Gerhardt Meurer

Gerhardt Meurer is a Professor and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), affiliated with the University of Western Australia. His work focuses on observational astronomy, exploring the interplay between the interstellar medium (ISM) and galaxy components, particularly stars and Dark Matter. He leads two major surveys: SINGG (Survey of Ionization in Neutral Gas Galaxies) and SUNGG (Survey of Ultraviolet emission in Nearby Galaxies), and contributes to the WALLABY Survey using ASKAP. He employs telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope, Galex, Cerro Tololo, and the Australia Telescope Compact Array.

Education: He holds a PhD in Astrophysics from the Australian National University (thesis: NGC1705 and the Evolution of Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies, 1983-1989, awarded 1990) and a B.A. in Astronomy and Physics from the same institution (1983).

Research Interests: Meurer’s primary interests include the Star Formation Law, Initial Mass Function of stars, and galaxy evolution. He investigates atomic and molecular gas surveys, galactic dynamics, and multi-wavelength observational techniques. His work bridges optical, ultraviolet, and radio astronomy, with a focus on understanding how ISM properties influence star formation processes in galaxies.

Grants & Projects: He has been a core investigator in multiple grants, including Galaxy formation with a variable stellar initial mass function (Universities Australia, 2016-2017), A Dynamical Survey of Large Galaxies (UWA, 2014), and PanSTARRS (ARC, 2013). Notable roles include Principal Investigator for SINGG and SUNGG surveys. His research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through advancing scientific understanding and education.

Labs & Collaborations: Based at ICRAR, he collaborates with global institutions and researchers on projects like MHONGOOSE and WALLABY. These collaborations involve experts in galactic dynamics, radio astronomy, and stellar populations, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to observational astrophysics.