1991 Winner: Outstanding Leadership In Alberta Science
Leader Of Space Science Programs Bolsters Research In Canada
Dr. Leroy Cogger helped to develop the Space Science programs at The University of Calgary by participating in Canada’s ISIS-2 satellite project. This project has resulted in significant advances in our understanding of auroral and ionospheric phenomena. The Space Science Group’s reputation was further enhanced with the development and successful operation of a novel Ultraviolet camera that was flown on the Swedish Viking satellite in 1986. Over 30 scientific papers have been based on the images of aurora obtained by the camera. A loft-up mission is planned for 1992.
New Programs
The Group has also developed an observing programme that monitors the motion and thermal state of the atmosphere above 85 km. Dr. Cogger is the Team leader for the first Canadian instrument to be flown on a Soviet satellite (launch planned for late 1992). The University of Calgary group, under contract with the Canadian Space Agency, has provided technical as well as scientific assistance.
Dr. Cogger is the Scientific Leader of the Canadian Network for Space Research, one of the network of 15 Centres of Excellence being funded by the Canadian government. This is the only network with headquarters in Alberta. With a 17 million dollar 4-year grant to the network, the various industries, universities, and government laboratories involved as Centres are undertaking science and technology projects in relation to the Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere
