School Patron
Professor Brad Carter is the University of Southern Queensland's (USQ) Professor of Physics, Astronomer and Director of the Mount Kent Observatory.
Brad leads a research team studying stellar astronomy and planetary systems. He has a genuine passion to share his expertise in astronomy with students through distance education. Brad set up USQ’s Mount Kent Observatory facility for distance education students to use, learn and to conduct research projects in astronomy through.
Brad also has an interest in teacher professional development for science education as he was inspired at a young age while still at school to become a professional astronomer.
Moreover, as a professional scientist, he sees the important role that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) must play in the future of schooling.
Honorary School Patron
Honorary Patron Dr. Andrew Prentice is adjunct professor at Monash University. Andrew is a planetary mathematician, and although now retired, is still regarded as a high-profile member of Monash's Centre for Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics in Melbourne.
Dr. Prentice has spent nearly four decades working on the Modern Laplacian theory (based on a hypothesis first suggested by French mathematician Pierre de Laplace in 1796) of how the solar system was formed some 4.5 billion years ago. An overwhelming number of his mathematical predictions have proven to be correct as space probes continue to return data on the physical and chemical structure of the solar system.
Although Andrew is now officially employed as a reader at the university, he continues on with his outstanding work on the solar system. Andrew has always had a keen interest in mathematics and astronomy education. He spends as much time as he can visiting schools to share his fascinating work with students, encouraging them to become tomorrow’s great achievers and discoverers.