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Island astronomer Gregory Fahlman named to Order of B.C.

A world-renowned astronomy researcher is the lone Vancouver Island resident among 13 people named to the Order of British Columbia on Wednesday.
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Gregory Fahlman, manager of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Saanich, has been named to the Order of British Columbia.

A world-renowned astronomy researcher is the lone Vancouver Island resident among 13 people named to the Order of British Columbia on Wednesday.

Gregory Fahlman is a former professor of astronomy at the University of British Columbia and general manager for national science infrastructure at the National Research Council Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Programs, which includes the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Saanich.

Fahlman served on several boards of directors, including one for the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope on Hawaii’s Big Island, and has written more than 140 research papers.

His latest research focused on the identification and study of the oldest stars to determine a limit on the age of the universe.

The 12 other B.C. residents appointed to the order for 2013 include Larry Berg, the former president and CEO of the Vancouver Airport, and Dr. Paula Gordon, an expert in breast cancer studies.

The order recognizes extraordinary accomplishments by British Columbians. Since it was introduced in 1989, the order has been bestowed on 345 people.