Ray Jayawardhana PhD (Harvard), BS (Yale) Professor & Dean of Science This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Research Field: Astrophysics and Astronomy Publications

Professor Jayawardhana and his collaborators use many of the world's largest telescopes - including VLT, Subaru, Gemini and Keck - to explore the origin and diversity of planetary systems as well as the formation of stars and brown dwarfs. He is the co-author of over 100 scientific papers and co-editor of two volumes of conference proceedings. His research findings have been featured in a wide variety of print, broadcast and electronic media around the world. The many accolades he has received include the Steacie Prize, the Steacie Fellowship, the Rutherford Medal, the McLean Award, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and Canada's Top 40 Under 40. Asteroid (4668) Rayjay is named after him. 

Professor Jayawardhana's writing has appeared in a variety of publications including The Economist, New York Times, Science, New Scientist, Scientific American, Muse, Sky & Telescope, and Physics World. He is a recipient of the AIP Science Writing Award and the CSWA Science in Society Book Award. 

He is the author of Neutrino Hunters: The Thrilling Chase for a Ghostly Particle to Unlock the Secrets of 
the Universe < http://us.macmillan.com/neutrinohunters/RayJayawardhana>, Strange New Worlds: The Search for Alien 
Planets and Life Beyond Our Solar System < http://www.amazon.com/Strange-New-Worlds-Planets-Paperback/dp/069115807X/>, and Star Factories: The Birth of Stars and Planets. He has created innovative outreach programs such as CoolCosmos < http://www.CoolCosmos.net>, featuring 3000 ads in Toronto's subway cars, street cars and buses to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, and Cosmic Frontiers 
< http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/cf/cf.html>, drawing capacity crowds of nearly 1500 for each of four Friday night events.