Professor Paul Francis
Astronomer
ANU Distinguished Educator, Winner 2016 Australian Award for University Teaching, 2000 ANU VIce Chancellor's Award for Teaching
email paul.francis@anu.edu.au
call (02) 6125 8031 or (02) 6125 2824

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Affiliations

Research interests

Innovative Education, AGN and high redshift galaxies

Projects

Location

CSO B.02 and Campus Building 160 2.27

Publications

  • Ao, Y, Matsuda, Y, Beelen, A et al. 2015, 'What powers Ly alpha blobs?', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 581.
  • Francis, P 2015, 'Fantasy universes: Inquiry learning in astrophysics on-campus and massive open online courses', International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education (formerly CAL-laborate International), vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 75-87.
  • Francis, P, Dopita, M, Colbert, J et al 2013, 'Hot gas, cold gas and sub-haloes in a Lyman Alpha blob at redshift 2.38', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 428, no. 1, pp. 28-39.
  • Horner, J, Lykawka, P, Bannister, M et al. 2012, '2008 LC18: A potentially unstable Neptune Trojan', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 422, no. 3, pp. 2145-2151.
  • Curran, S, Whiting, M, Murphy, M et al. 2011, 'Redshifted H I and OH absorption in radio galaxies and quasars', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 413, no. 2, pp. 1165-1173.
  • Hislop, L, Mould, J, Schmidt, B et al. 2011, 'THE EXTRAGALACTIC DISTANCE SCALE WITHOUT CEPHEIDS. IV.', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 733, no. 2, pp. A75-14.
  • Bessell, M, Bloxham, G, Schmidt, B et al. 2011, 'SkyMapper filter set: Design and fabrication of large-scale optical filters', Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. 123, no. 905, pp. 789-798.
  • Curran, S, Whiting, M, Combes, F et al. 2011, 'On the absence of molecular absorption in high-redshift millimetre-band searches', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 416, no. 3, pp. 2143-2153.
  • Colbert, J, Scarlata, C, Teplitz, H et al. 2011, 'Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission within Lyα blobs', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 728, no. 1, pp. A59-13.
  • Masci, F, Cutri, R, Francis, P et al 2010, 'The southern 2MASS active galactic nuclei survey: Spectroscopic follow-up with six degree field', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 302-320.
  • Masci, F, Cutri, R, Francis, P et al 2010, 'The Southern 2MASS Active Galactic Nuclei Survey: spectroscopic follow-up with Six Degree Field', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 302-320.
  • Williger, G, Colbert, J, Teplitz, H et al 2008, 'Ultraviolet-bright, high-redshift ULIRGS', Relativistic Astrophysics Legacy and Cosmology - Einstein's Legacy, ed. B. Aschenbach, V. Burwitz, G. Hasinger, B. Leibundgut, Springer, Berlin, pp. 358-362.
  • Francis, P, Robins-Figl, C & Savage, C 2009, 'Mastery learning in a large first year physics class', Motivating Science Undergraduates: Ideas and Interventions Conference IIC 2009, ed. Alex Hugman, UniServe Science, Sydney Australia, p. 8.
  • Scarlata, C, Colbert, J, Teplitz, H et al. 2009, 'He II Emission in Lyα Nebulae: Active Galactic Nucleus or Cooling Radiation?', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 706, no. 2, pp. 1241-1252.
  • Murphy, S, Keller, S, Schmidt, B et al. 2009, 'SkyMapper and the Southern Sky Survey: A Valuable Resource for Stellar Astrophysics', 8th Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics (PRCSA 2008), ed. B. Soonthornthum, S. Komonjinda, K.S. Cheng, and K.C. Leung, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, pp. 356-360.
  • Scarlata, C, Colbert, J, Teplitz, H et al. 2009, 'The Effect of Dust Geometry on the Lyα Output of Galaxies', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 704, no. 2 PART 2, pp. L98-L102.
  • Jurek, R, Drinkwater, M, Francis, P et al. 2008, 'Using a Complete Spectroscopic Survey to Find Red Quasars and Test the KX Method', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 383, no. 2, pp. 673 - 682.
  • Elliot, J, Person, M, Gulbis, A et al. 2007, 'Changes in Pluto's Atmosphere: 1988-2006', The Astronomical Journal, vol. 134, no. 1, pp. 1-13.
  • Keller, S, Bessell, M, Schmidt, B et al. 2007, 'The SkyMapper Southern Sky Survey', The Future of Photometric, Spectrophotometric and Polarimetric Standardization, ed. C. Sterken, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Fransisco, pp. 177-185.
  • Keller, S, Schmidt, B, Bessell, M et al. 2007, 'The SkyMapper Telescope and The Southern Sky Survey', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 24, pp. 1-12.
  • Whiting, M, Webster, R & Francis, P 2006, 'Multi-object spectroscopy of the field surrounding PKS 2126−158: discovery of a z= 0.66 galaxy group', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 368, no. 1, pp. 341-350.
  • Francis, P & McDonnell, S 2006, 'Fluorescent Lyman α emission from gas near a QSO at redshift 4.28', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 370, no. 3, pp. 1372-1378.
  • Colbert, J, Teplitz, H, Francis, P et al. 2006, 'Ultraviolet-Bright, High-Redshift Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 637, pp. L89-L92.
  • Francis, P 2006, 'Using Role-Playing Games to Teach Astronomy: An Evaluation', Astronomy Education Review, vol. 4, no. 2, p. 9.
  • Godfrey, L & Francis, P 2005, 'A Damped Ly-alpha Absorption-Line System in an Apparent Void at Redshift 2.38', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 22, pp. 245-248.
  • Francis, P 2005, 'The demographics of long-period comets', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 635, pp. 1348-1361.
  • Francis, P & Williger, G 2004, 'Low-Metallicity Gas Clouds in a Galaxy Protocluster at Redshift 2.38', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 602, pp. 77-79.
  • Francis, P & Bland-Hawthorn, J 2004, 'The mysterious absence of neutral hydrogen within 1 Mpc of a luminous quasar at redshift 2.168', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 353, pp. 301-309.
  • Francis, P, Palunas, P, Teplitz, H et al. 2004, 'The Distribution of Lyα-Emitting Galaxies at z=2.38. II. Spectroscopy', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 614, pp. 75-83.
  • Francis, P, Nelson, B & Cutri, R 2004, 'An Unbiased Census of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Two Micron All Sky Survey', The Astronomical Journal, vol. 127, pp. 646-655.
  • Francis, P 2004, 'Rookie astronauts learn Newtons law', Physics Education, vol. 39, no. September 2004, pp. 391-392.
  • Palunas, P, Teplitz, H, Francis, P et al. 2004, 'The Distribution of Lyα-Emitting Galaxies at z=2.38', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 602, pp. 545-554.
  • Whiting, M, Webster, R & Francis, P 2001, 'Red synchrotron jets in Parkes quasars', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 323, pp. 718-732.
  • Francis, P 2001, 'What do Quasars Look Like?', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 18, pp. 176-178.
  • Francis, P, Wilson, G & Woodgate, B 2001, 'On the Gas Surrounding High-Redshift Galaxy Clusters', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 18, pp. 64-75.
  • Francis, P, Drake, C, Whiting, M et al 2001, 'The Spectra of Red Quasars', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 18, pp. 221-231.
  • Francis, P, Williger, G, Collins, N et al. 2001, 'A Pair of Compact Red Galaxies at Redshift 2.38, Immersed in a 100 Kiloparsec Scale Ly Nebula', The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 554, pp. 1001-1011.
  • Francis, P, Whiting, M & Webster, R 2000, 'The Optical/Near-IR Colours of Red Quasars', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 53, pp. 56-71.
  • Elliot, J, Person, M, McDonald, S et al 2000, 'The Prediction and Observation of the 1997 July 18 Stellar Occultation by Triton: More Evidence for Distortion and Increasing Pressure in Tritons Atmosphere', Icarus, vol. 148, no. 2, pp. 347-369.
  • Francis, P 1999, 'Use of Role-playing Exercises in Teaching Undergraduate Astronomy and Physics', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 206 - 211.
  • Mortlock, D, Webster, R & Francis, P 1999, 'Binary Quasars', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 309, pp. 836-846.