David J. Lane DSc'24

During his 30-year tenure at Saint Mary’s University in the Astronomy and Physics Department and as the Director of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory, Dr. David Lane DSc’24 made significant contributions to teaching and learning at the university and introduced and inspired tens of thousands of children, post-secondary students and the public to the wonders of the night sky.

From 1992 until his retirement, Dave was employed as the Astronomy Technician and System Administrator in the Astronomy and Physics Department. Later, as Director of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory, David single-handedly automated the Observatory and made it available to the world through Twitter and Facebook. He created The Earth Centered Universe (ECU), an easy-to-use planetarium and telescope-control program, allowing institutes the ability to operate their own educational astronomy platforms for teaching astronomy.

He has also made many impressive contributions to professional astronomy, with more than 100 professional publications in the field of variable stars and telescope operations. He has been a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) since the 1980s and served as president of the National Chapter and the Halifax Chapter. The International Astronomy Union recognized him for the co-discovery of three supernovae, and he has an asteroid named after him!

In January 2024, Dave was recognized by Saint Mary’s University with an honorary Doctor of Science.

"Dave has been a true science champion, generously sharing his time to help countless others appreciate and understand the uniqueness of their existence within the cosmos,” says Dr. Rob Thacker, professor with the Department of Astronomy and Physics and Director, Science Outreach Centre at Saint Mary’s. 

Star Finder—The David Lane Astronomy Outreach Program

Thanks to a generous gift from Dave and his wife Michelle, Saint Mary’s will develop an exciting new initiative that honours the couple’s passion for continuous learning and growth.

Star Finder—The David Lane Astronomy Outreach Program will engage teachers from rural and underserved communities, enabling them to deliver astronomy-focused curriculum to grade six and grade nine students. The curriculum will focus on space exploration with the goal of increasing understanding of and enthusiasm for astronomy among schoolchildren. 

Remote access to the Burke-Gaffney Observatory will provide many opportunities for activities based on real observations while connecting teachers and students to the foremost astronomical facility in Atlantic Canada.

“It’s hard to truly describe what a remarkable legacy this is, and how thankful we are for all his efforts. The gift from him and Michelle will help deliver this frequently life-changing experience to a new generation of young Canadians,” says Dr. Rob Thacker.

Make a gift to support the Star Finder—The David Lane Astronomy Outreach Program and help create a World without limits for young astronomers.