The Dunlap Award was established in 2013 thanks to a generous gift from the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto.
The award is to be presented in even-numbered years, to an individual or team for the design, invention, or improvement of instrumentation or software that has enabled significant advances in astronomy. To be eligible, the nominee, or leader of a nominated team, must be a member of CASCA in good standing and a Canadian astronomer or an astronomer working in Canada.
The award consists of a monetary prize and a certificate. The recipient shall be invited to address the Society at its Annual General Meeting. The nomination package must be submitted entirely in electronic form to the Chair of the Awards committee and should consist of:
- A letter of nomination (self-nominations are accepted) detailing the specific achievement for which the candidate is being nominated, and providing evidence that the achievement has had a significant impact in the field. Nomination letters should be written in the third person, without reference to nominator identity, and without institutional letterhead or other identifiers. This ensures that self- and non-self nominations are not distinguishable.;
- The CV of the nominee;
In addition, three external letters of support (e.g., from international experts in the nominee’s field). No letter should exceed two pages in length and should be sent directly to the Chair of the Awards committee (to ensure confidentiality of references).
No other material should be submitted.
2024 Dunlap Award
CASCA is pleased to announce that Dr. Roberto Abraham and the Dragonfly team are the winners of the 2024 Dunlap Award.
This award recognizes a decade of innovation and effort on the part of Dr. Abraham and the Dragonfly team, who have designed, constructed, and operated the Dragonfly Telephoto Array in New Mexico. The Dragonfly team has used this facility to produce ground-breaking science results in the low surface brightness universe, including the discovery of ultra-diffuse galaxies and galaxies displaying exceptionally low amounts of dark matter. The Dragonfly team is relatively small compared to other high impact astronomical projects and the close-knit, hands-on environment fostered within the team has propelled many exceptional young scientists into high-profile, international careers. Dr. Abraham received his PhD from Oxford University and, following postdoctoral research at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge University, and the Royal Greenwich Observatory, joined the faculty of the University of Toronto in 2000.
CASCA is exceptionally pleased to recognize the efforts of Dr. Abraham and the entire Dragonfly team with this award.
2022 | ![]() Kavelaars |
Astronomical Data Archives View Citation |
2020 | ![]() |
Infrared Instrument Development View Citation |
2018 | ![]() |
Data analysis techniques to search for transients View Citation |
2016 | ![]() |
Photometry: Old and New View Citation |
2014 | ![]() |
Technology-Driven Cosmology Today and Tomorrow View Citation |