Previously, a group of mainly observational astronomers were part of the Department of Geophysics & Astronomy; while others researchers were in the Dept. of Physics. As part of a larger re-organisational effort here at UBC, the Department of Geophysics & Astronomy was split; with the Geophysics group merging with Geology and Oceanography to form a new Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences; while the Astronomy group merged with Physics to form the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Although sad to be parting ways with their Geophysics colleagues, the move was viewed very positively by the astronomers, particularly since it groups the largely optical "Astronomy" efforts with the largely radio "Astrophysics" efforts under the aegis of a single department. Apart from some bureaucratic modifications, there have been very few other changes. The undergraduate and graduate astronomy programmes remain a vital part of the new department. At present the astronomers are still in the "Geophysics & Astronomy Building", but that is expected to change in the near future, with rennovation of part of the Physics Building. In the meantime, there is no need to learn any new addresses or telephone numbers for UBC astronomers!
Information about Astronomy at UBC can be found on our home-page or from the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy.
