Andy Fabian becomes president of the Royal Astronomical Society

On 9 May 2008 Professor Andy Fabian of the University of Cambridge willbecome President of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), the largestprofessional astronomical body in Europe. Professor Fabian will takeover from incumbent President Professor Michael Rowan-Robinson at theannual general meeting of the RAS and will serve until May 2010.

Professor Fabian has been active in professional astronomy since theearly 1970s, having received his degrees from the University of London(BSc, King’s; PhD, University College). His current research interestsare black holes, clusters of galaxies and X-ray astronomy. Inrecognition of his work he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)in 1996 and awarded an OBE in 2006. He was awarded the Rossi prize(jointly with Y. Tanaka) of the American Astronomical Society in 2001and the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics by the American PhysicalSociety and the American Astronomical Society in 2008. He is Vice Masterof Darwin College, Cambridge.

Professor Fabian is delighted to be taking up his new role. He comments,"It is a great honour to take up the office of President of the RAS. Intoday’s uncertain funding climate, astronomers, space scientists andgeophysicists need the support of a professional body more than ever.

Over my two years I will be working very hard to make sure that ourvoice is heard and that our work receives the recognition it deserves.Some of the most exciting cutting-edge discoveries are made inastronomy, space science and geophysics and the public rightly holdsthem in high esteem. Our science has a bright future — provided wereceive the support we need.”