysics at The University of Auckland. I was promoted to professor at the University of Auckland in 2023.

My research is focused upon the lives and deaths of stars. Most of my work involves the suite of computer codes I have created, the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis code (BPASS, bpass.auckland.ac.nz). Using BPASS I study stars in our own Galaxy to stars in the galaxies at the edge of the observable Universe.

In addition to my research activities I am also keen to participate in public understanding of science activities and have helped out at open days for previous departments. Not only do I talk about astrophysics but have talks about how accurate science-fiction can be with titles such as: "The Science of Sci-Fi: The Good the Bad and the Ugly" and "The Science of Sci-Fi: does every planet look just like home?"

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