Dr Ed Macaulay

Profile

I'm a Lecturer in Physics and Data Science in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.  My research background is in supernova cosmology, and I have interests in astrophysics outreach and physics education research.  At Queen Mary, I teach the Professional Software and Career Practices module for the data science degree apprenticeship, and the Electromagnetic Waves and Optics module for the physics undergraduate degree. 

I have a DPhil in astrophysics from the University of Oxford, where I had the opportunity to experience several observing trips to the Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.  My postdoctoral experience includes positions at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, and the Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation in Portsmouth.   While at UQ, I joined the Dark Energy Survey as a member of the Supernova Cosmology working group, and observed with the Anglo-Australian Telescope for the Australian Dark Energy Survey.

Before joining Queen Mary, I had the opportunity to teach in both the UK and US university systems by lecturing at the University of East Anglia in the UK and the University of North Georgia in the US.  At UNG, I developed an interest in Physics Education Research, and I now aim to promote an evidence-based, inclusive, and authentic approach to learning.  I also very much enjoy physics outreach, and have presented talks at events including Astronomy on Tap, Café Scientifique, and Stargazing Live.

Teaching

Module Organiser

DAT5902 Professional Software and Career Practices

SPA5222 Electromagnetic Waves and Optics

Practical Machine Learning Summer School

 

Module Associate

DAT4701 Introduction to Data Programming

DAT5901 Data Analysis and Data Solutions

 

Examiner

Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist MSc

Research

Research Interests:

My research background is in supernova cosmology and large-scale structure.  My research focusses on peculiar velocities and gravitational lensing, and developing new methods to study dark matter and dark energy with these effects.  I’m now keen to promote the approaches and techniques from observational cosmology to applied research in data science.  I also have an interest in Physics Education Research, and methods for evidence-based approaches to learning.

 

Publications

Weak lensing of Type Ia Supernovae from the Dark Energy Survey, E Macaulay, D Bacon, R C Nichol et al Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 496, Issue 3, August 2020, Pages 4051–4059,

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staa1852

First cosmological results using Type Ia supernovae from the Dark Energy Survey: measurement of the Hubble constant, E Macaulay, R C Nichol, D Bacon, D Brout, T M Davis et al. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 486, Issue 2, June 2019, Pages 2184–2196.

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stz978

The effects of velocities and lensing on moments of the Hubble diagram, E.Macaulay, T. M. Davis, D. Scovacricchi, D. Bacon, T. Collett, R. C. Nichol. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 467, Issue 1, May 2017, Pages 259–272,

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stw3339

Lower Growth Rate from Recent Redshift Space Distortion Measurements than Expected from Planck, E Macaulay, I. K. Wehus, and H. K. Eriksen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 161301 – October 2013

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.161301

A slight excess of large-scale power from moments of the peculiar velocity field, E Macaulay, H. Feldman, P. G. Ferreira, M. J. Hudson, R. Watkins, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 414, Issue 1, June 2011, Pages 621–626,

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18426.x