The LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) is thrilled to announce that Professor Stephen Fairhurst of Cardiff University has been elected as the LSC’s new Spokesperson.
This is a significant milestone in the LSC’s 28-year history, as it marks the first time that a Spokesperson has been elected from an institution outside of the United States. This highlights the truly global nature of our collaboration, which includes over 1600 members across 18 countries and well over a hundred institutions.
During his twenty years as a member of the LSC, Professor Fairhurst has made significant contributions to gravitational wave physics and astronomy. He has played key roles in multiple impactful publications dating back to 2006, and ranging from the first catalog of binary black hole mergers to the astrophysical impacts of gravitational wave observations and beyond.
He has served as the co-chair of the compact binary coalescence working group, as well as chair of the LSC program committee. He initiated discussions that led to the formation of the LSC climate group, which has since grown into our Committee on Climate & Sustainability. In his role as a member of the IGWN design committee, he has worked closely with our Virgo and KAGRA colleagues towards the evolution of the international gravitational wave collaboration.
Professor Fairhurst’s experience extends beyond the LSC, most notably evidenced by his tenure as head of the Gravity Exploration Institute at Cardiff University from 2019 through 2024.
“It’s a privilege to be elected Spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which has been instrumental in establishing the field of gravitational-wave physics and astronomy,” Professor Fairhurst said. “I look forward to working with the excellent scientists and engineers in the collaboration to ensure that we continue to operate and improve the LIGO detectors and, with our Virgo and KAGRA colleagues, unveil new observations that enhance our understanding of black holes and gravitational waves.”
As Professor Fairhurst steps into his two-year term as Spokesperson, and we approach the 10th anniversary of the first direct detection of gravitational waves, we are eager to share exciting results from our fourth observing run. And as we reflect on a decade of gravitational wave astronomy, and look ahead toward the next, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration enthusiastically welcomes Professor Fairhurst as our new Spokesperson.