It's official, we have our very own, real life planetary defender! Professor Alan Fitzsimmons from @AstroQUB is gearing up to take part in the #HeraMission, @esa's first ever #PlanetaryDefence mission, to help ward off the threat of an #asteroid crashing into Earth. “Hera is a critical step towards the day when humanity might need to deflect a threatening asteroid and is a great example of how science can be used to try to prevent loss of life as a result of dramatic, natural disasters. "Scientists and engineers from all over the world have been involved, it’s an example of best practice in international scientific collaboration for the greater good.” Find out more: ow.ly/SIfj50TBZwt #LoveQUBResearch @ESA_Hera @NASA @QUB @QUBMathsPhys @QUBEEECS

"I came to Queen’s in 1975 as an 18-year-old undergraduate student and never left. I have had an association with Queen’s for all of my adult life. “While I hope I have made an overall positive contribution to Queen’s during my time here, I also believe the reverse is also true - Queen’s has made such a positive contribution to my life. “As a result, when approaching retirement, I thought about how I could recognise this. Specifically, I wanted to do something for undergraduate students, as I realise how much tougher it is for them financially than it ever was for me: there were no fees when I studied for my degree, and I graduated with no student debt. “As an astrophysicist and retired Head of School of @QUBMathsPhys, I became aware that there was a ‘gap’ in the provision of prizes for our undergraduate degree students, specifically for the MSci Physics with Astrophysics degree. I have since established a prize for that pathway and have also left a gift in my will to add to the prize fund so its value can be increased in years to come. “Although the prize is called the Francis P Keenan Prize, it really should be called the ‘Ted of School of Mathematics and Physics Prize’, as Ted has been the driving force behind my work in recent years.” Thank you, Professor Keenan. You truly are an advocate for the power of education. We hope to see you and Ted at the next Graduation! If you are interested in leaving a legacy gift in your will via @BequeathedUK, click the link or email [email protected] for more information. ➡️go.qub.ac.uk/freewills #LoveQUB #LegacyGiving #FreeWillsMonth #Legacy @QUBAlumni @AstroQUB