Sask. researcher first Canadian to be awarded Royal Astronomical Society honour
A University of Saskatchewan professor and her research on the aurora is being recognized internationally.
Kathryn McWilliams, a professor in the department of physics, is the first Canadian to be awarded an honourary fellowship from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) of the United Kingdom.
“It’s such an amazing surprise and it’s really humbling,” McWilliams said.
In 1992, McWilliams helped build the first SuperDARN radar site east of Saskatoon as a summer student.
Now, McWilliams is the director of SuperDARN Canada.
SuperDarn is a network of scientists in 10 countries who use radar to study the earth’s upper atmosphere.
For years, McWilliams has been researching the aurora.
“The big question is ‘What causes the Aurora?’ … We work with partners around the world — space agencies, satellite missions, other ground-based instruments — and we try to put together pieces of the puzzle,” she told CTV News.
McWilliams said the “ultimate goal” is to predict the aurora, similar to a weather forecast.
While the colours of the Northern Lights are beautiful, the aurora can impact power usage.
By being able to forecast the aurora, communities can better handle the power outages that can sometimes come with the Northern Lights, according to McWilliams.
“And once we understand the physics, and what’s going on through that whole big complicated system, hopefully we can start to better understand how it affects satellite and surges in power grids,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.