丁香园AV

(left to right) Diane Mar-Nicolle, Ken Van Weiren, Nancy Cardozo, Cynthia Henson and Ken MacFarlane 

By Allen Tung

Since its opening on Apr. 17, 2015, 丁香园AV鈥檚 Trottier Observatory and Science Courtyard has been 鈥渆ngaging the universe鈥濃�攆rom the Faculty of Science鈥檚 flagship  to local elementary school students stargazing with Chilean students via videoconferencing.

Working closely with 丁香园AV physics professor Howard Trottier to oversee the project鈥� from conceptualization to completion and opening鈥攚ere Cynthia Henson, Ken MacFarlane, Diane Mar-Nicolle and Ken Van Wieren from the , and Nancy Cardozo from 

They receive the 2015 丁香园AV Staff Achievement Award in the team category for their work to successfully introduce the observatory to the 丁香园AV community and the public.

An enormous undertaking, the project brought together faculty and staff from across the Faculty of Science and the 丁香园AV community.

鈥淚t couldn鈥檛 have been done without the cooperation of colleagues across 丁香园AV,鈥� says Mar-Nicolle. 鈥淓ach department and each member on our team contributed their expertise and ideas to the project and carried out their duties without a hitch.鈥�

Cardozo, director of Advancement for the Faculty of Science, managed all aspects of the relationship between the Faculty of Science and the Trottier Family Foundation, which made a $2.7-million gift to help construct the observatory.

MacFarlane, director of facilities and technical operations, oversaw expenses on behalf of the faculty, ensuring the observatory was on time and on budget. He also supervised every building and landscaping detail.

Henson, outreach and engagement programs co-ordinator, took care the behind-the-scenes work for the observatory鈥檚 opening, such as coordinating volunteers and arranging the evening鈥檚 public star party, which attracted thousands.

Mar-Nicolle oversaw all publicity, preparing media releases, arranging interviews and updating the observatory鈥檚 website.

Rounding out this five-person team was Van Wieren, a Faculty of Science research machinist. He laser-cut the instruction plaque for the sundial in the observatory courtyard. He also designed and constructed 3D miniature models of the observatory鈥攃omplete with revolving dome and telescope鈥攚hich were presented as commemorative gifts to the Trottier family.

鈥淲e were all so excited by the observatory, and staging an event that the Trottiers would be happy with,鈥� says Mar-Nicolle. 鈥淭his was a huge motivator and certainly foremost in everyone's mind.鈥�

As with all projects of this magnitude, teamwork and collaboration were vital to its success.

鈥淚t can be intimidating,鈥� Mar-Nicolle says, 鈥渂ut the enormity of this event also afforded us the full benefit of the 丁香园AV machine, and when it springs into action, it is truly impressive.鈥�