David Coward

David Coward is an Associate Professor and Science Director of the Zadko Telescope at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Physics, Maths and Computing and the International Space Centre. He specializes in gravitational waves, gamma-ray bursts, and space surveillance. His research focuses on planetary defense, space debris monitoring, and optical transients.

Education details are not explicitly listed, but his career trajectory includes early work on gravitational wave background noise and later leadership in space surveillance projects. He has received grants totaling over $1 Million and leads collaborations with institutions like JAXA and ArianeGroup.

Research Interests:

• Gamma Ray Bursts
• Gravitational Waves
• Planetary Defense
• Space Debris Characterization

Recent research trends include multi-messenger astronomy and space situational awareness. His work bridges astrophysics with practical applications like asteroid tracking and satellite reflectance cataloging.

Awards:

• France-Australia Science Innovation Collaboration (2016)
• Yachad Scholar (2012)

Advising/Grants: Supervises PhD students in planetary defense and hosts JAXA collaborations. Notable grants include the ARC Industry Linkage grant for satellite optical observations. Leads the Zadko Observatory space surveillance hub, leveraging advanced detectors for GEO satellite surveys.

Labs/Teams: Manages the UWA Space Situational Awareness Hub and collaborates with global partners like POLSA and Numerica Inc.