Leonard Burtscher Email & Phone Number

I am a staff astronomer (senior researcher) at the astronomical observatory of Leiden University (The Netherlands) and calibration scientist for the astronomical instrument project ELT/METIS. My main role in METIS is to define the calibration plan of the instrument, which is expected to see first astronomical light in 2028.Next to my work on astronomical instrument development, I also perform astrophysical research on active galactic nuclei and supervise BSc, MSc and Ph.D. students.I am a passionate and experienced science communicator using a variety of media and languages. In 2019, several international colleagues and I formed the grass-roots organisation Astronomers for Planet Earth (A4E), that has since then attracted over 1300 professional astronomers and astronomy communicators. A4E's mission is to bring astronomical research on a path of sustainable development and communicate the astronomers' perspective -- there is no planet B! -- to a wide public to raise awareness for the importance to urgently solve the climate crisis. As part of these activities, I have computed the carbon budgets for international conferences as well as for institutes and other research agencies and published these results in e.g. Nature Astronomy and The Lancet Planetary Health.In my free time, my three kids keep me very busy and happy, too.

Listed skills include Physik, Latex, Data Analysis, Unix Shell Scripting, and 21 others.