UCLan - Professor Don Kurtz

Award for Shining Light of Astronomy

The work of Professor Don Kurtz receives prestigious recognition from the Royal Astronomical Society.

Adistinguished emeritus professor from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been honoured for a lifetime commitment to public outreach and service to astronomy.

Professor Don Kurtz, a UCLan academic member of staff between 2001 and 2020, has been awarded The Royal Astronomical Society’s (RAS) 2022 Service Award for Astronomy.

Between 2010 and 2020 Professor Kurtz gave more than 300 public lectures, reaching tens of thousands of people live, and a much larger number on TV for programmes such as “The Sky at Night”, “Stargazing live”, “Big Ideas” on TV Ontario, and on radio in the UK, Australia, South Africa. He has given public presentations on every continent, except Antarctica, and has a longstanding commitment to teaching in African schools.

Commenting on the recognition Professor Kurtz said: “I am delighted to be recognised by the RAS for my outreach and service activities over my 55-year (so far) career.

“As a consequence of covid restrictions I have not been back to Preston for 15 months, although I’m planning a return in April when I hope to give a public lecture organised through the University’s Jeremiah Horrocks Institute.”

Describing the renowned astrophysicist’s achievements, The Royal Astronomical Union’s award citation said: “Professor Kurtz has served as President of Commission 27 of the International Astronomical Union, as councillor and VicePresident of the RAS, and on many international committees. For a lifetime of passionate dedication to public outreach and service to astronomy, Professor Kurtz is an eminently worthy recipient of the RAS Service Award.”

The UCLan emeritus professor observes with some of the largest telescopes in the world, has over 2000 nights at the telescope, and over 500 professional publications. He is an A1rated professor, the highest such rating in the research fraternity and also the discoverer of a class of pulsating, magnetic stars that are the most peculiar stars known. He is a member of the steering committee of the Kepler Asteroseismic Science Consortium and is co-author of the fundamental textbook, “Asteroseismology”.

In 2020 Professor Kurtz was appointed Extraordinary Professor at North-West University in Mahikeng, South Africa while also becoming a Visiting Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Lincoln.

t alk o f the to w n

BOUTIQUE

By Tina Penswick

Spring has certainly sprung at ‘Tott Boutique’ and we have 2 exciting new ranges available now on our website.

The first range is our bright and colourful LIQUORICE ALLSORTS

I wanted to go for something a bit different with this range. If everyone’s like me, I love spring! It’s without doubt my favourite time of the year. Everything is fresh, new and crisp and I’m completely over all the dark colours of winter. Out with the old and in with the new is my motto and what better start to 2022 than with a beautiful bright new range?

Smock dresses are hot to trot this season with the added advantage of being able to wear them as a shirt over trousers until the weather is warm enough to bare some skin. Hence the ‘Liquorice Allsorts’ everything can be worn with a pair of black pants and looks fab. I just adore pieces that are multifunctional, always saves on space, especially if you’re planning a holiday and want to travel light. The chance would be a fine thing with the current restrictions but we can dream ladies and I always like to dress for the position I want not the position I’ve got.

The orange smock dress is silk and the pink is cotton. I would be hard pressed to pic a favourite out of these 2 dresses, silk feels beautiful on your skin but cotton is great in warmer weather. If it up to me I’d have one in every colour, I take the same stance on wine.

The colours in this range are nothing short of sensational. Orange and green are 2 of the most prominent colours around at the moment but pink and also blue are popping up with more frequency.

The swizzles maxi dress is available in a few different colours and I’m loving it. What’s not to love? V neck, a great length and the way it hangs is also super flattering, which I for one am certainly grateful for after over indulging over the Christmas period, don’t worry ladies I’ve got you! Similar in fit to the tunnel maxi dress, it will fit size 8-22. I’d like to say I’m an 8-10 but when the pounds creep on,it’s always nice to have the safety net of our free-size fashion.

The ‘Sprint fizz’ green shirt is a gorgeous colour, we do this shirt in about 6 or 7 designs, some with print and some plain in colour. They’re available in a small/medium - which is 8-18 and a medium large which is 16-24. They’re generous sizes and also feature the added advantage of stretch around the chest area. Many of our ladies wear these as a dress as well. I am 5’7” (and a half) and they come just above my knee. I’ll certainly be trying them out as a dress soon!

The second range is our urban-wear

CITY SLICKER

Range 2 is completely opposite to Liquorice Allsorts and I love it just as much! ‘City Slicker’ is bringing urban-wear to life for the over 40’s and I’m here for it. I have a lovely customer who does a fashion blog for ‘the menopause and beyond’ and she is a big fan of my boutique. Just because we have the odd grey hair there is absolutely no need to resort to the pleated skirts and blue rinses just yet and I think the balance in this collection is just right, modern not mutton.

Jumpsuits are my nemesis, I’ll be honest. I absolutely love and loathe them in equal measures. The downside to them is toilet time, there’s nothing elegant about wrestling with an adult sized baby-grow in a tiny cubicle, however the right jumpsuit does wonders for your wardrobe, style and figure. Every woman needs a jumpsuit or 2 in her closet and this pale sage green one is a beauty. Daytime to night-time on this lovely piece, add a blazer and heels or pumps and a jersey jacket and there are 2 completely different looks.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m busy and its my day off (I do have them now and then) I’m guilty of throwing on the same ‘leggings and t-shirt’ combo week in week out. I go for comfort and sometimes forget about the style, I’m sure we all do at times but how nice is this little ensemble? Parachute pants are great for hiding a few lumps and bumps and they look so on trend as well. The colours are neutral and relaxed and I can easily run errands whilst looking A1 too.

Mauve. The word reminds me of my grandma’s lipstick, but hear me out... it’s blooming gorgeous. Just look at this mauve rushed back jersey jacket over the top of the diamanté skull tie front dress.

Rushed back jersey jackets are another winner in this collection, we have a range of colours and once again they’re ‘free-size and fabulous’ meaning they’ll fit a range of sizes between 8 and 22.

I hope you love these 2, completely different, collections as much as I do. I think I’ve covered all bases with them and I can’t wait to expand on these as we progress into to summertime and the weather get nicer and nicer. I can’t wait, pass me a Prosecco and I’ll see you in the garden.

Lots of love, T xx

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