5x15 x Royal Observatory Greenwich
Dr Greg Brown is the author of Stars and The Universe in the Illuminates series. There are approximately ten-billion-trillion stars in the entire observable universe. But what exactly are stars? Greg is an astronomer working at Royal Observatory Greenwich. He obtained his PhD at the University of Warwick, studying the untimely deaths of stars torn apart by supermassive black holes in distant galaxies. Upon finishing his doctorate, he began working as an outreach coordinator, building on his passion for science communication before joining the Observatory in 2017. Now he works in the Public Astronomy Team, developing and presenting the public programme from workshops and planetarium shows through to the popular evening observing sessions.
Dhara Patel is the author of Space Exploration in the Illuminates series. Space is far bigger than humanity can conceive. Space Exploration begins with the evolution of astronomy, including notable characters, scientific breakthroughs and pinnacle moments. Dhara is a Space Expert at the National Space Centre in Leicester. Prior to that she worked as an astronomer and science communicator at Royal Observatory Greenwich, though she began her career as a secondary school science teacher after completing a Masters in physics.
Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder is the author of Planets in the Illuminates series, charting humanity's understanding of our neighbouring bodies, from the first clues established by Galileo Galilei in the 17th Century, through to the vast amounts we do (and much we don't) know today. Emily is an astronomer, astrophysicist and science communicator. She is currently the Senior Manager of Public Astronomy at Royal Observatory Greenwich. As an astrophysicist, she used microwave and radio telescopes to study the formation of stars and planets in our Galaxy at Cardiff University, Imperial College London and University of Exeter.
Dr Ed Bloomer is the author of Black Holes in the Illuminates series. Black holes are often clever plot devices in science fiction films but these objects are real, although fiendlishly tricky to comprehend. Ed provides an accessible guide to one of space's most notorious concepts, with a bit of time travel thrown in. Ed is an astronomer and science communicator. Since joining Royal Observatory Greenwich, he has been involved in the full breadth of the organisation’s programming: creating planetarium shows for all ages , hosting regular Science Fiction movie nights and working with researchers to present up-to-date astronomical information to the Observatory’s many visitors. Ed completed his PhD at the Institute for Gravitational Research at the University of Glasgow, primarily trying to work out what happened when small black holes spiralled into bigger ones.