Taking astrophysics research to galaxies far, far away

SFU will be exploring new frontiers thanks to a $2 million endowment from the Trottier Family Foundation to support astronomy research and outreach at SFU.

This gift is the latest in the Foundation’s longstanding commitment to enriching science outreach and engagement at the university. For over a decade, the Trottier Family Foundation’s generosity has made a remarkable impact at SFU, establishing the Trottier Observatory and Science Courtyard, funding robust public programming for K-12 students with Science in Action, recognizing students’ community engagement in science outreach, and supporting Clean Energy Canada’s work at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue.

The new, permanent endowment provides lasting support for research and community programming, including the creation of a new astronomy outreach coordinator role to expand Starry Nights and other public events at the Trottier Observatory, as well as livestreaming to remote and Indigenous communities.

“It’s an honour to be able to inspire young people and the general public to think about the mysteries of the Universe far beyond us,” says astrophysics professor and Trottier Observatory director Joanna Woo. “This endowment will help us train more people to talk about the cutting edge of astronomical research.”  

With her research faculty position formalized in April 2026, the endowment will also enable Joanna to dedicate more time to her own research in galaxy evolution. “My collaborators and I have discovered a very significant population of galaxies that have blue centres,” she says. “These kinds of galaxies are very unexpected because blue stars are younger and we expect galaxies to have old centres.”

The international team will use data from the UNIONS Survey to measure the colour variations of some of the smallest galaxies. “These images were taken in Hawaii, which has some of the best atmospheric conditions on the planet, so the images are very sharp. We're going to be able to find the smallest galaxies and measure the colour variations much more accurately than we have before.”

“The Trottier Family Foundation’s support is adding an important new dimension to our research strengths in astroparticle physics and cosmology, allowing us to deepen our expertise in areas that are rapidly advancing and critically important to broader scientific understanding,” says SFU Physics department chair Levon Pogosian.

“Joanna Woo is a world-class researcher working at the leading edge of astrophysics. Bringing her into our community as a research faculty member has significant implications for our research profile, collaborations, and mentorship capacity within the department.”

“Supporting scientific discovery and making science accessible to the public have long been central to the Trottier Family Foundation’s mission," says Karel Mayrand, CEO of the Trottier Family Foundation. "This endowment reflects our commitment to advancing astrophysics research, inspiring curiosity, and expanding opportunities for students, educators, and the public to engage with the wonders of the universe.”

Joanna is looking forward to involving more graduate students in science communication. “I really want all of my graduate students to be able to talk about their research to the public,” she says. “The goal is to have more people to be able to talk about cutting edge research. It will make our outreach that much better.”

“I am definitely, very grateful to the Trottier Family Foundation for this opportunity,” she adds. “I think it's a benefit all around, benefits to the university, to the public astronomy outreach program. It's a benefit to students, and it's benefit to me, and so it's really an amazing gift.”