Professor David Alexander from our top-rated Physics Department has been elected as a trustee of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), one of the UK's leading organisations for astronomy and geophysics.
Professor Alexander was elected to the Society's Council at its Annual General Meeting, joining five other newly appointed trustees.
His appointment recognises his longstanding contribution to astronomy research, leadership within the scientific community, and commitment to supporting the future of UK astronomy.
Speaking about his appointment, Professor Alexander said: "I am happy to be joining the RAS Council at this critical time for UK astronomy and to help us work together and strengthen as a community."
A key factor in Professor Alexander's election was his leadership of the National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) 2025, hosted by us.
The event was the largest National Astronomy Meeting ever held in the UK, bringing together nearly 1,000 researchers, students and industry representatives.
Alongside scientific presentations, the programme included discussions on professional practice, collaboration, innovation and community engagement.
The meeting also featured activities involving local schools, community groups and members of the public, helping to make astronomy accessible to a wider audience and inspiring the next generation of scientists.
Professor Alexander is our former Head of Astronomy and currently chairs our Physics Board of Examiners.
He has played an important role in shaping research and education within the University and across the wider astronomy community.
Professor Alexander joined Durham in 2006 as a Royal Society University Research Fellow after holding research positions in Italy, the United States and Cambridge.
His research focuses on understanding supermassive black holes and how they grow and interact with galaxies.
Over the course of his career, he has published more than 400 research papers and has been recognised several times as a Highly Cited Researcher, reflecting the international influence of his work.
In addition to his astronomy research, Professor Alexander co-leads an interdisciplinary project exploring how research communities can work more effectively together to drive innovation and scientific progress.
His appointment as an RAS trustee further strengthens Durham’s contribution to astronomy.
Our Department of Physics is ranked joint 67th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and third in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2026. Visit our Physics webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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