Robert Thacker

Robert Thacker Email and Phone Number

Graduate Coordinator @ Saint Mary's University
Halifax Regional Municipality, NS, CA
Robert Thacker's Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Canada
Robert Thacker's Contact Details

Robert Thacker work email

Robert Thacker personal email

n/a
About Robert Thacker

As the Director of Science Outreach at Saint Mary's University, I lead the SMU Science Outreach Committee, a group of passionate educators and researchers who aim to inspire and engage the public with science. Together, we’ve helped increase science enrollments at SMU by 23% since 2017. With over 20 years of academic experience, I have developed a broad and deep knowledge of astronomy, as well as skills in data analysis, strategic planning and project leadership. I have also been recognized as a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) and appointed by peers to be the Chair of the Mid-Term Review of Canadian Astronomy, which advised the federal government and other agencies on strategic investments in the field ($600M+ in the past ten years). I’ve been recognized for these efforts with both research and service awards, as well as being appointed to co-lead the government relations side of Canadian astronomy on two separate occasions. I've also been the Canadian business delegate to the International Astronomical Union.My career path has been surprisingly diverse, from working in derivatives trade support at JP Morgan, to pursuing a PhD at the University of Alberta, to holding post-doctoral positions at UC Berkeley, McMaster University, and Queen’s University. I have held 27 different administrative and leadership roles from institutional to national organizations, such as Chair of Astronomy and Physics, Acting Associate Dean of Student Affairs to President of the Canadian Astronomical Society. These activities coincided with 14 years of Board experience for various nonprofit organizations. Additionally, I have been involved in faculty union activities, including being the Lead Negotiator on two collective agreements. Through all these experiences, I have learned to adapt, collaborate, and innovate in different settings and challenges. I’ve become known as someone that can distill complex and seemingly undigestible ideas into tasty information morsels, while using this ability to advocate and negotiate highly successfully.

Robert Thacker's Current Company Details
Saint Mary's University

Saint Mary'S University

View
Graduate Coordinator
Halifax Regional Municipality, NS, CA
Website:
smu.ca
Employees:
1806
Robert Thacker Work Experience Details
  • Saint Mary'S University
    Graduate Coordinator
    Saint Mary'S University
    Halifax Regional Municipality, Ns, Ca
  • Saint Mary'S University
    Director, Saint Mary'S University Science Outreach Centre
    Saint Mary'S University Aug 2017 - Present
    Halifax
  • Saint Mary'S University
    Acting Associate Dean Of Science, Student Affairs & Director, Science Outreach Centre
    Saint Mary'S University Jun 2018 - Aug 2019
    Halifax, Canada Area
    Was responsible for handling student affairs, including running Science Advising, SNAP Tutoring Center plus addressing Student academic misconduct as well as maintaining the science outreach portfolio.
  • 580 Cfra
    Science Columnist
    580 Cfra Jul 2021 - Present
    Ottawa
    Weekly column with Andrew Pinsent on "CFRA Live" covering key science stories of the week.
  • News 95.7
    Co Host And Sometime Host Of The Science Files
    News 95.7 Feb 2016 - Present
    Halifax, Canada Area
    In 2016 hosted the Saturday show (11-12am) on News 95.7 filling-in for Richard Zurawski. Ongoing co-host of the Tuesday show (12-1pm) within the Todd Veinotte Show.
  • Saint Mary'S University Faculty Union
    Lead Negotiator
    Saint Mary'S University Faculty Union Jun 2019 - Apr 2024
    Halifax, Canada Area
    Have taken part in four faculty negotiations (2015,2018,2021,2022), leading the COVID-19 (2021-22) collective agreement negotiation, and the 2022-25 collective agreement negotiation.
  • Canadian Astronomical Society
    (Past)President
    Canadian Astronomical Society May 2018 - May 2022
    Halifax, Nova Scotia
    I held the Presidency of the Canadian Astronomical Society (the society of professional astronomy in Canada) on two separate occasions. First from 2018-2020, and then again from 2021-2022.
  • 1310 News
    Science Columnist
    1310 News Mar 2017 - Jun 2021
    Ottawa, Canada Area
    I was a weekly columnist on Ottawa Today with Mark Sutcliffe, Thursdays at 12:30 Eastern each week. The segment ended when Mark transitioned into a career in politics.
  • The Royal Astronomical Society Of Canada (Rasc)
    Director
    The Royal Astronomical Society Of Canada (Rasc) May 2017 - Jun 2019
    Toronto, Canada Area
  • Make-A-Wish Atlantic Provinces
    Director
    Make-A-Wish Atlantic Provinces May 2017 - May 2019
    Halifax, Canada Area
  • Cbc
    Science Columnist
    Cbc Jan 2017 - Jan 2019
    Halifax, Canada Area
    Weekly science columnist on CBC Radio 1 "Mainstreet" in Halifax as the "Sounds of Science" segment. The pieces focused on issues related to computing, mathematics, physics, astronomy and technology, and were scripted by myself. Podcasts available here https://news.smu.ca/sounds-of-science
  • 660 News
    Science Columnist
    660 News Nov 2016 - Jul 2018
    Calgary, Canada Area
    Weekly interview with host Jon Muma for "Science Ship," short weekend segments on science that were syndicated on Rogers stations across the country.
  • Saint Mary'S University
    Canada Research Chair, Professor And Acting Director Institute For Computational Astrophysics
    Saint Mary'S University Jul 2014 - Aug 2017
    Halifax, Canada Area
  • Saint Mary'S University
    Canada Research Chair, Professor And Chair
    Saint Mary'S University May 2013 - Jul 2014
    Halifax, Canada Area
  • Saint Mary'S University
    Canada Research Chair, Associate Professor & Chair
    Saint Mary'S University Aug 2007 - May 2013
  • Compute Canada
    Chair, Advisory Council On Research
    Compute Canada 2013 - 2015
    Lead the Advisory Council and participated on its behalf as a Board Observer on the Board of Compute Canada.
  • Queen'S University
    Adjunct Assistant Professor
    Queen'S University Sep 2004 - Aug 2007
  • Mcmaster University
    Post-Doctoral Fellow
    Mcmaster University Jul 2001 - Jun 2004
    Canadian Computational Cosmology Consortium postdoc
  • Uc Berkeley
    Post-Doctoral Researcher
    Uc Berkeley Sep 1999 - Jun 2001
    KDI post-doc in Department of Astronomy.
  • J.P. Morgan
    Derivatives Trade Support Far Eastern & European Markets
    J.P. Morgan 1993 - 1994

Robert Thacker Skills

Science Research Teaching Astrophysics High Performance Computing Public Speaking Physics Higher Education University Teaching Science Communication Latex Molecular Biology Grant Writing Scientific Writing Environmental Science Project Management Data Analysis Fortran Statistics

Robert Thacker Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Robert Thacker

What company does Robert Thacker work for?

Robert Thacker works for Saint Mary's University

What is Robert Thacker's role at the current company?

Robert Thacker's current role is Graduate Coordinator.

What is Robert Thacker's email address?

Robert Thacker's email address is th****@****.smu.ca

What schools did Robert Thacker attend?

Robert Thacker attended University Of Alberta, King's College London, University Of Nottingham.

What are some of Robert Thacker's interests?

Robert Thacker has interest in Teaching, Science Policy, Data Analysis, Technology, Science And Innovation Policy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, High Performance Computing, Media, Science Communication.

What skills is Robert Thacker known for?

Robert Thacker has skills like Science, Research, Teaching, Astrophysics, High Performance Computing, Public Speaking, Physics, Higher Education, University Teaching, Science Communication, Latex, Molecular Biology.

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