Dr Ragbir Bhathal

• Biography
• Areas of Research/Teaching Expertise
• Grants/Current Projects
• Contact Details

Biography

Dr Ragbir Bhathal was a Commonwealth Scholar and did his PhD in magnetism at the University of Queensland under the supervision of Professor Frank Stacey, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Dr Bhathal has been invited by Pearson Australia to write the Australian edition of University Physics for use in physics and engineering courses in Australian universities and is in the process of writing this book. He has published a paper in Nature and several papers in international refereed journals. He has published six books on astronomy and his book 'Frontiers in Astronomy' was highly praised by the former President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Sir Gustav Nosal. Dr Bhathal was awarded the Bicentennial Royal Society of NSW Medal for services to science and research, the CJ Dennis Award for excellence in natural history writing and the prestigious Nancy Keesing Fellowship by the State Library of NSW. He has served as a UNESCO consultant on science policy for the ASEAN group of nations, as an Adviser to the Federal Minister for Science and was the Project Director for the million dollar Sydney Observatory restoration building program. Dr Bhathal also designed and built the observatory at the UWS Campbelltown Campus.

In January 2009 he was invited by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO to give a paper at the international astronomy conference held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to commemorate the start of the worldwide International Year of Astronomy.

Areas of Research/Teaching Expertise

300464 Physics & Materials
300489 Radio & Satellite Communications
300053 Professional Practice

Dr Bhathal carries out research in nanosecond laser pulsed communications, astrophysics, galactic surveys, astronomical image analysis and processing and lately has taken a keen interest in the teaching and learning that takes place in physics and engineering laboratories which is an area the university is now emphasising and is of growing importance in Australian universities. He also supervises the first year projects in physics for the Advanced Engineering students. His expertise in project management has been found to be very useful by students doing Professional Practice.

Grants/Current Projects

$220,000 grant from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council to a multi-university team. Physics component: Investigating the teaching and learning in physics laboratories.

$12,000 community engagement grant for project on Aboriginal astronomy and the improvement of the scientific literacy of Aboriginal students in the Western suburbs of Sydney and in particular the University’s catchment area.

$350,000 from the private sector for a continuing project on nanosecond pulsed laser communications project.

$25,000 internal UWS grant for purchase of a telescope for use at the Campbelltown observatory.

$35,000 to a team of academics provided by the Australian Research Council for a commissioned report - Waiting in the wings: A study of early career academic researchers in Australia.

$30,000 from the National Library of Australia for research and publication of a book on Frontiers of Astronomy.

$10,000 from the State Library of NSW to research and write a book on John Tebbutt, Australia’s pre-eminent 19th century astronomer.

For further information, contact Ragbir.

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